Pre-Raphaelite Art

I love Pre-Raphaelite Art.

This is entitled Flaming June and was painted by Frederick Leighton circa 1895. It is housed in the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The woman in this photo is Dorothy Dene, Leighton's companion, who eventually became a stage actress.

First exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1895. Leighton was suffering from his last illness while painting this picture, and he died in the following year.

A Traditional PEI Hooked Rug

After a discussion with Tasha about wool, I was inspired to post this slightly out of focus picture of a rug I hooked last year. This rug was made as a wedding present for my longtime friend Beth. It is hooked with wool from MacAusland's Woolen Mill in Bloomfield, PEI. I used my great-grandmother's hook on this rug. My family also has her large rug hooking frames (too big to cart to TO with me). I have always admired hooked rugs and just a few years ago decided to learn the craft. My grandmother's sister (Auntie), in her nineties at the time, passed on the craft to me. PEI hooked mats are known for their geometric patterns and tend to always be trimmed in black. I am currently finishing a mat for my friend Krista.

Quote of the Month

The nuns didn’t care if you went to heaven or hell or married a Protestant as long as your handwriting was clear and handsome and if you were weak in that department they’d bend your thumbs back till you screamed for mercy and promised a calligraphy that would open the doors of heaven.

Frank McCourt
Teacher Man