Ideas for assembling hexagon throw

  

Hello!  This is just a quick posting to show you what I have been playing with today. I used about 130 hexagons to put these ideas together and I still don't know exactly which one I am most enchanted with. Whilst I really, really like the clean lines of the above photo, I am not in love with the flowers. The Husband also ruled this one out. This is visually the most striking of the three ideas though and not easily discarded!

What about the ombre effect above?  Here you will see more of the lighter colours (please ignore the shadows on the photos, these are quick working snapshots), but the final 500+ hexagon throw will contain equal parts light to gray to coal to black.  

This last idea is simply a mix of all the hexagons, meaning I can put all the hexagons in a big box, toss it and then assemble by simply picking up from the box and work with whatever I picked up. The ease of this idea appeals, but I also prefer more structured approaches as it gives me greater control over the process.

 Meanwhile, when I am not hooking up a storm, I am having a great time meeting up with people and enjoying all the fabulous food the city has to offer. I love visiting Australian Gourmet cafe Jones the Grocer located in the nearby The Gate Mall and this is what the mall public powder rooms look like.  Everything is round or ball shaped, even the mosaic tiles are not flat, but bauble shaped! 

The Teens sends her greetings too. She is hooking a slouchy in cotton and if we are lucky, she will let me take a photo and show you soon! 

Have a nice week!  

Progress: The Mud and Dust, the Soil and Sands of Africa

I am completely mesmerised by the variations of white in the palette for the throw inspired by the Mother continent. It is gorgeous, even if I have to say so myself! The textures and changing sheens of the different yarns I am using offer such a positive tactile experience that I have struggled to put my hook down since I started working with the light neutrals.

These whites and off-whites act as a brilliant accent to the mid tone greys making up the rest of the palette. A quality of white is that it allows the mind to be open, clear and receptive. It also signifies strength. At this moment working in variations of white provides me with an escape and respite from the madness that comes along with moving between different continents. (It is the madness of being in transition, of finding myself among foreign cultures, of living in crazy urban environments that makes me tick, but one needs neutral space too!!)

I am also once again acutely aware how different environments impact on my colour preferences.  I enjoy lighter neutrals when living in desert environments, it simply suits the warmer skies and prevalence of marble and sandstone. When we lived in tropical Penang I find myself leaning towards colours that pack punch, the Tropics are all about hot colours and tall cool drinks. 

Knowing that I was saying goodbye to Africa, reminiscing over my childhood not only led me to the inspiration and colour choices behind this project, but it actually provided me with a link to my beloved Arabia.  Whilst Africa is my home on paper, I have long since adopted the Middle East as the place where I belong. I like that this throw represents Mother Africa and that it serves as a vehicle to integrate back into Gulf living. 

On that note, please feel free to also peruse my MadameX and Raw Rustic Pinterest boards in addition to the Pigtails one.  You will see my love for neutrals reflected in the first two!

Images of yarn: own; all other images: Raw Rustic Pinterest

Enjoy a lovely weekend. Friday and Saturday is weekend in the Middle East and Sunday is a normal working/school day here. 

xxxx