Winter Is Coming

When I was asked to hook Canadian Snow Geese for a Show and Tell at the 2019 South Central McGown Teachers’ Workshop, my first reactions were two: “I have no idea how to approach this task,” and “Hooking in only one color will be boring.” I had to change my mind about that so that I could enjoy the process. First, I needed to find a color I would enjoy working with. Most of the monochromatic rugs I had seen were hooked in sepia-colored wool and, although they were stunningly beautiful, the color was not appealing to me. I solved this problem when I found a piece of beautiful, dark blue-gray dyed wool for sale at the workshop.
Second, I had to get excited about how to approach the challenge, which turned out to be a series of challenges to be met and overcome. For me, the key to solving that problem was to create a story for the rug that would engage my interest. It was clear that this is a winter scene from the bare trees and footprints in the snow. My story evolved from those bare trees and footprints: The geese are facing a moment of decision. A storm is fast approaching and they have been unable to find food in the snow-covered fields. They turn their faces to the south and realize it is time to go.