On the 4th & 5th May (2013) rugmaking was again represented at the Mandurah Stretch Arts Festival in Western Australia.
Read more about the weekend and the workshop to be given in Mandurah on Monday 27th May, on the expanded Blog in the Member Area. You must be a Guild member and register to “log-in” to access the expanded Blog in the Member Area
The Exhibition brief called for a sculptural piece – how could one enter a 2-D rug? …………. add a basketry element!
I’ve been involved for a couple of years with a group that came together to hook rugs for community projects. The members are from diverse backgrounds and different age groups – it’s been interesting to see the camaraderie develop as they come together and learn more about rughooking – it’s truly a revival of an old craft.
The structural elements of this piece represent the arms and hands of rug hookers past and present holding antique and modern tools. The rag rug on the right was made in the depression era from recycled well-worn clothing. The new, brightly coloured rug was hooked using “up-cycled” fabrics (silk sari off-cuts) and hand-dyed woolen and novelty yarn.The design inspired by an aerial view of coastal North West Australia and the shape of the arms and hands by Boab trees growing in the North West.
This question “is rughooking and art or craft” is often discussed on online rughooking website. I’d like to thank Guild members – Judi Tompkins, Sue Gilmartin and.Susan Feller who encouraged me to enter this juried exhibition. It was fun figuring out how to create this project and satisfying to see it take shape. Jo
The Rugmakers Guild will have a Stand at the Perth Craft Fair, come and visit with members there. 
Guild President Judith Stephens will give a free workshop/presentation each day from 11:00am – 11:30am on making rugs to match your quilts
The 5th of April was a busy day for the Narrawilly Proggers in NSW.
See more about these rugs created by Bev Latta, Carol Flynn and Elaine Kitchener on the expanded Blog in the Members Area :-
Post your questions about rug hooking, proggy, supplies, tools or how to..
The post “Finished at Last!” about Judith’s large “William Morris” rug created a great deal of interest – the question asked by many was, where do you find a large frame to make such a rug?
A large frame is not necessary Judith’s rug was completed on the frame shown here – the workspace in the face of the frame is 14″ x 18″. To begin with the backing was held to the frame with small clamps – as the rug progressed it’s own weight held it down.
Finished at Last! Judith Stephens of Strathalbyn, South Australia says her rug – “Minty Morris” an adaptation of a William Morris design with the addition of one of her own border designs. The rug measure 6′ by 6′ (180cm x 180cm) and was completed using hand-dyed 100% woollen carpet yarn, hooked on linen.
The rug was “underway” when the image below was taken by Gene Shepherd at the Strathalbyn Rug Hooking Expo (Oct 2012) and displayed on his Internet Rug Camp blog.
Now finished and in place, the colour-fastness of the yarn (dyed with Queens food colouring) will be tested, as the rug is in front of glass french doors in the music room. At the opposite end of the room another rug completed with wool yarn sits beneath the piano stool – Gene’s Miss Weigle design which Judith started at Cambria, June 2011 and finished just a few weeks after her return to Australia.
The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers acknowledged Australia Day with a post on their site at http://www.TIGHR.net/2013/01/25/in-celebration-of-australian-members-january-26 . Several of our members created exchange mats for their conference held here in South Australia last Fall.
Here are some of our works:
The Donnybrook Hookers are up and running after just 5 months with 12 keen members. Just look at the amazing hooking and prodding work they’ve done in such a short time!
Lucille prodded a colourful rug with a design in circles and lined it with an old towel because it was to go in front of the sink. In fact her daughter took this mat and used it in her house and then washed it in the washing machine! I am happy to report it looks wonderful and will be washed again when needed.
The Donnybrook Hookers meet every Wednesday and our number grows weekly.This is also a very social group and most come for the opportunity to get together and enjoy each other’s company. (Blogger: Robin Inkpen)
Finally! After several attempts to break the “wool ceiling” my efforts to promote Australia’s “lost” traditional craft in Queensland finally generated enough community interest (30+ people) so I was finally able to present a demonstration/workshop through the Beerwah Library on the Sunshine Coast. I rather foolishly assumed that – as is so often the case – only about half the number would actually attend on the day but 25 showed up!
Since I’m an old hand at teaching groups, I tend to plan for “emergencies” so I optimistically pulled together enough materials, frames, tools, fabric and equipment for 25 people and set up the community room with 6 frames, chairs, and fabric/cutting table.
Throughout the session I ran a slide show of some of my projects,and displayed sample materials and small projects. To help people see this craft as affordable, I deliberately brought tools and equipment that ranged from “make it yourself” (dolly pegs, knitting needles, crochet hooks and embroidery hoops) to the more expensive stretcher and lap/floor frames, metal and timber turned hooks/prodders. 
If the noise level of a group is any indicator of a good time, then this group had a great time!
Update:
Feedback to the library was so good that Queensland has its first community group – the “Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters” – who meet at the library two afternoons a month. The two January sessions involved 11 people (with 8 apologies) and over time I hope to have a “core” group of about 8-12 people for each group. (Blogger: Judi Tompkins)
