now mobile & iPad friendly, includes an updated Events Calendar, additions to the SWAP n SELL page and another Book Review by Miriam Miller.
Miriam Miller received a copy of ‘A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking‘ by Doris Eaton, from the TIGHR member who received Miriam’s hooked Friendship Square at the 2015 The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers Triennial Conference in Victoria, BC Canada.
Speaking of Canada – Miram and the Narrawilly Proggers enjoyed a visit from a group of Nova Scotia ruggers who were on a South Pacific cruise. Miriam (second from right) said ..
“it was brief a day and a half. but we managed to fit in many things. Walks on the beaches, a progressive dinner then a rug day, a visit to the milking for Cindy who comes from a dairy farm, and to see the kangaroos at the Conjola Caravan park, they come out each evening for the grass. Even a short bush walk to Granite Falls.”
I’m sure there’ll be more about this visit in the next issue of Miriam’s Narrawilly newsletter “Connecting Us“.
Miriam Miller, rughooking instructor, NSW Australia_photo, Gillian Lett Milton Ulladulla Times
Miriam has also recently hosted a rug hooker from Darwin – who came on a Thursday for a private workshop and stayed overnight to take part in the Rug Day, held in the Rug Room at Narrawilly on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
On the Guild’s SWAP n SELL page you will find a new frame with “substitute” grippers. These frames have been used by several guild members and reports are, the substitute works well. The frame is available on both the East and West Coast.
A very different frame made in South Australia and featured on Swap Sell was sold to a rughooker in Nova Scotia. Who’d have thought frames would be going from OZ to Canada when there is so much available in the way of rug hooking equipment over there.
“NETWORKING” – it’s happening on the Guilds Facebook page –
the post about a search for grey army blankets to finish off a large rug generated much interest. As soon as the post went up five members from across the country answered the call about the elusive blankets. After Ann’s had a chance to contact them I’ll let you know if any were suitable.
As you’ll see from a stack of her rugs shown here, Ann from Bellingen doesn’t only work with muted greys and blues.
Most of Ann’s rugs are hooked, however like the denim rug shown some are woven and there’s even a crocheted rug in the stack.
Queensland:
Judi Tompkins not only gives workshops at her Shed studio in Landsborough, QLD, she now has a student in the Netherlands – giving her rughooking lessons via Skype.
Read more about Judi’s background and her creations on her website.
And then there’s the Chook Follyor maybe it’ll become Judi’s Folly – more about this project in another blog.
Western Australia:
Another interesting online happening; the colourful works of Kira Mead from Albany Western Australia, were featured on Folt Bolt an inspiring website worth following.
Some of Kira’s recent pieces, will be displayed at Expertise Events Craft & Quilt Fair in Perth including this large wall hanging shown below – the oranges and tree created with quillies and the leaves crocheted.
Colour Abounds in WA :-
Robin Inkpen has been giving locker hooking workshops in the South West.
More workshops are scheduled and participants will be making this tote bag from a kit prepared by sold by Robin.
It’s not as elaborate as her bespoke carpet bags, but is an easier project for beginners.
From the Editor:
Don’t forget to click or tap on Current Events to see what’s happening in your area. Be sure and let us know if you have an event planned, or if you know of an upcoming associated textile event. Send details to Jo at rughookingaustralia@gmail.com
Until next time – Happy Hooking – Jo Franco; Editor/Membership
Maxine, leader of the Bellingen Rugmakers group, says “this grey rug is being made by Ann, it’s about 12 x 8 feet and made with up-cycled grey woolen blankets.Annhas run out of a pale grey army type blanket with only about 5 circles to go, so we are all looking for that elusive grey blanket. The denim one beside it is made from jeans and woven.”
(If you can help in Ann’s quest to find one of these blankets, please contact rughookingaustralia@gmail.com)
“The grey unfinished rug and the grey one Ann is now working on are both 12 feet by 8 feet.
Ann designs her own rugs and uses a linen /cotton mix for her backing. She has sewn the pieces together with her first rug and with the second has used iron on fusible hemming on the cut sides, it sits much better and stays in place.”
From Ann – This photo shows how much is left to do.
The close-up photo shows a complete circle. The grey I need is the third colour of the petal shape and the double row within the diamond shape. It seems to be the lightest colour of the old service blankets.
But as you know any shade of grey is appreciated by me as other shades can be used for the rug I am working on now.
Here is more of what Maxine had to say …..
We have a very enthusiastic and lovely group who look forward to meeting the 1st Friday of each month.
Bellingen Rugmakers Group: (Right to Left) Maxine, Aishwarya, Lyndal, Phornthip, Ann, Anna.
At the end of August last year the group went to Gleniffer about 20 miles from Bellingen to demonstrate rag rugging at the Gleniffer Quilt show. Gleniffer was once all dairy farms and is such a pretty area, nestled at the bottom of the Dorrigo mountains there is a Church and a hall. The proceeds of the Quilt Show helps maintain the hall. There is a small river running beside the hall and Church and just a couple of hundred yards further on is the Promised Land it is really a lovely area.
From the Editor: While Ann works in shades of grey, the other members of this group, all relatively new to rug hooking, are drawn to colour as you will see in images of their work below – undoubtedly inspired by the vibrant colours in the surrounding landscape.
AishwaryaLyndal
Bellingen Rugmakers
Anna
AishwaryaPhornthipMerleMaxine
Update: Immediately this was posted word was received from QLD that a grey army blanket is available there and a couple of blankets were located in WA. Also images just came in from Chris and Anne from VIC who have blankets available –
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.”
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.”
Above 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
1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn
Pat la Rance received a Special Award for this piece
Gail Nicholls took 2nd Hooky & Proggy Wall Hanging for her superb work in this rug.
The Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award.
This bag by Marilyn Smyth took 2dn prize Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned.
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
Maggie 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 Hangingcategory 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.
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.
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’s first lesson in locker hooking.
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.
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.
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.
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 – 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.
After visiting Guild members in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia and thinking about rugs hooked by members in Victoria and Western Australia, I realized just how differently members of this Guild approach design and the creation of their rugmaking projects.
The question often asked –
“is rug hooking an art or craft?”
is hard to answer because it depends entirely on who you’re asking and what they’re aiming to express through their rugmaking.
The simple techniques used in the past to create floor coverings, are now used artistically to create wall hangings, home decor items and wearables; to make social commentary; express inner feelings; bring groups together to work on community projects; promote well-being or just provide an outlet for a person to relax while making something they feel is attractive and useful.
While staying with Jacqui Thomson in New South Wales I was thinking about this as I admired the art work and rugs on her walls, particularly a large 4ft (122cm) square wall-hanging on the wall of Jacqui’s study hooked by Ilka Landahl, a member of the Narrawilly Proggers.
Unfortunately this photo, taken with my phone (permission given by Ilka & Jacqui) kept turning sideways in this blog. No amount of editing would prevent that happening, so I resorted to printing and scanning it back to my computer and in doing so lost the high resolution of the original image. My apologies Ilka, the detail in your rug, traditionally hooked with recycled fabric is truly amazing.
Social Commentary features in many of Judith Stephens (South Australia) hooked wall- hangings. Her work below, traditionally hooked using 100% wool yarn (photographed by Malcolm Edward-Cole), is for an exhibition later this year or next, concerning immigrants and Australia’s double standard.
Artistic expression: Judi Tompkins (QLD) has taken the rug hooking technique of Waldobrough to another level in wall hangings of her own design that represent something unique and full of meaning for the recipient of the piece.
Judi also pushes the envelope when it comes to the shape and framing of her hooked creations, as in Costas Hummingbirds which is framed with cactus wood.
.
Community Projects: Bec Andersen (QLD) has promoted several community projects using various rug hooking techniques in her fibre installations.
Below are pieces hooked by school children (11 year olds) using the Oxford Punchneedle hook. This was a special project of Bec’s which she shared with me and has given me permission to write a full report on in a future magazine article.
Expression of feelings: Our plans changed and I wasn’t able to visit Victoria (Aust) and meet up with Joy Marshall and Chris Noorbergen however they’d previously forwarded me photos of their rugs shown below.
Joy entered the work below in an exhibition which included works that depict loss, love and hope by those who have/are experiencing grief and depression.
Joy describes her Glimmers of Hope as –
My first rug using a linen backing and is approx 4 feet long and 1.5 feet wide. It uses recycled hand dyed blanketing and is my own design. It is a graphic representation of a phrase I woke up with in my head one morning a few years ago. “Glimmers of hope pierced the gloom” I then finished it with “like stars in the night sky”. After googling this phrase with no results I can only put it down to inspiration. I have long admired Van Gogh’s work and this piece is strongly reflective of Starry Sky. After the recent loss of my youngest son, this rug brought together the hope I have in God’s love that shines in the darkness of grief, Starry Night, and a hankering to try a design with cats paws.
Chris Noorbergen has used her creative rug hooking talents and the experience gained from a workshop with Heather Ritchie to hook a wall-hanging from a photograph of each of her six grandchildren, as they were completed, all have been featured on the Guild’s Facebook page. Chris has also lovingly created a hooked wall- hanging depicting members of her family and family events.
Marion Nefiodovas (South Australia) – subsequently took a Hooking a Portrait from a Photo workshop from Chris. Marion hooked a remarkable likeness of husband (George). Marion displayed the finished project at her visit to the Perth Craft and Quilt Fair when she and George were in Western Australia last May.
Chris also traveled to Western Australia at the same time and she visited Elizabeth (Lies) van Beem who lives in the South West of the state, and took this photo of the wall hanging Lies is working on. It’s Lies’s life story since arriving in Australia which she plans to enjoy on the wall of her home and hopes will become a family heirloom.
Wearables Robin Inkpen who also lives in the south west of Western Australia is creating more of her unique hooked bags. These one of a kind bags are now offered for sale in a high-end gift shop.
Community well-being: I (Jo Franco from West Aust) have been instrumental in bringing together a community group and teaching them to teach others.
Sue Gilmartin from the UK stayed with me after the 2012 TIGHR Conference and when she heard me talk of an idea for a hooked installation to depict the coming together of an inter-generational, multi-cultural group who are passing on the knowledge of a simple craft and using it to create artistic pieces, she encouraged me to enter a local sculptural exhibition we’d just come across online – it was closing day for entries, so we brainstormed a title Handing It On and I emailed my entry minutes before closing time.
After Sue returned to the UK I was pleased to be able tell her my entry had been accepted and then came the interesting part – putting it together.
For the base I utilized an old rug of unknown origin, probably made in the 1920 or 30’s from recycled clothing; connected to my new rug, made also with recycled fabrics however these were brightly coloured recycled sari-silk off-cuts and novelty yarn.
Circles made using an aboriginal basketry technique taught to me by Judith Stephens were incorporated in my rug and the same technique was used to make a group of arms and hands to represent the women from the community group. The hands were also were made of fabric representing old and new and from the same “coiling” method as the circles on which they sat. The hands held hooks from my collection of old and new rug hooking tools. The installation was the only textile exhibit and very colourful among sculptures of metal, iron and ceramic in a white gallery!
This same community group in Wanneroo worked together on an entry for a Wearable Art competition in 2014, and in 2015, a wall hanging in commemoration of the ANZACs.
Ebb & Flow hooked by the Wanneroo Rugmakers. Photographer Michael Kelly of Star Creation
Norma Hatchett (West Aust) has been teaching rug hooking with the use of a Rumplestiltskin tool, for almost 30 years, to blind and disabled members of the community. Over the last 10 years she has successfully run programs with residents suffering from dementia living in aged cared facilities.
Below Norma is shown giving a presentation at WAFTA about facilitating these projects and the benefits received by the residents as they sit together hooking. Norma designs the piece and transfers it onto the backing in 16inc x 11inc segments (the size of her frames) then each person hooks their individual piece of the wall hanging and when all are complete Norma sews them together. You can see this in the second image which I photographed from the back – this image also gives a good indication of the overall size of the piece.
In a nutshell; Norma said this program is successful because while residents are “together” no interaction is needed between the rug hookers each one has their own carer to help them with their part of the project. This provides an enjoyable social activity in a non-threatening environment. There is much more involved in setting up and facilitating the project and I have visited one of Norma’s sessions to see how it all comes together – it is amazing. One of her successes was a resident who wasn’t to be part of the group because she hadn’t spoken for 2 years – Norma encouraged her inclusion and at the conclusion of the 12 week rug hooking project this same lady had begun to talk again.
While I was traveling, Kira Mead from Albany West Australia whose quillie wall-hangings created such a stir on the Guild Facebook page, sent me an image of her latest rug. She is experimenting again! this rug was hooked with a traditional hook using chain stitch on the wide open-grid backing used for locker hooking.
The local Wanneroo group also sent me images of a new member’s work.
Margaret is new to the group and likes to work, not necessarily on miniatures, but on small pieces. Below is her first piece of “toothbrush” rugmaking finished after returning home from her first day with the group. Not quite sure how to overcome the fact that her rug was curling up, Margaret turned it into a birds nest. With some further instruction from the group the following week, she made a rug base for the nest and her bird, that I’m guessing is a Blue Fairy Wren from the south west of WA.
Eight members of the Australian Rugmakers Guild who are also members of TIGHR will be traveling to this year’s Conference. Miriam and Jacqui have already left and have visited a rug hooking friend in Israel. They were thrilled to see Pamela’s hooked rugs, which will undoubtedly feature in Miriam’s next newsletter on her return home. Their travels will take them through Europe, to the Outer Hebrides and across the USA before we meet again in Victoria.
A few weeks ago when I was in New South Wales we talked about how amazing it is that this simple, old-fashioned craft has taken us on journeys across Australia and around the world and bought us in contact with so many interesting, sharing and caring people.
I have just realized that Miriam will be giving a talk on this very subject at the Conference; the different techniques of rug making in Australia, and has taken some samples to show. Hopefully she will include an article about her experience at the Conference in her newsletter at the end of the end of the year.
Now I must away and pack my bag, as I too will soon be leaving for Canada.
Judith Stephens and I have planned a short road trip in British Columbia prior to the Conference on Vancouver Island. The scenery will be vastly different from what I recently drove through on my trip across Australia – we definitely won’t be seeing any road signs like these……..
I just had to include this image which I took on our return trip as we approached the West Australia border having driven across the Nullabor Plain. This part of the coastline shows on the map as the Great Australian Bight.
We’ve made this trip before on Eyre Highway the southern East/West road but have never pulled off to at any of the vantage points to take photos. It wasn’t far to drive from the main road and I was glad we took the time the view was spectacular!
Well this blog started with a rug hooking image on a grand scale – ending with almost a miniature,
and here I am finishing with my own personal travel pics.
I feel fortunate indeed to be able to travel and enjoy my craft through meeting other rug hookers and seeing their creations.
I had a free afternoon last Friday 7th August and Bec Andersen had an open spot on her Calendar so I drove alone, up Mt. Tamborine to Bec’s studio/workshop. I hadn’t been there before; knew it would be in the hills, but didn’t realize I was going to be traveling up 22ks of winding road with hairpin bends and 12% grade – and me afraid of high places! My eyes were glued to the road ahead but occasionally I’d glimpse amazing vistas through the trees.
It was worth the trip and I’d really like to go back another time with someone else at the wheel so I could take in the views.
I didn’t have any trouble finding the address and when I looked down the drive and saw the open veranda door to her studio I recognized it immediately from images in her newsletters.
Bec is putting the finishing touches to a community art project. She says it’s easy, fun and joyous – I was wishing we weren’t leaving on the 13th – as it sounded very interesting and I would have liked to have taken part.
Below, I’ve added my comments to information and images taken from Bec’s newsletter:
If there’s anyone in the area who’d like to be in the fun and help, this is the last week to join in – she needs; knotters, sewers, bead makers, threaders and tea pourers.
The knotted rug looks very much like proggy (proddy).
Actually, the long ‘paper bead’ making is done! When I arrived at her Studio on Friday afternoon I found Bec up a ladder attaching long lengths of fishing line threaded with beads to a frame.
In all 11,000 papers beads have been made to create a circular curtain which will hang above a 3m diameter shag pile rug, estimated to take 24,000 knots and a whole lot of sewing.
Bec is planning to restore and reupholster (with upcycled denim jeans or skirts) this ‘found’ rocking chair – if you have any jeans to donate please take them along.
Helping her to work on this project is a really good excuse to get together, drink tea and make things, and share Make do and Mend stories – which she is collecting for the installation.
Do you have any stories? What did your mum or granny used to do to save pennies? Bec’s nana used to save up all the old bits of soap and melt them down to make larger cakes when the jar was full.
There will be two more of these fun filled get-togethers to help make, and to drink tea;
Thursday Aug 13 and Saturday Aug 15
from 9:30-12:30
at 8 Griffith St, North Tamborine
These morning teas will be followed by an installation at The Centre in Beaudesert on
September 19, coupled with an even bigger morning tea!
Even if you can’t make a working sessions, mark your calendars for
the Opening and The Long Morning Tea
Click here for Bookings and more information for the September event.
What a fantastic afternoon I spent with Bec – sharing our rughooking experiences, visions for the future of rughooking in Australia, and learning about her past projects and 100% wool yarn dyed using natural dyes sourced from around the world.
Bec teaches punch-needle rug hooking using the Amy Oxford punch-needle hooks. She also encourages her students to create their own designs and helps them with design concepts.
To turn her own designs into commissioned rugs, Bec uses an electric tufting gun – see some of her creations on her website
A family holiday in Queensland provided the perfect opportunity for me to visit rugmakers in the area.
Judi Tompkins, the Guild’s webmaster and I talk regularly each week on Skype in an effort to maintain the website and bring rughooking news and Australian Guild members together.
Judi facilitates group meetings at the Beerwah Library from 3:00-6:00pm on the 2nd Monday and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
However to fit in with my schedule, she invited members of the Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters to her studio on Sunday 2nd August for an informal workshop and “hook-in” and asked them to bring a recently finished, or favourite rug for Show & Tell. Some of the rugs have been shown before on this blog but there‘s nothing like seeing and touching the real thing.
In a recent post about the SCRC group’s demonstration at the Palmwoods Art & Crafts Show Stella could be seen working on her porpoise piece which is now completed and shown below with its companion piece.
Cetacan Dreaming designed and hooked by Stella Edmundson
Kangroos on Mars designed and hooked By Stella Edmundson
This was a day of exchanging information.
I shared Judith Stephen’s method for making bags & baskets using the toothbrush or nalbinding technique (also spelled nålbinding, naalbinding, nalebinding).
Some of the group decided to give the technique a go and make a bag, others opted to make mats – this one started by Bea.
Jo looking on as Anne & Pat, Cassie (with help from Sally) & Bea get started with their toothbrush rug hooking.
(Left) Annette & Diane studying the iPad bag made with this technique by Judith Stephens
and below, Judy and Annette getting started with their own toothbrush rug hooking projects.
Below is a bag made by Sally, a new member from Brisbane, who discovered this gathering through the Guild’s Facebook page and decided to join the Guild and attend.
Sally uses the punch-needle rug hooking technique and has worked on Amy Oxford designs which she purchased while overseas. She recently took a punch-needle hooking class with Bec Andersen at Mt. Tamborine, south of Brisbane,
On this day, Judi Tompkins showed her the traditional rughooking technique and how to prod a flower onto the little bag she’d almost completed.
(Below) Sally practicing the new techniques.
Information wasn’t just going one-way;
Sally brought her punch-needle hooked rugs to show, as well as the frame she’d made with a locally purchased substitute for metal gripper strips.
Details of this frame, the gripper substitute and images showing how Sally installed them on her frame, will be in the next Guild Newsletter ‘In the Loop’ emailed to members.
The day was full of conversation with everyone sharing rughooking ideas and asking questions, the only lull coming during morning tea and lunch as we enjoyed all the wonderful goodies everyone bought to share.
I demonstrated some other mat making techniques taught to me by Judith Stephens/ Guild President; Stick Weaving and the Chunky Rugmaker – unfortunately, examples of rugs using these techniques made by Judith and Fibre Necklaces made by Maggie Whyte, V.Pres/Secretary (ACT) using the Chunky Rugmaker were left behind on my workshop table in WA. Thank goodness for laptops and smart phones, I was able to pull up these images to share.
(Above) a hot pad made with stick weaving using recycled sheets and wool yarn. Alongside are the sticks set up to begin a new project.
(Above) A mat being created with the Chunky Rugmaker using carpet wool and soft recycled fabric for the stuffing.
(Below) A Fibre necklace created by Maggie Whyte (ACT) with the same tool using knitting yarn and tiny scraps of fabric – the snippets from other rug hooking projects. Maggie will be at the Expertise Events Craft Fair in Canberra through this weekend, undoubtedly she will have some good examples of this technique on show.
(Below) Diana watching Stella start a stick weaving project extraordinaire – the finished project shown below is destined to be a hanger for one of her rugs.
Over the chair behind Diana is a mat she completed recently at a CWA workshop. It is similar to the toothbrush rugmaking technique we were using, the difference is it only uses one strip of fabric – there is no cording or base strip.
Pat and Val opted for trying Stick Weaving instead of the Toothbrush technique.
Not only was I meeting new rughooking friends but I also had the pleasure of catching up with Annette White again. We’d met at Miriam Miller’s studio in Milton a few years ago. Before she moved to the Sunshine Coast, QLD from NSW, Annette was a member of the Narrawilly Proggers and featured in many news reports about their gatherings.
Photos just don’t do justice to the detail in rugs and I was glad Annette had brought her Three Wise Men, which I’d seen images of while posting the blog, but hadn’t fully appreciated the detail and embellishments on this rug – they are amazing.
Below are some happy snaps taken by Judi Tompkins during our fun filled day
It was so good to meet these new, but very talented rugmakers after seeing so many images of the group in action, (Judy Owen, Stella, Diana, Ann, Pat, Cassie, Val, Margaret, Bea and Annette). Judi Tompkins focus in her own rug work is the Waldoborough technique and her rug designs are original and textural.
Judi has departed from the traditional square/rectangular shaped rugs, with most of her creations being free-form in shape and incorporating elaborate frames. This knowledge has been passed on to the group and they have really picked it up and run with it – there were no ‘ordinary beginner’ rugs in sight!
I think everyone went home suffering from information overload but very happy and ready for more of these social events.
Sally, who lives and works in Brisbane said – “Should you find other Guild members from Brisbane who are looking to catch up occasionally then please count me in.”
Judi Tompkins has started the New Year by updating a project from a previous year.
“Costa’s Hummingbirds” was created by Judi for a Portuguese friend whose surname was Costa. Judi had found the Costa’s Hummingbird (from Mexico/SW USA)
and hooked this (originally unframed) piece for her friend featuring the hummingbird among the cactus flowers of the SouthWest, USA.
Judi wasn’t really happy with the original finished piece so took it back from her friend and framed it using Cholla wood (Cactus), as if the viewer is seeing these SW USA/Mexico hummingbirds through a “forest” of dead Cholla.
The wood frame was a creative project in itself. Judi imported the wood and sliced the pieces to create the unusual shaped frame, using metal plates to join the odd-shape.
The frame is “lashed” to the hooking. To see Judi’s work in progress just click [Costa’s Hummingbird] this link will take you to her album of images.
The actual fibre piece, hooked and prodded with recycled fabrics, is 18″ x 19″ (45cm x 47cm) but with the frame, the overall size is 28″ x 29″ (72cm x 73cm).
Judi said while she was not happy with the piece originally – she finds it a bit more interesting now the it’s in this frame; although she would make changes to the background now if she could, says she has learned a lot in the last 3 years!
Click here for Judi’s website to see more of her adventures in rughooking .
Another Judy in QLD –
Judy Owen, a member of the Sunshine Coast Rugmakers Group started by Judi Tompkins, has finished the ambitious and creative wall-hanging which she is working on here – hooking without a frame!
below is the wall hanging in progress,
and here it is completed
“A Unicorn in My Garden”
designed and hooked by Judy Owen
This piece is relatively heavy so Judy is going to use Kira Mead’s “Grid Back” method of framing to give the piece support and keep the edges of the wall-hanging from curling under.
Leaving the Sunshine Coast Rugmakers in the north and heading south of Brisbane to Mt. Tamborine –
Bec Andersen – has already planned her rughooking year;all the way through to the 2nd International Rugmaking Day on 4 December, 2015.
On 16 January Bec will hold Free Punchneedle Hooking lessons in lieu of Support work, with the “11 and Beyond” Artist in Residence project with TMSS. This project is supported by the Queensland government through Arts Queensland, part of the Dept of Science, Information Technology Innovation and the Arts.
The Happy Hooker Support Crew will teach in the classroom in March.
To see full details of Bec’s events through 2015, click
from the Strath Matters rug group of South Australia
The group held their first meeting for 2015 in a coffee shop at the seaside village of Pt. Elliot.
Instead of taking up a lot of space with rughooking paraphernalia, they took tools and material for a naarlbinding (toothbrush rugmaking) session.
Group members have previously made rugs and baskets, so on this occasion they were branching out and making bags like the ones shown below made by Judith Stephens
Although a simple technique, it does take a lot of material but colourful sheets and doona covers can be sourced from your local Op Shop. Look for for those that have colour on both sides of the fabric and tear or cut into strips 1.5″ wide, then with your toothbrush or naarlbinding tool just blanket stitch.
You can find many videos on how to make these rugs on YouTube or contact Judith at studioblue20@gmail.com
weighs approximately 3kgs the dimensions of the work are approximately 85cm x 77cm and it’s odd shaped
– so how does one hang such a creative piece – especially something that should be “standing”?
In a light-bulb moment Kira came up with an idea and raced off to that big green n red hardware warehouse and purchased some PVC garden trellis and a section of “Clever Closet Hang Track” !
Here’s what Kira Mead from Western Australia says about creating and using her hanging technique “Grid Back”
“What I liked about the Clever Closet Hang Track is you can use the holes for wire or art track hooks under the track.
I am planning on making the mesh a permanent fixture, but a quick unpick would make easy work to remove it all without damaging the rug. With the backing I can see it being used hung or as a floor rug. I would put something non-slip underneath for use on a hard floor.
Please excuse the lighting and background on the hanging image – it was the only wall I trusted to take the weight.
The two other rugs I have made are for the floor and I used a fabric appropriate liquid nails to attach to vinyl.
The backing makes the whole work more stable, but this rug (Rose Gelato) was never made as a high traffic area rug. My purpose was as an artistic object. The original “Accidental Carpet” was made to decorate a very large concrete floored building for epileptic children to cheer up their surroundings.
The most comments I received from people on seeing my work was that they would like to see it on a wall, hence my exploration of different ways of hanging without compromising the work e.g. I didn’t want it falling apart because of the weight. I could see this being a problem if the work is stitched or glued.
I used blanket or button-hole stitch with doubled thread because I wanted it to be very secure and to cover the PVC trellis, also as it would look more attractive as a permanent fixture, not that it’s the side anyone will be viewing.
I didn’t go down the Velcro route as I was concerned it would not be strong enough to hold the work, but I could see that you could make a Velcro sheath that could slip over the Clever Closet Hang Track and it could easily thread through the back. The Clever Closet Hang Track just weaves through the trellis, so easy removal, unless you have hung with wire. That would need to be removed first.
For a thinner and lighter rug, I could see that slip stitching would work and would stop rug curl down the bottom. Possibly just slip stitching a strip of PVC trellis across the bottom would be enough.
One last handy dandy hint – Picture triangles can be screwed into the holes of the Clever Closet Hang Track”
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Miriam Miller received a copy of ‘A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking ‘ by Doris Eaton, from the TIGHR member who received Miriam’s hooked Friendship Square at the 2015 The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers Triennial Conference in Victoria, BC Canada.
the post about a search for grey army blankets to finish off a large rug generated much interest. As soon as the post went up five members from across the country answered the call about the elusive blankets. After Ann’s had a chance to contact them I’ll let you know if any were suitable. 
“
Above Christine Alexander taking a break in a quiet moment at the Show.
1st prize winner in Proggy Floor Rug by Carol Flynn
The Santa cushion was hooked by a 14 year old. Chloe Thompson who received a Highly Commended Award. 
1st prize in Hooky or Proggy item not otherwise mentioned was created by Christine Alexander
Maggie Hickey took 2nd prize in the Hooked Floor Rug category.
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