Animals Tall & Sturdy

lucky_brown

Many of my rugs are of the animals that carry riders or pull carts or provide the wool that eventually makes its way into my work. I'm particularly fond of horses and watch them in fields near my house whenever I run across them. Sheep, goats, oxen are all favorite subjects for my rugs. When you're investigating the rugs below, be sure to click on the image or its title so that you will be taken to a larger image of the rug for closer inspection.

Available rugs are at the top of the list and by clicking on the highlighted sentence, you'll be taken directly to my Big Cartel shop.


 

More Tall & Sturdy Animals

Sweet Bush Pony

Sweet Bush Pony is based on my childhood desire to have a dappled grey horse. I thought that dappled grey was the best color. I've combined this dream pony with another motif I'm fond of -- a small bush with bright blossoms. I like the disparity in proportions -- small bush, big pony. The grass is a mixture of many greens, and the pink background is a color I sometimes see early in the morning here in the mountains. Sweet Bush Pony measures 20" high by 30" wide, and has a muslin sleeve and dowel for wall display. It's made with hand-dyed and as-is wool on linen with a reproduction fabric binding on the back. The price for this rug is $650. Click here to go to my Big Cartel shop. | Click title for larger image.

Sweet Bush Pony

Sweet Bush Pony is based on my childhood desire to have a dappled grey horse. I thought that dappled grey was the best color. I've combined this dream pony with another motif I'm fond of -- a small bush with bright blossoms. I like the disparity in proportions -- small bush, big pony. The grass is a mixture of many greens, and the pink background is a color I sometimes see early in the morning here in the mountains. Sweet Bush Pony measures 20" high by 30" wide, and has a muslin sleeve and dowel for wall display. It's made with hand-dyed and as-is wool on linen with a reproduction fabric binding on the back. The price for this rug is $650. Click here to go to my Big Cartel shop.

Janis' Just Plain Horse


It's always initially a challenge to make a rug based on one I've made before. I'm a little hesitant, a little worried that I won't find my way. But usually once I get started, the rug kind of takes on a life of its own, and becomes something new, with its own color and design, its own rhythms and story. That's what happened here. My customer said to just have the delivery person drop it over the fence (she lives in California). Besides awakening a real urge to move to California, I was also really glad to be sending a large beautiful rug to someone whose take on life is so gentle and trusting, much like the horse in this rug. The rug measures 20" high by 30" wide. | Click title for larger image.

Janis' Just Plain Horse


It's always initially a challenge to make a rug based on one I've made before. I'm a little hesitant, a little worried that I won't find my way. But usually once I get started, the rug kind of takes on a life of its own, and becomes something new, with its own color and design, its own rhythms and story. That's what happened here. My customer said to just have the delivery person drop it over the fence (she lives in California). Besides awakening a real urge to move to California, I was also really glad to be sending a large beautiful rug to someone whose take on life is so gentle and trusting, much like the horse in this rug. The rug measures 20" high by 30" wide.

Three Bags Full


I made a series of three blue and white rugs of sheep. Each sheep has its own personality – this one seems mildly perky. The border of what's called lamb's tongues was really fun to make and is really right for this rug. The series of three are in a private collection in New York. | Click title for larger image.

Three Bags Full


I made a series of three blue and white rugs of sheep. Each sheep has its own personality – this one seems mildly perky. The border of what's called lamb's tongues was really fun to make and is really right for this rug. The series of three are in a private collection in New York.

Small Grey Pony


Personally, I love this rug. The pony has a great shape and I love the way the background changes from tan to blue to light purple in a free way. The blue moon above is a trademark of many of my horse/pony rugs. Many of them have this element. This small rug measures 14" round and could be used as a chair pad, charger/table decoration or displayed on the wall. | Click title for larger image.

Small Grey Pony


Personally, I love this rug. The pony has a great shape and I love the way the background changes from tan to blue to light purple in a free way. The blue moon above is a trademark of many of my horse/pony rugs. Many of them have this element. This small rug measures 14" round and could be used as a chair pad, charger/table decoration or displayed on the wall.

Small Goldie


Small Goldie is one of a series of chargers that I made for a collector for her long dining table. It's a good example of a small mat – this is 14" square – that can be used in many ways. | Click title for larger image.

Small Goldie


Small Goldie is one of a series of chargers that I made for a collector for her long dining table. It's a good example of a small mat – this is 14" square – that can be used in many ways.

Starry Pony


There's a pasture near my house where a large herd of horses graze. Among them are a few duns, the kind of horse that's sort of beige with dark legs, mane and tail. I find them particularly beautiful. They make me think of the west and cowboys and ranches for some reason. I'm not sure my dun reads as such an exotic horse. It turned out to be much more pony-like. All the stubborness and get-what-you-want qualities of ponies, which I know only too well having learned to ride on ponies, are in this rug. I used a huge variety of odd plaids all dyed in the same dye bath for the background, which is what makes it so full of texture and interest. The stars are different blues. This rug measures 23" high by 33" wide and is in a private collection.
| Click title for larger image.

Starry Pony


There's a pasture near my house where a large herd of horses graze. Among them are a few duns, the kind of horse that's sort of beige with dark legs, mane and tail. I find them particularly beautiful. They make me think of the west and cowboys and ranches for some reason. I'm not sure my dun reads as such an exotic horse. It turned out to be much more pony-like. All the stubborness and get-what-you-want qualities of ponies, which I know only too well having learned to ride on ponies, are in this rug. I used a huge variety of odd plaids all dyed in the same dye bath for the background, which is what makes it so full of texture and interest. The stars are different blues. This rug measures 23" high by 33" wide and is in a private collection.

Half-Circle Sheep


The sheep fits perfectly into the half-circle shape of this small rug (7" by 8"). It hangs from a wire which adds to its charm. This rug is in a private collection. | Click title for larger image.

Half-Circle Sheep


The sheep fits perfectly into the half-circle shape of this small rug (7" by 8"). It hangs from a wire which adds to its charm. This rug is in a private collection.

Half-Circle Pony


I made a series of half-circle rugs that hang from an attached wire. I like the shape and the way it fits animals. The rug measures 7" high by 8" wide. It's great for a small wall or door. This small unusual rug is in a collection filled with many horse images in California.
| Click title for larger image.

Half-Circle Pony


I made a series of half-circle rugs that hang from an attached wire. I like the shape and the way it fits animals. The rug measures 7" high by 8" wide. It's great for a small wall or door. This small unusual rug is in a collection filled with many horse images in California.

Black Stockings


There's a field that I pass once a week or so that sometimes has a herd of beautiful horses. They inspire me to keep making my horse rugs. The one in this rug has black stockings and a varied brown body. The thin border seemed right to me and echoes the black stockings. It's in a private collection. | Click title for larger image.

Black Stockings


There's a field that I pass once a week or so that sometimes has a herd of beautiful horses. They inspire me to keep making my horse rugs. The one in this rug has black stockings and a varied brown body. The thin border seemed right to me and echoes the black stockings. It's in a private collection.

Clem


Part of the series of three rugs all using the same wools so that they can be used in a master bedroom and bath of a country house. I have wanted to make an ox rug for years and finally got my chance. If I discover that there are oxen at a fair or festival, you can barely tear me away. This rug have odd round shapes at the top that refer to the small wire fencing you find once in a while. | Click title for larger image.

Clem


Part of the series of three rugs all using the same wools so that they can be used in a master bedroom and bath of a country house. I have wanted to make an ox rug for years and finally got my chance. If I discover that there are oxen at a fair or festival, you can barely tear me away. This rug have odd round shapes at the top that refer to the small wire fencing you find once in a while.

Take Me There


Commissioned by friends for their master bedroom in their country home, this rug shows a big horse that seems to have the strength to take you anywhere by its size and powerfulness. The pink elements refer to a weird sign at a farm I pass by that has an arrow with only one side. I liked it so much that I incorporated it into this rug. It's one of a series of three – horse, ox and ox cart – made for a beautiful home in the country north of New York. | Click title for larger image.

Take Me There


Commissioned by friends for their master bedroom in their country home, this rug shows a big horse that seems to have the strength to take you anywhere by its size and powerfulness. The pink elements refer to a weird sign at a farm I pass by that has an arrow with only one side. I liked it so much that I incorporated it into this rug. It's one of a series of three – horse, ox and ox cart – made for a beautiful home in the country north of New York.

Lucky Brown


This large rug features a brown horse surrounded by lucky horseshoes of all varieties. I have a large collection of horseshoes so it wasn't hard to make all of the ones in this rug different. I like the way the horse and the shoes seem to float on a blue sky. This rug is in a private collection. I recently made one like it with the name of the collectors' daughter name in the large central horseshoe at the bottom. | Click title for larger image.

Lucky Brown


This large rug features a brown horse surrounded by lucky horseshoes of all varieties. I have a large collection of horseshoes so it wasn't hard to make all of the ones in this rug different. I like the way the horse and the shoes seem to float on a blue sky. This rug is in a private collection. I recently made one like it with the name of the collectors' daughter name in the large central horseshoe at the bottom.

Big Blue Moon Pony


As you know, I love making rugs of horses. I think about whether it's nighttime or daytime, what the horse is like, where it's going. This rug, which measures 14" high by 18" wide, depicts a steady pony walking through the night, followed by a big blue moon. This rug is in a private collection. | Click title for larger image.

Big Blue Moon Pony


As you know, I love making rugs of horses. I think about whether it's nighttime or daytime, what the horse is like, where it's going. This rug, which measures 14" high by 18" wide, depicts a steady pony walking through the night, followed by a big blue moon. This rug is in a private collection.

Sometimes


For Christmas this year I was at a bit of a loss as to what to give my daughter. As I was making this rug, and adding the bird to the back of the brown horse, I started to think about my relationship with my daughter and how sometimes I'm the horse and she's the bird, and sometimes it's the other way around. She supports me like no one else, so I decided that I'd give this rug to her. The rug's title and emotion says it all – our children are both the ones we support and the ones who give us the most comfort and support in return. | Click title for larger image.

Sometimes


For Christmas this year I was at a bit of a loss as to what to give my daughter. As I was making this rug, and adding the bird to the back of the brown horse, I started to think about my relationship with my daughter and how sometimes I'm the horse and she's the bird, and sometimes it's the other way around. She supports me like no one else, so I decided that I'd give this rug to her. The rug's title and emotion says it all – our children are both the ones we support and the ones who give us the most comfort and support in return.

Dusky Horse


This is a very quiet rug. The horse nearly blends in with the dusky sky of the oval. For some reason it appeals to me to sometimes make rugs where the contrast isn't bold. This rug measures 13" high by 20" wide and is complete with a muslin sleeve and dowel in order to place it on the wall. I would use this small rug on the floor personally, making a nice warm spot to put my feet as I get out of bed on a chilly morning. It's available for $150. Please click here to visit my online store. | Click title for larger image.

Dusky Horse


This is a very quiet rug. The horse nearly blends in with the dusky sky of the oval. For some reason it appeals to me to sometimes make rugs where the contrast isn't bold. This rug measures 13" high by 20" wide and is complete with a muslin sleeve and dowel in order to place it on the wall. I would use this small rug on the floor personally, making a nice warm spot to put my feet as I get out of bed on a chilly morning. It's available for $150. Please click here to visit my online store.