On the frame

On my frame right now is a pattern that I purchased from The Paisley Studio. I had seen a completed pattern hanging at their booth at the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY this past October and loved it! I got in touch with Sara (I think that's her name!), and she sent me off the pattern very quickly.
Here's a photo of their rug as seen at the show.



I loved their version and the colors they chose, but I opted for a brown/blue color scheme and decided to make it into a pillow. Here is the pattern and the work I have done on it to date.

The pattern as it was drawn had small dots all around the border of the large motif. I opted to sew on beads instead of hooking the dots. Went to our local bead store, got 58 beads, and started sewing them on. This is not as easy as it seems. You have to be sure to center the holes of the bead in a way that the threads don't show. As you can tell from the pattern, I have some of them sewn on, and am now alternately hooking and sewing. I obviously get bored easily! Here is a close-up of the beads:

Of course, this won't be used as a real pillow, just decorative. It will go nicely in a bedroom that has similar colors, and I'm pleased with the results. I'm using natural wool for the background, and it is so wonderful to use it in its natural state.

When the hooking is done, I'm going to use Gene Shepard's suggestion to whip the edges to the background and then stuff. I'm hoping it's as easy as he makes it look.

So that's where I'm at right now. My frog rug has the binding on, and I'm just sewing it down. Should be ready for hanging within the next day. Even though the hooking isn't complete on the pillow, I'm already thinking ahead to my next project. Time marches on!