So I had this idea to recreate this rug to fit my style, colorwise and pattern wise. I have used it as it is, but I am not a very neutral person by nature, and it is boring. Because rug making is sort of a family craft via my grandma Daniels, I have tried to carry on the tradition in some way. It has taken much more “figuring” that I imagined! My mind is not as nimble as it used to be, and the process is slow.

However, I have not given up. I want to utilize the actual woven “squares” in the rug to implement a design that will be colorful and enriching to the living room environment. I have been researching pattern design from my Metis culture. This is usually bold florals on a black background. I hope to incorporate some aspect of this.

In addition, I have been collecting color/texture ideas via my Pinterest boards. The colors have to flow somehow, which may require a large amount of gradation. I am reminded of a color project I did in a college design class. Firsts for me will be using dye as paint and coming up with the best way to fix the color in/or the wool warp and weft. Instead of painting my number, it will be painting by square.

Design process:

• Fiddle with color, gradation by printing out the photo of the rug ‘squares’ in B&W, and coloring with my pencils.
• Continue to research the dying/painting process I need to implement.
• Set up well-lit (full-spectrum) area in basement.
• Think through the overall gestalt of edge and inner design areas, repeats, gradations.
• Count all the ‘squares’ in the rug and make a graph paper template.
• Finalize color choices and fill in the template.
• Paint
• Experiment on some large roving that I have.
• Color/dye according to design.

Launch Gallery