A Canadian FibreFest and more

The 2015 Triennial Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) came to end with a FibreFest and Gala Dinner – here are some of the highlights :

Who would have thought there were so many ways to make a rug!

and so many things you could create using rugmaking techniques – the conference room at the Inn at Laurel Point was a buzz with activity and conversation on Wednesday afternoon – it was hard to take it all in – these images show only a few of the TIGHR members who were there demonstrating their rug making and associated fibre techniques.

Lynne Smith (Saltair, BC, Canada) turns her left over hooking worms into lovely Quilli Flowers which can be used as brooches or added to hooked pieces.

Sandi Hill (New Westminister, BC) demonstrating Wool Applique – “penny rugs” – table rugs created with woollen fabrics using coins or pennies as the pattern template – often seen on vintage pieces dating from the Civil War era. The designs were stitched with simple blanket stitch and other embroidery stitches.

Laurie Wiles (Edmonton, Alta, Canada) a McGown certified teacher demonstrating Hooking Plaid as well as bead stitch, checkerboard and turkey stitch.

Dianne Tobias (California, USA) Diane combines hooking and braiding with Velvet and nylon.

Gail Becker, (California-USA) McGown certified teacher combining needle felting & hooking.

Velma Higgins (Parksville, BC, Canada) demonstrated a unique and simple way to create a fringe on an oriental hooked rug.

Cec Caswell – McGown accredited Rug Hooking Instructor & President of Edmonton Rug Hooking Guild. Cec has been a finalist in past Rug Hooking Magazines “Celebrations” and her colourful rug Delightful Friends is currently featured as an entry on the Rug Hooking Magazine website.

Lucinda Hepting (Qualicum Beach BC, Canada) Filling in the Box – Fabric framed design, the end results can be turned into a pillow or a hooked purse.

Sara Judith – combining punch hooking with traditional hooking – exploring advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques. Sara is a McGown certified teacher and an Oxford accredited punch hooking instructor.

Not shown: Melanie Morrison/Bobbin Lace, Nancy Wesley/sculptural needle felting, Leola Witt/Spinning & hooking with dyed fleeces & yarn, Nancy Bassonnette/basket weaving, Terry Bibby/Saori weaving, Mary Forbes/needle felted painting, Wendy Halsall/natural dyeing, Kris McDermet/adding baiding to hooking, A group project/Flax to Linen.

May Sam – demonstrated Coast Salish Knitting. May is an Elder of the Tsartlip First Nation with a wealth of knowledge and experience with traditional Coast Salish knitting and the “Cowichan” sweater. The Cowichan sweater has been designated as an object of national historic significance by the Canadian Government.

During her evening presentation to TIGHR members Sylvia Olsen talked of May’s knowledge and history with Cowichan knitting. Click here to hear an interview with Sylvia.

Jen Manuell & Rachelle LeBlanc — Jen Manuell chatting with Rachelle LeBlanc at the TIGHR Conference 2015. Rachelle was a member of the Panel discussing “Defining Professionalism: What does it mean and what does it look like?”

Jennifer Manuell is an award-winning fourth generation rug hooker, and has taught rug hooking classes in Canada, the United States and England. Jen has teamed up with her sister to make and sell a line of finished goods featuring as-is and hand-dyed wool fabric in a series of one-of-a-kind wearables and unique home décor items, all completely handmade by them in their studio just north of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.

The current selection of finished goods, eBooklets, patterns, kits and supplies are available on their website – including ebook Jewellery 101

GALA DINNER:

Key-note Presentation: Nature in Art was given by Dr. Robert Bateman ‘(Victoria, BC)

This was followed by the acknowledgment of TIGHR’s 21st Year and the introduction of previous Founders Cup recipients and the awarding of the Cup to Susan Feller by Judith Stephens & Jo Franco (co-recipients) in 2012.

The Cup is presented to a member who has promoted rug hooking and TIGHR. Mary Shepherd Burton (dec) who was instrumental in creating the invitation list and coordination of the first conference in 1994 with Dar Ford Kayuka (a fellow American living in the UK) was the first recipient and began the tradition of the Cup holder selecting and awarding the Cup to a member who has worked to further the Guild’s aims ….. to come together in friendship to share ideas, explore the different rug making techniques using a variety of fibres and to further the art of rug making, while also enjoying the experience of travel.

Susan Feller has worked tirelessly to take the Guild into the 21st Century – she is an early adapter of ideas and with her knowledge of art and the history of this craft was instrumental in taking TIGHR’s fledgling website to an informational platform, a place for Guild News and where members have their own space to show their creations and to network.

At this conference Susan, with the help of videographer and digital storyteller, Randi Cohen Coblenz, has brought the guild to a point where, in the future members should be able to attend virtually, if travel is not physically possible.

Susan Feller - 2015 recipient receiving Cup from Judith Stephens & Jo Franco - 2012 recipients — Susan Feller – 2015 recipient receiving Cup from Judith Stephens & Jo Franco – 2012 recipients

Post Conference – Back on the mainland:

After farewelling rug hooking friends, new and old, the 3 “J’s” (Judith, Jo & Jenny) visited the Museum of Anthropology

Arriving just in time at the Arthur Erickson designed building overlooking mountains and sea, they were treated to a very interesting and informative tour of reputedly the worlds finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations Art.

Even though the sunny weather of their pre-conference road trip and time in Victoria had given way to clouds and rain, they were taken into a monumental Haida house on the grounds of the museum and out to view the poles and Musqueam houseposts that capture the dramatic beauty of traditional Northwest Coast architecture and design.

Museum of Anthropology The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

With the Vancouver visit coming to an end, we three were invited to visit the Studio of Michelle Sirois-Silver.

Michelle showed us many of her “hooked surfaces”, the materials she uses and described in depth, how she gathers information and creates her art books from which she draws inspiration for future works.

Michelle utilizes many different fabrics including waste fabric cut-offs given to her by a friend and fellow textile artist Katherine Sanssoucie. We were delighted when Michelle kindly organized for us to visit Katherine in her downtown studio.

Katherine Soucie

Be sure and click the link above to see images of the wonderful garments created by Katherine who, when we spoke with her, had just returned from an international showing of her unique garments.

Katherine_Sanssoucie_Vancouver_BC_Canada — Katherine Sanssoucie in her studio explaining the philosophy behind her creations.

Transformation

Empowerment

+ Sustainability

Zero Waste

Katherine’s base fabric is pre-consumer waste hosiery, which she dyes and then adds additional layers of paint. There is a “mending” aspect to this procedure, as pieces are stitched together to create an embellished “fabric” from which she creates a unique range of clothing.

The cut-offs from her creations are given to Michelle to use in her hooking.

So ……. beginning with a waste product, the colourful left-overs and cut-offs from the creation of artistic garments are used in a hooked surface – absolutely nothing wasted!

These studio visits were an inspiring way to finish up the 2015 Triennial Conference in Canada.

Now it’s time to save up for the 2018 Triennial in the UK.

Click here for TIGHR membership information 2015-18

Jo Franco

International Rughooking Conference 2015

TIGHR members from Canada, USA, UK, Japan and Australia,

180 in all, some accompanied by spouses, met in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada, at the Inn at Laurel Point on Sunday 4th October. After the Sunday registration and meet & greet the following three days were packed with panel discussions, talks, workshops, excursions, a rug exhibit open to the public and culminated with a FibreFest where members demonstrated many different rug making techniques and displayed and sold their creations.

The exchange of themed Friendship Mats during the Welcome & Opening ceremonies is a tradition uniting this group whose Board and Host Country changes every three years. This years Canadian theme, Back to Nature, reflected the natural beauty of the island, and the city of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia and gateway to many outdoor pursuits.

Members include their name and contact details on the back of their 5 x 7 inch mat, making it a very personal connection with a new rug hooking friend.

Exchanging these mats early in the proceedings gives members a chance to seek out their “fibre pal” and get to know them during the conference. For those who had attended other conferences it was a busy time catching up with old friends. We met up with many of our friends who had travelled to the Conference in South Australia in 2012.

What squeals of delight there were when we bumped into Fumiyo and her friends from Japan in the street on the evening of our arrival.

At registration members were presented with a green goodie bag containing a Program of Events, local tourist information and an array of small items that came in handy over the next few days. These bags, a nice keepsake of the meeting, were large enough to carry around cameras, wallets, phones/iPads and information collected from session to session.

The general gathering place at this boutique hotel on the water-front was the Terrace Ballroom, an open area bathed in natural light shining through a high glass ceiling – the sun shone on queue for the Conference. Light also streamed in through the glass walls of the Ballroom overlooking the gardens and the harbour shared by pleasure craft, ferries (big and small) and seaplanes! It was quite an experience to be in a boat that not only had to navigate the channel marker buoys but also had to stay clear of a landing strip.

Events were planned allowing time to meet up with friends and do things like walk along the waterfront path into town – yes some went shopping and others visited the museum and galleries .

If you found yourself too tired to walk back, you could jump into a water taxi which looked rather like a toy boat in a children’s story book. These hop-on-hop-off small yellow craft which can carry about 12 people (shown in the left of the image above), motored around the harbour stopping at the various hotels and points of interest. One being Fisherman’s Wharf, a picturesque area of houseboats and eateries.

Tourists weren’t the only ones looking for something to eat at Fishermens Wharf.

There was no lack of good eating places around town and the hotel meals were excellent.

Excursions had been arranged to take in a host of activities.

By day a hospitality table was set up in the Terrace ballroom where meals were served and the panel discussions took place. A lounge adjoining this area was set up with coffee and tea and provided a place for the night-owls to gather and talk or compute without disturbing room-mates.

The Conference began Monday with panel discussions and workshops in the morning and the afternoon, as well as a rug display for attendees.

Panel discussion and workshops continued Tuesday morning. The TIGHR General Meeting followed a luncheon and Keynote Presentation by Michelle Sirois-Silver “Intersections: the place where the handhooked surface and contemporary art meet”.

To learn more about Michelle’s journey into exploring ways that combine surface design techniques with hand hooked surface click this link to go to her website. You can read “A Stitch in Time Creates Art. Evolution of an Art Form” by clicking Read more… or to actually listen to the June 2015 Interview with Aletta de Wal (Artist Career Training) click on the following link Listen to the full interview ..

Wednesday’s Panel Discussion “What is rug hooking in your part of the world?” was moderated by Miriam Miller, President Emeritus of the Australian Rugmakers Guild and one of several workshops scheduled for the same period was Judith Stephen’s and Jo Franco’s toothbrush rugmaking class.

Below; Class participants admire the eco dyed fabric (pieces of cotton sheeting which Judith had wrapped around eucalyptus trees and left to “weather” for a year) before tearing it into strips to use to make the eco baskets or mats.

For some it was very hard to tear up these wonderful pieces of dyed fabric and there was much discussion as to which trees in the northern hemisphere could be wrapped to give this result. This workshop grew by six from it’s registered 20 participants after members saw the fabric they’d be working with.

Some in the class decided they would rather make a mat than a basket – and some decided to make both.

During the Wednesday luncheon, Kerry Mason, art historian, curator and art consultant who teaches in the Dept of History in Art at the University of Victoria and recently worked with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria to develop the major exhibition on Emily Carr, and co-authored the companion book, Emily Carr on the Edge of Nowhere spoke on “The life and art of Emily Carr”

and

the FibreFest – an Expo of Fibre demonstrations filled the afternoon,

Excursions had been organised for each day – taking in a Guided Walking Tour, Emily Carr House, the Royal BC Museum, Robert Bateman Gallery and a Fibre tour (more stash building).

The only downside to all this was choices had to be made. However those of us who were on panels or giving classes still managed to catch up with things we’d missed by talking with others in the down-time or at the FibreFest. Personally, I found the FibreFest to be the highlight of the events.

The panels were also extremely interesting and provoked much discussion, especially when the panellists came into the audience, each took a seat at a different table, they then proceeded to swap and move from table to table – this close-up personal contact was an excellent way to create conversation and get feedback.

The panel discussions were videoed and are to be available soon on the members area of the TIGHR website.

Presentations were given in the evenings. The first by Sylvia Olsen (a well known local knitter and author) her subject was a Coast Salish Legacy: the women whose knitting made and saved their lives. Even though this was a rug hooking event – knitting featured prominently in it and the travels of the 3 “J’s”. They’d been told to detour to Lake Cowichan on their way to Victoria to learn about the famous Cowichan knitting. However, there wasn’t time for a detour and as it turned out – Cowichan knitting came to them in the form of a wonderful presentation by Sylvia.

Gene Shepherd who many of us in Australia know, has an active blogsite, runs an internet rug camp and has filmed many rug hooking related instructional videos. Gene is the Director of Cambria Pines Rug Camp and was Co-Director of the 2013 ATHA Biennial. Gene has published many articles in Rug Hooking Magazine and three books on rug hooking and dyeing. Gene made a dynamic presentation at this Conference on Colour in Your Rugs.

Dr. Robert Bateman’s Gala Dinner Key-note Presentation as Nature in Art. Dr Bateman is a world renowned Canadian naturalist and painter. His work is described in the Conference Program of Events as fusing realistic style with dynamic compositions, and capturing both the particularities of nature and his conservationist spirit. Bateman’s honours and awards are many, including Officer of the Order of Canada.

report by … Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair

Aussie Rugmakers visit Canada

Aussies@TIGHR_Conference_Canada_FrontRow_Elke_Smith-Hill_Anne_Schafer_Judith_Stephens_Miriam_Miller_Maggie_Whyte_BackRow_Jo_Franco_Jenny_Andersen_Jacqui_Thomson — Font: Elke Smith-Hill, Anne Schafer, Judith Stephens, Miriam Miller, Maggie Whyte Back: Jo Franco, Jenny Andersen, Jacqui Thomson

This happy band of Aussie Rugmakers attended the 2015 Triennial Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Their travels took them literally around the world.

Maggie left first headed to Montreal to spend time with her son and then on to Toronto where she used to live to visit friends.

Miriam and Jacqui had an adventurous time staying with friends in Israel, famiy in Belgium, more friends in Uist in the Outer Hebrides off the Scottish coast and continuing on to family and friends in the USA before arriving in Victoria by ferry and walking a short distance to the Conference Hotel.

Anne took a coach tour of Nova Scotia which included Cheticamp and Prince Edward Island and a visit to Deanne Fitzpatrick’s shop/studio in Amherst, New Brunswick and

Elke and her husband took an Alaskan cruise and mountain train ride before their arrival at the Conference.

The three “Js” Jo, Judith and Jenny met in Vancouver and travelled by car and a series of ferries on a four day tour up the Canadian Sunshine Coast across to Vancouver Island taking in the scenery (wonderful Fall colours) and visiting fibre artists along the way.

Yvonne Stowell’s FibreWorks Gallery in Madeira Park was their first stop. TIGHR member Michelle Sirois-Silver, who gave the Keynote Presentation (“Intersections” the place where the hooked surface and contemporary art meet) at the Conference Luncheon, was one of 25 BC textile artists sharing their stories through creative expressions of their version of mending in “mended” a travelling exhibition of contemporary textile art (Surface Design Association BC+Yukon)

Yvonne’s gallery is housed in a complex of yurtz – these buildings are a modern take on the felted dwellings originating on the Mongolian steppes. To read more about these simple, elegant and portable buidings check out Yurtz by Design. The manufacturer’s claim that these affordable buildings are durable holds up as Yvonne’s complex had been in place for nine years in a area that normally receives a relatively high rainfall – plenty of moss on the trees but none on the yurtz, inside or out.

Yvonne, a spinner & weaver, graciously treated the trio to a tour of her workshop and studio. All those wonderful yarns spun with silk, alpaca and merino wool which she dyes using natural dyes were irristable. Being knitters as well as rug hookers they just had to purchase some of her beautiful yarns.

This plant growing in pots around the yurtz caught everyone’s attention. Yvonne explained it was Japanese Indigo which she uses in her dye pot – apparently its very easy to grow – Judith was taking careful notes, so it will probably show up in her garden soon. Yvonne sells yarn, gives classes and hosts a spinners and weavers group but doesn’t sell knitting needles. Everyone was eager to start knitting with their newly purchased yarn, so she directed the travellers to Great Balls of Wool, at Powell River, for the needles and patterns needed. If you’re traveling in this area FibreWorks is a “must stop”, you’ll find Yvonne most hospitable and very knowledge.

Visiting Great Balls of Wool proved interesting for the three “Js” – they’d travelled half-way around the world to be asked if they’d like to attend talks and workshops by an Australian knitter! Jude Skeers, currently the resident artist at the wool shop. My online search indicated Skeers was previously associated with the TAFTA Forum in Orange.

Reading more about TAFTA Orange Forums I came across this article in a local newspaper . Apparently a main feature of that event was Perth artist Martien van Zuilen’s Mongolian yurt, used as a time-out and meeting place for the students. What a coincidence – I’d heard Martien give a presentation on yurtz at a WAFTA Talk in Perth a few years ago, and here I was now so far from home coming across yurtz and Martien’s name again.

There was more to this trip than just textiles – heading for a couple of nights in Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island, the travellers heard about the Salmon Run on the Stamp River near Pt. Alberni. A walk in the woods with the sun shining through the drifting golden leaves alongside the fish ladder where the salmon could be seen swimming upstream, was magic. Although there were a few disquieting thoughts about bears maybe sharing the area, as there had been reports that morning of bear sightings on the riverbank opposite the main area of town.

And in Ecluelet, a small fishing village not far from Tofino, a very pleasant hour or more was spent speaking with the Polish owner of Rubio a family owned jewellery shop, learning all about Baltic Amber and how this family came to be in business there.

Saturday on the way to Victoria, Jo, Judith & Jenny followed the Polka Dot Trail in Chermainus Valley. Val Galvin’s rug studio was their first stop

followed by a visit to Colleen Wilke’s Sage House Rug hooking Studio and Lorraine Taylor’s studio to see her colourful silk scarves. By mistake we visited Fred Law’s wood workers studio where Jo purchased a fantastic wooden spoon – it’s to be hoped it will get through Customs in OZ

By they time the 3 Js arrived in Victoria the rest of the Australian contingent was there and much swapping of travel tales began.

With so much to see and do in Victoria and so many old and new rug hooking friends to connect with, it will take me another blog or two to report on the actual Conference and the great time had by all. Jo Franco

Visiting Rugmakers

After visiting Guild members in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia and thinking about rugs hooked by members in Victoria and Western Australia, I realized just how differently members of this Guild approach design and the creation of their rugmaking projects.

The question often asked –

“is rug hooking an art or craft?”

is hard to answer because it depends entirely on who you’re asking and what they’re aiming to express through their rugmaking.

The simple techniques used in the past to create floor coverings, are now used artistically to create wall hangings, home decor items and wearables; to make social commentary; express inner feelings; bring groups together to work on community projects; promote well-being or just provide an outlet for a person to relax while making something they feel is attractive and useful.

While staying with Jacqui Thomson in New South Wales I was thinking about this as I admired the art work and rugs on her walls, particularly a large 4ft (122cm) square wall-hanging on the wall of Jacqui’s study hooked by Ilka Landahl, a member of the Narrawilly Proggers.

Unfortunately this photo, taken with my phone (permission given by Ilka & Jacqui) kept turning sideways in this blog. No amount of editing would prevent that happening, so I resorted to printing and scanning it back to my computer and in doing so lost the high resolution of the original image. My apologies Ilka, the detail in your rug, traditionally hooked with recycled fabric is truly amazing.

Social Commentary features in many of Judith Stephens (South Australia) hooked wall- hangings. Her work below, traditionally hooked using 100% wool yarn (photographed by Malcolm Edward-Cole), is for an exhibition later this year or next, concerning immigrants and Australia’s double standard.

Artistic expression: Judi Tompkins (QLD) has taken the rug hooking technique of Waldobrough to another level in wall hangings of her own design that represent something unique and full of meaning for the recipient of the piece.

Judi also pushes the envelope when it comes to the shape and framing of her hooked creations, as in Costas Hummingbirds which is framed with cactus wood.

Community Projects: Bec Andersen (QLD) has promoted several community projects using various rug hooking techniques in her fibre installations.

Below are pieces hooked by school children (11 year olds) using the Oxford Punchneedle hook. This was a special project of Bec’s which she shared with me and has given me permission to write a full report on in a future magazine article.

Expression of feelings: Our plans changed and I wasn’t able to visit Victoria (Aust) and meet up with Joy Marshall and Chris Noorbergen however they’d previously forwarded me photos of their rugs shown below.

Joy entered the work below in an exhibition which included works that depict loss, love and hope by those who have/are experiencing grief and depression.

Joy describes her Glimmers of Hope as –

My first rug using a linen backing and is approx 4 feet long and 1.5 feet wide. It uses recycled hand dyed blanketing and is my own design. It is a graphic representation of a phrase I woke up with in my head one morning a few years ago. “Glimmers of hope pierced the gloom” I then finished it with “like stars in the night sky”. After googling this phrase with no results I can only put it down to inspiration. I have long admired Van Gogh’s work and this piece is strongly reflective of Starry Sky. After the recent loss of my youngest son, this rug brought together the hope I have in God’s love that shines in the darkness of grief, Starry Night, and a hankering to try a design with cats paws.

Chris Noorbergen has used her creative rug hooking talents and the experience gained from a workshop with Heather Ritchie to hook a wall-hanging from a photograph of each of her six grandchildren, as they were completed, all have been featured on the Guild’s Facebook page. Chris has also lovingly created a hooked wall- hanging depicting members of her family and family events.

Marion Nefiodovas (South Australia) – subsequently took a Hooking a Portrait from a Photo workshop from Chris. Marion hooked a remarkable likeness of husband (George). Marion displayed the finished project at her visit to the Perth Craft and Quilt Fair when she and George were in Western Australia last May.

Chris also traveled to Western Australia at the same time and she visited Elizabeth (Lies) van Beem who lives in the South West of the state, and took this photo of the wall hanging Lies is working on. It’s Lies’s life story since arriving in Australia which she plans to enjoy on the wall of her home and hopes will become a family heirloom.

Wearables Robin Inkpen who also lives in the south west of Western Australia is creating more of her unique hooked bags. These one of a kind bags are now offered for sale in a high-end gift shop.

Community well-being: I (Jo Franco from West Aust) have been instrumental in bringing together a community group and teaching them to teach others.

Sue Gilmartin from the UK stayed with me after the 2012 TIGHR Conference and when she heard me talk of an idea for a hooked installation to depict the coming together of an inter-generational, multi-cultural group who are passing on the knowledge of a simple craft and using it to create artistic pieces, she encouraged me to enter a local sculptural exhibition we’d just come across online – it was closing day for entries, so we brainstormed a title Handing It On and I emailed my entry minutes before closing time.

After Sue returned to the UK I was pleased to be able tell her my entry had been accepted and then came the interesting part – putting it together.

For the base I utilized an old rug of unknown origin, probably made in the 1920 or 30’s from recycled clothing; connected to my new rug, made also with recycled fabrics however these were brightly coloured recycled sari-silk off-cuts and novelty yarn.

Circles made using an aboriginal basketry technique taught to me by Judith Stephens were incorporated in my rug and the same technique was used to make a group of arms and hands to represent the women from the community group. The hands were also were made of fabric representing old and new and from the same “coiling” method as the circles on which they sat. The hands held hooks from my collection of old and new rug hooking tools. The installation was the only textile exhibit and very colourful among sculptures of metal, iron and ceramic in a white gallery!

This same community group in Wanneroo worked together on an entry for a Wearable Art competition in 2014, and in 2015, a wall hanging in commemoration of the ANZACs.

Ebb & Flow hooked by the Wanneroo Rugmakers. Photographer Michael Kelly of Star Creations — Ebb & Flow hooked by the Wanneroo Rugmakers. Photographer Michael Kelly of Star Creation

Norma Hatchett (West Aust) has been teaching rug hooking with the use of a Rumplestiltskin tool, for almost 30 years, to blind and disabled members of the community. Over the last 10 years she has successfully run programs with residents suffering from dementia living in aged cared facilities.

Below Norma is shown giving a presentation at WAFTA about facilitating these projects and the benefits received by the residents as they sit together hooking. Norma designs the piece and transfers it onto the backing in 16inc x 11inc segments (the size of her frames) then each person hooks their individual piece of the wall hanging and when all are complete Norma sews them together. You can see this in the second image which I photographed from the back – this image also gives a good indication of the overall size of the piece.

In a nutshell; Norma said this program is successful because while residents are “together” no interaction is needed between the rug hookers each one has their own carer to help them with their part of the project. This provides an enjoyable social activity in a non-threatening environment. There is much more involved in setting up and facilitating the project and I have visited one of Norma’s sessions to see how it all comes together – it is amazing. One of her successes was a resident who wasn’t to be part of the group because she hadn’t spoken for 2 years – Norma encouraged her inclusion and at the conclusion of the 12 week rug hooking project this same lady had begun to talk again.

While I was traveling, Kira Mead from Albany West Australia whose quillie wall-hangings created such a stir on the Guild Facebook page, sent me an image of her latest rug. She is experimenting again! this rug was hooked with a traditional hook using chain stitch on the wide open-grid backing used for locker hooking.

The local Wanneroo group also sent me images of a new member’s work.

Margaret is new to the group and likes to work, not necessarily on miniatures, but on small pieces. Below is her first piece of “toothbrush” rugmaking finished after returning home from her first day with the group. Not quite sure how to overcome the fact that her rug was curling up, Margaret turned it into a birds nest. With some further instruction from the group the following week, she made a rug base for the nest and her bird, that I’m guessing is a Blue Fairy Wren from the south west of WA.

Judith Stephens and I will be teaching this Toothbrush rugmaking or Naarlbinding technique at the Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) in Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada in a couple of weeks.

Eight members of the Australian Rugmakers Guild who are also members of TIGHR will be traveling to this year’s Conference. Miriam and Jacqui have already left and have visited a rug hooking friend in Israel. They were thrilled to see Pamela’s hooked rugs, which will undoubtedly feature in Miriam’s next newsletter on her return home. Their travels will take them through Europe, to the Outer Hebrides and across the USA before we meet again in Victoria.

A few weeks ago when I was in New South Wales we talked about how amazing it is that this simple, old-fashioned craft has taken us on journeys across Australia and around the world and bought us in contact with so many interesting, sharing and caring people.

I have just realized that Miriam will be giving a talk on this very subject at the Conference; the different techniques of rug making in Australia, and has taken some samples to show. Hopefully she will include an article about her experience at the Conference in her newsletter at the end of the end of the year.

Now I must away and pack my bag, as I too will soon be leaving for Canada.

Judith Stephens and I have planned a short road trip in British Columbia prior to the Conference on Vancouver Island. The scenery will be vastly different from what I recently drove through on my trip across Australia – we definitely won’t be seeing any road signs like these……..

I just had to include this image which I took on our return trip as we approached the West Australia border having driven across the Nullabor Plain. This part of the coastline shows on the map as the Great Australian Bight.

We’ve made this trip before on Eyre Highway the southern East/West road but have never pulled off to at any of the vantage points to take photos. It wasn’t far to drive from the main road and I was glad we took the time the view was spectacular!

Well this blog started with a rug hooking image on a grand scale – ending with almost a miniature,

and here I am finishing with my own personal travel pics.

I feel fortunate indeed to be able to travel and enjoy my craft through meeting other rug hookers and seeing their creations.

Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair

Community Art Installation

“Piece by Piece for Peace”

(Designed & created by Bec Andersen)

Report by Jo Franco – still in Queensland;

I had a free afternoon last Friday 7th August and Bec Andersen had an open spot on her Calendar so I drove alone, up Mt. Tamborine to Bec’s studio/workshop. I hadn’t been there before; knew it would be in the hills, but didn’t realize I was going to be traveling up 22ks of winding road with hairpin bends and 12% grade – and me afraid of high places! My eyes were glued to the road ahead but occasionally I’d glimpse amazing vistas through the trees.

It was worth the trip and I’d really like to go back another time with someone else at the wheel so I could take in the views.

I didn’t have any trouble finding the address and when I looked down the drive and saw the open veranda door to her studio I recognized it immediately from images in her newsletters.

Bec is putting the finishing touches to a community art project. She says it’s easy, fun and joyous – I was wishing we weren’t leaving on the 13th – as it sounded very interesting and I would have liked to have taken part.

Below, I’ve added my comments to information and images taken from Bec’s newsletter:

If there’s anyone in the area who’d like to be in the fun and help, this is the last week to join in – she needs; knotters, sewers, bead makers, threaders and tea pourers.

The knotted rug looks very much like proggy (proddy).

Actually, the long ‘paper bead’ making is done! When I arrived at her Studio on Friday afternoon I found Bec up a ladder attaching long lengths of fishing line threaded with beads to a frame.

In all 11,000 papers beads have been made to create a circular curtain which will hang above a 3m diameter shag pile rug, estimated to take 24,000 knots and a whole lot of sewing.

Bec is planning to restore and reupholster (with upcycled denim jeans or skirts) this ‘found’ rocking chair – if you have any jeans to donate please take them along.

Helping her to work on this project is a really good excuse to get together, drink tea and make things, and share Make do and Mend stories – which she is collecting for the installation.

Do you have any stories? What did your mum or granny used to do to save pennies? Bec’s nana used to save up all the old bits of soap and melt them down to make larger cakes when the jar was full.

There will be two more of these fun filled get-togethers to help make, and to drink tea;

Thursday Aug 13 and Saturday Aug 15

from 9:30-12:30

at 8 Griffith St, North Tamborine

These morning teas will be followed by an installation at The Centre in Beaudesert on

September 19, coupled with an even bigger morning tea!

Even if you can’t make a working sessions, mark your calendars for

the Opening and The Long Morning Tea

Click here for Bookings and more information for the September event.

What a fantastic afternoon I spent with Bec – sharing our rughooking experiences, visions for the future of rughooking in Australia, and learning about her past projects and 100% wool yarn dyed using natural dyes sourced from around the world.

Bec teaches punch-needle rug hooking using the Amy Oxford punch-needle hooks. She also encourages her students to create their own designs and helps them with design concepts.

To turn her own designs into commissioned rugs, Bec uses an electric tufting gun – see some of her creations on her website

EAST meets WEST

by Jo Franco; Guild Editor/Blogger

A family holiday in Queensland provided the perfect opportunity for me to visit rugmakers in the area.

Judi Tompkins, the Guild’s webmaster and I talk regularly each week on Skype in an effort to maintain the website and bring rughooking news and Australian Guild members together.

Judi facilitates group meetings at the Beerwah Library from 3:00-6:00pm on the 2nd Monday and 3rd Tuesday of each month.

However to fit in with my schedule, she invited members of the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters to her studio on Sunday 2nd August for an informal workshop and “hook-in” and asked them to bring a recently finished, or favourite rug for Show & Tell. Some of the rugs have been shown before on this blog but there‘s nothing like seeing and touching the real thing.

In a recent post about the SCRC group’s demonstration at the Palmwoods Art & Crafts Show Stella could be seen working on her porpoise piece which is now completed and shown below with its companion piece.

Cetacan Dreaming designed and hooked by Stella Edmundson

Kangroos on Mars designed and hooked By Stella Edmundson

This was a day of exchanging information.

I shared Judith Stephen’s method for making bags & baskets using the toothbrush or nalbinding technique (also spelled nålbinding, naalbinding, nalebinding).

Some of the group decided to give the technique a go and make a bag, others opted to make mats – this one started by Bea.

Jo looking on as Anne & Pat, Cassie (with help from Sally) & Bea get started with their toothbrush rug hooking.

(Left) Annette & Diane studying the iPad bag made with this technique by Judith Stephens

and below, Judy and Annette getting started with their own toothbrush rug hooking projects.

Below is a bag made by Sally, a new member from Brisbane, who discovered this gathering through the Guild’s Facebook page and decided to join the Guild and attend.

Sally uses the punch-needle rug hooking technique and has worked on Amy Oxford designs which she purchased while overseas. She recently took a punch-needle hooking class with Bec Andersen at Mt. Tamborine, south of Brisbane,

On this day, Judi Tompkins showed her the traditional rughooking technique and how to prod a flower onto the little bag she’d almost completed.

(Below) Sally practicing the new techniques.

Information wasn’t just going one-way;

Sally brought her punch-needle hooked rugs to show, as well as the frame she’d made with a locally purchased substitute for metal gripper strips.

Details of this frame, the gripper substitute and images showing how Sally installed them on her frame, will be in the next Guild Newsletter ‘In the Loop’ emailed to members.

The day was full of conversation with everyone sharing rughooking ideas and asking questions, the only lull coming during morning tea and lunch as we enjoyed all the wonderful goodies everyone bought to share.

I demonstrated some other mat making techniques taught to me by Judith Stephens/ Guild President; Stick Weaving and the Chunky Rugmaker – unfortunately, examples of rugs using these techniques made by Judith and Fibre Necklaces made by Maggie Whyte, V.Pres/Secretary (ACT) using the Chunky Rugmaker were left behind on my workshop table in WA. Thank goodness for laptops and smart phones, I was able to pull up these images to share.

(Above) a hot pad made with stick weaving using recycled sheets and wool yarn. Alongside are the sticks set up to begin a new project.

(Above) A mat being created with the Chunky Rugmaker using carpet wool and soft recycled fabric for the stuffing.

(Below) A Fibre necklace created by Maggie Whyte (ACT) with the same tool using knitting yarn and tiny scraps of fabric – the snippets from other rug hooking projects. Maggie will be at the Expertise Events Craft Fair in Canberra through this weekend, undoubtedly she will have some good examples of this technique on show.

(Below) Diana watching Stella start a stick weaving project extraordinaire – the finished project shown below is destined to be a hanger for one of her rugs.

Over the chair behind Diana is a mat she completed recently at a CWA workshop. It is similar to the toothbrush rugmaking technique we were using, the difference is it only uses one strip of fabric – there is no cording or base strip.

Pat and Val opted for trying Stick Weaving instead of the Toothbrush technique.

Not only was I meeting new rughooking friends but I also had the pleasure of catching up with Annette White again. We’d met at Miriam Miller’s studio in Milton a few years ago. Before she moved to the Sunshine Coast, QLD from NSW, Annette was a member of the Narrawilly Proggers and featured in many news reports about their gatherings.

Photos just don’t do justice to the detail in rugs and I was glad Annette had brought her Three Wise Men, which I’d seen images of while posting the blog, but hadn’t fully appreciated the detail and embellishments on this rug – they are amazing.

Below are some happy snaps taken by Judi Tompkins during our fun filled day

It was so good to meet these new, but very talented rugmakers after seeing so many images of the group in action, (Judy Owen, Stella, Diana, Ann, Pat, Cassie, Val, Margaret, Bea and Annette). Judi Tompkins focus in her own rug work is the Waldoborough technique and her rug designs are original and textural.

Judi has departed from the traditional square/rectangular shaped rugs, with most of her creations being free-form in shape and incorporating elaborate frames. This knowledge has been passed on to the group and they have really picked it up and run with it – there were no ‘ordinary beginner’ rugs in sight!

I think everyone went home suffering from information overload but very happy and ready for more of these social events.

Sally, who lives and works in Brisbane said – “Should you find other Guild members from Brisbane who are looking to catch up occasionally then please count me in.”

Victorian Workshops support Missions

Learn how to make beautiful, unique rugs

from recycled fabrics,

while supporting missionaries and children in Southern Asia and Uganda.

100% of proceeds donated to missions.

Book into a half or full day workshop with Chris at Loch in beautiful South Gippsland. No prior skills required but fun and fellowship guaranteed.

Half day and full day workshops offered.

Tools available to borrow for the day, or purchase.

For more information click this link – it will take you to the Yarra Vallley Rugmakers website where you’ll find a contact form on the right of the page.

Rughooking News from Queensland

The Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters had a busy day

at the Palmwoods Arts & Craft Show

on Saturday 18th July.

There was a lot of interest in this craft from visitors to the event and many took cards and expressed an interest in learning this craft.

All members of the group did a great job engaging with the visitors to the booth and explained and demonstrated what this was all about and how to do it!

Below Diana demonstrates and then allows a visitor to work on her rug.

I was so proud to see how far this group of “young hookers” have come in the last year particularly.

The group now has on offer to the public a wonderful range of diverse styles, techniques and approaches that can be used to demonstrate how individual this work can be.

Many thanks to all for their help ……. it was a long day!

Report by Judi Tompkins

*******

More rughooking events are coming up in Queensland

in July and August – take a look at the Current Calendar of Events

Mystery tool – no longer a mystery!

REMEMBER THIS UNFINISHED RUG?

created with wool yarn and looking like “Chenille”

it was given to the Wanneroo Rugmakers Group

along with a rough sketch and description of the tool with which it was made.

Well, the tool’s no longer a mystery!

The Wanneroo Rugmakers group was given one of these tools by a visitor to the Museum who had seen rugs made by the Group on exhibition there earlier this year.

The tool, made by Singer Sewing Machine Company, is in excellent condition and in its original packaging, dated 1932, complete with instructions for use.

As you can see, the label on the box proclaims it as

“A New Simple and Practical Sewing Art”

Not only do the printed instructions detail its use, along with step by step images, they suggest what backing fabrics can be used and also what types of wool yarn – noting the tool could also be used with strips of cloth.

As a group, the Wanneroo Rugmakers have the beginnings of quite a collection of antique rugmaking tools.

I wonder how many other groups around the country also have unique rug making items which could be recorded on the Guild website?

If you do, and would like to share your treasures email Jo @ rughookingaustralia@gmail.com

Colour! Colour everywhere –

Following a post featuring the colourful works created by the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters, these images of recent creations from Western Australia reflect the use of colour in Aussie rug making.

Australian rughookers have an affinity for bright colours – it must have something to do with the climate, wide open spaces and blue skies plus the number of hours of sunshine each day, especially in Western Australia, even though it’s winter here.

Robin Inkpen has just finished designing and hooking another wonderful carpet bag, destined for sale in an upmarket boutique.

Robin’s carpet bags are unique, each is “personalized” with it’s own identifying name and tag (shown above) which contains a description, i.e.

My name is Belinda, I am a carpet bag.

Robin decided to name me because I am unique. I cannot be reproduced or mass produced. The designs, colours and yarns Robin hooked into me are totally random and inspired as she works;

I am a totally hand made piece of art.

Robin hopes that you enjoy me as much as she enjoyed making me.

* * * *

Kira Mead has taken the product of recent workshops where she demonstrated the making of her quillies and participants “had-a-go” – and created this colourful chair cover

“le tourbillon derrie’re” (the swirl behind).

A close up of the chair pad surface

The images below show how these small demo swirls grew into this wonderful chair pad.

Starting with swatches of recycled wool dyed with food colour ;-

Above – the beginning swirls

Below – Some of the swirls created in the workshops

The 2015 Triennial Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) came to end with a FibreFest and Gala Dinner – here are some of the highlights :

GALA DINNER:

With the Vancouver visit coming to an end, we three were invited to visit the Studio of Michelle Sirois-Silver.

Transformation

Empowerment

+ Sustainability

Zero Waste

These studio visits were an inspiring way to finish up the 2015 Triennial Conference in Canada.

Now it’s time to save up for the 2018 Triennial in the UK.

Jo Franco

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TIGHR members from Canada, USA, UK, Japan and Australia,

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This happy band of Aussie Rugmakers attended the 2015 Triennial Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

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After visiting Guild members in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia and thinking about rugs hooked by members in Victoria and Western Australia, I realized just how differently members of this Guild approach design and the creation of their rugmaking projects.

The question often asked –

“is rug hooking an art or craft?”

is hard to answer because it depends entirely on who you’re asking and what they’re aiming to express through their rugmaking.

Joy describes her Glimmers of Hope as –

Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair

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“Piece by Piece for Peace”

(Designed & created by Bec Andersen)

The knotted rug looks very much like proggy (proddy).

the Opening and The Long Morning Tea

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A family holiday in Queensland provided the perfect opportunity for me to visit rugmakers in the area.

Judi Tompkins, the Guild’s webmaster and I talk regularly each week on Skype in an effort to maintain the website and bring rughooking news and Australian Guild members together.

Cetacan Dreaming designed and hooked by Stella Edmundson

Kangroos on Mars designed and hooked By Stella Edmundson

This was a day of exchanging information.

Information wasn’t just going one-way;

Share this:

Learn how to make beautiful, unique rugs

from recycled fabrics,

100% of proceeds donated to missions.

Share this:

The Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters had a busy day

at the Palmwoods Arts & Craft Show

on Saturday 18th July.

Report by Judi Tompkins

*******

More rughooking events are coming up in Queensland

Share this:

REMEMBER THIS UNFINISHED RUG?

Well, the tool’s no longer a mystery!

“A New Simple and Practical Sewing Art”

If you do, and would like to share your treasures email Jo @ rughookingaustralia@gmail.com

Share this:

Following a post featuring the colourful works created by the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters, these images of recent creations from Western Australia reflect the use of colour in Aussie rug making.

My name is Belinda, I am a carpet bag.

I am a totally hand made piece of art.

* * * *

Kira Mead has taken the product of recent workshops where she demonstrated the making of her quillies and participants “had-a-go” – and created this colourful chair cover

“le tourbillon derrie’re” (the swirl behind).

* * * *

Share this:

*** * * ***