Tag: Australian Rug Makers Guild

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.

2015_Meeting_Strath_Matters_Rugmakers_group_South_AustraliaStrath_Matters_Rugmaking_Group_Jan_2015

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

Basket_and_totes_created_with_toothbrush_rugmaking_technique_by_Judith_Stephens_South_Australia

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.

 

 

Australia Day celebrated by International Guild

TIGHR Logo RSThe International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers acknowledged Australia Day with a post on their site at http://www.TIGHR.net/2013/01/25/in-celebration-of-australian-members-january-26 .  Several of our members created exchange mats for their conference held here in South Australia last Fall. 

Here are some of our works:

Anne Callison, ARG member
Anne Callison
Anne Shaffer
Anne Shaffer
Elke Smith-Hill
Elke Smith-Hill
Maggie Whyte
Maggie Whyte

 

Robin Inkpen
Robin Inkpen

 

Donnybrook Hookers – Western Australia

The Donnybrook Hookers are up and running after just 5 months with 12 keen members. Just look at the amazing hooking and prodding work they’ve done in such a short time!

Donnybrook Hookers Owl by Claire
Claire hooked wings and tail of owl.

 

Donnybrook Hookers (WA) - Doorstop hooked by Kaye
Kaye hooked&prodded her house as a doorstop.

Lucille prodded a colourful rug with a design in circles and lined it with an old towel because it was to go in front of the sink. In fact her daughter took this mat and used it in her house and then washed it in the washing machine!  I am happy to report it looks wonderful and will be washed again when needed.

Donnybrook Hookers (WA) Lucille's circle/flower rug

 

 

Kaye created this butterfly rug for her daughter.
Kaye created this butterfly rug for her daughter.
Prodding Chriitmas Tress
Prodding Chriitmas Tress

Donnybrook Hookers (WA) prodding projectsDonnybrook Hookers )WA)

 

 

 

 

The Donnybrook Hookers meet every Wednesday and our number grows weekly.This is also a very social group and most come for the opportunity to get together and enjoy each other’s company. (Blogger: Robin Inkpen)

Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters – Queensland

Finally! After several attempts to break the “wool ceiling” my efforts to promote Australia’s “lost” traditional craft in Queensland finally generated enough community interest (30+ people) so I was finally able to present a demonstration/workshop through the Beerwah Library on the Sunshine Coast.  I rather foolishly assumed that – as is so often the case – only about half the number would actually attend on the day but 25 showed up!

SCRC books
Resource table of books

Since I’m an old hand at teaching groups, I tend to plan for “emergencies” so I optimistically pulled together enough materials, frames, tools, fabric and equipment for 25 people and set up the community room with 6 frames, chairs, and fabric/cutting table.

Work areas with frames
Work areas with frames

 Throughout the session I ran a slide show of some of my projects,and displayed sample materials and small projects.  To help people see this craft as affordable, I deliberately brought tools and equipment that ranged from “make it yourself” (dolly pegs, knitting needles, crochet hooks and embroidery hoops) to the more expensive stretcher and lap/floor frames, metal and timber turned hooks/prodders. Monday's Group- Introduction to Crafting

If the noise level of a group is any indicator of a good time, then this group had a great time!

Update:

Feedback to the library was so good that Queensland has its first community group – the “Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters” – who meet at the library two afternoons a month. The two January sessions involved 11 people (with 8 apologies) and over time I hope to have a “core” group of about 8-12 people for each group. (Blogger: Judi Tompkins)

Prodding Flowers
Prodding Flowers, an easy beginning project

UK fibre artist in Perth for workshops

 

Sue Gilmartin from the UK working on an artjournal from Michel Wise’s workshop

Sue Gilmartin of the United Kingdom will be in Perth conducting two workshops using the rugmaking techniques of her heritage on 17 and 18 of November.  See Events for details and contact information.

 

Great opportunity to learn how to use recycled materials.

2012 General Meeting in Strathalbyn

Interested in learning about the craft of Rug Making and meeting Guild members from around the Country in person?  The General Meeting of Australian Rughooking Guild will be held on Saturday 20th October beginning at 5:00 pm.

Held this year at the Strathalbyn Town Hall, High Street, Strathalbyn, South Australia the meeting will include a business session, election of new officers for next term and meet and greet.

Several Internationals will be in attendance as they are instructors during a two day Rug Expo being held concurrently the Saturday and Sunday in Strathalbyn.  These professionals are from the United Kingdom and United States and will be covering design, braiding, proddy the UK way, hooking journals, how to tips on rughooking.  The editor of Rug Hooking Magazine (only publication for rughooking) has traveled from the United States to cover these events.