November 3, 2014

Guest Blogger
Gloria McPherson
A Woman of the Magdalena Rug Hookers
Perry County, Pennsylvania

It was a dark and stormy night by the time I reached my hotel in South Burlington, Vermont, but my excitement at being there wasn’t just relief from getting out of the rain. The next morning I would begin my first rug hooking class at Hooked in the Mountains Rug Show & School!

The Learning to Hook Rugs Workshop was taught by Diane Burgess, an experienced rug hooker and teacher from Hinesburg, VT. After receiving basic instruction about tools and materials, we each traced a simple pattern and transferred it to linen.

The small patterns Diane provided gave us a project that wasn’t too overwhelming. As the first day continued, we hooked, watched, and listened. Midday offered a tour of the vendors to learn more about what was available. So many fibers, so little time!

Day 2, a tour of the exhibit and then more hooking and instruction as we learned about finishing our projects. Finishing seemed pretty far away, but we persevered. By the end of the day I was almost there. With a bit more effort I’d be ready to begin whipping an edge before the final session wrapped up. Heady stuff for a newbie!

Day 3, and more instruction about some of the hooking techniques we had seen in the show: how to make backgrounds more interesting and how to put our initials on our rugs, plus other practical tips and techniques.

What a great experience! Diane was a patient and encouraging teacher, and helped us to do our best. One thing I have noticed about rug hookers is the positive attitude they bring to those of us who are just beginning. They are women and men who love their art and genuinely want others to experience the same pleasure. I’m looking forward to my next project!

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November 5

Karen Larsen, of Crow's Foot Farm,  Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, was on location last weekend, showing the uninitiated what it's all about, and proudly (for us, too!) displaying the cover of Rug Hooking magazine that featured her terrific owls rug. She blogged about her experience here.

The shop is called One Good Woman, and owner Holly O’Connor generously showcases local artists who work in a variety of media. Karen's rug hooking attracted lots of questions and—we wouldn't be surprised—maybe inspired someone who is right now keying rug hooking into a search engine (or asking Siri or Cortana to do it for her).

Karen Larsen and Holly O'Connor

By the way, This Could Be You (or your guild) at a location near you, come December 4: International Hook-In Day, as declared by The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers. TIGHR is encouraging all rug hookers to get out there and show them how it's done. (And what it's called. And its history. And how much fun it is. And what great people do it. And like that.) Mosey on over to their website for the basics. And check our Facebook page over the next couple of weeks for more information.

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November 12, 2014

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November 22, 2014

Guest Blogger
Susan L. Feller
TIGHR

What better way to celebrate an anniversary than to send out an invite to the world of Rug Hookers/Braiders/Punchers/Prodders to get together with some friends and promote the craft! That is what TIGHR—The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers—has done by declaring December 4 to be International Hook-In Day.

(Read to the end to see how you can share your activity on the Rug Hooking magazine Facebook page on the day itself!)

Why a Thursday early in December?  It is the date 20 years ago when the organization was officially formed during a meeting of fiber friends in a suburb of London, United Kingdom.  See tighr.net to learn more about the organization’s history and read the article on page 59 of the November/December issue of Rug Hooking magazine, or see a snippet of the article here.

"The day"—December 4—has been declared, but participation is necessary to make it a success. ANYONE can join in by calling up a friend and chatting about mutual projects, or—better yet—by going out for lunch, tea, or dinner and perhaps bringing along a piece to show during the meal.  (Maybe the wait staff will become interested.)

Do you have an appointment? How about whipping a small piece while waiting? Talk with your local library about setting up an educational display and demonstrating to children.

On the calendar listing here, several events are already listed. We look forward to more being added in the comment section.

Hook & Rug Art, Gabriola Island, BC Canada

 In Queensland, Australia, Bec Andersen is beginning an Artist in Residence program with a local school on December 4.  Her proposal to teach rug hooking will involve several other disciplines for the year program.

Fumiyo Hachisuka's group at 24th Exhibit in Tokyo

The Wanneroo Rug Makers of Western Australia will hold their Christmas party and hook at the beach!!!!!

Diane Cox and the "We are not door mats group" have put up an exhibit in a local café in Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Doesn’t that sound like an interesting place to visit!

Durand, Wisconsin, will be cold but a great place to gather for lunch and rug hooking.

Jan Lord-Giraldi in her Ontario, Canada, studio

Track what others are planning on the TIGHR event page here.

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs will hold their monthly hook-in in Montpelier, Vermont, on Saturday, December 6, and the multitude of groups associated with ATHA,  McGown, and the Canadian Guilds will be holding their regular meetings in libraries, community centers, personal homes in December and in the months to come.

(Here's where you—yes, YOU!—come in.)

Thanks, Susan!

 Hello, World.

Want to share how you are spreading the word on International Hook-in Day? You can!

On December 4 (your time zone), you will be able to post a photo and brief description of your activity on the Rug Hooking magazine Facebook page. (It won't appear right away, because we have to release it at this end, but we'll be monitoring the page from December 3 to December 5 (the time zone thing again).)

We'd LOVE to see what you are doing to tell the world about this great fiber art! Please join us!

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December 8, 2014

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . !

Have you decorated your home for Christmas yet? I hung my outside wreath last weekend on the old stone wall; that is my unofficial opening of the holiday season. 

Several years ago, Gail Dufresne—designer, teacher, author, and owner of Goat Hill Designs—showed us how to make her wooly prodded Christmas wreath. The project continues to be popular with rug hookers and other textile enthusiasts, and for good reason. It is colorful, fun to create, and wooly—what could be better than that?

The wreath appeared in our November/December 2009 issue, which has sold out and so is no longer available. This month we decided to share the article with you, with Gail's blessing.  So click to find the downloadable PDF directions and have fun creating a wreath of your own, one that suits your decor and your home.

Merry Christmas from RHM!

—Debra Smith, editor, RHM

 DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

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December 10, 2014

 Rug hookers love to share their art, their stash, their books, and their ideas. So when holidays come around, we know that you are putting together wonderful packages for friends—and maybe some special packages for those new to rug hooking.

There's a promising new artist on my list this year, and I decided to round out her beginning stash with a nice assortment of colors and textures. She's got a great sense of design, and I know she'll eagerly explore the possibilities that even a modest stash upgrade will offer.

It was fun putting this together, too. I love seeing the rolls of colors all in order, and the textures of the cut edges.

I'm also going to tuck in a copy of a little Rug Hooking Primer, by Donna Hrkman, that we've given out at shows and events. We'll offer a free download of this pamphlet, which can be printed out in color on one regular sheet of paper (both sides) on Friday.

Meanwhile, we'd love to hear your gift ideas for beginning rug hookers. Are you putting together your own gift bags and boxes this holiday season? We (and everyone else) would love to know about them on our Facebook page!

—Debra Smith, editor

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December 16, 2014

Yes, it's true! We're offering a free copy of Judy Carter's amazing book to the winner of our random drawing. You will LOVE this book!

To enter, please complete the following sentence (and you can add more sentences to explain, if you like!):

“In my rug hooking life in 2015,
I want to …”

HOW TO ENTER

Send your name and address to: rughook@stackpolebooks.com

Deadline for submission is December 31. (We know you're busy!)

(BTW, if you haven't gotten around to formally liking our Facebook page, that's appreciated, too -- but not necessary to enter!)

Like us on Facebook!

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December 23

Step away from the cutter.

This isn't just wool, you know. It's history (adapted for the small screen, of course).

Okay, and it's wool, too.

There may still be a chance to get to the Downton Abbey costume exhibition at the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, but in case you didn't or can't make it, we wanted to share our images from an autumn visit—just in time for Downton Abbey Fever over the new season that starts in January, and all (or mostly) from the rug hooker's perspective!

Costumes of Downton Abbey is an original exhibition of designs from the award-winning television series. Forty historically inspired costumes from the television show are displayed and supplemented by photographs and vignettes inspired by the fictional program and by real life at Winterthur so visitors have the chance to step into and experience the world of Downton Abbey® and the contrasting world of Winterthur founder Henry Francis du Pont and his contemporaries in the first half of the 20th century. Exhibition closes January 4, 2015.

In this first Downton installment on our blog, we're getting up close to the woolen garments in the costume exhibition. Feast your eyes. And keep your hands away from the scissors.

The exhibition materials at Wintherthur emphasize that these are period-inspired costumes, not actual historical clothing, and that they have been adapted to look and function well in video.

It's not much of stretch to suggest that rug hookers do the same thing with our vintage materials: identify the characteristics of a fabric, consider how it might work in a specific project, then determine the cut and placement that will showcase it to best advantage.

We love wool, don't we, and it's great to connect with others artists who love it, too!

Next: What?! You mean not all rugs are hooked rugs?

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What?! You mean not all rugs are hooked rugs?

Truth be told, the Downton Abbey part of things started moving to the background in our autumn Winterthur visit.  Because once we got to this display and made a left ...

... we came to The Diligent Needle exhibition, back in a larger universe of rug-related technique and inspiration. Where we saw things like this:

Hearth rug (probably made in New England, 1815-25), wool on linen.

More dimensional and combination techniques ...

 Look interesting?

When we returned, we recalled this book—which you can purchase on our site—that offers the same kind of inspiration (all rugs, though). If you are interested in a fascinating look at the wide-ranging history of rug making, we can definitely recommend it.

We have one more brief, Winterthur-inspired musing about Downton Abbey, which we will post tomorrow as the new season begins. Happy viewing! (And don't forget the textiles!)

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Look Down.

Tomorrow, January 5, is Winterthur Museum's farewell to the Downton Abbey costumes exhibition: members only.

And tonight, the Downton Abbey series returns to U.S. television.

In information about the highly popular exhibition, Winterthur materials observed: "The costumes . . . set the stage for one of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition—the contrast and comparison between the fictional but historically accurate British country estate in the period drama and the real-life American version of the same era—Winterthur."

This is the last installment of our extended postcard from an autumn visit to the exhibition and estate.

Stepping out of the fictional world into the real (albeit staged and preserved) one at Winterthur, a rug person can't help but look down. And guess what's on the floors? Yep. Inspiration.

So tonight, as you watch that first episode of the new series (or this week, when you watch the DVR), follow the plot if you must. Observe the costumes and hairstyles and meals and characters.

But don't forget to check out what's on the floors. (And we'd love to hear about anything that catches your eye on Downton.)

Happy viewing! (Here are some of the floor coverings we snapped at Winterthur.)

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January 9, 2014

We have a winner!

Thank you for the fascinating glimpses into your hopes and plans for your rug hooking life in 2015.

In order to enter the random drawing for a copy of the wonderful Hooking Animals book, we asked you to complete this sentence:

"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to ..."

We loved your responses ... they inspired us, too!

The winner of the random drawing is Andrea R. She wrote:

"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to finish a rug. I am new to rug hooking this year. I have 2 rugs started but have yet to complete one."

We're thrilled that the book is going to a new rug hooker, and we hope you'll keep in touch, Andrea!

We so loved the responses to the entry questions that we are going to batch and share them here. Tell us you can read these without wanted to run right to that hooking frame:

Doug R.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to meet my commitment to finish a tarot card rug for Loretta's project. Also finish a few more 'unfinished objects'. Thanks for asking."

Carol B.
"I want to do a Tlingit designed rug of my Native culture with Native form lines with Ravens and salmon. I love my heritage and my house is full of Tlingit native art and my rugs don’t match at all."

Donna B.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to complete a rug I have just begun for my newest granddaughter, and to do my best to make Christmas rugs for my other four grandchildren."

Pamela H.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to design new rugs, finish one large one and make some ornaments for next year's tree!!!"

Iona B.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to learn how to rug hook, and complete my first rug, with the hope of developing it into a hobby to help me relax."

Paula D.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to  push my creative self ..."

Juliann K.
"In my new rughooking life, 2015 will bring new skills, new knowledge, and hopefully a finished piece.  I am a beginner, and I have yet perfected the even, perfect loop."

Patricia S.
"I want to hook my three dogs in 2015 and would Love the Judy Carter book to assist with my project!  This book would be a treasure!"

Leta H.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to hook a hit n miss area rug for my kitchen."

Rachel C.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to bring joy to someone's heart."

Penny P.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to get better at being a more uniform hooker. I'd like to learn to control the loops height and direction."

Susan d.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to start a rug depicting me with my best friend and sister-in-law Myra, who danced into heaven in November.  I will use a picture taken of us sitting side-by-side at a restaurant drinking wine through straws."

Caryn D.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to expand my horizons and spend more time in the direct pursuit of exploring rug hooking as an art form, hobby and general source of comfort for my soul. By researching more techniques and studying the process other rug artists use, I hope to develop my own skills further and share this information with my group, The Rug Hookers of the Chosen Spot. We all take on projects like this and share our techniques and inspirations."

We'll share more in the next blog post.

Thanks again to all who entered! (There's another book giveaway on the horizon. We can't say more right now, but stay tuned.)

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In order to enter the random drawing for a copy of the wonderful Hooking Animals book, we asked you to complete this sentence:

"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to ..."

Here are more of your inspirational responses:

Betty R.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to learn more about using color in my rugs so they look ‘painterly’ and have more values of color.”

Marlene W.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to surpass all my previous expectations!"

Michele H.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I will attend more workshop/ retreats!”

Mona R.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to learn more about dyeing and learn how work with shading, particularly with animal rugs!”

Arica S.
“In my Rug Hooking life in 2015 I want to make Beautiful Rugs with all different colors.”

Della A.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to finish all the patterns I have outstanding sitting asking to be hooked!”

Lucienne L.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I would like to learn how to do proddy rugs (and hook a giraffe for my son who just went on an African Safari).”

Patty T.
“I want to have more time to rug hook with friends!”

Jan R.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to …overdye my wool.”

Laureen S.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to...create a rug for my daughter-in-law that includes an outline of her dog, ‘Spruce’ with his name and a colorful, diagonal background. I have made 3 rugs so far and have lots of pieces of fabric, of varying sizes to use for the background. This book would be a wonderful acquisition as I really have no idea yet how to design and hook the 'dog' part.”

Anne F.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to breathe life into a fantastic animal rug.”

April C.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to learn how to add more color rich shadowing to my work, try the Oxford Punch Needle, start a huge project :), Go to the Sauder village rug hooking show for the first time, meet other hookers, share with people who have never heard of rug hooking and encourage new hookers, make a family heirloom to leave for my grandchildren's children.”

Sarah F.
“In 2015 I want to learn how to shade flowers!”

Wanda B.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to be able to finish the rug I'm working on, learn to bind them, and start and finish several others.   I'm not sure there's going to be enough days for all this and quilting also.”

Nancy R.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I will learn to color plan and hook M. Shaw's delightful 'Pair of Chickens' design. I'm going to use Pine Island Primitive Wools. It will be my second project after teaching myself how to rug hook using Gene Sheperd's 'The Rug Hooker's Bible' with Sally Kallin's Uncle Sam kit and her excellent instructions in her 'Uncle Sam' article (Jan/Feb 2010 Rug Hooking Magazine). Here's an iPhone picture of my Sam."

Donna L.
 “In my Rug Hooking Life in 2015 I hope to finish what I have started and examine more beautiful patterns and colours and bring them to LIFE.”

Gayle B.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to … make my rugs look more aged and old - by using color and technique....”

Betty P.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to start Oliver Cromwell.”

Maggie B.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to commit to learning, do more hooking, continue to grow my friendships, lead by example, and share kindness to all.”

Bethany T.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015 I want to hook more animal rugs with shading.”

Katherine Hunt
"... hook more!!!”

Patricia Z.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to successfully learn and accomplish a rug of my son’s cow that he cherished.”

Brenda R.
“For 2015 I want to explore my creativity in hooking by doing more challenging projects, one of which is doing a rug featuring my best fur friend...Maggy, a chocolate lab. This book would be an awesome resource!”

Gwen B.
"In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to complete unfinished projects."

Trisha S.
“In my hooking life in 2015, I want to:  at least cut the number of UFOs I have in half.  If I say I want to finish all of them, I know that ain't happening.  In addition I need to rehome all my patterns on monk’s cloth or burlap.  My hands are at the point I have to cut back what I hook and I seem to do better with linen.

At my age, I need to seriously go over all my rug hooking items and decide how to find a better home for so much I once thought I had to own.  There are so many newer and needy hookers out there who would make better use of what is gathering dust in my wool room.

Most of all, I want to finally realize my dream of attending a hook-in or rug camp before I get to where my health prevents it.  I have been a lone hooker since I began and would love to spend time with others who share my love of the art.”

Ingrid T.
“I want to.....finally start hooking and learn all I can about this wonderful art form.”

Jan G.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to spend more time hooking. I would like to learn to give myself permission to stop my chores and just sit down and hook, even if it's the middle of the afternoon!”

Mary L.
“In 2015 I would like to finish mr. dog I started five years ago.”

Betsy E.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to … continue learning. I want to learn and learn and learn as much as I can. Hooking Animals will help me to begin learning that side of things…”

Audrey D.
“Hook the best dog anyone has been blessed to share their life with...name is Maggie Dideob.”

Rita T.
“I want to … 1)finish 3 projects where the hooking is done, but the project isn’t finished. One is a Cindi Gay footstool, another is a new top to an antique footstool and the last is a tea cozy. I want to finish them in time for submission to Sauder Rug Hooking Week, since I will be there again for a week of retreat and workshops. Yippee. 2) Continue making progress on my story rug, designed, color planned and begun at Sauder under the tutelage of Norma Batastini. 3) Design and make wedding rugs for 2 of my 3 children that are marrying in 2015. I would like to give them as Christmas presents next year. That is a start. Since I’m registered for Ligonier, Wooley Fox camp and Sauder, there may be more that emerges from the rug bin. ;) ”


Cathy G.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015,I want to design new patterns and start the journey to publish a book of designs.”

Melinda R.
“In 2015...I want to complete a startlingly 3D barn interior.”

Ryn M.
In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to create a large piece with the inspiration from my paintings. I am going to create a rug hooking piece that will be like painting with textile. I am so excited to begin, no matter how long it takes me to complete."

Sheri R.
 “In 2015 I want to hook more challenging animal rugs.”

Teddi P.
“In my rug hooking life in 2015, I want to welcome an individual new to primitive rug hooking in the same manner I was - the same caring, sharing and friendly way the Lamb Yankees gave me!”

Readers, thank you for the inspiration!

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JANUARY 21

It's happening soon!

Rug Hooking Magazine is honored to be the sponsor of the next episode of FAN Fare—a free, online, interactive, web show devoted to inspiring and connecting the fiber arts community.

Seriously, clear your schedule for Sunday, February 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET. You (and everyone else) will have front row seat in the studio of  Liz Alpert Fay. How amazing is that!

As you know Liz brings a wide-ranging artistic vision a variety of media, including rug hooking. Here's what she says about her process:

My hand hooked rugs are made in the traditional manner, by cutting narrow strips of fabric which are then hooked into a linen backing. I primarily use wool, but sometimes incorporate cottons and a variety of specialty yarns and fabrics. I like the idea of incorporating discarded clothing and other textiles which already have a history of their own. I work with new as well as recycled wools and hand dye many of the colors I use.

The designs for my rugs are original and one of a kind. Some are purely explorations in color. Others tell stories, reflect my views on life, or enable me to comment on issues that are important to me. I taught young children for many years and was always inspired by their fresh, direct approach. In many of my rugs, I strive to create that same sense of spontaneity.

FAN Fare is a great opportunity to not only hear Liz but be able to interact with her during the webcast! We hope you'll be joining us online on February 8th.

How did all of this happen? Well, Rug Hooking and Fiber Art Now (the FAN in FAN Fare) discovered we have a lot in common, and we're exploring ways of working together for the benefit of readers of both publications. Stay tuned for more ventures in the future!

Visit the website to learn more about FAN Fare and Fiber Art Now.

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February 7

Rug Hooking Magazine welcomes guest blogger Marcia Young, Editor in Chief of Fiber Art Now. Rug Hooking is thrilled to be sponsoring a studio visit with Liz Alpert Fay this weekend, and Marcia explains what it's all about. Welcome, Marcia!

Rug Hooking or Hooked Art?
At Fiber Art Now we’ve seen both terms used, and either way, one thing is for sure –this medium has been gaining even more interest recently in the fiber art and textiles community. Fiber artists are often looking for ways to incorporate new fiber mediums into their work, and Liz Alpert Fay’s creations reveal interesting ways of integrating her hooked art it into a variety of materials. Over the years, Liz has used materials such as tree stumps, threads, feathers, and so much more to express her ideas through her hands, and her next explorations are anyone’s guess.

Exciting Studio Sneak Peek
Liz Alpert Fay’s Connecticut studio is a fiber artist’s Valhalla. She is a collector of treasures and keeps supplies and materials that offer inspiration at every turn. Would you like to get a peek into Fay’s work space and sit in on an interview with her? Here’s your chance! This Sunday at 3:00pm Eastern, the online program FAN Fare will feature an interview with Liz in her studio. Rug Hooking Magazine  and Fiber Art Now magazine have teamed up for this weekend’s episode program. FAN Fare is produced by Fiber Art Now and Rug Hooking Magazine has kindly sponsored this Sunday’s program with a hooking artist in the vanguard of contemporary fiber arts.

What Is Fan Fare?
FAN Fare is a monthly program featuring fiber artists. You can watch FAN Fare right on your computer (or another preferred device). This Sunday’s program is filling fast but registration is still open, so reserve your spot now. Viewers who register will be able to participate in conversations among other attendees and ask Liz questions directly! Or if you aren’t ready to participate, just sit back and enjoy the program!

REGISTER HERE!

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February 17, 2015

Guest blogger:
Mary Lynne Naples

Except for the biennial year in 2011, the Brandywine Rug Hooking Guild has held an annual autumn Hook-In since 2005. Generally, our hook-in is eagerly  anticipated by about 200 attendees. Each year we try to offer something special to look forward to—in addition to the vendors and the excitement of being with so many talented rug hookers. 

While planning the 2014 Hook-In, a fund-raising idea was put forth, one that would benefit a broad community. Taking inspiration from Polly Minick’s work with the Wounded Warrior Project, the guild selected the Pets For Vets charity. PFV is a national organization formed to help heal the emotional wounds of military veterans by pairing them with a shelter animal that is specifically selected to match his or her personality.  Professional animal trainers rehabilitate the animals and teach them good manners to fit the veteran’s lifestyle. Training can also include desensitization to wheel chairs or crutches as well as recognizing panic or anxiety disorder behaviors.

When the proposition for this endeavor was presented to the guild membership, it was noted that needy shelter animals would receive a second chance at life while giving our returning soldiers a second chance at health and happiness.  It is important to note that any veteran from any tour of duty would qualify for the program, not just those in service during recent conflicts. There is no cost to the veteran. All the necessary equipment to care for the pet is provided as well. Learning about the charity and the outstanding help that it provides allowed all guild members to fully support the plan to hold a fund raiser for them during our Hook-In.  A raffle was suggested and plans were made.

These are the kinds of terrific donations received by the Guild for its fundraiser.

A letter explaining PFV and asking for donations was sent to suppliers, to teachers our guild had supported in the past, to ATHA guilds in our region, and to our own Hook-In vendors. The promise of participation was extraordinary.  Along the way, individuals from the Brandywine Guild and other friends who heard of our effort kindly donated items as well. Donations arrived throughout the summer and early fall. The generosity was overwhelming. We had patterns, kits, wool (yardage and dyed), books, frames, snippet bowls, hooked pieces, paisley, yarn and more. For a full list of donors please visit our website: www.brandywinerughookingguild.org/.

As Hook-In day approached, the items were sorted into 25 prize groups.  A list of the items and the donors in each group was printed and glued to a small box meant for the raffle tickets.  Ticket selling began about an hour into the Hook-In, and the winning tickets were drawn at 3:15 pm.  Ticket prices were $1 each, or $5 for 6, $10 for 13, and $20 for 30.

Everyone who bought a ticket received a small American flag pin and a skein of yarn, an incredible donation from KnitPicks.com, which sent us well over 125 skeins of various colors and weights. At the end of the day, we had raised a grand total  of $2,801 for Pets For Vets.

L to R: Tracey Gillman, Tim Lile from Pets For Vets, and Mary Lynne Naples

We were lucky to have representative Tim Lile, from the Wilmington, Delaware, chapter of PFV’s, on hand that day.  He was able to answer questions and give out an informational  flyer to those interested.  More information about Pets For Vets can be found on their website:  www.pets-for-vets.com

Rug hookers do care!

If your guild or group would like to offer a charitable fund raiser in the future, remember these pointers.

1. Choose a charity that has broad appeal, one that everyone can support.
2. Be sure that the membership is as interested in the project as the committee that suggests it.
3. When asking for donations, be clear as to the reason for the request, how the donations will be used (raffle, auction etc.), and when they will be needed.
4. Follow-up with any questions, concerns or requests your donor may have.
5. Keep detailed records as donations are gathered.
6. Always, always thank your donors for their generosity and give them credit wherever you can.

Information about the Brandywine Rug Hooking Guild can be found on their website, www.brandywinerughookingguild.org.

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February 25, 2014

The year is 1991, and it's the first-ever Celebrationof Hand-Hooked Rugs! This one is a collector's edition now; you will only find it in pre-loved copies from private sellers. (If you are looking to complete your own Celebration collection, you can find a link to past editions at the end of this post.)

As we look forward toCelebration XXV—and we are really looking forward to it—we want to send out an appreciation to the artists who appeared in Celebration pages over the last quarter-century.

So, starting with Celebration I (although we didn't use the "I" at the time), we honor these enduring artists whose work was showcased in our very first book (listing in order of appear in the book):

This issue did not include photos of the work of those who received Honorable Mention, but they included:

• Janet Carija Brandt
• Louise Burt
• Elaine Carrier
• Sally Corbett
• Carole Dale
• Lois Dugal
• Mary Evans
• Katherine Fisher
• Fay Fuller
• Constance Grisard
• Jackye Hansen
• Norma Harper
• Ruth Hood
• Esther Jackson
• Anne Jeter
• Kathleen Jones
• Carol Kassera
• Joyce Krueger
• Sarah Ladd
• Fay Leischner
• Carol Lippincott
• Nancy Martineau
• Patricia Merikallia
• Janet Meyer
• Linda Mickiewicz
• Barbara Miller
• Nancy Clark Miller
• Virginia Morong
• Mary Murphy
• Gladys Myers
• Betty Oberstar
• Sarah Parker
• Miles Parker
• Suzanne Petretta
• Jenna Price
• Jean Rowland
• Ura Scott
• Jule Marie Smith
• Joan Stocker
• Kristine Sullivan
• Arlyne Taddeo
• Patricia Tritt
• Lois Trout
• Marcy Van Roosen
• Elsie Van Savage
• Jane Westlake
• Jan Whitaker
• Suzie Wilson
• Margaret Wolf
• Mary Paul Wright

You were the first! Thanks for being a part of Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs!

Not all back editions are available, but if you're looking for a favorite year, or to complete your collection, you can find them here: (Search for Rug Hooking as the title or author in the upper left boxes.)

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 March 4, 2015

Here's a bit of what then-editor Mary Ellen Cooper wrote in the introduction to A Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs II, 1992:

"Some rug hookers dye for themselves and some don't. Many recycle wools and use them as-is, without dyeing. Some use a hook with a wide, blunt end, the better to pull those primitive loops through—and some use a hook that's narrower than the average crochet hook, with a pencil-slim handle to palm. Lots of designs are original. Some are done elegantly on preprinted patterns that allow the maker to turn her attention to color and technique. Rug hookers are interested in the purity of the environment: of ocean and stream and so, this year, especially, have chosen water themes, and fish, lots of fish. Some have been inspired to create religiously, choosing and mastering some very lofty subject matter, indeed. Some have chosen juvenile themes, for children and grandchildren, and grandchildren to come. Still others proclaim a 'home sweet home' and 'wipe your feet' theme that smacks not only of good humor but the good-natured practicality and frugality that are so representative of this art.

"There is spontaneity, naïveté, beauty, color, and a story behind each piece we bring you. And perhaps it is the story that captures us most, in the end. Perhaps that is why we could choose the rugs of so many beginning rug hookers for this year's volume. The rugs have wonderful stories to tell--incredibly characteristic of any fine folk art. Ride in a 1950s car to grandmother's house, in a sleigh through New England in winter, with the Chesapeake Bay watermen to find Maryland blue crab and with stout little mice that will soon be Cinderella's coachmen. Don't miss a single page."' (Names in order of Table of Contents.)

We celebrate again these artists from the earliest days of Celebration! Thank you for sharing your work with us!

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March 11, 2015

The year is 1993 and then-editor Mary Ellen Cooper writes:

"When we purchased a home this year, it was not by coincidence that we chose one with many floor-to-ceiling windows. Now I can have sunshine within and without. As I am writing, I am looking out a lovely greening-up mountainside—while a dear little bird on the deck tries valiantly to get inside through the patio glass.

"Such is the way we view life the best, I think—with an eye on the outside world and another that looks inward to the beauty we hold in our souls. As artists, we must find nourishment for our spirit. We must look inward (a view most of the world both fears and avoids) as well as outward, and must celebrate the inclination, the very need, to create what we find there."

We celebrate these artists of 1993!

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We've discovered that the first several issues of Celebration started out with articles or notes that helped to explain what the book was all about. By this issue, Celebration seems to have become a "regular" in the rug-hooking world, and the first pages went directly to the rugs and rug hookers−after introducing the judges, of course!

A tribute and thanks to all of these artists who appeared in the 1994 book!

Thank you for being a part of Celebration!

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March 27, 2015

"The value of the Celebration series is threefold," then-editor Patricia A. Crowley wrote in 1995. "Consider this book as an art exhibit you can hold in your hand, and look to the rugs and their creators for inspiration. You can also use Celebration to introduce the fiber art to those who ask, 'What is rug hooking?' This book answers that question eloquently. Thirdly, the rugs and the accompanying text can instruct, teaching dozens of lessons about technique, dyeing, color planning, and design.

"So Celebration can inspire, inform, and instruct—a wonderful threesome in a small package."

Let's celebrate the creators who inspired, informed, and instructed in Celebration V!

Thank you for your contributions to the rug hooking community!

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