Merry & Bright

Merry & Bright, 12" x 16", wool, sari silk, yarn, and imitation leather on linen. Designed and hooked by Janine Broscious, Monrovia, Maryland, 2016.

When I think of Christmas projects, I think of color. Not just red and green, but lots of colors. I’m that neighbor who, on a street of homes lit in classy white, has multicolored blinking lights on my roof and bushes. Colors just make me happy. So when I contemplated making a Christmas hooked piece, I knew it had to be filled with more than just the normal holiday colors. The song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” floated through my head as I drew my pattern. The words “merry” and “bright” flew onto my page—perfect for a Christmas pillow.

While choosing colors, I focused on contrast. Recently, a fellow rug hooker told me to think about darks and lights when buying fabric and planning projects. For some reason, mid-tones seem appealing and often fill a hooker’s stash, but a hooked piece consisting entirely of mid-tones may create a final product that lacks “pop.” So in planning this holiday pillow, I decided on a dark background with lighter and brighter focal elements.

Janine Broscious is a self-taught artist who has been sharing her art with others through her business, GentleSpiritCreations.com, since 2003. She now offers her rug patterns along with her one-of-a-kind jewelry. She resides in Maryland but is often on the road with her husband, exploring new places. Her blog, JoyfulWonder.com, features her art and travels. www.gentlespiritcreations.com.

This article excerpt is from the November/December 2016 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.