The 5th of April was a busy day for the Narrawilly Proggers in NSW.
See more about these rugs created by Bev Latta, Carol Flynn and Elaine Kitchener on the expanded Blog in the Members Area :-
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Rug Hooking Answers
More on large rugs
The post “Finished at Last!” about Judith’s large “William Morris” rug created a great deal of interest – the question asked by many was, where do you find a large frame to make such a rug?
A large frame is not necessary Judith’s rug was completed on the frame shown here – the workspace in the face of the frame is 14″ x 18″. To begin with the backing was held to the frame with small clamps – as the rug progressed it’s own weight held it down.
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Finished at Last!
Finished at Last! Judith Stephens of Strathalbyn, South Australia says her rug – “Minty Morris” an adaptation of a William Morris design with the addition of one of her own border designs. The rug measure 6′ by 6′ (180cm x 180cm) and was completed using hand-dyed 100% woollen carpet yarn, hooked on linen.
The rug was “underway” when the image below was taken by Gene Shepherd at the Strathalbyn Rug Hooking Expo (Oct 2012) and displayed on his Internet Rug Camp blog.
Now finished and in place, the colour-fastness of the yarn (dyed with Queens food colouring) will be tested, as the rug is in front of glass french doors in the music room. At the opposite end of the room another rug completed with wool yarn sits beneath the piano stool – Gene’s Miss Weigle design which Judith started at Cambria, June 2011 and finished just a few weeks after her return to Australia.
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Australia Day celebrated by International Guild
The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers acknowledged Australia Day with a post on their site at http://www.TIGHR.net/2013/01/25/in-celebration-of-australian-members-january-26 . Several of our members created exchange mats for their conference held here in South Australia last Fall.
Here are some of our works:
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Donnybrook Hookers – Western Australia
The Donnybrook Hookers are up and running after just 5 months with 12 keen members. Just look at the amazing hooking and prodding work they’ve done in such a short time!
Lucille prodded a colourful rug with a design in circles and lined it with an old towel because it was to go in front of the sink. In fact her daughter took this mat and used it in her house and then washed it in the washing machine! I am happy to report it looks wonderful and will be washed again when needed.
The Donnybrook Hookers meet every Wednesday and our number grows weekly.This is also a very social group and most come for the opportunity to get together and enjoy each other’s company. (Blogger: Robin Inkpen)
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Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters – Queensland
Finally! After several attempts to break the “wool ceiling” my efforts to promote Australia’s “lost” traditional craft in Queensland finally generated enough community interest (30+ people) so I was finally able to present a demonstration/workshop through the Beerwah Library on the Sunshine Coast. I rather foolishly assumed that – as is so often the case – only about half the number would actually attend on the day but 25 showed up!
Since I’m an old hand at teaching groups, I tend to plan for “emergencies” so I optimistically pulled together enough materials, frames, tools, fabric and equipment for 25 people and set up the community room with 6 frames, chairs, and fabric/cutting table.
Throughout the session I ran a slide show of some of my projects,and displayed sample materials and small projects. To help people see this craft as affordable, I deliberately brought tools and equipment that ranged from “make it yourself” (dolly pegs, knitting needles, crochet hooks and embroidery hoops) to the more expensive stretcher and lap/floor frames, metal and timber turned hooks/prodders. 
If the noise level of a group is any indicator of a good time, then this group had a great time!
Update:
Feedback to the library was so good that Queensland has its first community group – the “Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters” – who meet at the library two afternoons a month. The two January sessions involved 11 people (with 8 apologies) and over time I hope to have a “core” group of about 8-12 people for each group. (Blogger: Judi Tompkins)
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UK fibre artist in Perth for workshops
Sue Gilmartin of the United Kingdom will be in Perth conducting two workshops using the rugmaking techniques of her heritage on 17 and 18 of November. See Events for details and contact information.
Great opportunity to learn how to use recycled materials.
Rug Expo International Success
For the weekend of 20 and 21 October 2012 the town of Strathalbyn was filled with rugmakers from all over Australia and the world attending and teaching at the RUG EXPO.
Workshop leaders were: Linda Rae Coughlin, USA; Susan Feller, USA; Kris McDermet, USA; Gene Shepherd, USA; Michele Wise, USA; Heather Ritchie, UK, Diane West, UK
The general meeting of ARG was held Saturday evening welcoming the new recipients of the TIGHR Founders Cup (the International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers) JO FRANCO and JUDITH STEPHENS. These two ladies were presented the cup for their dedication to the International Guild and rughooking, having networked their passion for the traditional craft into ARG and hosts of TIGHR for the past three years. The new officers for ARG were sworn in and are listed under Board Members ]
The Stationmasters Gallery concurrently exhibited dozens of hooked, prodded and fiber works by members.
2012 General Meeting in Strathalbyn
Interested in learning about the craft of Rug Making and meeting Guild members from around the Country in person? The General Meeting of Australian Rughooking Guild will be held on Saturday 20th October beginning at 5:00 pm.
Held this year at the Strathalbyn Town Hall, High Street, Strathalbyn, South Australia the meeting will include a business session, election of new officers for next term and meet and greet.
Several Internationals will be in attendance as they are instructors during a two day Rug Expo being held concurrently the Saturday and Sunday in Strathalbyn. These professionals are from the United Kingdom and United States and will be covering design, braiding, proddy the UK way, hooking journals, how to tips on rughooking. The editor of Rug Hooking Magazine (only publication for rughooking) has traveled from the United States to cover these events.
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