Dyeing Wool For My Rabbit Rug

I put my rabbit rug on my floor stand. I sat and stared at it for a week.

 Once I had my idea for colors I knew I wanted mottled wool. I knew I have seen lovely colors but I had no idea about how to arrive at what was in my head. I found Gene Shepard's book called Prepared to Dye with a chapter on dyeing wool without using dye. Using hot water and letting the dye from other wool's be the color. Its like doing Tie Dye.

Here are my new wool colors.

I thought these colors will be good for sky and clouds.

The grass and trees and flowers.

I am going to use the browns for the rabbit and the reds will be used where ever I need it. I really liked dyeing the wool this way. I love the marbleized coloring. I can't wait to start hooking with it. If there is one thing that I love it is dyeing wool. I think I am going to keep doing dyeing this way for awhile. Last night I was showing the boys some of the old papers that I ran across from when I was a kid. Like my fitness awards. They got a kick out of that. I even showed them my old report cards. You should have heard them chortle at my C grade in art. So to say I am challenged in the creativity area of my life is a understatement.

When I was a young Mom, Kessie told me I think she was about eight or so, as I remarked " I wish I could draw, but I am just not gifted in that area." She looked at me drawing, sitting in her school desk and said, " Mom that isn't true, I am not a good artist, but I work at it all of the time. If you wanted to work at it you could be a good artist too." That day, I learned, artists are made not born. It is with everything in my life, how hard am I willing to work to become proficient? Dyeing wool is one of those things I am willing to work at as with hooking rugs or sewing. Over coming my own laziness is always my first obstacle. 

As soon as I get off the computer, I will begin hooking on my rabbit rug. Its going to be such a big project. I think the reason I like big projects is I like the challenges to see if I can do it.

I hope you have a lovely day,

~Kim~

 The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.
(William C. Bryant)