Southern McGown Training - Day 4, Fruit.

After a very overwhelming day yesterday I, finally, had the sense to go to bed early and was better able to deal with today, my last day.
In spite of my love for fine cut and shading, I have never hooked fruit and that was the class today. We again benefited from a 2 for 1 deal with Linda Powell (Village Rim Rug Hooking)  preparing the course material and the example and Katie Allman (Katieallman.com) teaching the class. It was an excellent combination.

Fruit P662. Designed by Jane McGown Flynn and
hooked by Linda Powell.

Linda had prepared resources, taught by Katie, that dealt with different ways to teach hooking fruit; pencil shading, directional hooking, designating light, medium and dark and the use of the swatch numbering system. We were able to play with all 4 ways and Katie spent more time with those who had not utilized a particular method.

We were using 3 swatches and a dip dye, I didn't purchase wool for the
leaves as I know I have some at home. But I did buy some light background that
I plan to play in the dye pot with.

In the morning we hooked on the apple while Katie talked about both the materials Linda had provided and her own tips, techniques and stories.

Linda's apple, up close and personal.

My apple. The light is coming from a different angle.

And my pear, from the afternoons hooking. Some decided to
work on the grapes before the pear.

It was a great class to end on, for a number of reasons; the quality and organization of Linda's materials, the combination of professionalism, humour and engagement that were Katie's style and the fact that I have always wanted to do this project, fruit.
Tonight we have a business meeting and tomorrow a program on Rug Hooking as a Business. Jennifer and I will then drive home 9 to 9.5 hours. I think I can safely say there will be no post tomorrow and I may sleep all the next day!
Addendum: I just got back from the business meeting and there was a large display of pastel drawings that were created by Pearl McGown when she colour planned the rugs she designed. Jane McGown Flynn described, as a child, spending time with Pearl at her rustic cabin and hearing her work on the pastels late into the evening. She worked out 3 colour plans for each design and created them in pastels. The group I saw here has recently been museum mounted and will be shown next year at Saunders Village. This process of museum mounting will be continued with the remaining drawings that Jane currently stores.