Red Leaves – 2018, 108x83cm new & recycled fabric hooked on hessian backing. Courtesy the Artist and Narek Galleries, Bermagui.
Consider yourself invited to the
Opening of Gail Nichol’s
exhibition of ceramics and textiles
at the Drill Hall Gallery ANU, Canberra.
The Official launch of
“In Transit” is Friday 8th June 2018 the Exhibition runs until 29th July, 2018.
This has been an exciting year for Gail, her tapestry “Temple Fish” will feature as a finalist in Rug Hooking Magazine’s “Celebrations 2018”.
Temple Fish, 2017, new & recycled fabric hooked on hessian backing 164 x 115cm artist Gail Nichols, NSW, Australia
Here is another interesting tapestry, notice the irregular shape and the fringe. This tapestry was inspired by a study of banana leaves and landscape, during a visit by Gail to Bali in 2016.
Designed and hooked by Gail Nichols, NSW, Australia. Daun Pisang (A Balinese Landscape) 2017. 112 x 165 cm new and recycled fabric & wool on polyester backing.
“Three Friends”, is a new approach to drawing and textiles for Gail who is currently working in mixed media with machine stitch drawing.
Three Friends, Mixed Media, Artist – Gail Nichols, NSW, Australia
“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 acommon 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 requireattention and get in the way. I however managed to add selling a house, movingand 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 ofwhich 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!
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”.
Jane with first rugPhornthips starting a rug for her grandsonAnna
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.
Japanese Geometry 1
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.
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
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.
Kerrie from Canberra, ACTMaggie Whyte, Canberra, ACT – Vice President Australian Rugmakers GuildElke, Milton, NSWMaggie-Mother of the Bride, Christine-Bridesmaid, Jenny-Bride, Elke-Bridesmaid, Vivienne-2nd Mother of the BrideVivienne
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.
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 2017StrathMatters 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.
Jo Franco, Editor
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.
Images from Gail’s Nichol’s studio were shown on a Guild Facebook post after a visit by members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers. The post prompted a request for more information about Gail and her textile art.
Gail said “It’s funny how a local get-together of rugmakers and fibre artists in Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia, leads to a request for more information from the USA!” Not everyone is comfortable with Technology especially Facebook, however it has one big advantage, it does bring like minded people together and it is making it possible for Australian rugmakers and fibre artists to learn about each other.
Gail graciously answered all my questions about her textile art.
Gail: “This photo, taken by my husband Dave Nelson, gives an idea of the scale of my works – this piece is 140 x 95cm (55.12″ x 37.4”)
“Bobs Creek Culvert” – 2015 – Recycled fabric hooked on hessian backing.
If a gallery called you, how would you describe your work?
“When dealing with galleries I describe my works as ‘hooked tapestries’. I find this communicates what they are more accurately than if I call them ‘rugs’. I faced a similar semantic issue during my previous 30 year career in ceramics. As far as galleries were concerned I made ‘ceramic art’ because that is their language, but amongst other clay workers we were usually happy to call our works ‘pots’.
My hooked tapestries are works of visual art intended to hang on the wall. The images are abstractions from landscape features I have observed where I live or where I have travelled. The tapestries are made from new and recycled fabric hooked on a hessian or synthetic rug backing.
This work was inspired by a collection of leaves, twigs and algae amongst logs in a local rainforest creek.”
“Leaf Jam at Currowan Creek” – 2016 – 96 x 134 cm (37.79″ x 52.75″) New and recycled fabric hooked on hessian backing.
What captures your imagination about a particular technique or approach to your work?
Rug hooking came to me surprisingly naturally (following some initial instruction), similar to the way clay spoke to me initially many years ago. When you find that connection as an artist you just have to go with it. I love the tactile, rhythmic nature of the process, working directly with colour, and the freedom to develop the design as I go. From the beginning I saw potential images all around me. This medium has made me see the world with new eyes.
Who – or what – influenced your early work? Has your later work been influenced by the same person/style/technique?
In 2014 I attended a workshop led by my friend and neighbour Maggie Hickey. Maggie had learned from Miriam Miller and the Narawilly Rugmakers at Milton NSW, and Maggie invited me to attend one of their gatherings with her. Miriam was very encouraging and I bought my first rug frame from her. Her book, Proggy and Hooky Rugs, was a practical source of information. Where I live at Mongarlowe NSW (near Braidwood NSW) we have a group of fibre artists who meet once a month to share their work and knowledge. They were verywelcoming and supportive of my new textile work. So from the beginning I had some wonderful support networks, and those associations continue. Recently Maggie and I helped to host both groups in a get-together at Mongarlowe and Braidwood.
Another major influence during my early stage of rugmaking was an Arthur Boyd retrospective exhibition I attended at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. After viewing many rooms of impressive, often familiar paintings, I entered the final room and found myself surrounded by giant hanging woven tapestries which Boyd had commissioned to be made in Portugal from a number of his paintings. I was overwhelmed by their presence and vibrance. They brought the paintings to life! They taught me the potential of textiles for creating powerful visual images. If this could be achieved with woven tapestries, why not also with hooking?
Are you pleased with your artistic progress? What boundaries or limitations do you find are the hardest to push? I’m pleased with my progress, although from experience as a professional artist I know I will always be looking for ways to improve. In the beginning it was a challenge to just produce a small floor mat with the hooking neatly accomplished on both front and back. As I progressed the rugs grew in size and the visual images became more complex. Eventually I had to admit that even in our houseno one would walk on them on the floor, so they became wall hangings. This introduced a new perspective. There was the challenge of working at an intimate focus with the design, but knowing it needed to be appreciated as a full image from much further back. Whether I’m working on a stretcher frame or a lap frame, I regularly take breaks to review the progress from a distance. I’m currentlypushing the boundaries of the rectangular format, introducing more freedom and movement to the hanging work.
Where do you see your work in 1 – 2 – 5 years? In other words, where do you see yourself going with your current approach and technique?
Well, I’m not stopping, that’s for sure! Having experienced similar rapid development in ceramics, I know it’s not possible to predict what I will be making in 2 to 5 years. I will continue experimenting with materials and techniques, pushing boundaries where possible, and developing ideas for images. I have been experimenting with other textile techniquessuch as free machine embroidery incorporating fabric, gummy silk and paper. I expect these techniques will somehow inform and combine with my rugging, but I’ll wait and see how that happens.
I recently was fortunate to win a prize in the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Art Awards. The Professional Practice Award sponsored by Form Studio and Gallery in Queanbeyan entitles me to an exhibition in that gallery to the value of $2000. I expect that show will take place in 2018. I have also been working with other galleries, exploring opportunities after that. I have launched a Facebook page called Gail Nichols Textiles, to share my work. I look forward to seeing where this leads.
Editor’s note: September 2016 at the Guild Exhibition in Strathnairn, Canberra, I met Gail and saw her design “Reflections at the Water Temple” in progress. It’s now finished. This small image does not do it justice, – I hope you will click the link to Gail’s Nichols Textiles and view it and her amazing body of rug art. Hopefully her schedule will allow her to enter “Re-imagined” the current rug art Challenge in Australia, open to all rug makers and textile/fibre artists in the Southern Hemisphere – Happy Hooking – Jo Franco
Bec Andersen, Textile Artist and Community Artist has completed yet another Community project involving children & rug hooking.
These three panels were created as part of a Community Art Project for the Yarrabilba Community Centre in 2017. The images of the panels were conceptualised by a group of children using stories of Yarrabilba past and present as inspiration.
Artist Bec Andersen and her collaborator, Margy Rose used these images to create the designs which were then produced with the help of members of the local community using the Punchneedle rug making technique.
The project was supported by the Logan Art Gallery, Logan Women’s Health Group and funded by Yarrabilba Community Enterprise foundation. Photographer Sabine Bannard
Punch Needle Workers: Nathalie Gaveau, Rosina Friend, Clancey Covington, Kay Winnem, Ros Boardman, Debbie, Trish, Kathie, Donna Jones, Lesley Sawyer, Robin Taylor, Marg Newman, Karen Marshall, Jan Mihailou, Kim Holtz, Sandy Bailey, Maryanne, Dorothy Kirkwood, Brooke Warner, Sandy.
In her Artist Statement (shown below) Bec describes how stories of the river inspired the design for this hooked art work.
The Logan River has been a strong element in the past which has evoked over time. In this piece, it begins as “The River of Tears” symbolizing the felling of trees and disruption to the natural life of the Yugambeh people. In panel two it becomes a “Gushing river” with the movement of the red cedar logs as civilisation begins. In panel three we see the River becoming a blend of colours drawn from the earth where the Ancient ones remain, symbolising the connection between the new community and it’s past The sky is also an element that travels across all three panels, beginning as “TheWhirling Wind” it summons the past energies and blends them with the “Development of Past Knowledge and Understanding”. Thus the river, the “Ancient Ones” and the sky are holding the energies of the past and bring them into the future with the historical knowledge and understanding that is needed.
Margy Rose facilitated the Image Making Workshop
Image Makers:
Margo Le Jeune: “The River of Tears”
Darcy Jackson: “Separation of Destinies”
Luca Weintreib: “How Do You Make a Beautiful Building”
Abbey Barnett: “Gushing Water”
Eve-Ruby Andersen: “Development of Past Knowledge and Understanding”
Grace Cameron: “The Purpose of Life”
Bec Andersen: “Sounds of Ancient Lands”
Margy Rose: “Can you Love Everybody”
Song of Yarrabilba also by Margy Rose, was inspired by the children’s response to Yarrabilba history.
Oh where are the ancient ones? Still spinning in the whirling wind? The children dance with yourshadows. Oh where are the ancient ones? Still singing in the flowing river? The children sing your tears and laughter
Here are the women Twirling and twining the wool Laughing, talking and stitching The songs and dances Into vast coloured dreams- Full of beauty and togetherness.
“Tillie” watching all the activity
Editors Note: Before leaving Queensland I look forward to making a trip up Mt. Tamborine to visit Bec in her Studio and bring you more news of her rug hooking activities. I hope this project inspires other rug hooking groups to take on Community projects. Happy Hooking Jo Franco
Judi Tompkins and Jo Franco, are coming together from Queensland and Western Australia to issue a rughooking
challenge with a difference – “Re-imagined”
Entries will close 31st Dec 2017 – for the 2018 event.
The Challenge is open to ALL rug makers ANYWHERE in the Southern Hemisphere – Australia/New Zealand, Pacific Islands and beyond.
Besides there being No Entry Fee, as this is a prototype event, this Challenge is different because entries are for a Virtual Exhibition.
Digital images of artwork will be assembled in a virtual catalogue and a certain number will be selected by an impartial panel to be shown in a Virtual Exhibition promoted in the online Textile & Fibre media.
Submitting artwork digitally there’s no expensive postage, so your creativity wont be limited to working on something small.
However, your creativity will definitely be Challenged as there are some seemingly strange requirements with regard to Embellishments which are the ONLY requirements of the Challenge but wait, ……. there’s a certain latitude ….. ALL the groups of Embellishments MUST be represented, however you can use the “minimum” – think cooking show and the use of “a little or a lot”.
There isn’t a “Theme”, although there is a group of Categories for you to choose from – or not! If you don’t like the categories shown you have the option of ticking [ ] Other – and creating your own.
What we are attempting to do is have an Exhibition of textile art which includes rug hooking techniques – not just a display of rugs.
We hope you will take up the Challenge and join us in this adventure with a traditional craft in cyber-space.
Jo & Judi
You can download the Call For Entries and Entry Form here or see below:-
Australian rugmakers, Jo Franco, WA and Judi Tompkins, QLD are issuing a Challenge, open to ALLrug makers in Australia/New Zealand, Pacific Islands and anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere (no Guild membership required)
Selected Entries will form the basis of a Virtual Exhibition.
The Brief :
Create an art work (2D or 3D) using any of the listed rugmaking techniques with the addition of specific non-rugmaking items.
Conditions of Entry
One Entry per person
Collaboration works will receive recognition as one entry
No entry fee required
Artist Bio (max 150 words) to be submitted with entry form.
Closing date for entry forms 31st December 2017 (Note: entry form is not an online template, it must be downloaded, completed, scanned & emailed.)
The Work : 2D or 3D Size : Work of any size will be accepted. Work must be original in concept and design and created solely for this Challenge.
Techniques: The work must contain, any one, or combination of, the following:-
traditional rug hooking,
locker hooking,
punch needle hooking,
tufting,
latch hooking,
proggy(proddy),
braiding,
chunky rugmaking,
toothbrush rug making
standing wool rugs.
Embellishments: All items must be representedas listed –
Beads, one or more
Buttons, one or more
Recycled items; any amount of either; plastic, metal or paper (only one type of recycled item is required, all can be used if desired)
Natural items; at least one of ANY of the following items, stones, sticks, shells, leaves – all items can be used in whatever quantity desired.
Textiles; any yarn & fabric strips – silk, wool, novelty, cotton – no requirement of type or amount.
Categories: You may choose to nominate your work in one of the following categories or tick [ ] Other and describe.
Humour/Whimsy
Nature/Natural World
Steampunk
Fantasy/Magic
Nautical/Marine
Other – please describe
Submission of Work: To include –
One overall digital image and one detail digital image of your artwork.
Digital images must be saved as a high quality .JPEG file – resolution/min 180 dpi (No TIFF files).
Digital Image – Maximum Size: equivalent to tablet sizing 2048 x 1536 =13 x 18cm to be emailed as an attached .jpeg file to rugcraftingaustralia@gmail.com
A list of your chosen embellishments used in your entry.
Title/Name of work
Artist Statement (maximum 50 words, a description of your work and/or what inspired you)
Closing date for Submission of Work (your digital images) 30th April 2018
Work in Progress & Social Media:
Blogging, Facebook, Instagram; discussions & messages, no photos of entrants’ work in progress or completed, to be shown prior to the Opening of the digital Exhibition. It’s important we build up the anticipation prior to the digital “unveiling”.
Publication of work prior to publishing of the selection for the Virtual Exhibition will disqualify an entry.
Networking – a closed Facebook group (private/participants only) will be set up to enable participants to interact prior to the submission of work.
Images and discussion about techniques and embellishments can be shown in the closed (private) Facebook group.
Guidelines and Q & A page will be posted on the Facebook Group page
Guidelines and Q & A page will also be posted on www.rugcraftingaustralia.com.au for participants who don’t have/want a Facebook presence.
Timeline:
31st December, 2017 Close of Call for Entries
30th April, 2018 Closing date for submission of Work (Digital images)
30th June 2018 Notification of selected entries
15th August, 2018 Publication – Online Exhibition.
Terms & Conditions: By submitting an entry form for possible inclusion in this exhibit I agree to permit images of my work, and/or all or part of my statement of my entry to be used in articles, ads, promotions,catalogues, books, websites (including any webcast coverage), CDs, current event news coverage, television productions, and/or multi-media productions.
Copyright: All images contained in this site are under automatic copyright to the artists. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of any image can be reproduced by any process without written permission of the artist.
I’m “on the road again” and have been interviewing rug makers along the way as I travel across Australia.
Maybe it’s my turn to answer these questions.
Like many of the rughookers I’ve spoken with, I come to rughooking from a background of “domestic” textile techniques; dressmaking and knitting.
First lessons from my Grandmother, a tailoress, then my Mother, a perfectionist; patterns were to be followed to the “T” and all preparatory steps adhered to. I was still “tailor-tacking” when everyone else had switched to knit fabrics, “quick” patterns and making a garment in an afternoon!
I also liked to draw and have dabbled with lessons in oils and water colour. Living in the USA, Caribbean, Philippines and North Africa and having been fortunate to travel in the UK, Europe and Asia; without really being conscious of it, I’ve been infused with an awareness of how other cultures use fabric, materials, colour and texture in their art whether it be fibre, tiles, rugs, paintings etc. which speaks to the importance of exposing oneself to a broad range of experiences and why pushing boundaries is so important, you never know how that experience might emerge through you work.
When I discovered rughooking it seemed as though “I’d come home”.
McGown pattern hooked by Jo Franco as a Show n Tell at a McGown Teachers Western Workshop
If a gallery called you, how would you describe your work?
Initially, I would have said I “painted with wool” (fabric strips).
These days I’m more apt to say I use rug hooking techniques to create fibre art.
What captures your imagination about a particular technique or approach to your work?
The “simplicity” of the rughooking techniques means I don’t have to pick up a tape measure or a ruler – phew! There’s a certain “freedom” – I’m not constrained by tiny stitches or exacting work.
I find the simple repetitive movements of pulling loops to be very relaxing, even therapeutic.
These days I choose to work using recycled fabrics and yarn rather than the narrow strips of woollen fabric, width measured in 32nds of an inch, used for this rectangular Scroll Sampler (turned into a clutch purse) which shows the different types of shading.
Colour planning is now a different process for me. With an idea of the colours I want to work with – I gather fabrics in those hues, bunch them together and photograph and then begin to hook, often changing my mind as I go, instead of working it all out ahead of time, painting on paper and then dyeing fabric to come up with the desired results.
Who – or what – influenced your early work? Has your later work been influenced by the same person/style/technique?
Learning to hook while living in the United States and gaining my accreditation with the McGown Guild, gave me a great appreciation for the detailed and fine-shaded work of the many experienced rug hookers. Charlotte Price, then the Director of the Western Teachers’ Workshop, Eugene, Oregon, sponsored me, a novice rug hooker, to participate in the 5-year accreditation programme for rughooking teachers. Experienced rug hooking teachers come together at these annual week long residential gatherings to share their knowledge and rug hooking specialities, also train sponsored rug hooking teachers in the finer points of rug hooking and how to teach others. The prayer rug was the project for my first day as a rug hooker – not much was completed that first day. However, before I graduated it was finished, along with the other four projects from that first week.
Having the good fortune to take workshops from so many experienced and well known rug hookers from all over the USA and Canada, gives me a feeling of a personal connection when I see their names in print in Rug Hooking Magazine.
My fellow trainees included Laura Pierce (LWP) – from whom I’ve learned much about dyeing. Also Michele Sirois-Silver who has taken rug hooking to a different level and is always happy to share her rug hooking “processes” with me. “How to teach rug hooking” class was given by Michele Wise who’s gone on to become the Director of the McGown Western Teachers Workshop. Many Australian Guild members would have met Michele when she visited Australia as a member of TIGHR for the 2012 TIGHR Conference in Strathalbyn, SA.
“Rose Cottage” – was the pattern I was required to hook and teach for my final assessment. A novice rughooker teaching a class of experienced teachers was a very stressful situation.
Something I’ve discovered about rug hookers in general though, is they are a very friendly group of people. I’ll never forget how Oregonian Carol Fegles made me feel so welcome on that very first day back in 2002 when I arrived by myself at the Teacher’s Workshop, a complete stranger, knowing I really wasn’t qualified to be there. I’m pleased and proud that I pushed through it, as it was too good an opportunity to miss and has opened up to me an exciting life of creativity, friendship and travel.
Several of my McGowan and TIGHR contacts are taking the traditional rug hooking craft into the world of ART. Through my association with these rug hooking artists and following their blogs I find myself wanting to “create” rather than just “do”.
“Handing it On” a hooked installation by Josephine Franco, exhibited at the Blender Gallery, Joondalup, Western Australia.
My later work has been influenced by the very creative Judi Tompkins as we work together on the Australian Rugmakers Guild website.
Entry in WAFTA’s “Mysterium” – Eco dyed silk by Judi Tompkins embellished with hooked sari silk off-cuts by Jo Franco
I also find inspiration through my association with the Western Australian Fibre & Textile Association. The membership represents emerging artists from different textile disciplines, providing an inspiring motivational environment, helping me to find my creative side, and to draw myself away from the “technical – by the book” approach!
Volunteering as WAFTA Librarian means I’ve access to a wide collection of books on many different techniques. A learning experience in itself, as updating the library catalogue and setting up and maintaining the catalogue online, requires me to look through these inspiring publications.
Are you pleased with your artistic progress? What boundaries or limitations do you find are the hardest to push?
While I’m pleased with my artistic progress, I still value the traditional aspect of the craft of rug hooking knowing the reasons for the “rules” were mostly to do with serviceability.
However, I must say I’m enjoying the challenge of creating my own pieces. The hardest thing for me is to let myself “free up” and over-come the urge to try and just reproduce what I see and to stop worrying about being technically correct.
Apart from pushing my “creativity”, I’m proud that in my “senior years” I’ve entered the world of IT and social media and have been able to apply what I’ve learned to various organizations; Local, State, National and International. This speaks to networking which is so important in making the rug hooking craft known, especially in Australia, and helping to bridge the art/craft divide.
Where do you see your work in 1 – 2 – 5 years? In other words, where do you see yourself going with your current approach and technique?
Initially I was interested only in completing kits and giving rug hooking lessons.
To do this I had to first try and promote the craft and fell into the role of publicist for rug hooking in Australia. I’ve been Editor since the inception of the Australian Rugmakers Guild in 2008; covering this same position for TIGHR (The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers) from 2009-2015.
Over the 7 years of the Community Group’s existence, it has grown not only in numbers but also in creativity, with much sharing of techniques by the members.
I’ve facilitated the completion of several major works by this group, the works both donated to, and purchased by, the City, as well as creating a finalist entry in a “wearable art” competition in 2014.
Writing about rug hooking and networking is something I really enjoy, so I would like to continue with this while pushing myself to be more creative and enter rug hooked works in “textile art” exhibitions.
In what way do you think the techniques you currently use relate – or could relate – to other textile techniques? In other words, would you look to incorporation of other media as part of your work?
With the interest in up-cycling by many textiles groups and the use of re-cycled fabrics, I can see rug hooking techniques easily being incorporated into other disciplines. Likewise, embellishing and incorporating other media into my rughooking is possible, since rugs are no longer made only for the floor and serviceability is no longer the main consideration.
Aquarius – hooked & prodded by Jo Franco, featuring a shisha mirror & using sari silk off-cuts, recycled foil tape and carpet wool.
I travelled a great distance across Australia from Perth, in the West, to Queensland on the East Coast, (with a detour up the “red centre” to attend the Alice Springs Beanie Festival) to meet in Beerwah, Queensland with these extremely creative members of the Sunshine Coast Rugmakers Group.
However, I’m not the only one who has covered many outback miles to get here. Gail lives in Mitchell, QLD, West of Beerwah and she drove over 600ks (361 miles) a 6.5hr (non-stop) drive.
Gail; living in the Outback, is a solitary rug hooker and self taught, who likes to visit this group occasionally when the opportunity arises. We’ve had some phone and email conversations about The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers and I was pleased she came today to meet up with me.
Gail normally designs her own patterns, but is currently working on a Moose pattern purchased online from Deanne Fitzpatrick, Canada. When we saw the yarn Gail had spun to use in this piece – everyone decided they must have some! and encouraged her to spin more. Purchase details for this brilliantly coloured yarn can be found on the Swap n Sell page of the Australian Rugmakers Guild website.
On a previous visit Gail shared some of her spun mohair (fuzzy) yarn with Pat who really liked the way it hooked up.
Pat; is currently working on a 3D (Waldobrough) frog pattern which she designed. A novelty blue yarn with a sparkle really gives an interest to the water under the lily pads in the hooked “pond”. Judi Tompkins the leader of this group specializes in 3D works and has encouraged members of the group to give it a try.
Annette; arrived with her hooked “bear skin” – this project is being completed in two pieces because it would otherwise be very heavy and unwieldy. When hooked, the body and back legs will be attached behind the head.
Annette showed us how she had used a hook to complete the bear’s face with a crocheted chain stitch. She inserts the backing between the hook and the chain being crocheted. The backing(foundations cloth) for this project is a length of recycled curtain, it’s soft and easy to manipulate. When the hooking is finished the edges will be turned under and a fabric backing will be stitched on.
Here is a close up image of the inside of an ear being worked in the chain stitch.
Annette said she could see this rug being used by a child to lay on to read a book, the raised bear head would make a good backrest.
What a great way to encourage kids to read!
Stella hooked away quietly throughout the afternoon of animated conversations.
She’s working on a piece she drew inspired by an (Indian) Mewar design. Embellishments already include tails, manes and udders on the hooked animals.
Judy (Owen – not to be confused with Judi Tompkins) brought her latest rug to show me
it’s a combination of cross stitched floral squares which have been joined together using the proggy technique, with a hooked outside border picking up the colours of the flowers. It’s really quite dramatic and the colours in the border pull it all together beautifully.
Judy was a little concerned the proggy joins of the squares might cause ridges and a tripping hazard – not so, the rug lays flat on the floor and the black raised technique doesn’t create any visual lines, however accentuates each of the floral inserts.
After telling the group about a rug hooking challenge Judy Tompkins and I had discussed in length that morning, and plan to present publicly in the near future,
Jo, Judy O, Pat & Stella, Back row – Annette & Gail (hidden)
the group discussed a recent interview between Judi and myself about creativity in hooking – it was interesting to hear the feedback as to whether they saw rug hooking as an art and themselves as artists :-
Gail felt her rug hooking was definitely art rather than craft, as she creates her own designs – her other comment was her rug hooking relieved stress. While the others mostly agreed, some felt that it also created a certain amount of stress – having to come up with a design and colour plan.
Annette thought rug hooking was addictive and also said it was a release for her fabric hording. She also felt a certain freedom working without a pattern or instruction.
Pat was drawn to watching her projects grow and attempting new techniques .
Judy Ofelt a certain amount of satisfaction being able to pull her other textile interest together with rug hooking techniques
and Stella eloquently commented on how she ….. loved the freedom, the fact that there were no limits, she found things in nature – particularly trees – spoke to her creative/spiritual side the most and she lost herself in those projects. Also, it was “fast” – everyone agreed that while rug hooking was not fast for them, rug hooking was fast for Stella – maybe because she is able to loose herself in her projects and like today, she didn’t stop hooking as she talked.
Videos were made of the conversations taking place during the afternoon.
I discovered there is much to learn in order to be a videographer. Being so inexperienced, I now have many “segments”, which hopefully can be “stitched” together at some point in time to be shared online or by DVD.
The idea being, those who do not have the same opportunity to get together with a group, might enjoy hearing the conversations of like minded people. Here is one of the segments as an example ….
I hope you enjoy reading about this interesting afternoon. We look forward to you joining the discussion so feel free to click the “comment” link below and let us know what you think! The other links will redirect you to the ARG website.(Please note you don’t need to have a WordPress blog, but you do need to register with WordPress to leave a comment)
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