April 7, 2015

By RHM Editor Debra Smith

One of our favorite rug hooking stars from the past got some well deserved publicity recently. A local television station from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, got wind of the effort to honor Magdalena with a historical marker somewhere in Perry County, where she lived and hooked and made her folk art. The station decided to feature her as a local historical personality.

The reporter, a personality in his own right, spent time with MBE's descendents, visited the New Bloomfield cemetery where MBE is buried, and stopped in on a meeting of the local Magdalena Rug Hookers group. I'm a member of that group, and we were the ones who brought our favorite local rug hooking personality to the attention of our favorite roving reporter, Chuck Rhodes.

The 2-minute segment gives a glimpse into the world of MBE and her wonderful rugs, which is particularly important these days as we begin to raise money to pay for the historical marker. For our part, the Magdalena Rug Hookers are hooking a rug based on one of the MBE patterns (generously donated by Barb Carroll), which we plan to auction or raffle sometime soon, proceeds to go to the historical marker fund.

But not only did the story feature rug hooking from the past, showing one of MBE's rugs, it highlighted what is happening today. You have to pay attention and watch closely: if you do, you will see a selection of our group's work laid out on the floor in our monthly "throw down," where we share what we have been working on with our fellow hookers. We are proof positive that rug hooking is alive and well, and we are proud to bear the name of Magdalena. We hope we live up to it!

Our rugs look very different from hers, and that is as it should be. We hook what is around us, as did Magdalena. We have a lovely rug showing our local riverboat, Pride of the Susquehanna. We have two renditions of the star barn, a local historical landmark. We hook cats, dogs, and log cabin quilt designs, we hook pieces telling our families' stories. . . . whatever moves us can be hooked into a rug.

Isn't this just what Magdalena did? We like to think that she is watching us and is happy her legacy lives on in Perry County.

A fund has been started to earn money for the MBE marker. For more information, contact Kathy Wright at her website: www.rughookingtraditions.com

Watch the video HERE

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April 10, 2015

We have a winner of our book giveaway. Congratulations, Corinne! We know you will love this book!

The drawing was random, and the entry question was, "Which rug most inspired you?" We got some great insights from entrants. Here are just some of the ways rug hookers are inspired to take up the hook!

Thanks for inspiring us with your responses!

(And there's another giveaway on the horizon. Keep an eye on Facebook for details.)

The rug that most inspired me was one my grandmother made about 80 years ago that was on the floor of her house while I was growing up.  I now have that rug, but I don’t have it on the floor any more as it is too precious.

—C.G.

I don't remember a particular rug that inspired me, but the artist was Sara Beth Black in NC. She had a space rented in a yarn shop and gave free lessons.  I didn't do too well.  :(

Then last fall I went to the Brandywine Hook-In to pick up some wool applique patterns from the Old Tattered Flag and saw everyone hooking and decided to try it again! I'm now a member of the Woolwrights Guild and still learning and doing much better than on my first try.  :)

—D.B.

I believe everyone inspires me to hook! But probably the most inspiring was Elizabeth Black! I took her class several times and enjoyed her company, her spirit, and her friendship. Everything she hooked came to life!! I enjoyed her animal patterns, her dry wit, and sense of humor! I love being a rug hooker. The friends you meet make your life so much better, and pulling loops makes me exceedingly happy. I feel grateful to be a fiber artist.

—D.B.

I am not sure I can tell you the ONE RUG that inspired me, but rather the situation that I was in when I first saw this wonderful art form.  I am a puppeteer by trade. Third generation to be exact. My mom was booked at the Indiana State Fair for a two-week run of shows. I can up to visit her for one of her performances, and we had time to kick around in between shows. We walked into on of the buildings that had all sorts of people demonstrating different crafts. I met a LOVELY bunch of ladies all working on what the called their "hooking" projects! They all had different types of designs. One woman saw my intrigue and let me pull through some loops on her piece. I was immediately HOOKED!  I bought a kit that they had for sale.  When I got I home I worked on it immediately! Since then my life has been super busy and I have always thought about this art form. I recently found my little kit and looked up a local place here that sells wool. I am going to try my first real original piece here this spring!

—H.S.

One year ago I had never heard of rug hooking, never saw a hook rug.   I was at the Fiber Fest in Irving, Texas, just walking around looking at all that beautiful yarn! Then I look over and OMG, I saw the most beautiful folk art “Welcome” hanging rug (this was the only rug hooking booth there, and I found it). I was in love!!! That was one year and about $2,300 ago!  The same Fiber Fest is coming around again... I'm afraid to go!!! But won't miss it!

—G.H.

Not long after I visited China, I saw a hooked rug of a panda bear on a site for a rug hooking shop. I know I just HAD to hook that bear! I called the shop and asked if they sold the pattern.They told me that they didn’t stock it but gave me the name of the hooker who designed it and hooked it.  Unfortunately they did not have her contact info but I tracked her down using Facebook and asked if this was the right person. To my delight, it WAS! She lived about an hour from my home, but we arranged a date and time for me to drop in. Not only did I pick up a pattern of the panda bear that I loved, but we enjoyed chatting about rug hooking and she showed me her studio and many of her completed rugs. What an inspiration! Now I can’t wait to get cracking on my bear, which reminds me of the amazing trip I had to China!

—L. H-S.

I am a new hooker. I was inspired by a few rugs at my aunt’s cabin, but the one that spoke to me most was one in a bedroom that she has decorated with a theme of cowboys. She actually designed it with her husband, who has since passed away, which makes it just that much more special.That is when I fell in love with rug hooking and made contact with a lady to have her teach me how.

—C.S.

Being Nova Scotian, I always knew about hooked rugs. I even collected a few (one that my husband commissioned of our Golden Retriever in a field of lupins). My mother owned a Grenfell Mission rug that was always on our piano bench when I was growing up (her friend was a nurse at the Grenfell Mission in the 1940s).  I now proudly own this rug.

However, I never had any desired to hook rugs ... the thought never even crossed my mind. I didn't think it was for me. Too linear. Too many rules. Too many straight lines, etc.

Then in 2009, I walked into Deanne Fitzpatrick's studio in Amherst, Nova Scotia (about 20 minutes from our summer cottage) and everything changed. I was so blow away by her artistry and breaking of rules, that I actually said out loud (without realizing it) : "I wonder if I could hook myself."  It so happened that Deanne heard me, walked over to me, and sat me down at a Cheticamp frame and showed me how in a minute lesson. Fifty rugs later, the rest is history. I love rug hooking! And from rug # 1, I have designed all my own rugs. That's the part I enjoy the most!

—R.H.

The hooked rug that most inspires me is the one, in the future, that sits in my living room. I envision sunflowers upon sunflowers upon sunflowers.  However, I need to learn the technique properly before embarking on that journey :-)

—S.B.

My “one rug” was hooked by my Great Grandmother Minnie Hoffman Miller. I inherited it from my grandmother, her daughter-in-law. It’s a large floral, and Minnie took it with her to the nursing home. It managed to survive the industrial washing machine there, and I thought I want to make something that will last as it has and still be beautiful. Her creativity with different kinds of fabric is an inspiration to find the perfect piece or color--even if it’s not wool. I wish I could tell her in person how she has inspired me.

—S.L

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April 27, 2015

So a friend alerted us that May 3 isLumpy Rug Day #RHMLumpyRugDay #LumpyRugDay.

She had us at "rug."

After exhaustive (in Internet time, that's about a minute and a half) research, we discovered that there are two ways of observing this annual event, whose origins appear to have been lost in time (so far as we could tell in that minute or so).

We're guessing that about half of the many millions :-) who observe Lumpy Rug Day celebrate May 3 as an occasion for cleaning, repairing, replacing, or even honoring the history of the lumpy rugs in their homes. (This would be the spring cleaning crowd.)

The other half? They follow the tradition that May 3 is a good time to check out all the things you've tried to "sweep under the rug," get 'em out in the open, and, you know, deal with them.

Rugs. We've GOT to be in on this, right? So here's the approach we're taking:

SHOW US YOUR LUMPY RUGS!

What constitutes a Lumpy Rug? Well, wrinkles, right?

But even more fun, rugs with adorable creatures under them. Peeking out. Like so.

Kiri, companion of Winifred Steele, Yorkshire, England, submitted by Evelyn Lawrence.

So you've got a wide range here: actual lumpy rugs, and the "cute overload" variety. Take your pick.

Bottom line: You ARE the rug hooking community. What would Lumpy Rug Day be without you?

Start sharing now!
Use the hashtags #RHMLumpyRugDay, #LumpyRugDay.

Post on our FB Page now through Monday, May 4. Let's have some Lumpy Rug fun!

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"This is not an art exhibit," Patrice Crowley wrote in her editor's introduction to the 1996 edition of Celebration.

"Examine the photographs; see what the fiber artists have to say about their subject matter, color selections, and hours of effort. It soon becomes clear that what we have here is a heart exhibit—a presentation of each person's love for something.

"That love could be for a family pet, a childhood memory, or a hobby such as fishing or furnishing dollhouses. A rug can serve to preserve the flowers that have long faded or a passion once shared by a husband and wife now separated by death. These rugs portray another love as well—the love each artist has for rug hooking. For them, nothing compares to the delight they feel when a newly dyed piece of wool turns out to be the perfect color or when the last loop is put in place."

Let's celebrate the artists of 1996!

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May 11, 2015

Celebration has had the honor of working with many, many wonderful judges over the years. While we were looking through this issue for our blog post, we discovered that color expert Maryanne Lincoln was one of the 1997 judges. And we are calling attention to her, in particular, because this year, Sauder Village will be highlighting her work in a Featured Exhibit August 12-15, during Rug Hooking Week!

Let's celebrate these rug hooking artists whose work appeared in Celebration VII!

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May 12, 2015
by Gloria McPherson
Guest Blogger

There’s just something about the smell of wet wool! There was lots of wet wool at the Woolrich factory when we went on a tour on a recent Saturday afternoon—piles of woven yard goods that had not yet been cut to blanket-size, all a bit damp. It was amazing!

Handhooking rugs is a traditional craft or art form, and it was a special pleasure to tour this factory that also holds much of tradition even as it adapts to modern technology. We went up and down stairs and through a maze of rooms, up  and down and all around in a factory building that has grown over the last 180 years to meet the needs of the business.

 The Woolrich factory is vertically integrated, which means that the entire manufacturing process takes place in one location, from the shorn wool to the completed blanket. We saw bales of raw wool, which is blown through large pipes to various machines as it is made into threads and then woven into blankets.

 Think of the fuzz you have when you cut worms for a project, and then imagine the fuzz as a loom weaves threads back and forth across the warp. I’m glad I’m not the one who cleans the loom between colors!

Although some blankets are woven in multiple colors, we learned that the ubiquitous buffalo check wool is always woven in black and white. Then, as all you dyers know, the white checks take up added colors to achieve red and green and blue.

One part of the process made me chuckle. After a length of wool is woven, it is ironed flat. But as rug hookers, after we purchase wool we wash and dry it to full it, so that it is no longer so flat. Of course, we also buy those perfectly good yards of wool and proceed to cut them into narrow strips! Go figure.

Speaking of purchasing, admission to the free factory tour included a $10 coupon to use in the Woolrich store, so you know I came away with some wool. I will enjoy using this wool, knowing I have seen where it was manufactured.

Of course, I will have to wash it first . . . which brings us back to the wet wool with which we started.

Happy hooking!

Your roving correspondent,
Gloria

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May 15, 2015

"An idea becomes a sketch, becomes a pattern, becomes a color plan, becomes a rug; a piece of wool turns into a patch of sky or a person's eye; a hook, strips of fabric, and patient skill create a portrait, a pictorial, or a memory preserved. This is what rug hooking is all about ..."

That's from the introduction to the 1998 edition of Celebration.

Still true? Now, some 17 years later, what would you say rug hooking is all about?

Regardless of how we describe the art, we recognize the "best of the best" when we see it! Let's celebrate these worthy artists of Celebration VIII!

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May 19, 2015

The introduction to the 1999 edition put it this way:

"Rug hookers have the amazing ability to see a piece of wool as something more--the lines in a leaf or a face, the shading in a flower petal or pheasant feather; the perfect blend of hues found in a dog's fur or a fish's scales....

"Rug hooking in its simplest terms is pulling up thin strips of wool through a backing material with a tool that resembles a crochet needle in a handle. In its most complex terms it is mastering color and design."

And we say—That "amazing ability to see" is still going strong today. With all of the adventurous color artists out there, maybe even more so!

Let's celebrate the artists of Celebration IX!

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May 26

by Debra Smith, Editor

Do you know a child who hooks? Parents and grandparents, have you spread the love of rug hooking to the next generation? Has one of your children or grandchildren picked up a hook and made a hooked rug or pillow or wall hanging themselves? We know there are some artistic and clever youngsters who pull loops and we are curious to see what they are up to. Who are these creative young people?

Let's celebrate the next generation of rug hookers. We want to begin to collect stories and photos of work by and about young rug hookers and feature them in Rug Hooking magazine next summer. If you know a talented young hooker, get out your camera and let us know what is out there.

And, if you have a story about working with young people -- an organization that teaches kids to hook, a community project focusing on kids, or a particular example of children hooking that you think our readers would be interested in—send us that as well.

This is what you need to know:

• The young hooker must be 18 years old or younger.
• Send us  a photograph and a short explanation of the project. Include the name of the hooked piece and the full name of the child. Include current contact information for you.
• Snail mail address: Rug Hooking Magazine, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 17055. Or email me: dhsmith@stackpolebooks.com
• Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2015

I hope to hear about young people all across the United States and beyond. What do California kids like to hook? How about New England? I hear there are children in Japan who are hooking away, and I'm sure that Canada has more than a few young hookers. Texas? Ohio?  Australia? Let's bring the world of young rug hookers together and show what they are doing!

We are excited about this project and can't wait to see what comes our way. And we are eager to share it all with you in our pages. Stay tuned for some fun!

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May 26

The year is 2000, and the introduction observes:

"This year's Celebration is even more true to its name because of the number of rugs within it that deal with celebrations. In these pages you'll see rugs and wallhangings that celebrate holidays, births, weddings, races, and even a guest for dinner. Here, too, are rugs that commemorate and celebrate the lives of beloved people and pets. Just as wool and memories have been incorporated into these rugs, rug hooking has become incorporated into the lives of the fiber artists introduced to you in this book."

And here they are!

They celebrated others—now it's our pleasure to once again celebrate them and their work!

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Here's what the Introduction has to say about this issue:

"If there's a common element to a majority of the rugs and wallhangings presented in this edition, I'd have to say it's memories. More and more rug hookers are turning from hooking mere floor coverings to hooking representations of the memorable people, places, and animals in their lives.Using the craft you love to preserve the memories you love is a wonderful blend of talent and experience, of hands and heart."

Celebrating the artists of 2001!

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From the 2002 Introduction:

"If you're new to the fiber art of rug hooking, please don't be intimidated by the masterful, grandiose images you're about to see. You might be wondering how on Earth we take all the fabulous rugs out there and condense them down to 36 wonderful selections. Let me tell you right now—it isn't easy."

Let's celebration the artists of 2002!

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So the first 12 years were great, but now, in 2003, Celebration is even better! "Welcome to the future," the introduction begins. What future? More pages (a total of 80)—more rugs, more styles, and insights into the judges' selections! Here's to the artists of Celebration XIII!

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What? Only a year later, and 16 more pages! A testament to the growing popularity of our fiber art medium? We like to think so!

In addition to rugs, this issue featured advice from Bill Bishop, of Impact Xpozures, on how to photograph your rug for Celebration, as well as an article about decorating with hand-hooked rugs—showcasing the home of rug hooking teacher and mentor Peggy Hannum.

Honoring the work of these artists of 2004!

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The year: 2005. The rugs: varied and wonderful. And the extra features this issue? Some ideas on finishing rugs, plus a "walk through the home of Rebecca Erb" for a look at how she decorates with hand-hooked rugs on floors, walls, tables, and stairs. (You'd want to live there!)

Here's to the artists of Celebration XV!

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The "Brief History" of rug hooking (about 3 paragraphs ;-) that appeared in this issue noted that when and where the art began remains debatable. What is known is that, by the 1940s, it had become a well-established hobby in the United States and Canada and that it has "evolved into a popular means of personal expression as well as a practical pastime." And even better: "Hand-hooked rugs can be found on the walls of art galleries from New York City and Washington, D.C., to Tokyo and London, as well as in museums, office buildings, libraries, and cultural centers across North America."  How did this happen? Well, because of the amazing work done by contemporary rug hookers! Like these:

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July 24, 2015

Rug Hooking magazine editor Debra Smith, left, shares images of her recent visit to Scotland! First stop: a visit with rug hooking artist Brigitte Webb (right)! This is one of three entries Debra will be posting over the next couple of weeks. Photos courtesy of Kathleen Eckhaus.

Wee Roads and Mighty Mountains

Foxgloves, rhododendron, columbines, lupines . . .

Gray cities, white cottage villages

Stony landscapes, great green moors, and peat squares

Rocky beaches and gull-filled cliffs with crashing waves

Turquoise blue waters on white sand

Black-faced sheep and Highland cattle

Misty, moisty mornings . . . and afternoons and evenings

Sheep in the middle of those wee roads (!), wool tufts in the air

Colors of the land woven into the tweeds

Ferries and mist-shrouded islands

The lilt of the Gaelic

 Brigitte Webb of Dingwall, Scotland (near Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands) invited us to her home for tea!

And a real Scottish tea it was: shortbread, pancakes, lemon cake--true delicacies all -- and strong tea and coffee. She showed us some of her wonderful work and we had a grand time talking rug hooking and all things fiber.

The Internet makes it oh, so easy to find people of like mind in far-away places. Brigitte was a fabulous hostess and it was a treat to meet her in person.

I'm inspired by her work and her country. I expect that a wee bit of Scotland will be sneaking into some of my work in the next little while.

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The year is 2007. And (wow) 60 rugs! Now we're talkin'. With more pages than ever, there was more room to happily showcase this fabulous crop of rugs (and a footstool)!  Plus, hooked rugs meet Victorian style in the distinctive home of Sibyl Osicka. Here's to the artists of Celebration XVII!

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Each rug has a story. Every story has a depth of meaning. And every one of those stories changes the way each rug is viewed, as well as expanding our appreciation of how "this incredible art form can be used for creative expression." As true now as it was for Celebration XVIII, in 2008! Congratuations to these expressive artists!

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 Rug Hooking magazine editor Debra Smith, left, shares images of her recent visit to Scotland! This stop: a visit with fiber artist Ruth Black! This is the second of three entries Debra is posting. Photos courtesy of Kathleen Eckhaus.

We made Internet contact with another fiber artist, Ruth Black, and visited her studio just outside of Inverness, along Loch Ness. We found her just beginning a project and we took a few photos.

We knew that we would see her again in a week's time, so we planned to check on the progress of this particular project. It is inspiring to see an artist at work in her own environment, her own studio. Surrounded by bolts of Harris Tweed and projects at every stage of completion, this visit was a fiber-lover's dream come true.

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