Beyond The Surface
As summer draws to a close, the days seem to move quickly. Once the calendar turns to August a mad back-to-school rush begins, next, we are celebrating Labor Day; before we know it the holiday season will be upon us. But, as the days grow shorter, we all settle into the familiar rhythm of autumn. The weather may not be stereotypical fall where you live (it certainly isn’t in southeast Texas), but there is a deep sense things are changing.
The summer sun mellows a bit; still hot, just less intense. There are subtle hints of the season to come—a glimpse and glimmer, but it is enough…for now. Gone is the harsh light of the summer sun; the edges have softened, we are beckoned to follow along. It is as if we are seeing the world through a translucent veil.
This is early fall; trees are still green, though hints of autumnal reds, golds, and oranges begin to emerge from their slumber. Change is happening. Embrace it. Revel in it, as with all good things, this season is fleeting. Something new is always around the corner.
This is what is inspiring my next collection. We purchased this print at the art gallery for the Arkansas Craft School in Mountain View. I love everything about this picture can’t wait to translate these colors into wearable art.
Print of an original painting purchased in Mountain View, Arkansas and the tools for the next collection.
Richly saturated colors - mossy green, plum, gold, deep reds and blues, all accented with cream, black and gray and warm metallics. These are the colors that speak to me.
What Lies Beyond
I am fascinated with the concept of “what lies beyond.” For several years I have pondered how to express this concept - masks, veils, facades - we all have our own version of these that help us navigate life. Maybe this is one reason I am attracted to lace. Alternating open and closed spaces creates a design which is what we initially see; however, move in closer, what lies beyond that beautiful design? Is it a person wearing a lace garment? Is it worn across the face so that only tiny glimpses are possible? How about lace curtains - light enters the room but the view both from inside and out is blurred by the pattern.
Back To Where This Idea Began
Next month my husband and I will be going to Hot Springs, Arkansas for our annual anniversary trip. We love this area and find a reason to go as often as possible. The weather should be perfect for a day at Garvan Woodland Gardens. This is not his favorite kind of thing to do, but I have been dying to go for three years. This year will be my year.
The origin of Hooked Thread began in August 2022. We were going to my brother’s wedding in Bentonville, Arkansas and decided to make it into a vacation. Following the wedding we stayed in a cottage on the White River in Mountain View for a few days then stopped in Hot Springs on our way home. At the time I was looking for some kind of crochet projects that I could make into a small, portable business. I have always had a thing for portable crafts, and I love tiny art. I want to take my fun with me. Living where I do, wool (which I adore) is not the most practical. My goal was portable, small, fun and practical. That is where the idea of earrings began. It has been a long road, filled with potholes of my own making; however, I am now on track. For this reason the inspiration for my current collection “What Lies Beyond” will be inspired by that trip and the things I love about Arkansas.
The treehouse at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas from Arkansas Living magazine.
This image is the treehouse at Garvan Gardens. When I ran across this picture this morning I knew this would be central to my designs. In addition to lace, I constantly find myself experimenting with contrasting elements. In this case the open work framed by wood that seem to be metaphors for trees and branches; the linear wall and ceiling; and of cource, the view of the window visible through the open wood lattice. Everything about this inspires me. I can’t wait to interpret it with thread and a hook.
