Author: RugCrafters australia

Eastern States Award Winners and Shows

A big Winner at the Milton Show

2016_Milton_Show_Champion Award_designed_&_hooked_by_Ilka_Landahl

 

Ilka Landahl, member of the Narrawilly Proggers gathered many awards for her sculpted wall hanging  1st prize- Shorn Hooky & Proggy Item,  Special Award & Champion of Show.

When asked how she created such an interesting piece of work Ilka said ….

“I hooked it with normal and partly fancy wool a little bit higher than usual and cut it, sculpting it into shape.

Between the different sections of colours I hooked with a small strip of fabric which helps to hold the wool better and brings more out the effect.

For variety I hooked some sections normal without shaping.

It makes a lot dust and fluff so I had the vacuum cleaner by my side all the time.

I like it because it looks so cosy/cuddly.”

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Editors note for overseas readers; Shows are held across Australia in Capital cities and country areas. In general they are a combination of agricultural displays, stock and farm machinery,  and competitions involving livestock, as well as arts & crafts and entertainment – similar to a State or County Fair in North America. They are generally called Pastoral or Agricultural Society Shows or AgFests.

Members of the Narrawilly Proggers have been entering rugs in competiton at the Milton Show for some time.

Miriam Miller said ……

“I cannot remember when the first time was, but it was many years ago and at first we entered in the general handicraft section under “Any article made from recycled materials(soft)”    Then we got our own section which was about 6 years ago.

We have 5 categories.  Jacqui Thomson and I provide the prizes. The stewards are Janet Walker and Elke Smith-Hill and we also provide our own judge. We have a different person judge each year.

While many of our members compete in the various categories, some just exhibit their work, demonstrate rug hooking and talk to interested visitors about the craft.”

2016_Milton_Show_Christine_AlexanderAbove Christine Alexander taking a break in a quiet moment at the Show.

The following are images of winners and place-getters in the various rug making categories

2016_Milton_Show_1_1st_Place_Proggy_Floor_Rug_by_Carol Flyn_1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn

2016_Milton_Show_2_Special_Award_Pat_la_Rance - Copy

Pat la Rance received a Special Award for this piece

2016_Milton_Show_3_2nd_Hooky_and_or_Proggy_Wall_Hanging_Gail_Nicholls

Gail Nicholls took 2nd    Hooky & Proggy Wall Hanging for her superb work in this rug.

 

2016_Milton_Show_4_Chloe_ThompsonThe Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award.  

2016_Milton_Show_5_2nd_prize_Hooky_or_Proggy_item_not_otherwise_mentioned_Marilyn_Smyth

This bag by Marilyn Smyth took   2dn prize Hooky  or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned.

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1st prize in the Hooky Floor Rug category was awarded to Elaine Kitchner for her floral rug.

1st prize in Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned was created by Christine Alexander

2016_Milton_Show_2nd_Hooked_Floor_Rug_by_Maggie_HickeyMaggie Hickey  took 2nd prize in the Hooked Floor Rug category.

2nd Prize Proggy Rug  was awarded to Bev Latta for this rug  82cm x 110cm (33″x43.5″)

Carol Thompsons received a  Highly commended award in the Hooky and/or Proggy Wall Hanging category for her hooked and framed rug.

 

TO THE NORTH, in Queensland, there was a SHOW of a different kind!

Judi Tompkins held her first Sunday “Shed Day“  – it was a huge success – the inclusion of a wine tasting may have had something to do with that.  Jewellery was shown along with some rather unique mens shirts.

Here is a report on the event from Judi Tompkins –

13 people attended the “Leap Year Eve” Shed Day and Wine tasting…several other people were also invited to the wine tasting which meant Ron Duggelby was able to show off some great lapidary and wire wrapped jewellery which inspired several people in terms of colour and design.

Ron_Duggelby_lapidary_&_wire_wrapped_Jewellery

Several hookers wanted to learn how to locker hook (and thanks to my tuition by Robin Inkpen I was able to show them the basics!).

Margaret_learning_to_locker_hookMargaret’s first lesson in locker hooking.   

Sally_with_new_locker_hooking_project

Sally starting on a new locker hooking project.

We then we moved on to lunch where Simon Rawlins from Pieroth Wines offered a great range of white, red and dessert wines form South American and Europe.

Simon_Rawlins_Pieroth_Wines_Wine_tasting

Finally, Jacqueline Rawlins brought in a selection of her shirt design work, she uses Aboriginal print fabrics (designs approved by the Aboriginal elders) and turns the fabric into high-quality men’s shirts for the Australian climate.

Jacqueline_Rawlins_designed_mens_shirts

It was a day of fun for the senses; colour, taste, texture and folks! It was especially nice to have virtually two “visiting artists”!

More from the Editor: 

There will be another Show report in the  next News – the exhibition of rugs at a NSW Quilt Show.

Are you thinking of setting up a Rug Show? Watch the ARG News Blog coming soon  – for an article on “Judging Rug Shows” – where our members  will offer their suggested guidelines for choosing a judging panel as well as the criteria for judging rug submissions.

Jo Franco

Textile Exhibitions coming up in West Australia

Currently;    in Albany –

Kira Mead has her work on exhibition at a pop-up gallery

Smiths_cottage_Albany_Western_AustraliaSmith’s Cottage (1887) 34-36 Stead Rd, Albany (Open by appointment) Call: 0429 418 192   or email:  kira.goldmx@westnet.com.au

Hand_dyed_wool_fat_quarters

Also available for sale, 

kits and

Fat Quarters of a different kind …. 

Hand dyed Wool Blanket Fat Quarters.

  Still in the South West; 

 WAFTA’s Memory & Commemoration on exhibit from March 5 to April 4 2016

in association with the Lake Grace Regional Artspace,  25 Stubbs St, Lake Grace. 

Memmory_Commemoration - Copy

 In conjunction with this exhibition Robin Inkpen   will be giving a locker hooking workshop Locker_hooked_sari_silk_by_Robin_Inkpen_West_Australia

Sunday March 20th – Get Hooked at Lake Grace with Robin INKPEN

To book and for a full workshop description go to Current Calendar of Events on this websites.

The Exhibition will travel from Lake Grace to 

Busselton

Art/Geo Gallery,

April 9 – May 15, 2016

Exhibition Opening, Saturday April 9th with Pop-Up Market Stalls between 1-4pm.

Eventbrite links for Booking & Payment will be active closer to the date for the following workshops:

Sunday 10th April  –   Fabulous Ferrous with Kerrie Argent

Saturday 16th April  –  Making Felt in the Third Dimension with Martien van Zuilen

Sunday 17th April  –  Reconstructing Fashion with Lorelie Smit

Saturday 30th April  –  Plants and Sacred Geometry with Pauline Melrose White

Sunday 1st May  –  Get Knotted with Rowan Rovere

WAFTA_website_montage

 While in the Perth Metro Area during March/April ;

comes the following from Jan Holland’s News at WAFTA;

Anne William’s first solo exhibition  Through the Singing of my Hands will be held at Mundaring Arts Centre, in Gallery 2

March 19th to April 17 2016

Anne_Williams_Western_Australia_entry_WAFTA_Memory_Commemoration_2015 - Copy

Anne Williams – Artist statement ‘Housewives’ (sewing kits) were standard army issue for the ‘Nashos’ of the 1950s. They have been carried into battle zones all around the world. This one was issued to Pte. Ian Williams in 1956/7.

Concurrent with this exhibition, Gallery 1 is showing an exhibition for the Mundaring Shire Acquisition Award on the theme of Migration and Settlement. The Gallery is a great venue to visit with a gorgeous shop full of wonderful work by WA artists and crafts folk. Well worth the trip up the Hill.

Read about Anne’s journey into textiles in a very interesting interview by Louise Wells

 Also in News from WAFTA is

“Improbable Returns”

Elisa Markes-Young (mixed-media/textiles)

& Christopher Young (photo-media)

Heathcote Museum & Gallery,

Swan House, 58  Duncraig Rd, Applecross

Opens Friday March 4 2016

 The exhibition will continue through to April 10. Gallery will be open Tues to Fri 10-3 and Sat/Sun 12pm to 4pm   Closed on Mondays

To preview the exhibition    see http://www.zebra-factory.com/returns

                 

Combining Felting with Rug Hooking

A New Year and new combinations with rug hooking.

Some members of the Wanneroo Rugmakers group like to knit and crochet and some also like to felt.  At the Group’s first meeting for the year Margaret showed her recently felted pieces – images of these have just arrived in my INBOX.

  Margaret says…..    

“The small bowls were cobweb felting and for the flower I used Corriedale wool roving that I just wet felted.  My botanical piece was also wet felted with merino wool and silk. I’ve looked at Kris McDermet’s website – love her work and am really disappointed Kris is so far away.”

Felted_creations_by_Margaret_Stuart_Western_Australia

Floral_by_Margaret_Stuart

In Albany, Western Australia, Kira Mead, featured in the January issue of Rug Hooking Magazine,  is experimenting again ….

this time hooking into felt. Kira tells me she is “contemplating involving felt with standing wool.”

Hooked_felt_Kira_Mead

Also in my INBOX today was the Blog from Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild  with an article about Kris McDermet’s upcoming braiding classes and mentioning Kris’s recent awards including 2015 Rug Hooking Magazine’s Celebrations – where Kris was a finalist in the Original Category for “Prints”

Prints_by_Kris_McDermet

“Prints” Described below by Kris;

“This is a 7 path Labyrinth – it is 5 feet round. The braids are the walls of the labyrinth and the hooking the foot paths. The birds, bugs, flowers, prints, leaves etc. are found on our labyrinth paths that we made in our field here in Vermont, USA.”

Australian rugmakers who were in Strathalbyn, South Australia in 2012 for the TIGHR Conference will remember meeting Kris and I’m sure would be interested to hear of her recent award and also the new combinations she is using.

On her website Kris talks about her love of combining hooking and braiding and also combining wool and silk. The latest addition to her combinations is Nuno felting with various wool and silk fibers felted together and cut into shapes and then combined into her hooking  – like the heart shapes used in her wall hanging “Passion”.

passion_by_Kris_Mcdermet

Passion 48”round  Wool silk Nuno felted hearts

You can see more of Kris’s work on her website www. krismcdermetrugs.com

Calendar of Events 2016

Events for 2016  have been added to the Calendar on this website – with more still to be entered.

The first for 2016 will be in Queensland – 19th & 20th February – Punchneedle hooking with Bec Andersen

Sally, from Brisbane, who introduced us to the gripper strips substitute available in Australia (shown on a frame in the recently published Guild newsletter) has taken a punchneedle class with Bec and recently sent these images ……… here is what Sally said –

This is a photo of the piece I did in Bec’s “Intro to Punchneedle”  class. I drew the design based on some of the source material that Bec had available in the class.   All of the wool yarn is hand dyed by Bec.

 Designed_and_Punch-hooked_by_Sally_Randal_QLD_Australia  

  The photo below shows preparing our backing, drawing designs and choosing wool, for the punchneedle class with Bec in her studio.

Designing_punch-hooked_piece_at_Bec_Andersens_QLD_Australia

I would strongly recommend Bec’s classes as she has a way of presenting information that is fun, and she was really well prepared for the class.”

Be sure and check out the Current Calendar & Events page for more workshops by Bec and workshops around Australia by other Guild members.

Guild Newsletter & Benefits of Membership

The question often asked  – “What are the benefits of Guild membership?”  

From the Editor:

The first issue for 2016 of the Guild’s newsletter “In the Loop”   is almost ready to be sent out to Members. As I look at the articles included, one of the main benefits of membership is obvious, that is, members can advertise (free of charge) on this website their events, projects and any rug hooking items they may want to sell.

For example a Guild Member from Victoria (Aust) has found a very creative way, using the  etsy.com  online  website,  to publicise the Chris_Noorbergenhooking_rug_Design_by_Rittemerework she does to raise funds for  a charitable organization and to sell the tools needed for the project.

Chris has combined her love of rug hooking with a fund raising opportunity and as a member of the Guild, Chris also has coverage of her project and sales on this website.

 

 

 

Here in Chris’s own words , as posted on her etsy.com site,  is how her project came about :

From Rugs to Rug Tools

I became a ‘Rug Maker’ about five years ago. I fell in love with wool, but being an Australian resident, there were no workshops in the whole of Victoria. So online I went and what a treasure trove of websites, YouTube videos, online classrooms and blogs I found.

I soon learned how to hook rugs, dye my own wool and make some of our much needed tools, for example I needed a table frame for my current project – an oriental rug and an ambitious project to say the least and since the postage from the US was far too expensive I had to make my own, with the help of hubby off course.

Cheticamp_style_frame_made_by_Chris

In 2012  I attended a Rug Making Expo in Sth Australia and met some like minded women and before you know it we started a group, now known as the Yarra Valley Rugmakers, member of the Victorian Rug makers and the Australian Rug Makers Guild.

Tools are not too easy to find in Australia and us Victorian ladies had to send for them either from interstate or overseas.

This year I have started giving Rug Making workshops from which all the fees will go to overseas missions, namely Uganda and India. I therefore needed hooks, so this lead me to look into importing hooks from overseas and I now sell beautiful handcrafted hooks, made in Ireland but sold from Australia, thus “Rughooks for missions”

Irish_rug_hooks_from_Australia_to_the_world_rug_hooks_for_missions

With our Australian currency being low, it is very viable for rug hookers from overseas to buy my hooks. I hope you will support me and leave favourable reviews and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

 

Comments or questions for Chris can be added below, or if you’d like to send her a personal message you can contact her through this website –

email:   rughookingaustralia@gmail.com         and your message will be forwarded.

Start the New Year with Rug Hooking Magazine

Jan/Feb 2016  and read the article by Australia’s Accidental Rugmaker, Kira Mead.

 It’s just over a year since Gay Wilkes, a founding member of ARG from Albany, Western Australia, sent me a picture of Kira’s work – a wall hanging made from recycled wool blankets.

Kira Mead with one of her vibrant rugs. Picture: Lata Photography
Kira Mead with one of her vibrant rugs. Picture: Lata Photography

 As Membership Chair, I invited Kira to join the Guild – she was surprized, said she wasn’t a rugmaker, so I explained that though she didn’t know it, she was using a rugmaking technique and making quillies, so was an “accidental rugmaker”, a term Kira has adopted.

Throughout the past year Kira has experimented with eco dyeing, hanging odd-shaped wall art Rose_Gelato_Quillie_rug_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_West_Australia_Grid Back Framingand various rug making techniques.   Her open and sharing personality reflects the bright colours she likes to work with.

Quillie_rug_created_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_West_Australia_titled_So What_as_in_Miles_Davis

           After  going viral on the Guild Facebook page, the giant quillies went from wall hangings to chair covers, to 3D vessels and seat and floor cushions and more.

Chair_Top_Finished_created_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_West_Australia - Copy

3_D Quillie_designed_&_created_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_West_Australia

Quillie_Floor_cushion_by_Kira_Mead

Kira's quilllie cup mat.
Kira’s quilllie cup mat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like many Australian Guild members, Kira’s an isolated rug hooker, she lives in a country town about 417 ks (259 miles) south of Perth.   There are rug hookers in and around the area, Gay and others who have taken the workshops Judith Stephens and I gave in 2010 and 2011, but so far no group has been formed.

Newly retired and looking for an artistic outlet, Kira searched the web and came across the giant quillies. Now as a member of the rugmakers guild Kira continues to search out different techniques on the web and again was surprized to discover this chain stitch is a “rugmaking” technique, one of several stitches to have “cross pollinated” from embroidery to rug making.

King_George_Sound_chain_stitched_rug_135x95_designed_&_hooked_by_Kira_Mead

There’s been articles in previous issues of Rug Hooking Magazine by Laura Pierce, Gene Shepherd and others detailing various rughooking stitches.

Ranunculas_Designed_hooked_chain_stitch_by_Kira_Mead_West_Australia

Still using chain stitch, Kira has made yet another transition from embroidery to rughooking, by creating a design from a traditional pattern worked in cross stitch.  She had been researching Bukovina/Ukrainian and Romanian patterns as it is the area her paternal family are from. Then found in her linen cupboard a piece her grandmother brought with her when the family came to Australia as displaced persons in 1950.

Below, made to celebrate International Rug Hooking Day

is the piece underway, made with up-cycled 100% Wool (Albany Woollen Mill) blankets and the finished project.

Romanian design from Kiras paternal grandmother

Romanian_design_hooked_chain_stitch_by_Kira_Mead

“In my Bunica’s Travel Trunk”   29cm x 29cm

Now I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what Kira comes up with in 2016.

The year is just beginning and these Before/After images have arrived in my Inbox  “shibori felted knitting”  ??

Pippa_before_losing_knitted_jacket_to_Kira_Meads_Shibori_ProjectAfter_Kira_Shiboried_knitted_vest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pippa the pooch about to loose the jacket and the jacket after felting, with some “additions”.

Kira intends to enter a hooked fibre sculpture in  WAFTA 21+   a juried Exhibition –  so images of that work must be kept under wraps until after selection for the  Exhibition.

Editors Note:      As a trainee instructor at my first McGown Guild Workshop in Eugene, Oregon, 2002, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Marie Bresch an accomplished rug hooker (you can find Marie’s name listed in Rug Hooking Magazine as a member of the Emeritus Board).  Marie learned to hook in Canada many years ago in a very formal class setting where everyone was expected to learn all the rug hooking rules, as well as the different creative stitches used in rug making – 13 I was told. Marie said the stitches were detailed in a book published in Canada. I’m thinking given that time frame, it was probably by Rittermere.   

You often hear reference to  the “rughooking police”, but don’t worry its now OK to break some of the rules. Back then, at a time when rugs were IN USE … ON THE FLOOR, the rules were in place to preserve the life of the rugs.    I’ve met rug hookers in the USA & Canada who have on their floors, rugs made by their Grandmothers – its possible some of these rugs could be close to 100 years old because my friends are “mature age” and their mothers remembered the same rugs being on the floor when they were children.                                      

Happy New Year to All              Jo Franco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas

This Christmas Greeting has just come in from the

Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild

Beaconsfield_Hooking_Crafters_Guild_40th_Xmas2015_72To All Australian Rugmakers Guild members

To share with you the magic and joy of Holiday Season, Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild extend to you our best wishes and invites you to visit our Website to view our last clip of animated rugs, featuring pieces from our 40th Anniversary Show and our Greeting Cards Collection.

Editors Note: To view the current animated rugs clip and two earlier animation projects created by Maria Romero, Webmaster-Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild, click the following link http://beaconsfieldrughooking.tripod.com/animated-rugs.html  and then be sure to take a tour of the interesting articles on the Beaconsfield website. 

 

More on International Rug-Hooking Day

Welcome_to_International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_West_Australia_Jo_FrancoWelcome …..

Jo and Judi setting up for a day of rug hooking demonstrations in Perth, Western Australia.

International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_Judi_Tompkins

 

All set up and ready for visitors in the morning – just hoping the weather will be kind and we won’t need the ceiling fans  – it’s been the warmest spring (Sep-Nov) on record and the hall is not air-conditioned. It’s also been the driest Spring in 5 years.

International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_West_AustraliaAlexander Park Craft House – where WAFTA meets

What a difference a day makes ….

The next morning a storm blew in – wild enough to cause the City of Perth to cancel the Christmas Parade.   Wind and pouring rain kept people off the roads – except the intrepid Wanneroo Rugmakers who headed in to Alexander Park Craft House to demonstrate various rug hooking techniques.

Below Yvonne explains how she hooks without a frame.

International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_West_Australia_rughooking_without_a_framehere are some small examples of Yvonne’s work

International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_West_Aust_members_rugs

and Kath’s latest proggy rug is the centre of attention here

Proggy_rug_created_by_Kath_Smith_Wanneroo_Rugmakers_West_Australia

while Jo discusses her Rittermere rug  hooked with wool yarn (carpet wool hand-dyed by Judith Stephens)

This rug pattern is a classic – the design is printed on hessian and it was imported from Canada about 40 years ago before there were any other names added to  the company then called only “Rittermere”.

International_Rughooking_Day_2015_Robin_ Inkpen_and_new_rughooker (3)Also in this picture is one of Robin Inkpen’s rugs which she hooked with recycled fabrics.

Jo had begun work on this rug when she received the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine featuring orientals in wide cut and bright colours. While tempted to switch to “brights“, Jo continued with the colours in keeping with a large rug already in her living room.

Jo's Rittermere oriental

Below Robin helps a beginner rug maker who was pleased she braved the wet roads to come and learn about this craft. Judi Tompkins had started her morning off with instruction in the basic rug hooking technique.

International_Rughooking_Day_2015_Robin_ Inkpen_and_new_rughooker (1)

Kath was also pleased to receive some artistic help from Robin to adjust the colour plan another classic Rittermere rug she is working on.

International_Rughooking_Day_2015_Kath_and_Robin

and …. yes, there was yet another Rittermere rug on show – the peacocks below.

The rug pattern may have been old but Anna decided to go her own way with her colour plan – no desire for “realism” here.

International_Rug-Hooking_Day_2015_Perth_West_Australia_Anna's_rugs

All these old Rittermere rugs were purchased last year at a weekend hooking retreat in South Australia, from a rug hooker who had given up hooking and was “downsizing” in preparation to move house.  She had taken lessons years ago from a teacher who had immigrated to South Australia from the UK via Canada in the late 50’s – and for over 30 years held a monthly meeting at her house for her students. During that time she imported all the patterns and tools for her students from Canada.

At previous rug hooking events in Perth we’ve had the pleasure of the company of Kira Mead from Albany – she always has something different and exciting to show – she couldn’t make the long drive this time – but sent an image of her latest creation.

3_D Quillie_designed_&_created_by_Kira_Mead_Albany_West_AustraliaWho’d have thought of 3-D  Quillies

What a fabulous and colourful way to “wind-up” the year.

In the New Year we will bring you more news from other groups around Australia, until then

Greetings and  Best Wishes for a healthy and safe New Year to all our members and their families.

Keep on Happily Hooking –  Jo

 

International Rug Hooking Day

TIGHR Logo RS 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.

Sunshine_Coast_Rugcrafters_End_of_Year_Lunch_Montville_QLDNo rug hooking took place, but just look at the inspirational surroundings.

Garden_sculpture_Secrets_by_the_Lake_Montville_QLDMontville_QLD_Secrets_on_the_Lake

Secrets_by_the_Lake_Montville_QLD_1
Photos taken by Judi Tompkins

Also in Queensland

Bec Andersen, is planning a morning tea and a Bec Andersen - Gypsy Wanderings by the SeaRughooking 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

1 Narrawilly ProggersWhile 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.”

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

Narrawilly_Proggers_Fashion_ShowFunds 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,

 Proddy_Christmas_Tree_2    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

Robins locker-hooking with sari silk
Robins locker-hooking with sari silk

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)

A Canadian FibreFest and more

TIGHR Logo RS        The 2015 Triennial Conference of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) came to end with a FibreFest and Gala Dinner – here are some of the highlights :

Who would have thought there were so many ways to make a rug!

and so many things you could create using rugmaking techniques – the conference room at the Inn at Laurel Point was a buzz with activity and conversation on Wednesday afternoon – it was hard to take it all in – these images show only a few of the TIGHR members who were there demonstrating their rug making and associated fibre techniques.

Lynne Smith (Saltair, BC, Canada) turns her left over hooking worms into lovely Quilli Flowers which can be used as brooches or added to hooked pieces.

Fiber_Fest_quillies

Fiber_Fest_quillies_2

Sandi Hill (New Westminister, BC) demonstrating Wool Applique – “penny rugs” – table rugs created with woollen fabrics using coins or pennies as the pattern template – often seen on vintage pieces dating from the Civil War era. The designs were stitched with simple blanket stitch and other embroidery stitches.

Fiber_Fest_penny_rugs

Laurie Wiles  (Edmonton, Alta, Canada) a McGown certified teacher demonstrating Hooking Plaid as well as bead stitch, checkerboard and turkey stitch.

Fiber_Fest_Laurie_Wiles_BC_hooking_plaid (1)

Dianne Tobias (California, USA) Diane combines hooking and braiding with Velvet and nylon.

Fiber_Fest_Kris_McDermet_and_Diane_Tobias_Combining_Braiding_and_Hooking

Gail Becker, (California-USA) McGown certified teacher combining needle felting & hooking.

Gail Becker

Velma Higgins (Parksville, BC, Canada)  demonstrated a unique and simple way to create a fringe on an oriental hooked rug.

Fringes for Orientals by Velma Higgins

Cec Caswell – McGown  accredited Rug Hooking Instructor & President of Edmonton Rug Hooking Guild.   Cec has been a finalist in past Rug Hooking Magazines “Celebrations” and her colourful rug Delightful Friends is currently featured as an entry on the  Rug Hooking Magazine website.

Cec Caswell

Lucinda Hepting (Qualicum Beach BC, Canada)   Filling in the Box  – Fabric framed design, the end results can be turned into a pillow or a hooked purse.

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Sara Judith –  combining punch hooking with traditional hooking – exploring advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques. Sara is a McGown certified teacher and an Oxford accredited punch hooking instructor.

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Not shown: Melanie Morrison/Bobbin Lace,   Nancy Wesley/sculptural needle felting,    Leola Witt/Spinning & hooking with dyed fleeces & yarn,    Nancy Bassonnette/basket weaving,    Terry Bibby/Saori weaving,  Mary Forbes/needle felted painting,    Wendy Halsall/natural dyeing,    Kris McDermet/adding baiding to hooking,   A group project/Flax to Linen.

May Sam – demonstrated Coast Salish Knitting. May is an Elder of the Tsartlip First Nation with a wealth of knowledge and experience with traditional Coast Salish knitting and the  “Cowichan” sweater.   The Cowichan sweater  has been designated as an object of national historic significance by the Canadian Government.

During her evening presentation to TIGHR members Sylvia Olsen talked of May’s knowledge and history with Cowichan knitting.  Click here to hear an interview with Sylvia.

Jen Manuell & Rachelle LeBlanc
Jen Manuell chatting with Rachelle LeBlanc at the TIGHR Conference 2015. Rachelle was a member of the Panel discussing “Defining Professionalism: What does it mean and what does it look like?”

Jennifer Manuell  is an award-winning fourth generation rug hooker, and has taught rug hooking classes in Canada, the United States and  England. Jen has teamed up with her sister to make and sell a line of finished goods featuring as-is and hand-dyed wool fabric in a series of one-of-a-kind wearables and unique home décor items, all completely handmade by them in their studio just north of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.

The current selection of finished goods, eBooklets, patterns, kits and supplies are available on their website – including ebook Jewellery 101

JEWELLERY-How to Book Jen Manuell Fisheyesisters

 GALA DINNER:

 Key-note Presentation: Nature in Art  was given by Dr. Robert Bateman ‘(Victoria, BC)

This was followed by the acknowledgment of  TIGHR’s 21st Year and the introduction of previous Founders Cup recipients and the awarding of the Cup to Susan Feller  by Judith Stephens & Jo Franco (co-recipients) in 2012.

The Cup is presented to a member who has promoted rug hooking and TIGHR.   Mary Shepherd Burton (dec) who was instrumental in creating the invitation list and coordination of the first conference in 1994 with Dar Ford Kayuka (a fellow American living in the UK)  was the first recipient and began the tradition of the  Cup holder selecting and awarding the Cup to a member who has worked to further the Guild’s aims  ….. to come together in friendship to share ideas, explore the different rug making techniques using a variety of fibres and to further the art of rug making, while also enjoying the experience of travel.

Susan Feller has worked tirelessly to take the Guild into the 21st Century – she is an early adapter of ideas and with her knowledge of art and the history of this craft was instrumental in taking TIGHR’s fledgling website to an informational platform, a place for Guild News and where members have their own space to show their creations and to network.

At this conference Susan, with the help of videographer and digital storyteller, Randi Cohen Coblenz, has brought the guild to a point where, in the future members should be able to attend virtually, if travel is not physically possible.

Susan Feller - 2015 recipient receiving Cup from Judith Stephens & Jo Franco - 2012 recipients
Susan Feller – 2015 recipient receiving Cup from Judith Stephens & Jo Franco – 2012 recipients

Post Conference  – Back on the mainland:

After farewelling rug hooking friends, new and old,  the 3 “J’s” (Judith, Jo & Jenny) visited the Museum of Anthropology

Arriving just in time at the Arthur Erickson designed building overlooking mountains and sea, they were treated to a very interesting and informative tour of reputedly the worlds finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations Art.

Even though the sunny weather of their pre-conference road trip and time in Victoria had given way to clouds and rain, they were taken into a monumental Haida house on the grounds of the museum and out to view the poles and Musqueam houseposts that capture the dramatic beauty of traditional Northwest Coast architecture and design.

Museum of Anthropology The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Museum of Anthropology The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

With the Vancouver visit coming to an end, we three were invited to visit the Studio of Michelle Sirois-Silver.

Michelle showed us many of her “hooked surfaces”, the materials she uses and described in depth, how she gathers information and creates her art books from which she draws  inspiration for future works.

Michelle utilizes  many different fabrics including waste fabric cut-offs given to her by a friend and fellow textile artist Katherine Sanssoucie. We were delighted when Michelle kindly organized for us to visit Katherine in her downtown studio.

Michelle_Sirois_Silver_in_her_textile_art_studio_Vancouver_BC_Canada

Hooked_surface_by_Michelle_Sirois_Silver

Katherine Soucie

Be sure and click the link above to see images of the wonderful garments created by Katherine who, when we spoke with her,  had just returned from an international showing of her unique garments.

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Katherine Sanssoucie in her studio explaining the philosophy behind her creations.

Transformation

Empowerment

+ Sustainability

Zero Waste

Katherine’s base fabric is pre-consumer waste hosiery, which she dyes and then adds additional layers of paint.  There is a “mending” aspect to this procedure, as pieces are stitched together to create an embellished “fabric” from which she creates a unique range of clothing.

The cut-offs from her creations are given to Michelle to use in her hooking.

So ……. beginning with a waste product, the colourful left-overs and cut-offs from the creation of artistic garments are used in a hooked surface – absolutely nothing wasted!

These studio visits were an inspiring way to finish up the  2015 Triennial Conference in Canada.

Now it’s time to save up for the 2018 Triennial in the UK.

Click here for TIGHR membership information 2015-18

      Jo Franco