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Dear Rug Hooking Friends,
For those who love color, there's no season like spring for awakening a new palette inside us. Fern green, daffodil yellow, tulip red, and lilac lavender: every spring, we spot these hues in our gardens and pluck them from our wool shelves. We are Midwest Rug Hookers, and like you, we love and practice the art of traditional rug hooking.
Back in December, we started this letter to remind rug hookers of our
held in Omaha on Friday, October 6th. However, our letter has connected us with new friends and widened our community across the Midwest. We're finding more Midwest Rug Hookers all the time. With this issue, we share their joy and our own.
A
s spring showers wake up your gardens, please enjoy the hooking photos and stories that follow, our spotlights on three amazing Hook In Vendors, and our growing calendar of Midwest Rug Hooking Events.
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SPRING FEVER IN
TORN STRIPS:
CHECK OUT RHM
ABOVE and LEFT, the purple iris and parrot tulip of Dana Psoinas are featured in the March/April/May issue of Rug Hooking Magazine. Dana came up with this dazzling challenge, in which many rug hookers from across the world, including three from the Midwest, lavished their full attention on a single spring blossom or cluster.
Hydrangeas, poppies, thistles, lilies, cone flowers, and more were rendered with brilliant torn strips of wool. Hooking single flowers in torn strips may be the fastest group challenge ever. Take a look and celebrate spring with your own favorite blossom. (Thanks to Dana for permission to publish her photos.)
COMING RIGHT UP
Our sister event, the Nebraska Spring Hook In, will be held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday, April 7th, right around the corner! Vendors, rug show, door prizes, and more. For information, contact Jan Hall, handsewbiz@aol.com.
See you there!
For more spring hooking events in the Midwest, please see our calendar below.
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SHARING THE JOY WITH NEW HOOKERS
Back in mid-February, we had two opportunities to share rug hooking with newbies in our parts of Nebraska and Iowa.
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ABOVE: Several Omaha spinners and weavers had a hankering to try a new fiber art, and six of them attended All-Day Hooking in February. Everyone helped to pull this beginners' class together. Omaha-area hookers loaned hooks and frames and drew starter patterns. Many brought bushels of noodles, too. Experienced hookers were on hand for instruction and encouragement. Oh boy, these newbies took to it with creativity and fist-pumps!
At RIGHT: Also in February, twenty-four students and their moms arrived on the Pavich doorstep (Council Bluffs, Iowa) to learn something about fiber art. After wandering the house and talking about memory rugs, folk art, copyright and adaptation, the kids learned how to pull loops. Questions and cookies concluded the field trip.
Thank you, Karen Greenfield and Janna Selander for the pics. More below.
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SHARING JOY WITH
THEIR TEACHER
Marilyn Becker tells the story: "Back in January, we had our three-day annual
Cathy's Workshop at Red Barn Rugs
. The participants change somewhat, but we always have at least three Marilyns. We have so much fun. To honor Cathy for 'putting up with us,' we secretly made her a rug this year, and I thought you might like to put a couple of photos in your next newsletter. The rug, showing a hooker kicking up her heels, was beautifully created by Encompassing Designs."
Thank you, Marilyn (wearing blue). ABOVE, the generous hookers, and RIGHT, the grateful recipient, Cathy. The lettering on the rug reads "What Happens at Rug School Stays There! Yippee!"
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SHARING YOUR PIX
We publish newsletters every eight weeks or so. Have you done a challenge, taken a road trip, or had a theme party? Write to
tammypav@cox.net,
include your group name and where you're from, plus a fun photo or two. We'll happily publish next time.
LEFT: Karen helped Marcia, an Iowa weaver, get the hang of pulling loops. Marcia was a natural. We plan to offer a follow-up lesson with our new Spinner and Weaver friends.
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POPPIES!
Holly McMillan of Roca, Nebraska imagined and hooked this Prairie Poppy in torn strips of red and orange, RIGHT, while Karen Greenfield of Elkhorn, Nebraska went the other direction on the color wheel with blue Himalayan poppies (pattern by Pris Buttler), BELOW. These and more torn blooms are featured in the current issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.
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RIGHT: Here's a glimpse of one corner of our new venue for the Nebraska Fall Hook In. We thank Mary Morrissey on the right for making it possible for us to hook at the lovely Oak Hills Country Club of Omaha. We had more than 20 hookers at all-day hooking in February.
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LEFT: Long-time friends, Linda and Jan of Southwest Iowa at all-day hooking, Omaha.
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RIGHT: Janey of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, at all-day hooking in February.
EVENTS AROUND THE MIDWEST
Below, you'll find the second publication of our growing Midwest Rug Hooking Calendar of Events.
We all plan gatherings, classes, and events. We invite you to share yours. Simply reply to this email with event details (event dates, title, city/state, and contact person).
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At LEFT, Field-trip students thought cutting wool was a little like making pasta noodles.
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THREE VENDOR SPOTLIGHTS
Leading up to the Nebraska Fall Hook In in early October, we'd like to gradually introduce you to our remarkable vendors and give you a taste of what's to come. Our vendors transform our venue into a magical place, decorated from the floor up with all of our favorite things. We will include their email addresses in case you want to order beforehand---some things just won't wait. Here are our first three vendor spotlights.
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HALL'S HOOKS
HALL'S HOOKS BEGAN WITH FRIENDSHIP
Hall's Hooks is owned by Andy and Jan Hall, and we have been making rug hooks for about ten years. I, Jan, have been a fiber artist for 24 years and started making small hooked mats to sell at shows in 1990. Many of my rugs are based on stories of Andy's travels around world as a jazz musician and educator.
Andy and I began making rug hooks for friends. Our company, Hall's Hooks, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, has grown to produce beautiful hand-turned hooks from a variety of woods. It has been our humble pleasure to sell our increasing line of different types of hooks, rug patterns, and needful things at shows in the Midwest area.
Judy Roth and I host a yearly schedule of rug hooking workshops at Gatherings on the Blue. We love to meet so many interesting and creative people who inspire us on our journey. And we continue to be grateful to see so many people keeping the art of rug hooking alive. Visit us in our booth at the Nebraska Fall Hook In! Meanwhile, Andy and I can be reached at
Handsewbiz@Aol.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jan is wonderfully patient and is an excellent teacher of beginning hookers.
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ABOVE: Jan Hall with many beautiful handmade things, along with one-of-a-kind hooks, in her vendor booth.
LEFT: Only a few of the special hooks offered by Hall's Hooks.
BELOW: Andy minds the booth. He is a jazz musician, university professor, and craftsman of rug hooks.
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LEFT, some of the classic rug patterns of Black Sheep Wool Designs.
ELINOR BARRETT OF BLACK SHEEP WOOL DESIGNS: A MISSOURI TRADITION
Missouri is a rich environment for primitive rug hooking with the resources of many talented teachers and pattern designers. I feel so lucky to have discovered Rhonda Manley and the late Emma Lou Lais and to have attended my first rug hooking camps with them. Through them, I've met such talented hookers who have taught and inspired me with their beautiful hooking and friendship. We’re excited to return to the Nebraska Fall Hook In with our primitive patterns and Ozark Handspun Wool Yarns, perfect for hooking. If there’s something you’d like beforehand, feel free to
write!"
BELOW ON THE RIGHT, Elinor Barrett has Ozark Handspun Wool Yarn for every taste and personality: from Flamboyant (top) to Camouflage, to Golden Goddess, Black and many more.
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BELOW, Elinor at right, with her sister Susan Meadows
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BELOW: Sheepdog watching over the flock, another classic of Black Sheep Wool Designs.
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EWE AND EYE, A WOOL STORY
Ewe and Eye is a Mom and Daughter team; Marge is the mom and Beth, the daughter. Marge is more conservative with ideas and colors. Beth steps out of her box and occasionally walks on the wild side. We both love primitives and have always enjoyed handwork of any kind.
In 2004 we opened Ewe and Eye in Marge’s double garage. We covered walls with barn boards, and to build our counter we used galvanized tin from an old chicken house and leftover flooring. We filled antique cupboards and containers with woolens and such. We have rug hooking supplies, wool applique, punch needle, cross stitch samplers and more. Come visit. We are a happy place!! Chocolate always available.
LEFT, a Ewe and Eye patriotic banner design, and BELOW, their cozy wool shop in Osage, Iowa.
Visit Marge and Beth at their booth at the Nebraska Fall Hook In on October 6th, or contact them for store hours and classes: eweeyedes@yahoo.com.
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ABOVE, another charming Ewe and Eye design featuring beading and Waldoboro centers on the flowers--just the thing for spring!
We'll introduce our next group of vendors in the June newsletter.
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A NEW ATHA CHAPTER
New ATHA chapters are cropping up around the Midwest. We offer our congratulations to President Max Bowers, her fellow officers, and the Central Iowa Rug Artists, a recently formed ATHA Chapter.
Way back in February, we had a working dinner at the Oak Hills Country Club. (Well, when hooking is involved, even work is good fun.) We talked about the tasks of our Nebraska Fall Hook In and voted to establish our own new ATHA Chapter. We'll tell you more next time, and many thanks to Dennie Hoffman for leading these efforts.
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MIDWEST RUG HOOKERS
MIDWEST CALENDAR OF
HOOKING EVENTS
Here's the latest calendar with new events added. Usually when a class is full, you can inquire about a waiting list. If you have a class, a retreat, a camp, a hook-in happening within the next twelve months, shoot an email to tammypav@cox.net. We will publish again in June.
4/7, The Nebraska Spring Hook In, Lincoln, Nebraska, Jan Hall, handsewbiz@aol.com
4/8, Owatonna Spring Vendor Show & Hook-in, Owatonna, Minnesota, Joyce Weese, straightriverrughooking@gmail.com
4/22, St Louis Hook In, Kirkwood, Missouri, Donna McHargue, donna@thewoolyloft.com
4/27, Cream City Hook In, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, creamcityrhguild@wi.rr.com
5/19-5/21, Maggie Bonanomi Workshop (class is full, but ask about the waiting list), Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, janicelee@me.com, 402-359-2699.
5/26-5/28, Donna Hrkman Workshop (if one class fills, another may follow), Chesterfield, Missouri, Jan Mickow, mickow7@aol.com
6/4-6/8, 47th Annual Decorah Rug School, Decorah, Iowa (teachers Carol Kassera, Kathy Morton, Marianne Storm, and Patty Piek-Groth), Dorothy Huse, contact@decorahrugschool.com
6/5-6/7, Susan Feller Workshop, Kansas City, Missouri, Linda Stoker, 913-620-6968
6/8-6/10, Susan Feller Workshop, Kansas City, Missouri, Linda Stoker, 913-620-6968
6/9-6/11, Janice Johnson Workshop (Full, but inquire about the wait list), Seward, Nebraska, Jan Hall, handsewbiz@aol.com
6/9-6/10, NWA Hook in, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Vicki Hardcastle, hardcastlefolkart@gmail.com
6/10-6/11, "Art and Noodles," teacher Diane Geisinger, Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, janicelee@me.com, 402-359-2699.
8/9-8/13, Heather Ritchie Workshop, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Vicki Hardcastle, hardcastlefolkart@gmail.com
8/11-8/13, Kathy Clark Workshop, Briarwood Folk Art, Seward, Nebraska, Jan Hall, handsewbiz@aol.com
8/13-8/17, Heather Ritchie Workshop, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Vicki Hardcastle, hardcastlefolkart@gmail.com
8/14-8/19, 27th Annual Rug Hooking Week at SAUDER VILLAGE, Archbold, Ohio, Kathy Wright, wrighttraditions@aol.com, 800-590-9755, SAUDER VILLAGE Website
9/15-9/17, Master Class with Pris Buttler, Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, janicelee@me.com, 402-359-2699.
10/6, The Nebraska Fall Hook In, Omaha, Nebraska, Denise Hoffman, denisehoffman@cox.net
10/11-10/14, Play Hooky in Cleveland, the ATHA Biennial, Cleveland, Ohio, ATHA Biennial Website
10/15-10/20, Rock River Rug Camp (teachers Sharon Skanit, Sibyl Osicka, Dorothy Huse, Carole Kassera, Jeanne Benjamin), Rockford, Illinois, Joan Reckerdt, idyewool@gmail.com
10/18, Free Rug Exhibit, Rockford, Illinois, Joan Reckerdt, idyewool@gmail.com
10/27-10/29 RETREAT with Diane Stoffel or Pris Buttler, Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, janicelee@me.com, 402-359-2699.
11/10-11/12 RETREAT with Donna Hrkman, Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, janicelee@me.com, 402-359-2699.
Throughout the year… Contact Paulette Wentzlaff about her half-day make-and-take classes and her wool appliqué club in Hudson, Wisconsin: paulette@riverrockwool.com
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ABOVE: Great photo collage from Joyce at Owatonna, Minnesota. We're lucky to have so many wonderful hooking events in the Midwest.
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GET INTO THE LOOP!
Nearly every day, we're adding first-time and long-time hookers to our mailing list. You can help:
- Forward this email to your hooking friends
- Or, if you received this email from a friend, write to us to be added to our list.
For anyone who should be getting this letter but doesn't find it in the inbox, check spam or "junk" files. You should be able to tag this item as "not junk" and receive it from that point forward.
ABOVE: a photo adaptation by Susan Jankowski of Wisconsin, her late mother's hand, holding her hook---an extraordinary monochromatic piece.
WATCH FOR OUR JUNE NEWSLETTER
In June, early birds will have their first opportunity to sign up for the Nebraska Fall Hook In. Please put Friday, October 6th, 2017 on your calendars. We sincerely hope you'll join us for the fifth annual Nebraska Fall Hook In.
BELOW: Around the table, Ann in front on the left, then Terri, Luci, Linda, Karen, Holly, Jodi, Tammy, and Dennie. On a Friday in February, our committee met at the new venue of the Nebraska Fall Hook In and raised a glass to you. Cheers!
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As our gardens bloom and our wool rooms fill up with vibrant color, let's all find someone with whom we can share the art of rug hooking.
Wishing you joy,
Midwest Rug Hookers
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P.S.
Thank you to Susan Jankowski
of Wisconsin,
for permission to re-publish this wool photo adaptation of Susan's mother's
hand holding her hook.
We remember it well on the cover of the
September 2015 issue
of Rug Hooking Magazine.
As ever, our thanks to Cathy Stephan,
Red Barn Rugs of Wisconsin, whose
star runner is pictured in our masthead, above.
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The Nebraska Fall Hook In is produced by a volunteer group called Midwest Rug Hookers.
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