Author: RugCrafters australia

A U3A rugmaking group, 20 active women in Bermagui, NSW, has taken on a very ambitious project:-

they are planning to create a 7metre wall hanging to help absorb sound in the local Surf Life Saving Club.

Here are just a few of the group of novice rugmakers with their first practice pieces.

Anja, Dawn, Sheila, Hazel, Lyn and Elizabeth (kneeling)

This community arts project has begun with a local artist (86 year old Rona) painting her 7metre drawing of a Bermagui scene.  When completed the group will transfer the design to 1 metre panels of backing so that they can work on it in small groups.

They think the completed panels will have to be hung individually, with a small space between, as joined together the wall hanging would be enormously heavy and unwieldy.   The leader of the group is a self taught rug hooker, the rest have no experience with rug hooking, but between them they are coming up with some sensible solutions.

They’d welcome  any advice on their proposed project

(Besides……………… not  to attempt such a hug project in the first place!)

You can post a comment below, or email rugcraftersaustralia@yahoo.com.au and your message will be forwarded.

What do you get when you marry a lost traditional craft with one-off design?

Three pieces of unique and valuable fibre art!

In January, it was decided that it was time for the members of the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters to “fly solo” on a collaborative community project that would challenge them to design and handcraft a series of fibre art pieces that would ultimately be donated for a community fund raising project.

Judi Tompkins (group coordinator) recognised that some members were not convinced they “really” had the skills to produce fibre art of a quality that it could be offered for public display – in spite of the fact that nearly every member had been besieged to “make me something” by a friend or family member.

Behind the scenes, Judi thought this community project would be an ideal way to let the group prove to themselves that they had the skills to carry off such a major project and planning sessions were held regularly at Judi’s studio. (Judi did not work on any of the pieces but was available to discuss traditional techniques and design.)

The group decided to design and hook three wall hangings using the theme “Under the Sea” and guidelines were developed to insure that the three pieces could “stand alone” or be displayed as a triptych of the chosen theme:  “Under the Sea”.

Each piece incorporated some of the same fabric so the theme was carried through with the materials as well as the topic.  The members sorted themselves loosely into three teams and over the next nine months gave birth to three healthy, unique pieces of fibre art.

A spectrum of positive outcomes resulted from this group collaboration:

• The project confirmed members knew more about this craft than they realised.
• Through collaboration they developed skills to give and receive praise / criticism.
• Recognition they possessed good problem-solving skills – they didn’t need “the teacher” to fix things.
• Members’ knowledge / skills of other crafts led to innovative solutions.
• All learned to project plan every finished project – not just those for public display.
• They can each confidently offer advice and help to others.
• Collaboration is a great way to work – at least once in a while!

In appreciation for their support of the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters, the triptych of wall hangings were delivered to staff of the Beerwah Library and the “Friends of the Beerwah Library” for their fund raising activities.

This project was well documented to see more images click Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters at work.

The previous post showed images from the Canberra Quilt & Craft Fair.

Displayed at the Australian Rugmakers Guild stand was a brilliantly coloured rug featuring Canadian Maple leaves.

This rug was hooked by Karen Kaiser from Canada who recently visited Milton, NSW and gave two workshops at Miriam Miller’s Rug Room at Narrawilly.  As she was leaving, in appreciation for their wonderful hospitality, Karen gave Miriam and Jacqui two of her rugs.

Miriam and Jacqui travelled to Canberra to help Maggie Whyte on the first day of the Fair and they took the Maple Leaf rug to display.  Maggie was thrilled as she is also a member of the Narrawilly Proggers and had attended Karen’s workshops.

So even though Karen didn’t make it to Canberra on her Australian visit  – her rug did.

by Judith Brook of Australia & New Zealand

Editors note: Judith originally a New Zealander, lives in QLD, Australia, and recently exhibited a hooked rug creation in an exhibition in Kingaroy, QLD, commemorating

100 Years of ANZACs

The following photographs, with Judith’s comments, show the progress of her hooked creation.

Judith says:  I used a rag mat (recycled fabric) as the medium because it was a common thing at the time and I left it “imperfect” because nothing about war is perfect.

Here the wording is almost finished.    The stars represent the Australian Flag and the actual rug measures 58 x 85.5 cm.

This photo is to show you don’t need expensive equipment to make rugs

I found this British flag in the Op Shop and thought it a fitting backdrop as the young men shed their blood fighting for the British.

To make it more meaningful to the local residents, I copied the names from the Roll of Honour at the local war memorial of all the men from the area who died in the   1st World War and then wrote their names on the flag.