Judi Tompkins Queensland rugmaker – Rughooking Australia

Connecting with Guild Members and friends

ISSN 2207-100X 4^th April 2020

2019 Susan L. Feller presenting Global Textile Hub’s Global Rug Hub webinar at Sauder Village, Ohio, USA

Connecting locally, nationally and with our rug hooking friends overseas …………

In the USA on 4^th April, Susan L. Feller and Gene Shepherd shared Facebook posts in advance of 4^th December, International Rug Hooking Day.

These two rug hookers from East and West of the USA have worked together before on projects. This time, to brighten the day in this time of pandemic and despair, they asked rug makers to flood their Facebook pages all weekend with images of their works in progress with the emphasis on hands working and tools used and the hash tag #InternationalHookin

Rug makers in Australia were invited to take part – so even if you’ve missed the 4th of April, if you have a Facebook or Instagram account share your images with #InternationalHookin

Gene’s studio, where he holds rug hooking group sessions, dyes wool fabulous colours and weaves – is a stone’s throw from Disneyland in Anaheim California. Gene works with community groups and is keen to pass the traditional craft on to young people. This image is from Gene’s website, where you can see more images of works by his students and groups that meet there.

Gene also facilitates an online, Internet Rug Hooking Camp and generously makes “How To” videos available free online. Here is an introduction to rug hooking for beginners. More tutorials can be found on Rug Hooking Magazines website.

Judith Stephens and Gene Shepherd in Gene’s studio, Anaheim, California, USA – 2009

Here’s a blast from the past – in 2011 Judith Stephens, then Vice President of the Australian Rugmakers Guild and me (your Guild Editor, Jo Franco) visited Gene Shepherd at his California studio – which I believe was relatively new at the time. I took this photo of the two of them inspecting the rug that was currently on Gene’s rug hooking frame. To answer a question from many rug hookers – Yes, you can hook a large rug on a small lap frame or a small frame on a stand as Gene was using.

It’s a far cry from the busy freeways of Anaheim, a city which seems like a suburb of Los Angeles when you drive from one to the other, to where Susan lives on the US East Coast, in the mountains of West Virginia.

Unfortunately, development is having a huge impact on the natural beauty of her surroundings. Susan’s work acknowledges the impact while showing the natural beauty in her artwork which invites the viewer to think.

Both Susan and Gene visited Australia for the 2012 TIGHR Triennial (The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers) and are well known to rug makers here.

News from another “Northern” rug hooker who has visited Australia several times, most recently last year, attending the General Meeting in Strathalbyn South Australia ……. Karen Kaiser, from Canada.

Karen has produced a series of videos on how to cover a footstool with a hooked pattern, along the way, creating a set of coasters in the empty spaces of the foot stool pattern. You can see more of Karen’s work on her website.

WHILE BACK IN AUSTRALIA ……….. I’m hearing from Members who are really missing the physical contact of their groups in this time of social distancing.

Painted by Heather Ritchie, UK & sent to Miriam in Australia because she knows Miriam loves sunflowers.

In New South Wales; Miriam Miller is receiving many images and articles from rug makers around the country and the world, for her newsletter “Connecting Us” (archived on this website). Here are some excerpts – first from Queensland …..

Kingaroy, QLD – Judith Brook’s response to bushfires in the Narrawilly area – the piece depicting Mollymook Beach is edged with colours of fire and framed by burnt sticks. This framing technique was shared with Judith by Judi Tompkins who often uses this framing technique on her large 3D hooked wall hangings.

From Coolum Beach, QLD – Annette White says:

“Over the last two month I made two little mats (or wall hangings) for my two young grandnieces in Germany, Annette is nine and drew a lion, Johann, seven, drew the penguin. I had promised them I replicate their pictures in a little rug. As a bonus I printed out the Aesop fable about the lion and the mouse and fabricated a little mouse attached with a tiny strip of Velcro and an invisible nylon thread so it can be moved around.

For the penguin I found a story about the penguin and the fish, therefore added the fish in the same manner. So these will be story rugs. These girls are very creative kids and will appreciate something crafted. There are two more younger kids in that family, I will have to think of something for them as well.”

Annette also made something for herself – creating these containers using the toothbrush rugmaking technique.

From NSW – Bermagui – this piece was submitted by Dawn Hollins – it was created by a visitor from out of the area who was house-sitting in Bermagui and attended one of their groups gatherings.

Dawn said “It’s a great feeling to know that we helped launch such a prodigious talent. One lesson and she was off! We’ll see her again this winter when she and her husband return for more Bermagui-time.”

Unfortunately, with projections for social distancing going late into the year they may not be able to make their winter trip.

NSW – Milton: With events being cancelled across the country – the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers were lucky to have made it to exhibit their work in the Milton Show and also give rug hooking demonstrations there on 7th March.

Miriam Miller might be staying at home, but she’s keeping busy, along with her garden and newsletter, she has started another BIG RUG – yes she is also using a small frame.

Miriam says “I am starting a new rug inspired by a book Maggie Whyte lent me called “Rug Money” authors Mary Anne Wise and Cheryl Conway-Daly about rugs made by groups of women in Guatamala. They are so colourful and wild, it inspired me to do something more colourful, I hope. This is the start. As we older people are advised to stay home and avoid mixing with people because of the Coronavirus, it is good to have a project I am keen to work on. (Below my rug progressing.)”

Also a member of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers, Leith Brandt sent this piece to Miriam for inclusion in Miriam’s newsletter. Leith says – “I am sending you a photo of some stitch work I have done. It is an abstract impression of the hills around Gundagai, done with recycled fabrics- stitches and needle felting.”

Still in NSW – Milton; Narrawilly Proggy Rugger, Elke Smith-Hill keeps to the social distancing rules enjoying a walk on this deserted beach.

As an avid photographer, it’s not just the chance to exercise for Elke, a bonus is finding fossils in the rocks.

On to Victoria – Loch; where Chris Noorbergen has put aside her rug hook and taken up a crochet hook – to complete this wonderful free-form crocheted jacket.

Chris is a member of the Yarra Valley Rugmakers – who travel to each others homes to hold a meeting once a month. With everyone having to stay at home they have formed a Facebook Messenger Group and for their last meeting they all gathered together their hooking and clicked into the Facebook Messenger Group and were able to chat to each other throughout the day as they hooked – sounds to me like the main disadvantage was they couldn’t all take part in the delicious food that usually accompanies their get-togethers. Here’s a couple of their projects.

Bobby La said “Just doing the dotted edges. First with one colour, spaced out to allow for the next. Listening to ABC radio Conversations, on the verandah.”

By the end of the day Joy had her stair tread finished.

Even with social distancing, they are still open to welcoming new members – you can read about their group here.

Western Australia – Wanneroo – members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers who usually meet every Saturday morning are really missing their time together – I know, as I’m one of the group. We had so much planned for this year. We’re still working on one of the projects and as I make my quick safaris to pick up groceries I’ve been stopping by to pick up sections of the finished work from member’s mail boxes. The pieces will be delivered to Peta Korb’s mail box on another excursion, as she has volunteered to finish them off. The “D” was hooked by Kath and Anna’s “T” is now a block. Recycled T-shirts are being used for this project.

This Blog started with news of rug hooking friends in the Northern Hemisphere so it’s fitting we finish off with News from CANADA – Newfoundland;

Pat Parsons, in Gander, is the TIGHR Communications Chair – Pat sent Miriam news and images from the annual Central Regional Hook In hosted by the Happy Matters Group;

Pat says: it was a terrific success with 70 rug hookers from all over the island attending. There was a delicious lunch served by the Church Ladies, prizes given away, loads of locally dyed wool for sale, and much merriment all around. Below you will see all of us hard at work on various beautiful mats. We are fortunate here on the island to have several active groups from east to west and north to south- and we don’t mind driving 2 or 3 hours to spend the day with our likeminded crafters and support the local rug shops that pop up.

As members of the TIGHR planning team for the next Triennial, I hope that we see as many Australians rug hookers as we can in 2021. Meanwhile, stay safe everyone and Happy Hooking. Pat

Click TIGHR to learn more about The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers.

From the Editor: This started out to be a quick recap of what’s happening with our rug hooking groups – but like Topsy, it kept growing – there’s still more images and news to share …… in the next Blog, as I need to work on the Global Textile Hub’s Call for Entries to “Re-imagined” a Collaboration with a Difference: Make the Ordinary Extraordinary launched this past week. You can click this link to read all about it and complete an Expression of Interest. You’ll also see on the GTH Facebook page an explanation of a “virtual” exhibition – featuring the pilot virtual online exhibition “Re-imagined” a mixed media exhibition, the Opening of which took place at Rug Hooking Week in Sauder Village Ohio, USA August 2018.

Even with social distancing you can collaborate with others (phone,post,Skype and online) – so stay safe – stay home and get creative.

It’s a Wrap

ISSN 2207-001X – December 2018

Jo Franco, Editor & Membership Chair, Australian Rugmakers Guild

This is the time of year for reflection and planning – looking back 2018 has been a busy year for many of the members of this Guild. Workshops given, new rug groups formed, solo exhibitions and travel – Miriam Miller and Jacqui Thompson from New South Wales take the award for most distance travelled!

With so much happening where to start? ….. By State – on the East coast, North to South and across to Western Australia.

QUEENSLAND:
In July, two Judiths from Queensland (Judy Brook and Judi Tompkins) along with another Judy and gave workshops at the Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery’s Winter Craft Festival .

In October, Judy Brook travelled to the UK to attend The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) 2018 Triennial in Reeth.
Below, Judy shows a piece she started in Reeth as she tells members of the Sunshine Coast RugCrafters group about the Triennial and her travels, at the first of the “Palimpsest Studio Days” to be held in Judi Tompkins’ new Studio in Landsborough, on International Rug Hooking Day.

Much of Judi Tompkins time was taken up this year with “Re-imagined” a virtual online Exhibition co-convened with Jo Franco – but that’s another story (Blog).
The “Re-imagined” Exhibition includes works by several members of the Sunshine Coast Rugcrafters.

Judy Owen embraced the Brief, with embellishments required in the Call for Entry, with her original design “Memories of my Father”

Annette White has a way with animals. Her Exhibition entry was a hooked elephant hand puppet – she also hooked and prodded this “bear rug”.

Bea Nitschke added to her butterfly collection with this blue butterfly. Her “Re-imagined” entry was sculptural, a 3D gold butterfly on driftwood.

and Stella Edmundson did more than rug hook in 2018 – entering “Re-imagined” and completing several commission pieces (her own designs)

Stella won first place in the sport of Tae Kwon Do in both traditional and creative patterns for female black belts over 60 years of age at the Pan Pacific Masters’ Games held on the Gold Coast, in Queensland.

Trees were popular subjects as Exhibition entries – Cynthia Nicklin, Mt. Glorious, QLD entered “The Mother Tree”. (Mother tree – timber getters’ parlance for a large old tree whose seed resulted in the surrounding forest)

The subject for Cynthia’s original artwork, an ancient flooded gum, stands outside her kitchen window. Cynthia’s artist statement read “It is thought she saw Captain Cook sail along the southern coast of Queensland in 1770. She survived cyclonic winds and rains, droughts, hail storms, severe lopping, insect infestation. She has been a tent support, a cubby house platform, a rubbing post for cattle, a holder of swings and a haven for birds, marsupials, creepy crawlies and native orchids. And yet she still stands, the last of her kind in this area.”

In Brisbane Claudia Forster-Purchase was busy working on an original tree design, embellished with paper bark found in the area where she lives. Unfortunately preparation for a trip to Canada prevented her from finishing it in time to enter. We look forward to seeing this piece finished and framed.

Bec Andersen from Mt. Tamborine held a Solo Rug Hooking Exhibition at Under the Greenwood Tree Bookstore and Contemporary Art Gallery (Aug 10 – Sep 2) and a Make Do & Mend crafting workshops and installation – this link will tell you more about the project created during a series of workshops spanning over three months across Scenic Rim.

These images of Bec and her work were taken at the end of year gathering of Bec’s group, Happy Hookers posted by Janis Bailey, were reposted on Rug Hooking Magazine’s Facebook coverage of International Rug Hooking Day.

NEW SOUTH WALES:

Jilliby: Guild Member, Clare Thornley, www.feltfine.com.au , offers everything for people to start their rug making journey; Oxford Punch tools, three types of backing fabrics, hand-dyed rug yarn and frames. You can contact Clare online or arrange a visit to her studio not far off the M1.

Sydney : Martha Birch – represented ARG at this year’s Sydney Craft Fair in Darling Harbour – members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers came up from Milton to assist. There was much interest in the colourful display and Martha has formed a Facebook rug hooking group open to the public, From Rags to Rugs, Sydney Rug Hookers https://www.facebook.com/groups/387146415123046/

Martha has also given well received beginner rug hooking workshops and started regular group meetings in the Sydney suburb of Epping 26 Stanley Rd at the Epping Creative Centre .

In 2019 the group will meet on the 2nd Saturday from February to November – from 10.00am to 4.00pm – Tuition is available. Here are images from those first workshops.

Milton is home to a couple of intrepid travellers Miriam Miller & Jacqui Thompson who in 2018 travelled the Australian East coast then around the world. In July they drove north on the west side of the Great Dividing range to Cairns and back down the coast – catching up with family and rug hookers along the way. A distance of approximately 2,652k (almost 1,648miles)

Miriam Miller, Judi Tompkins and Jacqui Thomson at Judi’s new home in Landsborough, Queensland.

Immediately after their return they went up to Sydney and helped Martha talk rug hooking to people at the Sydney Craft Fair in Darling Harbour.

Then began their BIG trip – starting in Milton at the local bus stop – where at 6.00a.m. they caught the bus to Sydney – flew to the UK and visited with family in the south of England – sharing in daily journal entries, emailed to interested family and friends by Miriam’s daughter Robyn, many images of places, rug hookers and their impressions of the different countries they visited. Many of the images from their travels were shared on the Guild Facebook page.

Their itinerary went like this – from Brighton, UK, to the Isle of Guernsey – across to France to stay with the family of a rug hooker – back to the UK to attend the TIGHR Triennial in Reeth where they stayed with Heather Ritchie. Miriam and Jacqui couldn’t get over how much was planned during the Conference, they will be recounting stories from this event for months to come.

There were new friends to be made at the TIGHR Triennial in Reeth as well as many old friends to catch up with – including Marg Arland and Susan Sutherland who have visited Miriam and Jacqui at Narrawilly in Milton.

On the return trip they were Artists in Residence in Corris, North Wales – then travelled to Ireland to met up with Neville Smith the maker of the Irish (Hartman) Hook and his family.

From Ireland they flew to Iceland to take a knitting tour in the company of Heather Ritchie, back-tracking through the UK to Canada. First visiting Newfoundland, then Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, staying with rug hookers who introduced them to members of their groups and their many rug hooking friends, generally touring them all over, even though the weather had definitely turned to winter.

While staying on Cape Breton, NS, Cathy, their hostess, took them on a special tour of Les Trois Pignons – Museum of the Hooked Rug and Home Life in Cheticamp – here is just one of the many large finely shaded rugs hooked by Elizabeth La Fort, click the link above to see all the rooms filled with amazing rugs in this museum.

The travellers arrived back home to Milton just in time for the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers annual Fashion Parade with group members modelling and purchasing the garments donated by a local Op Shop to be cut up and used to hook with. Proceeds from this event goes to Heather Ritchie for her Rug Aid project.

With much work, from this pile of donations evolved a Fashion Parade

BERMAGUI: Early in the year members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers visited Dawn Hollins to see her new craft room and from Dawn comes the following news;

“The Bermagui & District U3A Rug Hooking Group held its Christmas lunch gathering in my craft cabin in Cobargo on Wednesday 12 December. We have been meeting once a month during term time at the home of Lindsay Potter, our teacher. Since completing the wall hangings for the Bermagui Surf Club two years ago we have been working on our own projects and have welcomed new members. A new cafe in Bega dedicated to using recycled materials has asked us to make hooked covers for all their stool cushions – a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our craft!”

BRAIDWOOD: Gail Nichols has had a very busy year – beginning with her entry “Stepping Out” on exhibit in the “Re-imagined” virtual Exhibition

Followed by “Rug Up for Winter” a Workshop given with Maggie Hickey to the Braidwood Regional Art Group.

and an Exhibition – “In transit” at the Drill Hall Gallery, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT

and yet another Exhibition “Landscape”, which opened 17th November at Narek Gallery in Bermagui featuring “Wallace Street”

Gail was also a finalist in Rug Hooking Magazine’s Celebrations 2018 – this work “Temple fish” was published in the Celebration of Handhooked Rugs 2018.

ACT – Canberra – Maggie Whyte was one of nine Guild members from five Australian States, who attended The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) 2018 Triennial held in the UK at Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales.

Earlier in the year Maggie gave a Braided-in Workshop at Narrawilly in Milton and was on hand to help with the recent Narrawilly Fashion Parade filling in for Jacqui Thompson who due to ill health was unable to attend and was missed by all at the event.

VICTORIA: Warrandyte – Anne Schafer also attended the TIGHR Triennial in Reeth and along with Maggie Whyte, Canberra and Janet Tayler-Henry, NSW visited Miriam & Jacqui at their Artists in Residence in North Wales.

Anne Schafer snuggled up under a rug knitted by Miriam Miller

Anne will be entertaining the Victorian group, the Yarra Valley Rugmakers, for some time with tales of her travels …. the knitting tour and sightseeing in Ireland as well as all the wonderful events she took part in at the Triennial in Reeth, UK.

In her absence Robyne demonstrated rug hooking at the Melbourne Show where she started this rug. You can see what inspired her, how she planned the “No name” proggy rug and follow her progress from start to finish on this link

Yarra Valley Group members take turns to gather in each other’s homes, travelling between Lily Dale (Post Code 3140) a suburb 35k NE of Melbourne to Loch (Post Code 3945) in South Gippsland, 106 k SE of Melbourne and Warrandyte (3113) 27k NE of Melbourne.

For those wanting to learn rug hooking who live West of Melbourne in the Ballarat (3350) area you’ll find an instructor 30 minutes away, in Lal Lal (3352) Marcia King is a solitary rug maker who also gives workshops, locally and further afield.

Marcia will be teaching an Intro to Rug Hooking at Opendrawer, 1158 Toorak Rd, Camberwell Opendrawer.com.au

on January 22nd, 2019 – 10am to 4pm

Marcia enjoys recycling – this work in progress, a floor mat, is being hooked using T-Shirts some she has re-dyed using Procion dyes to get some nice vibrant colours. The backing is a piece of wool fabric, found in a discount bin at the Creswick Woollen mill many years ago.

TASMANIA: Deloraine – A rug hooking group meets every week on Monday morning at Art as Mania; a Shop, Studio and Gallery space located in the heart of Deloraine Tasmania showcasing the works of talented artists, craftspeople, wood and metal workers and artisans.

Art as Mania, is at 20-22 Emu Bay Road, Deloraine – you can also find them on Facebook.

Hobart: Hobart Rag Ruggers a new Facebook group – open to all –

you’ll find them here .

Emma Gunn is the administrator, and in August organized a get together at the South Hobart Community Centre (in the D’Arcy St Playground). Emma has also been travelling this year, checking out rugs and rug makers in the USA and Canada. For more information about meet ups, contact her via the Facebook page or this Blog.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA; Strathalbyn
The StrathMatters rug group started 2018 in a new home and have been busy since, with a trip to the Australian Tapestry Workshop in Melbourne to view the Gordian Knot – these photographs by Malcolm Edward-Cole.

They also visited the National Gallery of Victoria to view the large interactive rug installation acquired by the Gallery – “Santa Cruz River” by Alexandra Kehayoglou, a Buenos Aires–based artist and designer who uses hand-tufted wool rugs to draw into focus landscapes under threat of irreversible change.

Their Annual weekend retreat, held this year at the Normanville Jetty Caravan Park from Friday 26 to Monday 29 October, involved surprise workshops. The main event was a demonstration and try-out of Tapestry Weaving with guest craftswoman Betty Wolf.

The StrathMatters also entered rugs in the Adelaide and Strathalbyn shows.

One of the members travelled even further afield – Kathy Saint went to the TIGHR Triennial in Reeth like all the visitors, carrying a rug for display. The small town of Reeth was covered in “hooking” with over 100 members arriving from around the world bringing hooked items to be displayed along with the work of the UK members. The interior of the church and buildings throughout town were “adorned”. The rug, shown below, that may have put Kathy over her airline baggage limit, was designed by Judith Stephens and hooked by both of them. On the way to the Conference Kathy took a textile tour in Italy where she was introduced to an unusual lace making technique

SAVE THE DATE! 1st weekend in Oct 2019 – It’s over 10 years since the Guild was formed in Strathalbyn and more than 2 years since the last Guild meeting was held at the 2016 Coast to Coast Exhibition in Canberra

its time for a coming together of Australian Rugmakers!

Information on the event will be published early 2019 – it’s mentioned here so you can plan holidays and time off.
Suggestions for workshops or events to take place on this weekend are welcome.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: The Wanneroo Rugmakers meet at the Library and Cultural Centre in Wanneroo every Saturday from 10.00am to 1:00pm to work on community projects and their own hooked creations and share many different textile techniques including felting … here are some of Peta Korb’s delightful Aussie critters

Robin Inkpen visited from Donnybrook in the States South West and showed how she made the coils for her entry in “Re-imagined” the virtual Exhibition

“Warning! Bleached coral in a plastic sea” 2018 by Robin Inkpen 68cm x 65 cm Photograph by Skip Watkins

after Robin’s visit Kath Smith created a wrapped rope basket to go with cushion covers she made using the Canadian smocking technique.

Beanies were made, entered and sold in the Alice Springs Beanie Festival

Tricia Thacker wearing a beanie 10 years in the making – a circular weaving project put away as a UFO and finally finished this year!

The main focus for the group this year has been on the construction of rug hooking frames. The current models are being made of PVC pipe and started with plans kindly made available by Judy Taylor of Little House Rugs(USA) who has also featured as rug maker of the month on her website two Australian rugmakers Judi Tompkins and Judith Stephens. Images of their rugs are shown in Judy’s new book “T-Shirt Treasures”

Wanneroo group members continue to re-design and refine the frame design and have finally come up with a way to keep the backing drum tight without having to import metal gripper strips not available locally.

This year, travel was on the agenda for several of the groups members. Peta visited her son in Canada and took the opportunity to take more textile workshops, sharing some of her new found knowledge on her return. She is currently traveling in Europe with her other son sending back inspiring images of extraordinary architecture and works of art.

Sharen Smith is back in the fold after a trip to some interesting places in Europe – while the weather was cold, the decorations for the Christmas season made for magical photo opportunities.

Jo Franco gave up on her planned trip to TIGHR when she was invited to attend the Opening of the virtual Exhibition “Re-imagined” at the annual Rug Hooking Week in Sauder Village, Ohio USA – a huge event with several featured Exhibitions, many vendors, and open to the public – think Australian Craft Fairs on a bigger scale. Workshops – daily and residential are booked out as soon as they open at the beginning of each year. “Re-imagined” the virtual was seen on a big screen TV by many, as over 4,000 people go through the event during the week. There was much interest in the “virtual” concept, and the “Textile Tessera” installation, with visitors wanting to know why only work from the Southern Hemisphere was featured – wishing they’d had a chance to participate. They will – there’s to be another virtual exhibition in 2021, coinciding with the next TIGHR Triennial in Newfoundland, Canada, and that virtual exhibition will be open worldwide. Watch this space for more to come!

From the Editor: This is an extremely long post but it doesn’t begin to cover all that’s happened this year in the rug hooking world in Australia. I hope you will take the opportunity to follow the links to read more about the different groups and events.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to All.

IT’S IN THE BAG

ISSN 2007-001X August 2018

Textile Tessera, a collaborative hooked installation by Judi Tompkins, Peta Korb and myself, is packed in the suitcase ready to take and show at the Opening, at Sauder Village, Ohio, USA, of “Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference .

In this video produced by Kira Mead, Judi talks about how the challenge came to be.

This time next week I will be in Ohio setting up the installation and displays. As the online Exhibition will be viewed on a big screen, this collaborative installation was created so visitors could actually handle pieces made with different rug making techniques, fabrics and embellishments.

The “Re-imagined” exhibit, will include hands-on-demonstrations of various techniques. Images of works by Guild members and information about the Guild and its members will be on display.

Above is just one of 12 pages of different rugmaking techniques – click here to see them all.

The online “Re-imagined” Exhibition convened by Judi and me resulted from our Challenge to all textile artist in the Southern Hemisphere in order to promote the use of various rug making techniques in other disciplines and to encourage those already pulling and pushing fabrics through an open weave to create a hooked surface, to use embellishments and work outside their comfort zone.

While some of the Australian Rugmakers Guild members follow the North American traditions of rugmaking and use wool fabric strips or wool yarn – there is an increasing interest in the use of recycled fabric. The recycling aspect of the craft resonates with those who are following the “War on Waste” and who have become interested in the return to traditional “slow” crafts.
Generally speaking, rug making is not held in high esteem by other textile artists. Our aim was to show the craft of rug making can be effective in social, environmental and artistic pursuits.

We hope you enjoy this video of our collaborative entry and we look forward to showing you through our Gallery Exhibition.

Jo Franco and Judi Tompkins

Challenges of Collaboration

ISSN 2007-001X April 2018

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

Conveners of

“Re-imagined” a Challenge with a Difference –

a virtual mixed media Exhibition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judi goes on to describes the process so far;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hah! (again)

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

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

ensuring I can’t find anything in any location.

(“but…I know I have it somewhere”)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Jo …………

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

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

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

Storing and Sharing Rug Hooking Images

ISSN 220-001X 12th May, 2017

How do you show your rug hooking projects?

Judi Tompkins from Queensland, is very conscientious about photographing her many creative rug hooking projects and recently learnt how to document and create her own portfolios.

Here is what Judi had to say about the process …………..

“If you’re like me you tend to take photos of your finished work and store them on your phone, tablet or camera for future reference. This works really well if you actually sort and catalogue your photos to make them easy to find later – particularly if you want to show someone a specific piece which you may – or may not – actually own anymore!

I was beginning to feel like a doddery ol’ lady when it came to finding photos on my phone since I had waaaaaay too many of them stored there and uncategorised. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to find a photo I just know is on my phone and having to reassure my now bored viewer, “I KNOW it’s here someplace, gimme a minute.”

With that in mind I thought I would try to make a more sensible photographic catalogue of my work and at the same time consolidate all the information about each piece. I simply wasn’t doing a good job recording (in one file) all the information about my work (title, date, dimensions, fabrics/techniques used and any “story” associated with the piece.)

I decided to use VistaPrint (http://www.vistaprint.com.au/) to help me with this since I had used them before to print cotton carry bags, t-shirts, banners, etc. Their quality is good and their 10-day (or less) turnaround time amazing – even more amazing when you consider they are in the USA.

So…I downloaded their editing program for the photo books. The software is easy to use and you can decide on the size and format of the book you want. In most cases the books have a suggested number of photo spaces and text boxes allocated for each book but you can delete, insert or move photos as you like (the same is true for the text boxes).

You can also do any editing function you want through their program so you don’t have to crop or adjust colours before you start – you can do it here. Also, somewhere (I have it on the flyleaf) you should put the copyright symbol © and state that all text and photos remain the property of the artist (or some such).

There is a option for you to also have photos on the front and back cover of your book, and along the spine. I do think it is worth paying a few dollars more for the high quality photo paper.

There is a preview function so you can review the book as you go along and once you give the book a file name it will remain in your VistaPrint account so you can come back to finish it anytime, or you may decide to reprint the book or make changes for the next edition.

Before you place your order (and in fact, throughout the process) Vista Print will make you aware of problems like low resolution of a photo or text that doesn’t fit in the text box. So…when you place your order you will be told which pages have apparent problems and you can correct them at that point.

I was surprised at the number of pieces I’ve made over the years and didn’t try to replicate every one! I did however, make two specialised books: “The Tenacious: How to Build a Tall Ship” and “Fibre Taxidermy: Bespoke and personal – Realistic hooking of pets or animals”. These two books are an attempt to explain and illustrate how I have done a few of the more complicated Waldoboro pieces. These are the questions so hard to answer when I can’t find the right photo on my phone.

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

So…give some thought about signing up for a Vista Print account and get on their mailing list. I have produced several of my books at the 25% or more discounts that they regularly offer so you don’t need to pay the full price. Get your photos ready and in a Vista file and you’ll be ready to order it when they are have sales.

Have fun! Judi Tompkins

Thanks Judi – I agree, it is nice to have a record (especially one not subject to disappearing into the ether) of something you’ve put a lot of work into, has meaning to you and perhaps has been given away or sold.

I hope this encourages other members not to feel shy about creating a portfolio of their work and calling themselves a rug hooking artist.

(Disclaimer: Other companies provide similar services for creating photo albums, the Australian Rugmakers Guild is not officially promoting VistaPrint)

A Hooked Chook

otherwise known as “Judi’s Folly”

Everybody!

Created by Judi Tompkins, 2016 “Palimpsest” Landsborough, QLD

According to Wikipedia : In architecture, a folly (French term folie – meaning foolishness) is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or appearing to be so extravagant that it transcends the range of garden ornaments usually associated with the class of buildings to which it belongs. 18th century English gardens and French landscape gardening often featured mock Roman temples, symbolizing classical virtues.

1 800px-Castle_Howard_-_Temple_of_the_Four_Winds[1] 1 cb418c88b3138e5e8285b9afda332aa8[1]

1 images[3] 1 Sculpture_à_Parc_de_la_Villette,_Paris,_France_juillet_2010[1]

In English, the term began as “a popular name for any costly non-functional structure erected to enhance the natural landscape”.

Hence the terms use for Judi’s installation which to date, has not stopped growing in the middle of her living room!

4 IMG_4318[1] Having made several wall-hangings using the 3D Waldoborough technique (in the extreme)

Judi had a desire to make a full size 3D hooked project.

This ladder no longer in use, and her interest in birds and fowl, was the catalyst for the chook project.

First the pattern for the chook (Bertha) was drawn onto hessian

Then begain the hooking using novelty “Eyelash” yarn, the finished shape was stuffed with wool.

6 IMG_5132[1]

The ladder was bought into play and the chook perched upon it.

7 Hooked_Chook_by_Judi_Tompkins_QLD_Australia

At this point Judi’s creative sense went into over-drive; the chook needed a nest and if it was going to have a nest shouldn’t there be some eggs?

8 Chook on nest

8 IMG_5150[1]

And as eggs tend to do – they started to hatch

Chick with a face only a mother could luv!

Members of Judi’s rug hooking group who’d seen this installation starting to take shape felt they too wanted to be involved.

Bea showed up with a two specimens of fowl she’d created in a pottery class

11 IMG_5181-001[1]

and along with Judi Owen and Ann Naisworth (NSW) they started to collect feathers for the project

Who laid the Golden Egg

… by this time it had grown to include a mat beneath the ladder into which realistic grass and plants had been hooked and other birds and birds nest from Judi’s collection had been placed.

The circular mat is a massive art work in itself 15 feet (458cm) in circumference and weighing over 6kg.

A video of this huge rug hooking effort was made by Kira Mead using the outline of my blog, with voice over by husband Warren. With the addition of some funky Chicken song music, it created something that made us all smile.

So the video, even though it was only a trial effort, was posted on the Guild Facebook page. For those of you who may not have seen it, here it is the link

https://www.facebook.com/australianrugmakersguild/

Congratulations to Judi on such a creative effort and to Kira for being clever and persistent and conquering the digital battle of learning how to bring it all online.

I have certainly enjoyed being Judi’s sounding board through the construction of this installation. Jo Franco, Editor

International Rug Hooking Day

Rug Hooking events are being planned across Australia to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day on 4th December

Rug Hooking Magazine will post photos and brief descriptions of rug hooking events from around the world on the RHM Facebook page. To accommodate different time zones the page will be monitored from 3rd to 5th December with images posted on the 4th December – USA time.

So send in your photos, even if it’s just you and a friend getting together to hook rugs or talk about rug hooking.

Judi Tompkins from Queensland will be in Western Australia giving a workshop (3D Rughooking) on the 5th of December (the 4th in the USA) so her group the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters had their own special celebration ahead of time.

The group lunched at Secrets on the Lake, a rainforest resort, in Montville, Queensland, not far from Judi’s home.

No rug hooking took place, but just look at the inspirational surroundings.

Secrets_by_the_Lake_Montville_QLD_1 — Photos taken by Judi Tompkins

Also in Queensland

Bec Andersen, is planning a morning tea and a Rughooking Show and Tell

on Friday the 4th December 10:00am – 12:00pm

at theTamborine Mountain Library,

Cnr. Main & Yuulong St

Works by The Happy Hookers are on exhibition.

Members of the public are welcome

RSVP Essential 55405473

While in New South Wales, the Narrawilly Proggers will be holding their annual “Fashion Show” on Friday the 4th of December.

This is a popular event held at Miriam Miller’s Rug Room. The Narrawilly Proggers receive donated garments which are cut up for rug making. Miriam says “All year we save anything unusual or interesting and the after the parade, some are used for rugs, others worn.”

Garments are modeled by members of the group and sold in an unusual manner amid much hilarity.

Funds raised go to support Heather Ritchie’s Rug Aid – a rughooking school for the blind in The Gambia.

Visitors are most welcome on this day – for details of the event contact Miriam Miller Tel: (02) 4455-6870 or

email: narrawillyfarm@shoal.net.au

In Western Australia, on Saturday 5th December,

the Wanneroo Rugmakers will hold their Saturday meeting in the main hall of Alexander Park Craft House, Cnr Elstree & Clyde Sts, Menora and will demonstrate various rugmaking techniques and Robin Inkpen will be visiting from Donnybrook

Invitations have gone out to Guild members and those who’ve expressed interest in learning about the craft, to bring their hooked creations for show and tell, or their rug making projects in need of help, and to share in a day of exchanging rugmaking and textile ideas.

Dont have a rughooking project to work on?

Frames will be set up and material available for you to try several different rugmaking techniques. Tools and kits for small projects will also be available for sale.

Bring your friends and join the fun

any time between 9:30am and 4:00pm

If you’re coming for the day bring some lunch for yourself – tea and coffee will be available.

The Hook-In is a FREE event

Click here for a map – full details are available on the ARG Calendar of Events.

"Bitzer" Designed & Hooked/Prodded (incl. a range of techniques) by Judi Tompkins, Queensland — “Bitzer” Designed & Hooked/Prodded (incl. a range of techniques) by Judi Tompkins, Queensland

Judi Tompkins will be giving her 3D Rughooking Workshop in the adjoining Studio at Alexander Park Craft House. (click here for details of time and cost)

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From Jo …………

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otherwise known as “Judi’s Folly”

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Rug Hooking events are being planned across Australia to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day on 4th December

Also in Queensland

Bec Andersen, is planning a morning tea and a Rughooking Show and Tell

While in New South Wales, the Narrawilly Proggers will be holding their annual “Fashion Show” on Friday the 4th of December.

In Western Australia, on Saturday 5th December,

The Hook-In is a FREE event

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