events – Page 3 – Rughooking Australia

Canberra Retreat and Exhibition

Call for Entries :

It is now less than 4 months before the Australian Rugmakers Weekend Retreat & Exhibition in Canberra, ACT at the Woolshed in Strathnairn. Planning is now well under way.

There will be a Guild General Meeting on Saturday 3^rd Sept and the Exhibition will be opened by Nancy Tingey on Sunday 4^th Sept.

I am sure our members are busy making amazing rugs, big and small. (Entry Forms).

It is going to be a very special event with talks by guest textile artists and how-to demonstrations, plus meeting up and enjoying the company of rug makers from around the county.

I can’t wait to see all my rug friends and their work very soon. Maggie

Maggie Whyte, Curator, CANBERRA, EXHIBITION AND RETREAT,

SEPT 4th to 25th, 2016

Pod in old gum tree Strathnairn Editors Note: Maggie’s already had work on display at Strathnairn; this hooked pod was photographed in the grounds. Maggie made the felt, dyed it and then cut the felt into strips and hooked the strips into hessian.

Look for more or Maggie’s very creative works on the Guild Facebook page.

Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair

So What’s NEW?

the Guild Website! it’s been revamped –

now mobile & iPad friendly, includes an updated Events Calendar, additions to the SWAP n SELL page and another Book Review by Miriam Miller.

Printed by Nimbus Publishing Ltd ISBN 978-1-55109-846-3 Paperback ISBN 978-1-55109-829-6 Bound Miriam Miller received a copy of ‘A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking ‘ by Doris Eaton, from the TIGHR member who received Miriam’s hooked Friendship Square at the 2015 The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers Triennial Conference in Victoria, BC Canada.

Speaking of Canada – Miram and the Narrawilly Proggers enjoyed a visit from a group of Nova Scotia ruggers who were on a South Pacific cruise. Miriam (second from right) said .. Canadians_on_Sth_Pacific_cruise_Cindy_Betty_and_Cathy_with_Miriam_Miller_in_NSW_Australia

“it was brief a day and a half. but we managed to fit in many things. Walks on the beaches, a progressive dinner then a rug day, a visit to the milking for Cindy who comes from a dairy farm, and to see the kangaroos at the Conjola Caravan park, they come out each evening for the grass. Even a short bush walk to Granite Falls.”

I’m sure there’ll be more about this visit in the next issue of Miriam’s Narrawilly newsletter “Connecting Us“.

Miriam has also recently hosted a rug hooker from Darwin – who came on a Thursday for a private workshop and stayed overnight to take part in the Rug Day, held in the Rug Room at Narrawilly on the 1^st and 3^rd Friday of the month.

Miriam_Millers_Rug_Room_Narrawilly_Australia_photographer_Nina_&_Michael_van_ Ewijk

On the Guild’s SWAP n SELL page you will find a new frame with “substitute” grippers. These frames have been used by several guild members and reports are, the substitute works well. The frame is available on both the East and West Coast.

A very different frame made in South Australia and featured on Swap Sell was sold to a rughooker in Nova Scotia. Who’d have thought frames would be going from OZ to Canada when there is so much available in the way of rug hooking equipment over there.

“NETWORKING” – it’s happening on the Guilds Facebook page –

Cat_elusive_grey_rug_designed_&_hooked_by_Ann_Nickle_Bellingen_NSW_Australia_5816 the post about a search for grey army blankets to finish off a large rug generated much interest. As soon as the post went up five members from across the country answered the call about the elusive blankets. After Ann’s had a chance to contact them I’ll let you know if any were suitable. Hooked_&_ woven_rugs_designed_&_created_by_Ann_Nickle_Bellingen_NSW_Australia_coloured grey woven _5799

As you’ll see from a stack of her rugs shown here, Ann from Bellingen doesn’t only work with muted greys and blues.

Most of Ann’s rugs are hooked, however like the denim rug shown some are woven and there’s even a crocheted rug in the stack.

Queensland:

Judi_Tompkins_QLD_Austrlaia_with new_rughooker

Judi Tompkins not only gives workshops at her Shed studio in Landsborough, QLD, she now has a student in the Netherlands – giving her rughooking lessons via Skype.

Read more about Judi’s background and her creations on her website.

And then there’s the Chook Folly or maybe it’ll become Judi’s Folly – more about this project in another blog. Hooked_Chook_by_Judi_Tompkins_QLD_Australia

Western Australia:

Another interesting online happening; the colourful works of Kira Mead from Albany Western Australia, were featured on Folt Bolt an inspiring website worth following.

Some of Kira’s recent pieces, will be displayed at Expertise Events Craft & Quilt Fair in Perth including this large wall hanging shown below – the oranges and tree created with quillies and the leaves crocheted.

Orange_Tree_Quillies_created_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_Western_Australia

Colour Abounds in WA :-

Robin Inkpen has been giving locker hooking workshops in the South West. Locker-hooked_Tote_Bag_designed_&_hooked_by_Robin_Inkpen_Donnybrook_Western_Australia

More workshops are scheduled and participants will be making this tote bag from a kit prepared by sold by Robin.

It’s not as elaborate as her bespoke carpet bags, but is an easier project for beginners.

Carpet_bag_designed_and_hooked_by_Robin_Inkpen_Western_Australia

From the Editor:

Don’t forget to click or tap on Current Events to see what’s happening in your area. Be sure and let us know if you have an event planned, or if you know of an upcoming associated textile event. Send details to Jo at rughookingaustralia@gmail.com

Until next time – Happy Hooking – Jo Franco; Editor/Membership

Elusive grey blankets

Can you help?

Maxine, leader of the Bellingen Rugmakers group, says “this grey rug is being made by Ann, it’s about 12 x 8 feet and made with up-cycled grey woolen blankets. Ann has run out of a pale grey army type blanket with only about 5 circles to go, so we are all looking for that elusive grey blanket. The denim one beside it is made from jeans and woven.”

(If you can help in Ann’s quest to find one of these blankets, please contact rughookingaustralia@gmail.com)

Anne's_rug_almost_complete “The grey unfinished rug and the grey one Ann is now working on are both 12 feet by 8 feet.

Ann designs her own rugs and uses a linen /cotton mix for her backing. She has sewn the pieces together with her first rug and with the second has used iron on fusible hemming on the cut sides, it sits much better and stays in place.”

From Ann – This photo shows how much is left to do.

The close-up photo shows a complete circle. The grey I need is the third colour of the petal shape and the double row within the diamond shape. It seems to be the lightest colour of the old service blankets.

But as you know any shade of grey is appreciated by me as other shades can be used for the rug I am working on now.

Here is more of what Maxine had to say …..

We have a very enthusiastic and lovely group who look forward to meeting the 1st Friday of each month.

Maxine, Aishwarya, Lyndal, Phornthip, Ann, Anna_Bellingen_Rugmakers_NSW_Australia — Bellingen Rugmakers Group: (Right to Left) Maxine, Aishwarya, Lyndal, Phornthip, Ann, Anna.

At the end of August last year the group went to Gleniffer about 20 miles from Bellingen to demonstrate rag rugging at the Gleniffer Quilt show. Gleniffer was once all dairy farms and is such a pretty area, nestled at the bottom of the Dorrigo mountains there is a Church and a hall. The proceeds of the Quilt Show helps maintain the hall. There is a small river running beside the hall and Church and just a couple of hundred yards further on is the Promised Land it is really a lovely area.

From the Editor: While Ann works in shades of grey, the other members of this group, all relatively new to rug hooking, are drawn to colour as you will see in images of their work below – undoubtedly inspired by the vibrant colours in the surrounding landscape.

Bellingen_NSW_Rugmaker_Aishwarya — Aishwarya

Bellingen Rugmakers

Bellingen_Rugmakers_NSW_Australia - Phornthip — Phornthip

Bellingen_Rugmakers_NSW_Australia - Merle — Merle

Update: Immediately this was posted word was received from QLD that a grey army blanket is available there and a couple of blankets were located in WA. Also images just came in from Chris and Anne from VIC who have blankets available –

Eastern States Award Winners and Shows

A big Winner at the Milton Show

2016_Milton_Show_Champion Award_designed_&_hooked_by_Ilka_Landahl

Ilka Landahl, member of the Narrawilly Proggers gathered many awards for her sculpted wall hanging 1^st prize- Shorn Hooky & Proggy Item, Special Award & Champion of Show.

When asked how she created such an interesting piece of work Ilka said ….

“I hooked it with normal and partly fancy wool a little bit higher than usual and cut it, sculpting it into shape.

Between the different sections of colours I hooked with a small strip of fabric which helps to hold the wool better and brings more out the effect.

For variety I hooked some sections normal without shaping.

It makes a lot dust and fluff so I had the vacuum cleaner by my side all the time.

I like it because it looks so cosy/cuddly.”

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Editors note for overseas readers; Shows are held across Australia in Capital cities and country areas. In general they are a combination of agricultural displays, stock and farm machinery, and competitions involving livestock, as well as arts & crafts and entertainment – similar to a State or County Fair in North America. They are generally called Pastoral or Agricultural Society Shows or AgFests.

Members of the Narrawilly Proggers have been entering rugs in competiton at the Milton Show for some time.

Miriam Miller said ……

“I cannot remember when the first time was, but it was many years ago and at first we entered in the general handicraft section under “Any article made from recycled materials(soft)” Then we got our own section which was about 6 years ago.

We have 5 categories. Jacqui Thomson and I provide the prizes. The stewards are Janet Walker and Elke Smith-Hill and we also provide our own judge. We have a different person judge each year.

While many of our members compete in the various categories, some just exhibit their work, demonstrate rug hooking and talk to interested visitors about the craft.”

2016_Milton_Show_Christine_Alexander Above Christine Alexander taking a break in a quiet moment at the Show.

The following are images of winners and place-getters in the various rug making categories

2016_Milton_Show_1_1st_Place_Proggy_Floor_Rug_by_Carol Flyn_ 1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn

2016_Milton_Show_2_Special_Award_Pat_la_Rance - Copy

Pat la Rance received a Special Award for this piece

2016_Milton_Show_3_2nd_Hooky_and_or_Proggy_Wall_Hanging_Gail_Nicholls

Gail Nicholls took 2^nd Hooky & Proggy Wall Hanging for her superb work in this rug.

2016_Milton_Show_4_Chloe_Thompson The Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award.

2016_Milton_Show_5_2nd_prize_Hooky_or_Proggy_item_not_otherwise_mentioned_Marilyn_Smyth

This bag by Marilyn Smyth took 2^dn prize Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned.

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1st prize in the Hooky Floor Rug category was awarded to Elaine Kitchner for her floral rug.

1^st prize in Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned was created by Christine Alexander

2016_Milton_Show_2nd_Hooked_Floor_Rug_by_Maggie_Hickey Maggie Hickey took 2^nd prize in the Hooked Floor Rug category.

2^nd Prize Proggy Rug was awarded to Bev Latta for this rug 82cm x 110cm (33″x43.5″)

Carol Thompsons received a Highly commended award in the Hooky and/or Proggy Wall Hanging category for her hooked and framed rug.

TO THE NORTH, in Queensland, there was a SHOW of a different kind!

Judi Tompkins held her first Sunday “Shed Day“ – it was a huge success – the inclusion of a wine tasting may have had something to do with that. Jewellery was shown along with some rather unique mens shirts.

Here is a report on the event from Judi Tompkins –

13 people attended the “Leap Year Eve” Shed Day and Wine tasting…several other people were also invited to the wine tasting which meant Ron Duggelby was able to show off some great lapidary and wire wrapped jewellery which inspired several people in terms of colour and design.

Ron_Duggelby_lapidary_&_wire_wrapped_Jewellery

Several hookers wanted to learn how to locker hook (and thanks to my tuition by Robin Inkpen I was able to show them the basics!).

Margaret’s first lesson in locker hooking.

Sally_with_new_locker_hooking_project

Sally starting on a new locker hooking project.

We then we moved on to lunch where Simon Rawlins from Pieroth Wines offered a great range of white, red and dessert wines form South American and Europe.

Simon_Rawlins_Pieroth_Wines_Wine_tasting

Finally, Jacqueline Rawlins brought in a selection of her shirt design work, she uses Aboriginal print fabrics (designs approved by the Aboriginal elders) and turns the fabric into high-quality men’s shirts for the Australian climate.

Jacqueline_Rawlins_designed_mens_shirts

It was a day of fun for the senses; colour, taste, texture and folks! It was especially nice to have virtually two “visiting artists”!

More from the Editor:

There will be another Show report in the next News – the exhibition of rugs at a NSW Quilt Show.

Are you thinking of setting up a Rug Show? Watch the ARG News Blog coming soon – for an article on “Judging Rug Shows” – where our members will offer their suggested guidelines for choosing a judging panel as well as the criteria for judging rug submissions.

Jo Franco

Textile Exhibitions coming up in West Australia

Currently; in Albany –

Kira Mead has her work on exhibition at a pop-up gallery

Smiths_cottage_Albany_Western_Australia Smith’s Cottage (1887) 34-36 Stead Rd, Albany (Open by appointment) Call: 0429 418 192 or email: kira.goldmx@westnet.com.au

Hand_dyed_wool_fat_quarters

Also available for sale,

kits and

Fat Quarters of a different kind ….

Hand dyed Wool Blanket Fat Quarters.

Still in the South West;

WAFTA’s Memory & Commemoration on exhibit from March 5 to April 4 2016

in association with the Lake Grace Regional Artspace, 25 Stubbs St, Lake Grace.

Memmory_Commemoration - Copy

In conjunction with this exhibition Robin Inkpen will be giving a locker hooking workshop

Sunday March 20th – Get Hooked at Lake Grace with Robin INKPEN

To book and for a full workshop description go to Current Calendar of Events on this websites.

The Exhibition will travel from Lake Grace to

Busselton

Art/Geo Gallery,

April 9 – May 15, 2016

Exhibition Opening, Saturday April 9th with Pop-Up Market Stalls between 1-4pm.

Eventbrite links for Booking & Payment will be active closer to the date for the following workshops:

Sunday 10th April – Fabulous Ferrous with Kerrie Argent

Saturday 16th April – Making Felt in the Third Dimension with Martien van Zuilen

Sunday 17th April – Reconstructing Fashion with Lorelie Smit

Saturday 30th April – Plants and Sacred Geometry with Pauline Melrose White

Sunday 1st May – Get Knotted with Rowan Rovere

WAFTA_website_montage

While in the Perth Metro Area during March/April ;

comes the following from Jan Holland’s News at WAFTA;

Anne William’s first solo exhibition Through the Singing of my Hands will be held at Mundaring Arts Centre, in Gallery 2

March 19^th to April 17 2016

Anne_Williams_Western_Australia_entry_WAFTA_Memory_Commemoration_2015 - Copy

Anne Williams – Artist statement ‘Housewives’ (sewing kits) were standard army issue for the ‘Nashos’ of the 1950s. They have been carried into battle zones all around the world. This one was issued to Pte. Ian Williams in 1956/7.

Concurrent with this exhibition, Gallery 1 is showing an exhibition for the Mundaring Shire Acquisition Award on the theme of Migration and Settlement. The Gallery is a great venue to visit with a gorgeous shop full of wonderful work by WA artists and crafts folk. Well worth the trip up the Hill.

Read about Anne’s journey into textiles in a very interesting interview by Louise Wells

Also in News from WAFTA is

“Improbable Returns”

Elisa Markes-Young (mixed-media/textiles)

& Christopher Young (photo-media)

Heathcote Museum & Gallery,

Swan House, 58 Duncraig Rd, Applecross

Opens Friday March 4 2016

The exhibition will continue through to April 10. Gallery will be open Tues to Fri 10-3 and Sat/Sun 12pm to 4pm Closed on Mondays

To preview the exhibition see http://www.zebra-factory.com/returns

Community Art Installation

“Piece by Piece for Peace”

(Designed & created by Bec Andersen)

Report by Jo Franco – still in Queensland;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday Aug 13 and Saturday Aug 15

from 9:30-12:30

at 8 Griffith St, North Tamborine

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

September 19, coupled with an even bigger morning tea!

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

the Opening and The Long Morning Tea

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

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

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

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

EAST meets WEST

by Jo Franco; Guild Editor/Blogger

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

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

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

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

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

Cetacan Dreaming designed and hooked by Stella Edmundson

Kangroos on Mars designed and hooked By Stella Edmundson

This was a day of exchanging information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Below) Sally practicing the new techniques.

Information wasn’t just going one-way;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015; First Get-together

Happy New Year

from the Strath Matters rug group of South Australia

The group held their first meeting for 2015 in a coffee shop at the seaside village of Pt. Elliot.

Instead of taking up a lot of space with rughooking paraphernalia, they took tools and material for a naarlbinding (toothbrush rugmaking) session.

Group members have previously made rugs and baskets, so on this occasion they were branching out and making bags like the ones shown below made by Judith Stephens

Although a simple technique, it does take a lot of material but colourful sheets and doona covers can be sourced from your local Op Shop. Look for for those that have colour on both sides of the fabric and tear or cut into strips 1.5″ wide, then with your toothbrush or naarlbinding tool just blanket stitch.

You can find many videos on how to make these rugs on YouTube or contact Judith at studioblue20@gmail.com

See more of this groups activities on their blog.

International Rug Hooking Day

…. 4th December 2014 ….

This inaugural event was organized by TIGHR

(The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers)

Events around Australia – starting on the East Coast …….. and finishing in the West

Queensland:

Here are some happy snaps of Judi Tompkins group (Sunshine Coast RugCrafters) who met at her Studio on Dec 4. The group celebrated International Rughooking Day and worked on setting up some new projects so they can stay busy over the holidays.

More about the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters on Judi’s website Rug Crafting Australia.

Still in Queensland …… Project “11 and Beyond”

Bec Andersen (Artist in Residency Jan-May 2015) held her Project Launch

Dec 4th at 10am at the Tamborine Mountain Library

to celebrate International Rughooking Day

Bec is collaborating with Tamborine Mountain State School to work with Year 6 children to develop a fibre project from digital design to production.

This project is inspired by the cultural shift that occurs in Queensland in 2015 where Year 7 children will become the first year of high school and Year 6 children will be the leaders of the primary school.

and in Kingaroy, QLD …………..

Judith Brook, long time member of TIGHR, is originally from New Zealand, and is a founding member of the Australian Guild. Judith is part of a local arts group in Kingaroy with access to exhibition space where she promotes rug hooking. She also has pieces in the local craft gallery and says the rugs always make a hit. There are a number of people in the area eager to learn this craft so she will be organizing a rug making workshop in the New Year. For information email judylbrook@gmail.com

Earlier this year Judith exhibited this wall hanging to commemorate

“100 Years of ANZACS”

names from the Roll of Honour at the local war memorial of all the men from the area who died in the 1st World War are hand-written on the flag which is the backdrop for this piece. Your can read more about how this piece was created in an earlier post.

New South Wales:

The Narrawilly Proggers celebrated International Rughooking Day at their Christmas Lunch on Dec 5th at Miriam Miller’s Rug Room in Milton.

Bev Latta, Sheila Lucas, and Christine Alexander catch up on the verandah outside Miriam’s Rug room. Sheila came up from Bermagui (south of Milton) with Dawn Hollins and Kathy Cannirs members of the Bermagui & Dist. U3A Rug Hookers.

The Narrawill Proggy Rugmakers also held their annual Fashion Parade – where members of the group model a selection of garments from those given to them by a local Op Shop to cut up and use in their rugs. After a rather hilarious fashion parade compered by Jacqui Thomson, the guests then bid on the garments. According to Jacqui “it was load of fun, as always, with temperamental models, at great expense”

Bidding is spirited as they all know the money raised goes to support Heather Ritchie’s Rug Hooking School for the Blind in The Gambia.

This year Jacqui’s actions were somewhat curtailed, as a few weeks ago she slipped, fell and broke her ankle. However being the trooper that she is, she filled her usual role decked out in her “moon boot” complete with Christmas bow.

Jacqui talking here with Maizie Bennett, said “Carol Treloar did the great boot decorations. Nothing escapes her”

ACT :

Maggie Whyte from Canberra and friends from Braidwood & Milton, New South Wales, celebrated International Rughooking Day on the 22nd & 23rd November while exhibiting rugs and demonstrating rug hooking at the Airing of the Quilts in Braidwood, NSW (approxiately an hours drive from both Canberra and Milton). (Pictured here are Maggie’s proggy Christmas trees.)

Read more about this annual event on June Weatherstone’s website – June, the founder of this event in Braidwood, is a member of the Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakes and the Australian Rugmakers Guild.

The “Coffee Shop” rug below was hooked by Maggie Hickey, who is shown here demonstrating rughooking

Despite sweltering heat over the weekend, the event was a great success with members of the public showing much interest in the rugmaking techniques and having a try at both hooky and proggy.

This colourful “Beach Huts” rug was hooked by Janet Walker.

There was truly an international connection at this event with a visit by Ruth Hassall who has been living in Switzerland. Ruth helped to hang the rugs – below is an unfinished cow rug designed and hooked by Ruth.

Victoria :

Living in country Victoria, at least an hour apart, the Yarra Valley Rugmakers travel a long way to get together. Some of their faithful members were missing at their Nov meeting and with Christmas fast approaching they decided to make their 13th Dec meeting a special Christmas celebration day and to also celebrate International Rug Hooking Day.

They’ll share with each other their personal and internet experiences with rugging friends around the world. As well, they’ll talk about how they can spread the word about rug hooking to other Victorians.

Click here to read more about this very enthusiastic and hospitable rug hooking group.

(Left) Katherine, a Canadian rug hooker, was headed for Australia – she searched the net for rughookers and found Miriam Miller in New South Wales and with husband Alan, visited Miriam at her Rug Room. Their travels were taking them on to Victoria so Miriam gave them Chris’s address –

and Chris invited Katherine & Alan to spend time with her family.

In 2012 at the TIGHR Conference in South Australia, Chris took a class from Heather Ritchie, learning how to adapt a hooking design from a photo. Chris has since created some wonderful wall hangings of hooked faces inspired by photos of her grandchildren.

Last October Chris returned to Strathalbyn to the 2014 Rumaking Expo as a teacher of this technique.

Below are images of the latest “Grandson” rug in the planning and hooking stages:-

Tasmania:

The Happy Hookers will be celebrating International Rug Making Day at their Christmas luncheon on Thursday 11th December at the British Hotel in Deloraine.

They have been hooking together for a decade in the Deloraine community and welcome new members and visitors to meet them over a cuppa at the British Hotel in Deloraine on Thursdays (10am – midday). Find them on Facebook.

South Australia :

On Dec 4th, after arriving home from an overseas trip on Dec 3, Judith Stephens gave a presentation on the craft of rag rug making to a huge (300+) craft group . She had to do the talk twice because the group was too big for one venue. Next year Judith will be giving rug making classes to people from this group.

While their leader was away, the Strath Matters had a change of venue and view – they held their meeting and celebrated International Rughooking Day in advance at Jenny A’s house

Marion is hooking a Stuart Pea (State Flower of South Australia);

below – Irene’s proggy rug, Jenny A’s crocheted rope bowl and Maggie’s cushion with the hooked frogs leaping around the proggy waterlilies.

At the October 2014 Rugmaking Expo in Strathalbyn, Trish Carter of the Strath Matters, purchased an old SEMCO pattern from Faye, who was selling off her stash of rug patterns on Scottish Hessian. Faye must have stored her rug hooking supplies well, because the Hessian patterns were in excellent condition even though some were at least 30 years old. Jo Franco purchased one with a “Rittemere” only on the label – that is going back a ways.

You can tell Trish is a “horse person” – although there was no accompanying photo with this pattern Trish has done an excellent job depicting movement and the anatomy of the horse.

Western Australia:

Jo Franco also returned from overseas on the 3rd Dec and on the 4th, joined members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers at the Burns Beach Cafe for their Christmas Lunch and to celebrate International Rughooking Day, at a rug hooking session in the sunshine on the beach.

Members of this group recently entered their rugs and wall hangings in competition at the Wanneroo Show (County Fair for our US readers). The organizers of the Show have now created a separate category for Rug Making – and pieces are judged depending on the rugmaking technique used.

INTERNATIONAL :

Susan Feller, TIGHR Webmaster,

was instrumental in setting up this global event

seen here Skyping with Jo Franco (Western Australia) & Judi Tompkins (Queensland) on the evening of 4th Dec (USA time).

Events around the Globe were captured on TIGHR’s Facebook.

A big “Thank You” to Deb Smith, Editor, Rug Hooking Magazine, and her crew for promoting this event and setting up a Facebook page where events could be posted by rughookers themselves.

ArtFest Exhibition

Milton-Ulladulla Artfest 19th Sept – 5th Oct

The following report was forwarded by Annette White of New South Wales.

As part of the annual Milton-Ulladulla Artfest, the Narrawilly Rugmakers entered a substantial variety of rugs made by members of the group for Exhibition in Miriam Miller’s rug room and picturesque surrounds. The Proggy banners made by Coral Christina, were a great help in directing people there.

The beautiful spring weather couldn’t have been more favorable. Even the setting up of the venue was fun to do; rugmakers equipped with hammers, nails and string, decorated the timber walls of Miriam’s cottage in vibrant colours, patterns and pictures hooked and progged into beautiful rugs.

Rugs were hanging from trees, flowing in the breeze on the washing line, and draped over the kitchen garden fence.

As one stepped into the famous rug room, they would be greeted by ever more rugs, including two rugs made and donated by Canada’s Karen Kaiser. A couple of items made by blind people in The Gambia were also displayed.

People had a chance to see some rug making in progress, and also give the craft a try on a stretcher frame set up outside. It was a pleasure to see how keen and interested our visitors were, especially some young boys who showed considerable talent.

Your couldn’t miss the sign to the tea & coffee stall. Delicious homemade cakes were served and then enjoyed on the veranda; decorated with more beautiful creations of the rug making trade, together with a stunning view over the surrounding landscape. It was nice to see happy people lingering and relaxing over their refreshments. A nice amount of money made from selling these and the raffle tickets recovered the cost for entry of the Expo into Artfest and a donation to the Blind Ruggers in The Gambia.

The flow of visiting people was steady, and it seemed every one was impressed with what can be produced with up-cycled discarded clothing, old blankets, yarns, never ending resources. The atmosphere was great, and hopefully people went home inspired to be creative.

Before the “big rush” on Sunday morning, Miriam drove a small group of us to Granite Falls to admire the lush abundance of the Boronia flowers and the spectacular view of the water falls. A much appreciated treat.

We are very grateful to Miriam for initiating such wonderful events and opening up her beautiful home and surrounds for all to enjoy.

Call for Entries :

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Western Australia:

Colour Abounds in WA :-

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A big Winner at the Milton Show

TO THE NORTH, in Queensland, there was a SHOW of a different kind!

13 people attended the “Leap Year Eve” Shed Day and Wine tasting…several other people were also invited to the wine tasting which meant Ron Duggelby was able to show off some great lapidary and wire wrapped jewellery which inspired several people in terms of colour and design.

Several hookers wanted to learn how to locker hook (and thanks to my tuition by Robin Inkpen I was able to show them the basics!).

Margaret’s first lesson in locker hooking.

Sally starting on a new locker hooking project.

We then we moved on to lunch where Simon Rawlins from Pieroth Wines offered a great range of white, red and dessert wines form South American and Europe.

Finally, Jacqueline Rawlins brought in a selection of her shirt design work, she uses Aboriginal print fabrics (designs approved by the Aboriginal elders) and turns the fabric into high-quality men’s shirts for the Australian climate.

It was a day of fun for the senses; colour, taste, texture and folks! It was especially nice to have virtually two “visiting artists”!

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Currently; in Albany –

Kira Mead has her work on exhibition at a pop-up gallery

Still in the South West;

WAFTA’s Memory & Commemoration on exhibit from March 5 to April 4 2016

in association with the Lake Grace Regional Artspace, 25 Stubbs St, Lake Grace.

In conjunction with this exhibition Robin Inkpen will be giving a locker hooking workshop

Sunday March 20th – Get Hooked at Lake Grace with Robin INKPEN

To book and for a full workshop description go to Current Calendar of Events on this websites.

The Exhibition will travel from Lake Grace to

Busselton

Art/Geo Gallery,

April 9 – May 15, 2016

Exhibition Opening, Saturday April 9th with Pop-Up Market Stalls between 1-4pm.

Eventbrite links for Booking & Payment will be active closer to the date for the following workshops:

While in the Perth Metro Area during March/April ;

Also in News from WAFTA is

Elisa Markes-Young (mixed-media/textiles)

& Christopher Young (photo-media)

Heathcote Museum & Gallery,

Swan House, 58 Duncraig Rd, Applecross

Opens Friday March 4 2016

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“Piece by Piece for Peace”

(Designed & created by Bec Andersen)

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

the Opening and The Long Morning Tea

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

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

Cetacan Dreaming designed and hooked by Stella Edmundson

Kangroos on Mars designed and hooked By Stella Edmundson

This was a day of exchanging information.

Information wasn’t just going one-way;

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Happy New Year

from the Strath Matters rug group of South Australia

The group held their first meeting for 2015 in a coffee shop at the seaside village of Pt. Elliot.

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…. 4th December 2014 ….

This inaugural event was organized by TIGHR

(The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers)

Events around Australia – starting on the East Coast …….. and finishing in the West

Queensland:

Still in Queensland …… Project “11 and Beyond”

and in Kingaroy, QLD …………..

New South Wales:

ACT :

Victoria :

Last October Chris returned to Strathalbyn to the 2014 Rumaking Expo as a teacher of this technique.

Tasmania:

South Australia :

Western Australia:

INTERNATIONAL :

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Milton-Ulladulla Artfest 19th Sept – 5th Oct

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