Blog – Page 5 – Rughooking Australia

Challenges of Collaboration

ISSN 2007-001X April 2018

“TEXTILE TESSERA” is an installation by Judi Tompkins (Queensland) and Jo Franco (Western Australia),

Conveners of

“Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference –

a virtual mixed media Exhibition.

As participants in the “Re-imagined” Challenge finish entries, take photographs and write Artist Statements, the conveners have just started their textile installation to be displayed at the Opening of “Re-imagined” at Rug Hooking Week at Sauder Village, Ohio, USA.

The original abstract design, a representation of the puzzle of a fibre diaspora was Judi’s. Jo being more literal, immediately saw it as a map of Australia, suggesting it seemed appropriate with the Exhibition featuring work from the Southern Hemisphere.

Thus, Judi’s tongue in check reference to this particular piece of the installation as :-

“My multi-coloured piece with the glass sparkly bits and bits of metal are indeed representational of Australian outback (drawing on my taxidermy-ness)…

as if a road train has driven at speed through a flock of Lorikeets and scattered the feathers and shattered windscreen across the landscape!! Oh….maybe that is too vivid?

Was thinking of calling this piece…Flattened Fauna…. Maybe that’s too strong?

Judi goes on to describes the process so far;

At first glance, Jo and my decision to collaborate on a piece for “Re-imagined”: a Challenge with a Difference seemed pretty straightforward. After all, we have a pretty good understanding and respect for each other’s opinions and approach to rughooking and fibre/textile art; we communicate well and offer support and criticism in a constructive way; agreed on our common goal; are willing to compromise; are reliable and reasonable time-mangers; and Jo is pretty tolerant!

So, could we have overlooked anything in our simple plan to share the work on a common project and bring it smoothly together at the end?

You bet! (Keeping in mind that your experience will differ from ours.)

Life Like all of you, we both have incredibly busy lives on a “good” day with the usual appointments, chores, family “stuff”, frustrations and things that require attention and get in the way. I however managed to add selling a house, moving and building a house and studio into the middle of this; and the building process became quite awful just about the time I was due to work on our mutual project and served to redefine and clarify the concept of “challenge” for me!

Logistics Naturally if you build a new house and don’t have family to live with (sponge off?) then you need find someplace to rent and keep your “stuff” – most of which you are convinced you won’t need because the build will, “only take about four months”. Hah!

Just to keep things interesting and adrenaline-filled, I initially kept only a few boxes of rughooking and fibre supplies, frames, fabrics and fibres in a small room at my rental unit – supposedly my “studio” but used by my dog as her “office”.

“I’ll just keep the necessary things because I can easily get anything I need from one of the two large shipping containers at the building site”.

Hah! (again)

I realised too late that access to these containers would be “delicate” because of the construction toilet and the sheer volume of stacked building materials. Oh well…surely, I can get what I need from Spotlight.
Wrong.

Gradually I unloaded more and more from the storage units into my rental “studio” and into the back bedroom,

ensuring I can’t find anything in any location.

(“but…I know I have it somewhere”)

Timing
The realization that I need to get my “bit” done well in advance of my shifting house; preparation for a workshop/demo early in July and Jo’s leaving for the US when she takes our collaborative piece to the launch of the “Re-imagined” Challenge at Sauder Village, made the next obstacle an extra challenge indeed!

Tabula Rasa
Yes. The dreaded blank slate indeed! In spite of all the communication via email, Skype, photos and Facebook with Jo…I just couldn’t start hooking!

Didn’t know what to do (I thought I did at first…but I didn’t!); didn’t know where to start; didn’t know what fabric and colours to use; didn’t like what I did start; convinced I just couldn’t do it; thought it was probably a dumb idea anyway (whose was it? Surely I was innocent in all this!).

Nearly suggested that Jo should “just do it”. I didn’t.

I’m sure there are and will be other hassles and frustrations with getting this collaboration done but it has been worth the aggravation. It is indeed a challenge and had really pushed me (nearly over the edge…but not quite…yet!)

I need to think faster; keep the goal and vision in mind and

just “do it”!
I will.
I am.
I will be OK in the end…everything is frustrating at the halfway point.”

From Jo …………

To brighten my day and tie our works together Judi sent me some of this yummy coloured silk yarn purchased from Clare at Feltfine.com.au

My section of the project is also underway, however in a more “restrained” style.

If you haven’t collaborated on a textile art work, you really should give it a try, it’s amazing what you learn and it is fun!

Australian Rug Hooking Events

ISSN 2007-001X March 2018

2018 – off to a good start – locations of the growing number of Rugmaking Groups around Australia were updated and are now detailed on the Current Events page.

A Tyger by another name – girl washing the stripes of a tiger. Designed and hooked Waldoboro style by Judi Tompkins

“Murphy” designed & hooked by Judi Tompkins QLD Australia

At the Winter Craft Festival June/July 2018 to be held at the Kingaroy Art Gallery, Judy Brook from the Red Earth Rugmakers and Judi Tompkins from the Sunshine Coast RugCrafters will demonstrate rug hooking and Judi T will give a “Waldoboro” rug hooking workshop.

Waldoboro is used to describe rugs hooked in a sculptured or 3-dimensional style. It’s a traditional technique named for the town of Waldoboro, Maine, on the north-east coast of the USA where rugs hooked in this sculptured technique (usually with floral designs) date back to the 1870-80s. Using the same technique and different materials, Judi has used this 3-D effect on many of her rug hooking projects depicting animals.

News from the Sunshine Coast RugCrafters …. Claudia from Brisbane recently visited a Sunshine Coast Group meeting at the Beerwah Library, seen here showing Stella her Emma Lou Lais pattern hooked on Monks cloth, and a “Memory Rug”.

Hooked by Claudia for the 8 yr old daughter of her nephew, whose sister, Lacey (Claudia’s niece) was killed in a car accident two weeks from her 20th birthday. The rug is designed to include Lacey and all the things she loved. This was a special rug hooked with love.

Speaking of “special rugs”

Gail Nichols from New South Wales has had EXCITING NEWS …. notification from Rug Hooking Magazine that her rug, ‘Temple Fish‘ was selected as a finalist and will be published in Celebrations 2018. See more of Gail’s amazing tapestries here

Temple Fish 2017 – new & recycled fabric hooked on hessian backing 164x115cm by Gail Nichols NSW Australia

Also from New South Wales; Maxine’s group in Bellingen was featured in Miriam Miller’s recent newsletter, “Connecting Us”.

Phornthips starting a rug for her grandson

Ann with one of her many large rugs hooked using recycled blankets.

Closer to home …………………… Miriam reports the Milton Show was held on 2nd & 3rd March – The Theme this year was “Milk and Meat”.
Janet and Elke, were stewards in the Proggy and Hooky Rug Section and arranged a roster of Rugmakers to demonstrate rug making and talk to the public during the two days of the Show.

Sheila Capel, Christine Alexander, Judy Thurecht, Bev Latta, Elaine Kitchner, Ilka Landahl and Jacqueline Thomson were all awarded prizes in the various rug hooking categories.

All issues of “Connecting Us” can be found on the Guild website

Also, in New South Wales;

Margaret hooked images of her two Granddaughters from photographs of the girls. Margaret said …….
“FINALLY FINNISHED! these are my beautiful granddaughters. I have included the photos which inspired me to hook these pieces. I hope my work shows how beautiful the girls are, both inside and out – I love them very much.”

BIG rugs seem to be all the rage in New South Wales – in Braidwood Maggie Hickey finished hooking this large rug (2metres x 2.2 metres) comprised of eight separate pieces sewn together. The rug was designed and commissioned by artist Alison Alder, to fit her living room. Alison requested it be made in wool for durability.

Maggie said: “I planned it in 6 pieces but subsequently we decided it was going to be too short for the space. It was decided to add strips of lime green to either end. I used some wool yarn and some strips of wool blanket, dyed to obtain the required colours”

ACT – Canberra: Maggie Whyte, Australian Rugmakers Guild Vice Pres & Secretary, will be one of a group of Aussie Rugmakers traveling to Reeth, UK, to attend The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers’ (TIGHR) 2018 Triennial in the Yorkshire Dales village of Reeth, home of well known rug hooker Heather Ritchie, current President of TIGHR.

Maggie, a felter as well as a rug maker, is interested in many textile techniques.

Examples of her creations using a “Chunky Rugmaker” are shown with Maggie’s permission in the Technique pages of “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference.

All 12 rug making techniques can be seen here. (Images are shown with permission of artists and photographers.)

Swap n Sell – this website page has been re-arranged so it’s easier to compare items. If you’re looking for wool fabric to hook with, a new member from Victoria has a huge stash which she’d like to sell. See more of the wool fabric available on this link.

Victorian Guild member, Marcia King, and rug hooking instructor, will be demonstrating rug making on the 28th April at the Off the Grid Living Festival
in Eldorado, a town in the foot hills of the Alpine Ranges, between Wangaratta and Beechworth, just 3 hours from Melbourne and a little more from Canberra.

Also in Victoria, the Yarra Valley Rugmakers continue to meet in each other’s homes and hook rugs even on the hottest days of this past summer.

Chris said …. “Joy finished her third Psalm 23 stair tread ‘In the Valley’ and started whipping her rugs, being 3/4 finished on one rug by the end of the day. It’s amazing what you can achieve in a day.” You can read more about this group and contact them through their Blog

Tasmania: The Happy Hookers have been posting some interesting latch hooked rugs on their Facebook page The group has a new meeting place; ART AS MANIA on Emu Bay Road, Deloraine

We’ve also been following artist Alyson-Jean’s progress creating a large latch-hooked rug of her own design – shown here with the artists permission.

“Magic Carpet” Click this link to see Alyson-Jean’s video.

South Australia; the Stationmaster’s Red Hen is the new home of the StrathMatters rug group in Strathalbyn. The Red hen is a renovated train carriage sitting on the tracks next to the Stationmaster’s Art gallery housed in an historic railway building.

The Rug Group meets on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month. All look very comfortable in their new home – you can see more of their rug work on their blog

Currently showing in the Stationmaster’s Art Gallery, is “Threads” – a fabric exhibition which includes furniture, wall hangings, AND rugs – this one designed and hooked by Judith Stephens, Guild President.

Gail shared a successful mending project ….. her rug made of polar fleece strips on latch hook backing had been damaged by a chair leg. A new piece of backing was spot glued onto the back and rehooked, mainly with the old strips. Gail was disappointed she couldn’t use recycled polar fleece but wanted specific simple colours; the blue/green – throws from Ikea and the yellow bought by the metre from Spotlight. All sliced with a rotary cutter.

Designed & hooked by Gail, a member of the StrathMatters Rug Group, Strathalbyn, South Australia

Western Australia; Learning a new technique at the Wanneroo Rugmakers group – Melissa who’d lived in Japan for many years showed how to make Kanzashi (folded fabric) flowers, Margaret, the crafty gardener, caught on quickly (shown here) similar flowers are to be added to a “Re-imagined” Challenge creation.

Robin Inkpen, visiting from Donnybrook in the South West of WA, demonstrated how to make coiled mats and vessels and displayed some of her creations. She also gave the group a punch needle hooking lesson on the newly constructed large punch needle frame with “plastic teeth” – both a #9 and #10 Oxford Punch needle were successfully used. It was thought that maybe the frame is too large? Amy Oxford has provided us with some helpful information which you can see on her FAQs page.

Sharon introduced the Wanneroo Group to the Uthando doll project supported by knitting and sewing groups across Australia and showed a basket of dolls made by a group of teenage girls she supervises – helping others helps the girls. These images posted on the Guild Facebook page have created interest from as far away as Mexico.

“Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference update …… 30 April 2018 is the deadline for submission of images of completed entries. Participants will be emailed a link through which they can upload their large images or videos, rather than send as email attachments ……… please make sure your email address is on file with rugcraftingaustralia@gmail.com to receive further emailed information.

There have been many inspirational posts on the “Re-imagined” Facebook page including images of examples by guild members, of the different rug making techniques listed on the Call for Entries.
A question asked recently “what techniques can be used in this Challenge?” the following answer was posted on the Facebook page ….

“Your entry can be created using whatever textile technique you desire, however, it must in some small way, include; have attached to; sit on or hang from; one of the rug making techniques listed in the Call for Entries.”

To refresh participants memory all 12 pages featuring examples of; braiding, quillies, coils, toothbrush and chunky rugmaking, proddy, stick weaving, traditional, punch needle, latch and locker hooking and tufting were shown together and can be seen on this link.

From the Editor: Because of increased rug making activity across the country, this report was lengthy – I do hope you took the time to scroll to the end. In the future, Blogs will be shorter about specific groups or events. It’s hard to not mention all the groups rug making activities and gratifying to see where this traditional craft is taking members. Keep on sharing your creativity.

Seasons Greetings from the Australian Rugmakers Guild

ISSN 2007-001X December 2017

Greetings to you all

I’m sending you my best wishes for a happy and healthy Festive Season.
It is a time to share with family and friends, but hopefully you will be able to find a little time for some creative moments which you can share with all of us through this blog.
Happy rugmaking!
Judith Stephens, SA, President
&
Member of StrathMatters

Best Wishes also from the ARG Committee & State Representatives

Maggie Whyte, ACT, Vice President & Secretary, member Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers

Maggie modelling in the Annual Fashion Parade at Miriam Miller’s Rug Room, Narrawilly, Milton, NSW

Tricia Thacker, WA, Treasurer, member of the Wanneroo Rugmakers

Judi Tompkins, QLD, Communications Chair & Webmaster. Member of the Sunshine Coast RugCrafters and Co-convener of “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference.

Miriam Miller, NSW, President Emeritus, Member of the Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers

Anne Schafer & Christine Noorbergen, VIC, members of the Yarra Valley Rugmakers

Joanne Wild, TAS, member of the Happy Hookers

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year

Jo Franco, WA, Editor & Membership Chair Member of the Wanneroo Rugmakers and Co-convener of “Re-imagined“ a Challenge with a Difference.

Footprints in the sand at Christmas

ISSN 2007-001X 15th December, 2017

An Update on the Footprint Project

Enlargements [2m (6ft) long], of my footprints are being hooked using single-use plastic bags, by the Wanneroo Rugmakers group as part of a research project by Sue Girak, PhD, Visual Arts Specialist, City Beach PS, Perth, West Australia.

Judy cutting plastic bags into pieces to prod. Anna and Kath finishing off the proddy edge of the left footprint.

Definitely a “group” project – Anna, Kath and Judy working together from the back of the piece – while Rhonda knits and supervises.

The “right” footprint is complete and has found a temporary home (until Christmas) in the library in a marquee advertising “Summer Wonderland” – workshops for children of all ages to learn how to make Christmas decorations.

Ours is a Summer Wonderland at Christmas – the only thing white is the sand!

The finished footprints will be delivered to Sue after the holidays when school starts again in February.

Textile artist and author Susan Feller (USA) included this Australian research project in a presentation she made on “Educating about Craft” at the 2017 Association of Traditional Hooking Artists Biennial Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Read more about the project in the report sent to Susan Feller by Sue Girak

Remember when one only spoke in a whisper in the library? Well things have changed …. this library encourages and supports activities for many different age groups. Fortunately the library space is laid out such that enthusiastic members of one group don’t interrupt others.

Much sharing of ideas, learning, conversation and laughter takes place in this space on a Saturday morning! The group is open to all members of the community.

This is one project we were pleased to see come to an end! Working with the plastic bags was hard on the hands, and the work just didn’t feel good in the hand, nevermind it’s dubious artistic quality 🙂 However, it has provided an opportunity for discussion regarding “waste” and what we can all do on a personal level to try to help solve the problem. Needless to say, the group is looking forward to their next project in the New Year.

Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year from the Wanneroo Rugmakers Group – Jo Franco, Editor

International Rug Hooking Day 2017

ISSN 2007-1X 6th December, 2017

An actual “day” for rughooking, how did this come about?

The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers was formed in England on 4th December 1994. On the twentieth anniversary of the formation, the Guild declared December 4th to be International Hooking Day in celebration of the anniversary and to further their mission statement –

“to come together in friendship to share ideas, and to explore the different techniques of the art of rugmaking using a variety of fibres”

Rug Hooking Magazine supports the International Guild and each year dedicates a Facebook page for rug hookers and rug making groups around the world to post pictures of their activities on, or connected to, this day.

It’s been a busy time in rug hooking circles around Australia and images of Australian groups activities were posted on Rug Hooking Magazines Facebook.

In NSW – there was an International connection as the Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers gathered at Miriam Miller’s rug room in Milton to hold their annual Fashion Parade – members model garments from the Op Shop where they source the recyclables for their rug work.

Maggie Whyte, Canberra, ACT – Vice President Australian Rugmakers Guild

Maggie-Mother of the Bride, Christine-Bridesmaid, Jenny-Bride, Elke-Bridesmaid, Vivienne-2nd Mother of the Bride

At the end of the parade the garments are auctioned, and the money raised sent to Heather Ritchie in the UK to support her “Rug Aid” project, a rughooking school for the visually impaired in The Gambia.
From Heather Ritchie, UK ….. “Rug Aid is so grateful for your wonderful support, we are planning on buying talking watches and white canes to take with us in January. we will never forget the first time we gave a talking watch to one of our blind friends. the response was “this Is the first time I know what time it is to pray ” your support means so much. A huge thank youxxx”

Heather is the current President of TIGHR, The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers.

The 2018 Triennial Conference will be held in Heather’s home town of Reeth, in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales.

Miriam has made many rug hooking contacts through her international travels with Jacquie Thomson, rug hooking friend and co-founder of the Narrawilly group and shares letters and images from these friends in her monthly newsletter which you can find archived on this website.

Still in NSW – when Gail Nichols from Mongarlowe, a tiny village near Braidwood, NSW realised it was International Rug Hooking Day on Monday she posted this image of the rug she is currently working on.

Gail worked for 30 years as a professional ceramic artist and when her friend and neighbour Maggie Hickey introduced her to rughooking in 2014 she became “hooked”. Both friends were encouraged by Miriam Miller and the Narrawilly rug makers group in Milton. Gail said by 2016 rug making was dominating her studio work, ……..

“I enjoy the tactile hooking process and the immediacy of hooking with colour. My designs are abstracted from landscape photos I’ve taken. Rughooking has allowed me to see the world in new ways. I have already collected more ideas than I could complete in a lifetime! I use new and recycled fabrics, predominantly stretch knits such as T-shirt material, hooked on hessian or polyester backing. Working with fabrics has led me to also experiment with textile collage and stitch drawing.”

It has been a successful year for Gail who won awards for her rug work in Australia and travelled to the USA to participate in a panel presentation on ceramics at Stanford University.
There’s also an international connection here ……. through contact with the Guild’s Communications Chair Judi Tompkins, both women originally from the USA, discovered they were from the same State and went to the same university – it is truly a small world. Who knew rug hooking – a traditional craft would have such a reach.

In Victoria, on Sunday 26th Nov just prior to the celebration of International Rughooking Day, two of the Yarra Valley Rugmakers, Anne and Robyne, promoted rug hooking on a warm day at Buda House, an old homestead in Castlemaine, talking to people and demonstrating rug hooking while working on their own hooking projects.
They toured the homestead which has been donated to the Castlemaine Art Gallery. Robyne says it holds a fabulous collection and is well worth a visit. Here are a couple of Robyne’s photos – read more about their visit and the interesting story about the family on the Victorian Rugmakers blog.

In Western Australia, the Wanneroo Rugmakers celebrated the day over their Christmas lunch at the café in the Library and Culutral centre, bringing with them their own table decorations – prodded Christmas Trees.
Here are some images taken during this lively event – including “Persephone” – the life-size hooked figure that stands at the foot of the stairs with information about the rug group’s meetings upstairs in the Library every Saturday. Their community project for this year is coming to an end more on that in a couple of weeks.

Some of the members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers

Christmas trees are simple to make – it just takes some backing and a selection of small pieces of fabric and a simple proddy tool. Kits are available from Judith Stephens in South Australia Email: studioblue20@gmail.com

In Queensland Judi Tompkins and the Sunshine Coast RugCrafters are working on pieces to be displayed in the library where their meetings are held twice a month.

Designed and Hooked by Sally Randle, Brisbane, in appreciation of the Shed Days. Framed by Judi incorporating siding from the Shed and her antique tools.

Several entries for “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference have been received from this group.

Besides setting up the Challenge, Judi has been busy – selling her house and packing up – so unfortunately there’ll be no more shed days – not until the new house is finished – a ways off yet …….

Judi standing in the location of her new studio

Judi recently had an international visitor, also to do with rughooking in a round about way. Tom, a relative who lives in Belgium and has made several voyages on SV Tenacious which recently sailed the Queensland coast headed for Melbourne where Sailor Tom was to pick up the ship and sail from Melbourne to New Zealand. The ship’s departure was delayed a few days due to unseasonably wet weather, even for Melbourne. You can read more about Tom’s voyages on the SV “Tenacious” here

This 3D hooked representation of the SV Tenacious, one of two Jubilee Sailing Trust vessels fitted out to take a mixed-ability crew, was hooked by Judi from a photograph and now hangs in Tom’s home in Belgium.

Tall Ship “Tenacious” docked in Belgium (ship photo and rug); 26 x 28 recycled wool blankets, alpaca/mohair yarns, sari silk, sculpted, hooking Adaptation with image of original ship

South Australia: More international connections – Judith Stephens, Guild President and leader of the StrathMatters rug hooking group in South Australia, recently returned from a trip to Japan where she met up with Fumiyo Hachisuka also a member of TIGHR.

Fumiyo Hachisuka and Judith Stephens in Tokyo. Photograph courtesy of Malcolm Edward-Cole.

Fumiyo has attended many TIGHR Conferences including the 2012 TIGHR Conference in Strathalbyn, South Australia and the 2015 Conference in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, BC.

Here Fumiyo shows Judith a hooked wall hanging inspired by a photo taken by Fumiyo at the last TIGHR Triennial Conference in Victoria, BC.

Fumiyo Hachisuka, Tokyo, Japan. Photograph courtesy of Malcolm Edward-Cole

Members of the Strathmatters Rughooking Group work on projects using varied rug making techniques.

Judith Stephens, ARG President, demonstrating rugmaking at Adelaide Craft Fair 2017

StrathMatters weekend rug retreat at Robe, South Australia 2017

More of their activities, various project and information about their meetings can be seen on their Blog.

I’d like to take this opportunity to invite members, non-members and all text artists in the Southern Hemisphere, individually or as a collaboration, to enter “Re-imagined“ a mixed media challenge. Send your Expression of Interest now, images of your completed work is not due until next year – 30th April, 2018.

Happy Rughooking & Best Wishes for Christmas & the New Year.

The Persephone Connection

ISSN 2007-1X 11th November, 2017

It was with interest I read a Facebook post by a member of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) about a communal rug hooked by a UK group, the Mesdames Myrtles. The rug design was based on the end paper panels from Persephone books ….. what are Persephone books and what is so distinctive about them?

A quick Google search gave up information on Nicola Beauman, founder of Persephone books …. and …. the books distinctive grey covers with colourful inside floral panels.
Beauman’s choice of the name Persephone (associated with Spring, daughter of mythical Greek God Zeus) was as a symbol of female creativity.

How does this connect with a community rug making group in Wanneroo, Western Australia?

In 2016 the Wanneroo community rug group took on a project to create a piece of “hooked” signage to advertise their meeting time & place.

The sign took the form of a life-sized free standing woman to be displayed outside the Library where the group meets on Saturday mornings.

The figure was created by the use of a live “template”. A large piece of hessian was placed on the floor and a volunteer lay on top of it with an up-raised arm, to have her form drawn around with chalk.

The outline was then refined with an indelible pen and group members let their imaginations run wild as they hooked with recycled clothing to fill in the shape … creating colourful garments and facial features; not meant to resemble any particular member of the group.

As the hooked figure began to take shape she was referred to as “the Lady”.

Towards completion of the project it was decided “the lady” needed a name. Many suggestions were considered. Kath who is from England, came up with the name Persephone. The rest of us were not familiar with the name, it’s spelling or from where it was derived. Kath said she’d suggested it because the hooked female figure was so colourful with her spring-like floral embellished dress. She said Persephone was the name of the daughter of the mythical Greek God Zeus and the harbinger of Spring.

Persephone was presented to the public on 4th December 2016, International Rughooking Day. Instead of being trotted out each Saturday morning to announce the meeting of the group, she’s resided at the foot of the stairs, across from the Café, in the Library and Culture Centre. Persephone holds up a sign describing the community rug group – inviting others to take part. Occasionally her jewellery and accessories are added to or changed.

On December 4th 2017 we will meet again at the Café to recognize International Rughooking Day over an early Christmas lunch and will raise a glass to celebrate Persephone’s 1st Birthday and the connection with our rughooking friends overseas.

Editors Note: Does your group have an activity planned for International Rughooking Day on or around the 4th December 2017? If so, share an image from your day to Rug Hooking Magazine’s Facebook page.

BIGFOOT?

………. no not that elusive creature,

these are 2m long (6ft) enlargements, of my footprints being hooked by the Wanneroo Rugmakers as part of a research project using single-use plastic bags.

Textile artist Susan Feller (USA) included this research project in a presentation she made on “Educating about Craft” at the recent Association of Traditional Hooking Artists Biennial Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Here’s project information sent to Susan Feller by Sue Girak PhD Visual Arts Specialist City Beach PS, Perth, West Australia, :

“Walking Together with Pride is a collaborative installation that represents society’s ecological footprint. The initial phase of this project took place at City Beach Primary School in 2016. City Beach Primary School is a small government primary school located in Perth, Western Australia. Approximately 160 students attend the school which is situated in an affluent beachside suburb. Our local beaches are pristine, so it is very easy for children to underestimate the environmental degradation that is caused by plastic pollution in our oceans. As a means to highlight the growing dependence on plastic and its associated problems, the older children and I came up with the idea to make a large-scale installation artwork that would highlight the negative impact single-use plastic bags are having on the environment. When we first exhibited our eight footprints the younger students wanted the project to continue, so we invited others to add more footprints for a second showing in 2018. There is an associated research component that accompanies the project. My colleague Dr Jackie Johnson and I are interested to know if reusing discarded materials in art-making will make a difference to artists and crafts people’s environmental attitudes and behaviours. The Wanneroo Rughooking group was the first group to participate and make a start. They are using the proddy (proggy) hook method to make a pair of 180cm (6’) footprints made from salvaged plastics. As well being involved with the Wanneroo Rughooking group, Jo Franco is a member of the Western Australian Fibre and Textile Association (WAFTA). WAFTA have decided to work with my school as part of their community engagement initiative in 2017/18 and to teach rug making. I want to use old t-shirts to highlight the environmental problems associated with fast fashion. Further afield, Mandurah City Council is interested in extending the footprint project. Mandurah is a city 72 km (45 miles) south of Perth, and they want to work with their schools and community groups to produce pairs of footprints, which will be exhibited at the Drift Exhibition in May 2018. This means the footprints made by the Wanneroo Rughooking group will be exhibited twice next year. Finally, in August 2017, I presented the project at the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) conference in Korea. The response was positive, I have schools in Beijing and Slovenia who wish to do their own footprint project and inquiries from Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia) to incorporate the concept into a community arts program.”

Susan’s presentation continued ……..

“If any of this audience wants to participate in their research that would be great. Contact info if seriously interested in a group participation is belfleet@bigpond.com Sue would be happy to work with a group from the US or Canada. Jackie and Sue are very interested in the creative reuse of salvageable materials in art-making and whether that would trigger shifts in environmental attitudes and behaviours. (Sue) Originally thought that the research would only be for locals who would contribute to her school’s exhibition. However, if there are international rug makers that would like to participate, they would love to hear. While there may be problems sending actual footprints to Australia, if people are willing to make a pair (as per her instructions) and photograph them, Sue will include that in the exhibition. Her students would love to see how their art is inspiring others around the world. The research component is a before and after survey, photos to show process and the possibility of an interview.”

The Wanneroo Rugmakers have completed the “before” survey and are enjoying thinking of different creative ways to embellish the footprints. While it’s a group project, members are working independently on the footprints – each adding their own ideas and techniques.

Anna thought it would be humorous to indicate a shoe-size and knitted a strip using white plastic bags and sewed the strip onto the footprint in the shape of a figure eight, adding a one – these footprints are surely bigger than a size 18! She is using plastic wrappers off sliced bread to fill in the foot. Coloured department store bags are being used for the toenails and the flip-flop straps.

Sharon, a new member, was taught the proggy technique and is practicing by edging the footprints. Kath made elaborate floral decorations for the flip-flop thong straps added to the footprints by Peta.

Kath discussing footprint embellishments with Adele

Colourful department store bags cut with a Townshend cutter are used to hook around the embellishments on the thong strap.

Tricia who normally works with proggy is learning to hook on this project – a challenging endeavour using the slippery plastic!

From the Editor: Jo Franco – With my WAFTA hat on, having volunteered to teach Sue’s students how to rug hook, I visited her school to deliver an over-sized rug hooking stretcher frame for them to learn on. At that time Sue showed me footprints the students had already made and I gave me this one to take back to our group as an example.

For a base they had used a soft flyscreen material and had rolled and folded single-use plastic bags stitching them into place. Hooking through this material was not “user friendly” so we reverted to our usual Hessian backing.

This is an interesting project for our rug hooking group since we already work with recycled material and as of 2018 single-use plastic bags will be banned from supermarkets in Western Australia. Completing the initial survey was also timely and created much discussion as we had all viewed the ABC’s TV program on the excessive amount of waste generated by the use of cheap clothing.

We’re looking forward to presenting our finished footprints to Sue’s School.

Visiting South Australia

ISSN 2007-1X 17th September, 2017

StrathMatters, Strathalbyn, South Australia

On my way home from Queensland, driving across the country to Western Australia, I stopped in at Strathalbyn, South Australia to visit with the StrathMatters rug hooking group, who meet in the supper room of the Town Hall on High Street. Members of TIGHR will remember this was the location where we held workshops after the TIGHR Triennial Conference in 2012.

What a hive of activity there was last Friday morning. Even with several members away on holidays and one in hospital, there was a large group around the table, all busy on a variety of projects. Chris seated at the end of this table is making a proggy rug using recycled jeans.

Here are some of their projects……

Noreen’s colourful hooked piece will become a tote bag. Irene is working on a rug design outlined in black to represent a stained glass window and Annette was busily making a toothbrush rug.

Heather, who is also a spinner, is using a mixture of wools for this hooked piece she designed, including some yarn she had spun herself.

While busy hooking Maggie and Marlene were in conversation across the table with Annie who was also creating a toothbrush rug.

The hooked fish is by Jenny L one of the 3 Jenny’s in the group.

Jenny B has designed something small and simple for her first hooked piece.

Trish has already finished a Christmas project, a proggy wreath to which she’s added a string of battery operated lights. She tells me her next wreath will be made entirely of the red Christmas ribbon and it will also have the little lights.

In the foreground is Judith’s latest proggy rug in progress. Trish is explaining to Cheryl how to create a bowl by crocheting over rope and below you can see Cheryl seems to have mastered the process.

The groups upcoming rug retreat at Robe on the coast of South Australia was a topic of discussion. Group members and their spouses will stay in caravans and cabins in a caravan park by the beach and the rugmakers will work on a “secret” rug hooking project planned for them by their leader, Judith Stephens, the Guild’s President.

I was pleased to have had the opportunity to talk about “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference” that Judi Tompkins(Qld) and I have launched.

“Re-imagined“ offers fibre and textile artists an opportunity to participate (for no charge!) in a new kind of fibre art challenge open to all rugmakers and textile artists who live in the Southern Hemisphere!

We encourage all members of the Australian Rugmakers Guild to enter as individuals or in collaboration with others in their groups to show the creative and innovative work they are producing.

TIMELINE for “Re-imagined“; between now and the end of 2017 submit an entry form containing your name, email contact and a brief bio of your textile pursuits (up to 150 words) i.e what textile techniques you use; your general interest in textiles; if you are a rug maker how you came to rugmaking ……. and of course what part of the country you live in.
THAT’S IT – no need to include anything about your creation on the entry form …… in fact you may not have thought about what you are going to submit.

A digital image of finished work must be submitted by end of April 2018. There will be much more to come on the “Re-imagined” website’s – FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page including information about photographing your work and what type of images to send.

“Re-imagined” will debut August 2018 at a premier rug hooking event in the USA. The virtual Exhibition will be hosted by online media in Australia.

We enjoyed our stay with Judith in her new house full of rugs; on the walls, on the floor and on the furniture

Happy & Creative rug hooking

Jo Franco, Editor

To copy or not to copy?

ISSN 2007-001X 12th September, 2017

With promotion of “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference underway, it seems appropriate to bring up that controversial subject “copyright” vs “inspiration”.

Much has been written on craft Blogs about this often misunderstood subject.
Recently two good references were posted on the Australian Rugmakers Guild Facebook page

“Owning It” written by Sharon Givoni, an Australian Intellectual Property Lawyer, see a review by Lynda Worthington of Artwear Publications.

The other is a Flow Chart published in the USA, Springfield, Missouri, by Ginger Davis Allman of The Blue bottle Tree (Polymer Clay Tutorials & Info) along with an interesting article by Ginger on this subject and about her lessons learned. While Ginger is talking polymer clay, I think the information applies equally to textiles and rugmaking.
Ginger’s flow chart designed for the hobbyists and crafts-person is very easy to follow and may be copied for personal use providing the author is acknowledged, and includes the copyright information on the form.

Rug maker Kris Miller (Spruce Ridge Studios, USA) has written several Blogs on this subject. Here is the most recent Blog which covers Copyright from a rugmakers point of view.

To summarize – and remember I am not a lawyer or an expert on copyright – just someone interested who has read many articles on this subject.
Generally speaking, anything created prior to 1923 is in the public domain and can be used as inspiration (copied) as long as the artist (if known) and where the work was seen, is acknowledged.
After 1923 – it’s best to assume all works are copyrighted, which covers the life of the artist + 70 years and no amount of change (many different percentages are bandied about) allows any work to be copied without the written permission of the artist.
A work would have to be changed so much that it was unrecognizable – if that’s the case why not create your own design to begin with.

With regard to what can or cannot be copyrighted, it should be noted some subjects, such as animals and landscapes and traditional craft techniques and ideas, cannot be copyrighted. However, an animal shown in a certain way or as a design on a logo or brand of a corporation can be copyrighted.

If you feel you’re unable to come up with an idea without some form of ‘reference’ ….. use your own photographs, but be sure and document the place and time and any details of your photographs so your can trace back to you own inspirational image should your work finish up resembling that of another artist.

Problems arise because many people think; if they’re creating a work of art for their own enjoyment with no intention of using it commercially or to show, then it’s OK to copy and just acknowledge the artist.

Unfortunately this doesn’t work – even if you don’t share on Facebook, or Pinterest or various online newsletters and Blogs, one of your friends might, and before you know it – you’ve gone VERY public indeed.

A recent example of this was a guild member who used an image from a quilt design for her rug. Since it was purely for her own use she thought all she had to do was acknowledge the artist. She submitted two rug images for inclusion in the Guild newsletter and was advised that for the copied piece to be published she would need written permission from the artist. She applied and her application was rejected. The other image she’d submitted, a rug of her own design, which she didn’t think was very good, was shown on the Guild Facebook page. Having seen both images, I think her own piece (shown below) was equally effective in both colour and design as the copied design.

The bottom line here is either purchase a commercial pattern, or come up with your own design without copying another artists work.
Remember, simple ideas i.e. geometrics, can be very effective.

You really don’t know what you can do until you try!

Trying to create something different, is the basis of the current Challenge and why the Call for Entries has such strict instructions as to the use of so many unusual embellishments.

Don’t let your Challenge entry be rejected because you’ve copied the work of another artist.

This is the reason we want members to understand the difference between “inspiration” and “copying”

and

we’re looking forward to many entries being submitted.

Jo Franco, Editor & Judi Tompkins, Communications Chair

International Jurors for Australian Challenge

ISSN 2007-001X 4th September, 2017

Have you noticed a trend on the Australian Rugmakers Guild Facebook page ….. why has the focus been on textile artists and rugmakers from the USA & Canada?

The reason ….. these talented textile artists/rugmakers/designers have agreed to be the Jurors for “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference.

Susan Feller, Lori LaBerge & Michele Wise from the USA and Michelle Sirois-Silver & Katherine Soucie from Canada, all have experience curating exhibitions and judging.
We are honoured they will take time from their busy schedules as professional textile artists to create a judging format for an Exhibition which will be difficult to assess because there is; no size constraint and maybe not even a great deal of hooking in some of the entries.

You may be wondering what on earth I’m talking about – how could you have such an Exhibition.

Well, let me explain …… the Call for Entries went out to all rugmakers and textile artists in the Southern Hemisphere to submit a 2D or 3D creation using at least one of the listed rug making techniques.
Works will be sumitted as digital images only, so the size of the piece can be whatever the person submitting the entry feels comfortable creating.

On the other hand, the Jurors will be challenged to select 20 pieces from a catalogue of disparate works.
Works will be judged on their own merit rather than against other entries.
The selected pieces will then be shown online as a virtual Exhibition.

If you’re not comfortable submitting a 3D piece, not a problem. Your 2D piece can be shown vertically, or horizontally, as there’s no venue space to consider. The challenge to incorporate embellishments from the list given in the Call for Entries is made easier because you can add without considering serviceability, this will not be a rug for the floor.

The focus is on “recycling or up-cycling” – you are required to use all of the items on the list of embellishments – using as little or as much as you choose. A list of the required items used is to be submitted with the digital image of finished work Note; you will see under two headings “Natural” and “Recycled” there are choices – you only need to use one of the items from each list in these two categories.

The field is wide open for you to be as creative as possible, there’s no requirement for hanging, or displaying of a work, no expensive postage/insurance to consider and as this is a first of it’s kind, entry is FREE

The Call for Entries might sound strange and way out of your comfort zone – what we are trying to do is open up the Exhibition to those who practice associated textile disciplines; knitters, crocheters, spinners & weavers, felters, quilters and embroiderers, who must know or learn one of the rug making techniques and include it in some way in their creation. “How to” Videos of these techniques can easily be found online and I’m sure anyone interested in entering could find a rugmaker to teach them one of the rugmaking techniques, which doesn’t require specialized tools and frames.

This Challenge/Exhibition is to promote rugmaking by inviting non-rugmakers, and we’re encouraging all guild members to enter, either individually or collaboratively. As a collaborative group, your entry would be submitted under one name.

“Re-imagined” A Challenge with a Difference was inspired by “Altered States” a WAFTA Members’ Exhibition 16 – 23 September 2017

We look forward to sharing images from WAFTA’s Exhibition after its Opening.

You can find the “Re-imagined” Call for Entries and the Entry Form on this link https://www.rugcraftingaustralia.com.au/re-imagined-challenge-difference

Jo Franco (WA) & Judi Tompkins QLD)

From Jo …………

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An Update on the Footprint Project

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An actual “day” for rughooking, how did this come about?

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