Tag: Judi Tompkins QLD

Creative Accumulation

ISSN 2207-001X  12 January, 2023

SO MANY HOOKED RUGS!  Family members and close friends all have been gifted one or more of your special creations; you have many rugs rolled up and stored in cupboards because of lack of wall/floor space, &/or you are in the throes of downsizing, but… you want to keep hooking, so what to do?

Putting your work up for sale may not be a realistic option because in today’s economy it’s not easy to sell art work, as most people don’t recognize, or just can’t afford to pay what it’s worth – taking into consideration  the amount of time spent from design through to finishing and the cost of materials.

However, there is another option; have you considered bartering or swapping your work with an artist in another medium, i.e. potter or jewellery maker or quilter. Two of my rug hooking friends have done just that.

Brigitte Webb (Scotland) and Judi Tompkins (Queensland, Australia) have been good Facebook friends for several years and in recent years established an informal barter system. At one point Brigitte loaned a hooker a copy of one of her favourite rug hooking books, but didn’t get it back. Judi had two copies of that book (one autographed by the author) which she sent to Brigitte as a replacement copy. Brigitte in turn sent Judi one of her wonderful, hooked throw pillows. And so, the barter continued.
Recently, 3 more hard-to-find, out-of-print books found their way into Brigitte’s library and magically, a large, brightly coloured, hand-hooked rug found it’s way to Judi.
The rug Brigitte chose to send was one designed by Håkon Grøn Hensvold (Norway) called
“The Doll’s House” (based on the 3-Act play of the same name by Henrik Ibsen). Brigitte and Håkon, also good Facebook friends and exchange items through their own barter system. Håkon gave Brigitte the copyright permission to hook his “The Doll’s House” one time (he drew the design for her on the linen).
Judi, overwhelmed by being gifted this piece,  immediately attached a label to the back of the piece showing the copyright and story. Judi decided that the best way to display the piece while keeping it intact was to attach it to a stretched canvas that would serve to emphasize the work and the vivid colours, requiring yet another label. Both the Norwegian designer and Scottish rug hooker approved of the addition.
Brigitte Webb and Håkon Grøn Hensvold  were featured in a 2019 video production by the Global Textile Hub… rughooking around the world; produced by Kira Mead, narrated by Kira & Warren Mead (Lost the Plot Productions, Western Australia). You’ll see Brigitte’s work 3.30 min into the video and Håkon’s approximately 11 min in. Judi also narrated sections of the video, I (Jo Franco) did the research and networking in the lead up to the production.
This is just one way Australian rug hookers began using social media, global communications, and real-time chats to network with a very interesting world of makers.
In this Global Textile Hub video (Rug Hub 2019) you can see works by, and hear from, or about, the following rugmakers.
Sadly a few are no longer with us.
Shown below by country (alphabetically) are the rug hookers, textile artists and authors/editors interviewed in the video.  Where possible their status has been updated to include current websites and social media. For those not familiar with online videos, you can see in the tool bar at the lower/centre of the images where the person’s interview falls within the 23 minute long video.
AUSTRALIA: 

Gail Nichols, Braidwood, New South Wales; three years ago this month, Gail was battling bushfires on her home front at Mongarlowe in the Braidwood area. With Gail’s permission, some of the images shared at that time on her Facebook page were shown at the end of Out of the ashes , a report of the 2020 bushfires at Miriam Miller’s Narrawilly Rug Room.

Gail is a renowned ceramicist, and she made this comment when asked about her hooked creations… “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 we’re usually happy to call our works ‘pots”.  The full interview and images of Gail’s “hooked tapestries” can be seen here and more images of her contemporary hooked work on her Facebook page.

Miriam Miller, Milton, New South Wales, President of TIGHR during Australia’s term (2009-2012). Miriam’s Narrawilly Rug Room was also impacted by the January 2020 bushfires, she was forced to evacuate her home at Narrawilly twice before the 23rd January 2020. Remarkably Miriam published both the January and February newsletters that year (Issue 48 & 49) on the first day of each month.  You’ll find Miriam’s monthly newsletter Connecting Us  archived on this website.  Those who’ve met Miriam know how steadfast she can be – here is an excerpt from her reports of the fires… “Strange things help – Robert planted sunflowers as he always does around my house.  None of them came up this year because of the drought. So there was a bare dry piece of ground in the paddock in front of my garden bed with the roses, which was covered with thick wood chips. If this garden had gone so would my verandah and my house, so thank you drought”.  Through the end of 2022 both Miriam and Gail have been impacted by the horrendous floods that have left so many lives and property on the east coast in ruins! To contact Miriam please email: narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au
Shelley Pinnell, Albany, Western Australia, describes her Tapimatic rug making machine which uses the traditional ghiordes or rya rug making technique on traditional rug canvas. More information on those techniques can be found here https://schachtspindle.com/ghiordes-knots-or-rya-damascus-edge-and-finishing/
CANADA:

Val Galvin, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada – “Renditions In Rags Hooked and Braided Rugs”.    Val says “ COVID has changed up my routine a BIT.  I open up the Studio by appointment now and I’ve started teaching hooking and braiding again, usually through the local museums. Lately I’ve been dyeing wool and hooking that. Of course, I still use wool fabric and recycled textiles.. especially when rug braiding!”  You can see Val’s work on her Renditions in Rags Facebook page

Meryl Cook, Nova Scotia, seen here holding a section from the Global Textile Hub’s “Textile Tessera”, displayed at Rug Hooking Week, Sauder Village in 2018.  Visit Meryl on her website, Engagement by Design and Instagram @merylcook. 
Jennifer Wiber, member of Northumberland Rug Hookers, based in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. You can find them on social media Instagram  & Facebook

Lesley Larsen, Ontario, Ottawa past president Ottawa Olde Forge Rug Hooking. As librarian Jane Thacker, current president, created an interesting and helpful Resources page. Starting with the heading INSPIRATION; information on rug hooking history and galleries, including search tools, i.e. articles in Rug Hooking Magazine and its precursor, Rug Hooking News and Views.  Other headings in this section are PREPARING TO HOOK, HOOKING, FINISHING, PUNCH NEEDLE HOOKING, COPYRIGHT/SELLING YOUR WORK, CARING FOR HOOKED PIECES, INSPIRATIONAL ARTISTS and MISCELLANEOUS GEMS – where you will find Miriam Miller’s large wall hanging story.

Deborah Merriam and Linda Chapelsky, Alberta, Canada.
Deb is a member of the Edmonton Rug Hooking Guild    Facebook     Instagram
Deb’s Instagram page.
Pat Parsons & Marg Byrd belong to the Rug Hooking Guild Newfoundland Labrador. Pat a member of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers was the TIGHR Newsletter Editor when the TIGHR Board was based in St. John’s Newfoundland. 2019-2021 TIGHR  Facebook

Michelle Sirois-Silver, Vancouver, BC – Contemporary Textile Art Canada – you’ll find amazing fiber works by Michelle on her website and social media pages   Instagram  and Facebook

Also, Michelle’s take on teaching “an honest truth” is a must read – her opening statement “I don’t believe that art-making and teaching are mutually exclusive. It’s simply a choice.”  Her thoughts on teaching include, generosity and sharing, her love of the craft form and learning something new.  Michelle and I were in the same “workshop for teachers” twenty years ago, she’d already been teaching, and I was just starting out.  We’ve meet up since in person in Vancouver on a few occasions, a visit to her studio 2015 being the last time, so her words on teaching in her studio resonate with me.  I’ve followed her progress from a rug hooker to a contemporary Fiber artist and am in awe of Michelle’s creativity and body of work, while after all this time, I’m still doing more talking than hooking, but since discovering the word  “networking” I feel happy that I’ve found my niche!

ENGLAND:

Sue Gilmartin, Cumbria, is involved as a volunteer with the Lunesdale Ruggers featured on the video and is one of the many creative volunteers at Space2Create a non-profit group, which aims to help people in their local community with physical and emotional difficulties by using creative activity to support a pathway to wellbeing. The group uses many creative techniques. Work by members can be seen on their Facebook page and Instagram  A recent project “Bookshelves of the mind” an anthology by the S2C writing group working together over the last 4 years. The Book Launch took place at an Exhibition on 11th Nov 2022

On a sad note, Diane Cox, Penzance, Cornwall, who you will hear speak on the video about her group, The Myrtles, and the book they published “Doing what we can”,  and Heather Ritchie have both passed away since the video was made, Diane in 2020 and Heather in 2022. They will be sorely missed not only by their families and friends but by rug hookers around the world, many who travelled to the 2018 TIGHR Triennial held in Heather’s hometown of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales.
               VALE Diane and Heather
JAPAN:
Fumiyo Hachisuka, Tokyo, Japan. Fumiyo held her 31st Rug Hooking Exhibition in Musashino City, Tokyo Kichijoji, at Gallery Nagatani-1 from 13th to 18th October 2022.  You can see Fumiyo’s recent work on her website.
NORWAY:
Håkon Grøn Hensvold’s work has been featured in Rug Hooking Magazine, shown in Gallery exhibitions and can be seen on his website and both Facebook and Instagram.
SCOTLAND:

Brigitte Webb, Dingwall, Scotland has no online social media presence, but she belongs to many online groups.  In 2019 Brigitte had the great honour of being chosen as an international Rug Hooker of the year for the Hooked Rug Museum of North America. Brigitte travelled to Nova Scotia with a large suitcase full of her work which was on exhibit at the museum for a calendar year. The wonderful late Judy Carter visited the museum to see Brigitte’s rugs and at Brigitte’s request Judy was presented with the wall hanging of a Badger. Brigitte also donated to the Museum, a very large Egyptian floor rug she had hooked, designed by Christine Little, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Brigitte has had two earlier rug exhibitions in Dingwall where she lives; and has gifted most of her work over the years as she said “I did not wish to keep them rolled up and out of site and maybe last for years when I am no longer alive. One of my gifted pieces was for the now late darling Heather Ritchie. I made a cushion for her commemorating her dressing up as Queen at the castle during the TIGHR Gala dinner”.

UNITED STATES of AMERICA:
Janine Broscious, EVERYWHERE, USA. Janine and her husband reside in their fifth-wheel RV and travel the US. Her rug designs are obviously inspired by her travels and her interest in nature.  Janine shares the progress of her rug art on her blog and social media, Facebook and Instagram.
Susan L Feller, West Virginia, is an early adaptor of the digital world in fiber art, while maintaining traditional crafts which she uses to give a Voice to Causes and Communities through her art.   She is an avid researcher and author and through journaling, on her website ArtWools shares the progress of her fiber art projects such as her “Year Study” and 100 Days sketching.  Her work has been juried into and received awards in multi media exhibitions nationally.   You can also find images of her work on Instagram and Facebook.

Tracy Jamar, A Contemporary fiber artist and author.  Tracy’s Fiber works; Sculptural, Mixed Fiber Techniques,  Hookings, Odds and Ends, Black T Boros and Bone, Feather, Shell etc. can be seen in the Gallery on her website  along with her books  Coils, Folds, Twists and Turns: Contemporary Techniques in Fiber and American Sewn Rugs: Their History with Exceptional Examples by Jan Whitlock with Tracy Jamar. Also on her social media  Instagram and Facebook

Marcia Young, Massachusetts. At the time of the video interview Marcia was the Editor/Publisher of Fiber Art Now magazine. After selling FAN, Marcia is now a fiber artist and author of the recently released “Create Naturally; Go Outside and Rediscover Nature“ and is now looking for her next project. Connect with Marcia on Instagram   and Facebook

Images were also included in the video by Australian Rugmakers: From Western Australia, our dear friend Robin Inkpen, who passed away shortly after the video aired, Judith Stephens, South Australia, a cofounder of the Australian Rugmakers Group, Wanneroo Rugmakers (WA) and the Sunshine Coast Rugcrafters (QLD).

Prior to the Hook-in a Global Survey was sent out with the following questions…

            • Where do the groups meet?
            • How often do members of a group meet?
            • Are you a closed group, or are new members welcome?
            • How did you learn to hook?
            • Does your group give lessons or workshops?
            • Passing on traditional crafts
            • Taking rug work in a less conventional, more creative direction and displaying in a gallery

Answers from  Australia, Canada, England, Japan, Scotland, UAE & USA can be found at the end of the video.

Editors Note:  As I began this Blog with the sharing of work between Brigitte, Håkon and Judi I was reminded of the sense of “sharing” while gathering information in 2019 for the Global Textile Hub’s video. It’s been interesting and enjoyable reconnecting with those textile and fibre artists again to update their information. Thanks to Kira Mead and Judi Tompkins for their collaboration on this and other Global Textile Hub projects.

 

 

A Wrap-Up from Strathalbyn, SA

ISSN 2007-00IX   November 2019

The last Blog finished with promise of more to come from the Guild meeting held during the StrathMatters Exhibition weekend in Strathalbyn October 5 & 6 2019.

Your new committee has held a virtual meeting and put plans in motion for a survey of members seeking input as to what sort of events might be planned to bring guild members together. The survey, a tick the box variety, was sent to all by email, it should have taken only a few minutes to complete and submit right there online. We’re hoping by the next Committee meeting on 22nd November we’ll have received some ideas.

If you’re a member or past member and  didn’t receive the survey – please contact rughookingaustralia@gmail.com and a link to the survey will be emailed to you.

Meanwhile, I’d like to introduce you to the new Committee –

President: Maggie Whyte, ACT.  Maggie lives in Canberra and has always been interested in textiles, from embroidery to felt making.  For 10 years she taught various forms of hand embroidery preferring freestyle. From 2005-2008 she was President of the Canberra Region Felt makers and exhibited in their Exhibitions.

In 2001 Maggie was inspired by Miriam Miller to become a rugmaker and since that time has produced rugs and wall-hangings.   Portraits and abstract wall-hangings are of special interest to her and she often uses handmade, hand dyed felt in her work.

Maggie is a member of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers Group, the Australian Rugmakers Guild and the International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers and regularly writes articles for both Guilds.

Vice President:  Martha Birch, NSW.  Martha lives in Clovelly, Sydney, and has always been interested in textiles, from an early age.

10 years ago, she was given a frame, rotary cutter and hooks by her American mother-in-law, a retiring Rug Hooker. At this time, she was also given a rudimentary lesson and introduced to the local group in Northfield, Vermont. The wooden frame broke in transit to Australia so was replaced with a Puritan frame, purchased just before the company closed.

In 2015 Martha retired from her professional work and searched for Rug Hooking in Australia. Through the Guild, she contacted Miriam Miller and visited her for lessons, starting her first project. Miriam put her in touch with another Rugger in Sydney and when their meetings ended, Martha decided to stir up some interest. With the Guild and Miriam’s assistance, and support from the Narrawilly Group, a Guild stand was held at Expertise Events Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair in 2018. There was a bit of interest, so Martha ran a class for 10 women and they formed a group who continue to meet with Martha at the Epping Creative Centre.

This group, with the Guild and Miriam’s support again, held another Guild stand at the 2019 Expertise Events Craft & Quilt Fair with overwhelming response. Martha has now taught 5 classes at several venues on the outskirts of Sydney and will follow them up in the hope more groups will be formed.

Martha is working on a series of chair pads (2 down, 4 to go) using the floral paintings by Margaret Preston for inspiration and has made a couple of heat pads from a friend’s designs.

Her group have been invited back to the 2020 Craft & Quilt Fair, where an exhibition and workshop space will be provided. There is also discussion of a Demonstration Day at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the setting up of a Competition Category for Rug Hooking to follow this.

 

Treasurer: Tricia Thacker, WA, was new to rug hooking when she became  a member of the Wanneroo Rugmakers group.  Her textile interests are varied and include knitting, crochet, macrame and weaving.

Not one to give up, Tricia resurrected a “UFO” –  circular weaving project from a workshop many years ago and without the aid of directions, since misplaced, managed to figure out how to finish the woven beret, modeled here. The beret was sent off to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival where it was sold for a large amount of money which surprised Tricia.

Miriam Miller, rughooking instructor, NSW Australia_photo, Gillian Lett Milton Ulladulla Times

Secretary:  Miriam Miller, NSW.  Miriam a talented rug maker and Author of Proggy and Hooky Rugs has pioneered the revival of proggy and hooky rugs in Australia.

She has also inspired many others to share her passion and has transformed the traditional craft of rag rugging into a new form of artistic expression.  Miriam’s work has appeared in exhibitions in Wollongong, Nowra, Braidwood, with solo and joint exhibitions in Sydney and Milton, NSW.

Miriam was the first Presidsent of the Australian Rugmakers Guild from 2008-2014.  Now President Emeritus, Miriam has accepted the nomination of Secretary.   Miriam is a member of The International Guild of Hand Hooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) – President of that organization for three years (2009-2012).

Editor/Membership Chair:   Josephine (Jo) Franco; Co-Founder of the Australian Rugmakers Guild.

Jo was introduced to traditional rug hooking while living in the United States and became an accredited teacher with the Pearl K. McGown Hookcrafting Guild.

Jo travelled to the UK and the USA to attend rug hooking conferences as a member and panel participant and to give workshops.

On her return to Australia Jo has become interested in the use of recycled fabrics and creating her own designs for wall hangings, wearables and three-dimensional pieces.

As Editor for the Australian Rugmakers Guild she is working to create an interest across Australia in rug hooking techniques and has been instrumental in setting up  community rug hooking groups, while playing a key role in supporting isolated rug hookers across the country with her knowledge and skills of this craft.

Jo is a member of the International Guild of Hand Hooking Rugmakers and was Editor of the International Guild’s “Hooking Matters” when Australia was the host country. (2009-2012).

Webmaster: Judi Tompkins

Judi says – I grew up in the “big snow” area of Northern Michigan (USA) in a time of when thrift, recycling and traditional crafts – the philosophy of “passing it on” was the norm.  I watched my grandmother and her sewing circle of friends patiently recycle unwanted fabrics into hooked and braided rugs, art quilts and other practical creations.

When I retired from my career as a consultant (2007) I had time to focus on my interest in fibre, in particular, Rug Hooking.

As an educator, the concept of sharing knowledge “passing it on” is important to me, so I joined the growing Australian Guild of Rug Crafters working to save and revive this traditional craft.

My interest with fibre means that I have come full circle and suddenly feel part of my grandmother’s “quilting bee ladies” and the artisans I’ve met over the years.

The unhurried nature of the craft takes me on a journey that gives me time to reflect on both the subject and my work and the materials I use.   I enjoy every step of the way.

Back to the Strath Matters weekend Exhibition …..

The Committee’s two Judiths  ……….  Judith Stephens retiring President (Co-Founder of the Australian Rugmakers Guild) and Judith Tompkins, Webmaster,

The two “Judith’s” Judith Stephens, Retiring President with Webmaster Judi Tompkins discussing the rugs on display.
  • and the two Jacquelines ………

On Saturday morning, during Yvonne Dalton’s presentation, two tourists visiting the area stopped into the Town Hall to see what was happening.  Both ladies were from France, only one spoke English and was enthralled listening to Yvonne tell how she was taking her fabric, eco dyed (using a tree-wrapping process) in another direction, creating collages with fabric and her handmade paper and also using the dyed fabric to develop three dimensional works.

Yvonne told a humorous story involving a group of young women who bared all on Yvonne’s work-table to allow her to make a mould of their torso’s which Yvonne then used to create 3D sculptural work.

The second lady spoke no English and when she spotted Jacqui Thomson’s name tag, indicating herself, said “Jacqueline” – where upon Jacqui nodded in agreement – after some more “hand signals” it was discovered the visitors name was also Jacqueline. 

The visiting Jacqueline spoke several languages, including Spanish – so with our Jacqui’s smattering of French and yours truly’s use of fractured Spanish – the three of us were able to hold conversation.  The visitor looked excited, and I believe that might have gone down in her travel journal as a special moment.

Betty Wolf’s tapestry weaving demonstration followed. With Betty’s permission,  I attempted to record her demonstration on my phone.  In the large space full of chattering visitors it was quite a challenge, but Kira Mead has been able to work her magic. Here is the video which wasn’t shown in the earlier Blog.

The Guild President also the leader of the Strath Matters had her hands full, not only with the weekend rug exhibition but also organising the Strath Matters entries at the Strathalbyn Show.  Behind the scene, Jenny B was quietly keeping things running smoothly in the kitchen – with tea/coffee and cake available to the visitors and presenting drinks and nibbles to members after the Guild meeting.

Winding up this successful weekend it was hard to to believe it’s been over 10 years since the formation of the Guild in Strathalbyn, South Australia during the StrathMatters very first Exhibition.

Pictured below at the end of the 2008 Exhibition are members of the ARG Committee, seated – Judith Stephens, Vice President, Jo Franco, Editor along with the newly elected President, Miriam Miller – three very tied rug hookers.

Judith Stephens, Jo Franco & Miriam Miller, Strathalbyn 2008

Unfortunately, this year’s Exhibition did not end well for Miriam – who was returning to Milton via Canberra with Maggie Whyte and the Canadian visitors, Susan Sutherland and Karen Kaiser.

While driving from Canberra  back to Milton it was obvious Miriam was not well so the hospital was their first stop when they reached Milton. The Doctors decided she needed to be in ICU immediately, which meant a helicopter ride to Sydney.  Miriam said it was noisy and cold and she was in so much pain she couldn’t enjoy the exciting experience.

From the Editor:      I’m pleased to say Miriam has made a good recovery and is back at home at Narrawilly in Milton.  While still recuperating, she is happy to respond to emails from well wishers, but has not been able to publish her newsletter –  so watch for an end of year wrap up from her.

Looking forward to bringing you more news from the Survey.   Happy Hooking

 

Seasons Greetings from the Australian Rugmakers Guild

ISSN 2007-001X  December 2017

Greetings to you all

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

Best Wishes also from the ARG Committee & State Representatives

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joanne Wild, TAS, member of the Happy Hookers

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year

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

 

Call for Entries

ISSN 2207-001X 10th August, 2017

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:-

“Re-imagined”

A challenge with a Difference

Australian rugmakers, Jo Franco, WA and Judi Tompkins, QLD are issuing a Challenge, open to ALL rug 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

  1. One Entry per person
  2. Collaboration works will receive recognition as one entry
  3. No entry fee required
  4. Artist Bio (max 150 words) to be submitted with entry form.
  5. Download entry form and submit via email to rugcraftingaustralia@gmail.com
  6. 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 represented as 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 –

  1. One overall digital image and one detail digital image of your artwork.
  2. Digital images must be saved as a high quality .JPEG file – resolution/min 180 dpi (No TIFF files).
  3. 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
  4. A list of your chosen embellishments used in your entry.
  5. Title/Name of work
  6. Artist Statement (maximum 50 words, a description of your work and/or what inspired you)
  7. Closing date for Submission of Work (your digital images) 30th April 2018

Work in Progress & Social Media:

  1. 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”.
  2. Publication of work prior to publishing of the selection for the Virtual Exhibition will disqualify an entry.
  3. Networking – a closed Facebook group (private/participants only) will be set up to enable participants to interact prior to the submission of work.
  4. Images and discussion about techniques and embellishments can be shown in the closed (private) Facebook group.
  5. Guidelines and Q & A page will be posted on the Facebook Group page
  6. 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.

 

 

A Framed Finish

ISSN 2207-001X 28th April, 2017

Have you ever hooked, or been presented with a special rug hooked piece and wondered what you were going to do with it?

Sally from Brisbane had occasionally visited Judi Tompkins “Shed Days”  in Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast. These were special occasions at Judi’s home, as the Sunshine Coast Rugcrafters  group usually meets at the local Library in Beerwah.

As a tribute to Judi, Sally hooked this piece “Shed Girls” using pieces of woollen blankets from Judi’s famous stash of recycled blankets.

Because the hooked piece is representative of those special days and the fun times the group has had, Judi wanted to display it at her new residence, so she framed Sally’s work complete with a piece of Colourbond from the shed built in 2010, along with some of Judi’s collection of hooking tools.

The beauty of Colourbond (as the manufacturers advertisements will tell you) is that it retains its colour. Historically Aussie sheds were made of corrugated iron which rusts with age, creating an interesting patina, like the shed at Strathnairn, ACT where the Guild held an Exhibition last September.

There won’t be any more Shed Days, as Judi’s property is on the market. The shed for the new residence has already been built, but in future, special days will be held not in the new Shed but the soon to be built Studio.

As can be seen in the last couple of posts, apart from making works easier to hang, framing gives more of an art, rather than craft appearance to a hooked work.

Looking forward to more rug hooking news from Queensland.       Jo Franco, Editor

CREATIVE RUG HOOKING

ISSN 2207-001X 16 April,2017

Creativity! there must be something in the water in Queensland; two Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters share their latest projects.

“Craig; The Poker Master”  created by Judi Tompkins –

Judi’s story –

This piece was by way of a “thank you” to a publican (he owns a number of pubs in NSW) who has been extremely generous in his support of one of my friends. She owns a barber shop and needed to move locations, Craig made her a great deal on a new shop, paid for the renovations and added a toilet for her all for free. I really appreciate his doing all this for one of my very good friends so I thought I would make something as a “thank you“.

The piece is reminiscent of the “Godfather” motif but I couldn’t (and didn’t try to duplicate it). Craig is apparently quite a good “Hold ’em” Texas poker player (Craig is in a wheelchair so card games are something he can do in addition to running his pubs) so I thought I would make him the “godfather” of poker (without using the “godfather” term of course!)

So … what you see is a hand manipulating the various card suits (they are “swinging” so the puppet strings deliberately don’t hang straight). I got a man’s ID bracelet, had it engraved with his name and added it to the wrist of the “puppet master” manipulating the cards.

The piece is about the size of a dinner plate (I haven’t measured it yet) and was deliberately made in black and gold so that the embellishments would stand out. I used wool yarns along with Cashmere roving.

 

Annette White shares her latest project which also has a story;

Annette  says :

 My latest little rugging project is finished, well in use, and I’m happy with it. It’s on Greg’s chair (a rescue object from the kerbside [the chair, not Greg]) he likes to sit on when working at the computer. The rug  on the floor we bought about 12 years ago from a sheltered workshop in Namibia. It was a beautiful experience to meet the person who designed and wove it as well as the other people working there. They dyed their local Karakul wool there as well and had a whole pile of skeins there. When I looked closer I noticed a pair of little bright eyes in a black face shining out of that pile of wool, it was one of the workers’ baby having a nap in there.

When we had chosen our rug, all the people started to chant in happiness. – Seeing the rug on the floor always reminds me of that beautiful experience.

The only bit of wool I had to dye to match the colour is the pinkish one. For the reverse side I found a bit of perfect matching furnishing material in an op shop.”

Both Judi and Annette belong to the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters. The group meets at the Beerwah Library, Beerwah, from 2:30pm to 5:30pm on the 2nd Friday and 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Newcomers are always welcome

Jo Franco, Editor

Deconstructed Fibre: It’s a Puzzle

ISSN 2207-001X  March 19 2017

This Puzzle was hooked by the Australian Rugmakers Guild Webmaster Judi Tompkins from Queensland who shared her ideas and progress with Editor, Jo Franco, in Western Australia via Skype.

Now the ambitious project’s complete (even has it’s own special storage box with a hinged lid and an image of the completed piece on the inside of the lid) Jo asked Judi if she would share with the members, the techniques used and problems encountered.

Here’s the storage box sitting on the puzzle with a couple of the puzzle pieces on top.

and here’s the finished decorated lid of the storage box.

lift the lid and you have an illustration to follow

Here’s what Judi had to say about the process;

This was supposed to be an “easy” project when I first started thinking about it, I mean after all, I was merely going to produce 16 small rugs that would nest together neatly and create a large colourful mat with some beads and bling.  

     Hah!     Just goes to show how the best laid plans can change directions rather quickly.

(Please Note: some of the videos in this post are slow to load)

So, for any of you wishing to try a similar project, here, not in any particular order, are some observations and things I learned along the way. 

 Glue is not my friend! And believe it when they say “hot” glue – You betcha it is!

It took me a while to figure out a few things about hot glue: 

–         You don’t have to touch it immediately (and in fact you shouldn’t) … give the glue 3-4 secs to lose the immediate heat before you manipulate your fabric or embellishments.

 –        After burning my fingers eleventy-two million times I discovered that some crumpled up oven paper/baking type works as a great substitute for your finger. The glue won’t stick to it and you can use it to push and adjust the fibre. You must use it crumpled though … then it acts as a buffer between you and the hot glue. 

Glue is still not my friend but we have come to an “understanding” at this point.

 Make your design easy to cut apart. I left space between my pieces but I think more would have been better. Just think about how you will cut the shapes once you are ready to glue the edges and how much space you will need to manipulate the glue gun.

 Once I finished hooking the pieces I used PVA glue to stiffen the edges a bit and to pull the stray fibres out of the way of the cut line.  

 If you are making a puzzle or some such thing that needs to be reassembled in a particular way … number your pieces on the backing and TAKE A PHOTO OF IT!

Then when you finish the pieces I suggest that you put the corresponding number on the back of each piece (ie. 4/16…piece 4 out of 16) so you can match them up yourself …  believe me you will be very glad you did this!    

 Because I am so bad with glue, I “over glued” the edges with hot glue before I cut the pieces apart. So … my suggestion is that if you have already used PVA glue to secure the bits … cut your pieces apart and then hot glue the edges & backing.  Believe me cutting through “set” hot glue is an ugly job and I broke a pair of scissors trying to do it! 

 I don’t hook in neat straight lines and I tend to use a lot of different fibres so my work tends to be lumpy and shaggy. That works well for hiding the rough edges but I found that I still needed to “outline” each piece with some 8ply rug yarn to clean up the edge. I would be interested to see how this looks if the pieces were hooked with cut wool strips and a consistent loop height (which I can’t seem to do!).  I think the pieces would nest together better than mine do.

 Never, never, never, never, ever use self-adhesive backing on your pieces! Ahhhhhhggggg! What a nightmare! When trimming the edges of this stuff my scissors were gummed up within seconds and I had to constantly stop to wipe them off with turps! And an exacto blade was even worse!

Awful stuff …. but again … it’s a “glue” thing with me perhaps? 

This is an extra puzzle piece included in the box as a “mystery” piece just to give people something to think about …..  “now where should it go?”

(it goes nowhere because it’s piece No. 17 of a 16 piece puzzle).    Hah!

 Good luck to all who try this … I’ll be interested to see your results! 

 Let me know if you have questions.                           Judi Tompkins

 

Members of the Sunshine Coast Rugcrafters group attempt to put this puzzle together for the first time – it looks like it would be fun!

Thanks Judi for sharing your thoughts as you worked through this process.

Jo Franco, Editor

 

Coat of Arms with Unicorn Rug

ISSN 2007-001X

What do these items have to do with a rug inspired by a coat of arms?

Read on and learn a new finishing technique.

Stella Edmundson, a member of Judi Tomkins Sunshine Coast RugCrafters group, is relatively new to rug hooking however, her background in art, and a classical education, stands her in good  stead when it comes to creating designs.

Stella has learned more than just rughooking techniques from the very creative Judi, a self-taught rughooker, who has worked in different art mediums.  Judi encourages members of her group to think outside the box when it comes to framing their hooked pieces.

Here is Stella’s latest hooked work, a commission piece, destined for the USA.

In her own words, Stella’s description of her commissioned work:

” My latest hooked rug is being sent to America by request of my sister who is a close friend of Germanic Kenesbeck descendants.  It is inspired by the Kenesbeck coat of arms. I did not attempt to copy this family crest; for my hooking is not suitable for replicating anything.    Instead I chose the unicorn which dates back to 1172!

The unicorn on the family crest is a realistic long legged colt with a lion’s mane and tail (this imbues the unicorn a lion’s strength and power). I also wanted to have some kind of border suggesting the elaborate exquisite filigree scrolling greenery on the bottom of the crest. Alas, I had to make do with a more simple pattern. I have found that including trees in my hooked rug adds energy so I searched the net for a drawing of a Germanic looking tree.

So, that was the idea I started with. The rug made itself. The unicorn turned out to be not realistic but heraldic (ditto with the rabbits). Unicorns are truly magic beasts representing innocence, sincerity, cleanliness, wisdom, peace and joy. Rabbits are often depicted in medieval unicorn tapestries for they share a reclusive nature with a deep love of nature.

The time is early spring now in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. The setting is a deep dark night in a grassy wood lit by a radiant moon.”

Stella has invested in a new way of finishing hooked rugs which are to be hung; to give them a firm even edge, without the need of a frame.

Stella says   …………

“Here’s a  step by step approach with images – these items were used during the finishing of a previous wall hanging.

 1. Cut off excess backing fabric (foundation cloth) but leave enough to cover the rug

 2. Place a mounting board the exact size of the rug on the back

 3. Surround the mounting boards with cut dowels just under the width and length of the mounting board. Connect each corner by plastic tubing. This means there is no needs for nails and the corners are rounded.

 4. Fold foundation cloth over the dowels and mounting board. Fold down from top & up from bottom first and then fold the across sides to cover the whole piece then sew all sides together.

 5. With wool yarn matching the piece do rug stitch/whip stitch over the dowels and between the mounting board. Having a dowel in place insures even stitches.”

(Editors Note: The whip stitching should be done after “assembly” while the piece is laying on a flat surface;   it helps to have the far edge weighed down – you can see Stella has a couple of very accommodating weights!

Below is Stella’s final comment regarding her technique. I might add, this finished back also provides a good surface to add an Artist’s Statement or at least (Name/Size of work, Name of Artist & date completed)

” 6. I like to cover the back with fabric which gives a polished finish.”

Well done Stella!

and thank you for sharing your technique with other rugmakers.

Jo Franco, Editor

 

 

Defeating the Tyranny of Distance

ISSN 2207-001X

Teaching rug hooking from afar!

A rughooking instructor in Australia, a student in Holland – how does that work?

By using a Skype connection on computers.

The current Guild members’ newsletter contains an article by Judi Tompkins, Communications Chair, who was contacted via her personal blog by a woman in Holland with “how- to” questions about rugmaking. 

After a few emails back and forth, it didn’t take long for a friendship to bloom.   Thea, in Holland, a potter with a good eye for colour and design, was enthusiastic about her new-found craft. Finding it cumbersome to explain about tools and stitches in emails, Judi suggested they “hook up” through Skype.

Thea worked first on an embroidery hoop and then ………. after seeing the different frames Judi was using, and with the help of Miriam Miller’s book, included in an exchange package sent by Judi (no fees were involved for these online workshops, however a friendly barter took place)  Thea‘s husband built her a frame.

 

 

 

 

 

Thea began to hook up a storm and has made pillow covers and floor rugs with the new floor frame – here are a couple of examples.

Judi and I have frequent Skype conversations in order to keep this website up and running, during which, we have impromptu rughooking Show-n-Tell to discuss our current projects.

In Milton, New South Wales, on rug days, members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers often talk on Skype to rughooking friends in the USA and Canada who have visited their group or who they have met while attending Triennial TIGHR Conferences.  The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers is hosted by a different country for a three year term, culminating in a Conference to handover the reigns to the incoming Board of the next Host Country . Strathalbyn, South Australia was the Conference location in 2012, with a good turn-out from overseas rugmakers.

Judi and I would like to encourage Guild members, especially those isolated solo rugmakers to  give these “virtual rughooking sessions” a try.  If you have a laptop or computer, Judi has volunteered to help you set up a Skype connection – her email is judi.tompkins@bigpond.com   so,

Take advantage of what your Guild membership has to offer,

Happy Rugmaking from

Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair     and

Judi Tompkins, Communications Chair

Members Rughooking Videos

RHM-JJA16_Cover11 and Beyond,

Bec Anderson’s Artist in Residency project,

teaching rug hooking in school, is featured in the latest issue of Rug Hooking Magazine with a link to a video on Bec’s website. 

While on the Guild Facebook page, there’s now two videos featuring the work of guild members, Judi Tompkins and Robin Inkpen.

Bec’s  “11 and Beyond” project was launched on December 4th, 2014, 2_punchneedle_hooking_chair_padthe inaugural International Rughooking Day. During 2015 at Tamborine Mountain State School in Queensland,  Bec took a class of 11 year olds through the process of learning how to design their own patterns and to use a punchneedle to hook them.

Members of Bec’s rug hooking group, the Happy Hookers, assisted Bec with these sessions in return receiving punchneedle lesson themselves.  

photo 1

  The local Men’s Shed also took part, building the frames for the students to use.

7_punchneedle_chair_pads_in_frames

The project “11 and Beyond” was inspired by the shift in Queensland in 2015 12_QLD_Government_logowhen Year 7 students became the first year of high-school and  Year 6 (11 year olds) became the leaders of the 11_Becs_Project_headerprimary school.

This special issue of Rug Hooking Magazine features article focused on children and rug hooking from  Australia, Canada, Japan, England and the USA.  

There’s an article by Gene Shepherd  (Calif. USA) Education Chair of ATHA featuring young rug hookers and an easy and safe dye experience designed by him especially for kids.  

As always, this edition is packed full of interesting articles.  The magazine is available in Australia by subscription. I’m always delighted when my copy shows up in the post box as it did today. 

Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair