Pheasant Footstool

Pheasant Footstool, 27" x 15", #6- and 8-cut wool and proddy on linen. Designed and hooked by Kim Kaelin, 2010.

I am always looking for ways to use hooked rugs in my home. One of my favorite ways to display my hooking is to make a cushion for a footstool. A hooked footstool can take center stage in a room, prominently displayed in front of a stuffed chair or at the foot of a bed.

I look for already-made footstools in antique stores or flea markets. Any size will do, but I usually look for a stool with a rectangular top. My favorite footstools have intricately turned legs that make for fun painting as well.

The footstool legs are salmon with red dots, similar to several of the hooked sides of the cushion. The bottom of each leg has a black and white striped ball, which reflects the black-and-white check in the hooking. I also painted a pop of teal blue on the legs to bring out the teal coloring on the pheasant's head. 

This article is from the March/April/May 2012 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.