Salmon & Wild Roses

This rug marks the beginning of my "fish phase" several years ago.

The inspiration is all about a quiet little bay in Washington State, where my family camps each summer with my dad, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Salmon & Wild Roses is a compilation of images and memories from my visits there. I admit, it seems like an odd topic, to have salmon and wild roses together in a rug, but for me it works, as I will explain.

The beach is narrow in some places where the meadow with it's wild roses and beach grass come right down to the logs and rock-filled shore. When I stand on that beach looking out at the water I imagine that salmon are swimming out past the inlet, on their way to the mouth of the river that is right around the bend.

The undulating edges of the rug are meant to suggest the waves lapping on the beach.

Having a lot of movement in the background was important to me. I wanted to convey the rhythmic motion of waves coming into shore.

I like how the roses dance around the background with the salmon. As if I had grabbed a handful of blossoms and thrown them out onto the water's surface to watch how the tide dispersed them.

Salmon & Wild Roses measures 31" x 52". It can be found in my ETSY shop with other patterns, hand-dyed wool and rug hooking related items.