December 3, 2017

Dear Friends,  Year's end in the Midwest means adorning our rooms with things we've made ourselves. It means something sweet in the oven, filling the whole house with nutmeg and spice. It means bundling up in warm layers, loading the car, and knocking on a long-familiar door, arms full of goodies and gifts.

LEFT: Santa and Friends hooked by Marie Schropp of Ames, Iowa, designed by Judy Cripps of Rustic Rugs Year's end is also a time to wonder, what will next year bring? What will we accomplish? Where will our next creative impulse take us? This is the time for celebrating and for planning--always planning--our next class, our next wool-gathering trip, our next rug. We are Midwest Rug Hookers, and like you, we love and practice the art of traditional wool rug hooking. This issue is a big bag of gifts from around the Midwest. Sprinkled liberally throughout this letter, you'll find a winter-themed collection of rugs from many Midwestern states--we thank everyone who sent photos of rugs, stockings, and hooked decorations, too.

In this issue, you can follow Midwest Rug Hookers on the Move, as they travel out east and all the way to the Pacific to learn about rug hooking. Please read on for fall and winter happenings, our calendar of hooking events, and a whole lot of coziness. BELOW: Santa, hooked by Katie Eich, Elkhorn, Nebraska, designed by Kathy Morton

ABOVE: Christmas in the Valley, designed by Joan Moshimer and hooked by Bette Bryant of Nashville, Tennessee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RUG HOOKING MARKETPLACE One of the biggest gifts in this issue is from our new advertisers. In support of our chapter and our newsletter, the following business owners have purchased "business features," to help us pay for Constant Contact. Although volunteers write, edit, and contribute to this letter, we need Constant Contact in order to produce photo-laden newsletters six times per year and manage our email lists for membership, classes, and mailings. These business features are a pleasure to read, helping us learn about plentiful sources for everything we need, right here in the Midwest. Please enjoy the first of two "Marketplace Issues." [At present, we plan to devote space for business features in our December and February issues only.]

Do you own a Midwest Rug Hooking Business? Would you like to place a business feature in our next Marketplace Issue, due out on February 1st? We can accommodate five or six business features next time, and the cost is only $30.00, payable to our chapter, a non-profit organization. Please contact [email protected] .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT The Rug Hooking Store at Black Horse Antiques, Valley, Nebraska

The Rug Hooking Store in Valley, Nebraska, has been in the rug hooking world for the last 16 years, and Black Horse Antiques has been around for 36 years! Owner Janice Lee loves wool and dyeing wool, and the store is packed with thousands of yards of hand dyed and as-is wool. There are also 500 patterns in the store from top designers in the rug hooking industry. Whether you need a cutter, frame, hook, wool, or some color planning or problem solving, we are ready to help.

Janice teaches beginning rug hooking classes, a great Heirloom Rug Hooking class, and offers instruction from faces to geometrics. She also brings in some of the country’s top rug hooking teachers for workshops and offers finish-your-project weekends and special events monthly.

[Workshops are listed in our Midwest Rug Hooking Calendar of Events below.]

The shop is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday year round and by appointment. Every Friday there is OPEN HOOKING from 12-5, and on every first Saturday of the month, we also hook from 10-5. Everyone is welcome to join us for these FREE events. On Saturday, September 8, 2018, the Rug Hooking Store will host a chapter meeting of Midwest Rug Hookers. Janice will give the program at our meeting, which is part of an all-day hooking experience. Member or not, we hope you'll join us, and you can check future issues for the specifics. BELOW: Henry's House, designed by Honey Bee Hive and hooked by Janice Lee

Janice will finish her McGown teacher’s training in the spring and enjoys hooking in fine cuts and primitive cuts, equally. She has been a Celebration finalist twice, once in 2013 with GHOST HORSE and in 2015 with END OF THE DAY. RIGHT: a sweet primitive rug designed by The Samping, hooked by Janice Lee

Stop in to see the wool, patterns and view hundreds of finished rugs. There are always some beautiful primitive antiques for sale too. Visit our website rughookingstore.com , email at [email protected] and check out the Facebook page, The Rug Hooking Store at Black Horse Antiques, for more pictures and our calendar of events.

BELOW: End of the Day, designed and hooked by Janice Lee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT The Paisley Pansie, Lake City, Iowa

Nestled along Main Street in Lake City, Iowa is Paisley Pansie Custom Framing and Things I Love, a charming shop that delights the eye the moment you set foot in the door. Much more than just a frame shop, Paisley Pansie, named after the owner's dog, is a work of love.   Owned and operated by Gail Karlen, a professional framer for over 25 years from Omaha, Nebraska, Paisley Pansie is the result of Gail's husband receiving a call to be pastor of Woodlawn Church in Lake City.

ABOVE: a lovely winter scene hooked by Pat Shafer, rug framed by Gail Karlen of the Paisley Pansie Gail was excited to move her business to the small community but wanted to expand the boundaries of a “frame shop” to include “things I love.” And those things are varied and unique. BELOW: another shot of Gail's frame shop and her many vintage sewing machines

Paisley Pansie is filled with about 20 vintage sewing machines and offers “Sew Vintage,” where people come on a scheduled evening to make fun projects like fabric collages using free motion sewing. Patrons are also invited to pick from one of the other available project patterns and use available fabrics, trims and embellishments to create something fun or just bring in their own project to work on a vintage machine while socializing. RIGHT: framed floral rug hooked by Eden Schmitt

Paisley Pansie also offers monthly classes in a variety of crafts. The classes have included Create-a-Quote vinyl windows, pottery painting, and barn wood sign painting.   Paisley Pansie carries several hundreds of frame choices catering to the framing of fabric arts, rug hookers, quilters, and shadowboxes. The shop is filled with handmade automatas, barn doors, rustic up-cycled objects, jewelry and bags made by Gail herself.

Wafflebus Bags are Gail's brand name. She has been designing and making bags for many years but most recently designed totes with crafters in mind. The totes come in various sizes, are made from heavy duty canvas, include eight to ten pockets, have reinforced seams to carry heavy loads and have beautiful interiors. The “Wool Gatherer” tote was designed with rug hookers specifications to carry a frame, wool, and various tools. RIGHT: Gail custom-made this bag for MRH chapter member Libbey Lundgren.   Since being in a small community, Gail now offers mobile framing. She travels weekly, meeting with individuals and groups bringing in several cases of frame samples and mats to design the perfect frame for your project. Gail then returns with the framed piece on a scheduled date, making the process of choosing framing enjoyable in the client's own surroundings.   Framing events with rug hooking groups are a fun addition to Gail's mobile framing. A date is scheduled and hookers bring their rugs en mass to select framing. It's great to get input from friends and see what others are doing.   Gail is happy to travel and available for any individual or group who would like to take advantage of mobile framing.   Paisley Pansie has a Facebook page, as does Wafflebus Bags, and a website Paisleypansie.com .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT Gatherings on the Blue, Milford, Nebraska

ABOVE: the sweet old barn of Gatherings on the Blue, beautiful in every season Judy Roth has been hosting happy gatherings for a good long time--first in her retail store in the historic part of Lincoln, Nebraska, and more recently at her "river house" in rural Milford, southwest of Lincoln, located on the Big Blue River. The river house sits on an acreage just a few minutes from Judy's own farmhouse. Surrounded by out-buildings, grain bins, and a charming old barn, the river house itself is a magnet that draws rug hookers from near and far. This sweet rural getaway is called Gatherings on the Blue.

Decorated by Judy with an ever-changing collection of primitives and antiques (many of them for sale), the river house is the perfect venue for four or five rug-hooking classes per year offered in partnership with Jan Hall of Hall's Hooks. The lower level (a walk-out basement) is filled with shelves and cupboards of wool and large pine tables for rug hooking. Judy's rugs, or at least a fraction of them, adorn the walls. LEFT: Judy loves the charm of early hooked rugs, naively designed and hooked with whatever scraps were available to a humble homemaker.

ABOVE and LEFT: Midwest Rug Hookers hook away while Jayne Hester, nationally-known rug hooking teacher from Kinderhook, New York, color plans at the counter. In 2018, Judy and Jan will welcome Jayne Hester, Janice Johnson, Kathy Clark, and Sally Kallin, sometimes for consecutive workshops. (You'll find these workshops listed on our calendar below.) On Saturday, March 10, 2018, Gatherings on the Blue will host a chapter meeting of Midwest Rug Hookers. Check our February issue for the specifics, but Judy will give the program at our meeting, which is part of an all-day hooking experience. Member or not, we hope you'll join us.

At Gatherings on the Blue, Judy also hosts "Shed Sales," with dozens of vendors on the property. Old-things-made-new might fill the chicken coop, vintage finds in the grain bin, assorted collectibles and primitives in many sheds and all across the yard, wool and beautiful handmade items in the river house, and the big old barn chucked full of antiques--these sales are held 4 to 5 times per year, perfect for spending a day in the country and for stumbling across that sweet something to freshen up your own home decor for the coming season.

Judy and Jan also host the Nebraska Spring Hook In in Lincoln, so mark your calendars for Friday, April 6th. Details to come in future issues. At this writing, Judy is speaking to a women's group in Friend, Nebraska on hooked rugs and primitive decorating. Want to find your opportunity to visit Gatherings on the Blue? You'll find them on Facebook or write to Judy at [email protected] . ABOVE: Judy's helpers demonstrate hooking in Friend, Nebraska.

‌ ABOVE: Judy is a collector and vendor of jewelry, and as you can see, she especially loves turquoise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT Red Barn Rugs, Cathy Stephan, Athens, Wisconsin

A lifelong love of making things led to me try rug hooking over twenty years ago and I haven't been the same since! Drawing, sewing and stitching converge in making art with wool. As I enter the back chapters of life, I love primitive forms, textures and irregular-type patterns that allow for play and experimentation with the lush wools we have these days.

ABOVE: Cathy has made more than one rug inspired by old coverlet motifs. BELOW: Cathy's rug design, Star Medallion.

I have made many reproduction rugs as well as original designs and carry loads of patterns and woolens. I love the striation seen in Magdalena Briner rugs, and the disappearing and reappearing lines noted in antique rugs are fun. Just skip some ground when pulling loops, push background into these spaces and you have the broken line.

LEFT: "Many values are noted in the Giant Snowflake rug," Cathy said. "Hooking irregular lines echoing the snowflake was a fun creative process."

Building my own frames on which to stretch rugs has been a journey. It enables you to stand rugs on tables or shelves without the edge curl. It is not difficult.

I teach workshops and camps in the Midwest and at my home studio. I like to cover the topics people want to hear about such as striation, color planning, finishing, frame building. I design and sell patterns for any of the rugs you see here and many, many more. Though I don't have a website, I do have patterns on Facebook under Catherine Stephan, and you can email me at [email protected] . My hope is to inspire and lead you on a journey of color, beauty and confidence in this social compadre art of rug hooking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT Wheaten Woolens, Beth Anne Smiley, Davenport, Iowa

Five years ago, the dream of having a rug hooking business was born in our 1860 stone barn. It all started with two students, wool from my own collection, two Wheaton terriers, and a supportive husband. The barn was my husband's carpenter workshop for almost thirty years. The studio sits on two acres, along with our stone farmhouse. Every Saturday, creative souls come here for refuge. It's a quiet place to forge new friendships away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The studio is stocked with Maggie Bonanomie's applique patterns and kits, Crane Design applique patterns, 107 colors of Rustic Moire Wool Thread from Spain, and my own line of rug hooking patterns, kits, and wool applique patterns--and of course, shelves of dyed wool and velvet to choose from.

Maggie Bonanomi and Catherine Stephan of Red Barn Rugs have visited the barn, teaching rug hooking and attracting ladies from near and far. I have also been very fortunate to have hosted Rebekah L. Smith, who teaches wool applique. I carry her books, patterns, and kits made with my own dyed wool.

I am an elementary school teacher as well. My rug hooking business has grown organically over the years. The studio is open on Saturdays and by appointment. You are most welcome to contact me at [email protected] or 563-210-1587. Learn more on Facebook or at Wheaten Woolens Website.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT *** PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Designed by You: Ideas and Inspiration for Rug Hookers by Tamara Pavich Published by Rug Hooking Magazine I don't own a rug hooking business, but in June of this year, I published a book that combines three of my passions... writing, hooking, and originality. These pages are filled with stories, ideas, encouragement, and inspiration for rug hookers who are thinking of designing their own rugs. The art of rug hooking is on display in glorious variety with nearly 150 rugs from the US, Canada, Scotland, Cornwall, and Norway. Chapters suggest designing around style, color, art, story, and more. Each chapter includes six design ideas, beginning with the easiest to render and ending with the most challenging. BELOW: Chapter 2 is devoted entirely to helping new rug designers learn about resources to help them draw, and then gather the courage to try it!

ABOVE: The overhead projector is one of the easiest and speediest ways to transfer an image to linen. BELOW: This method helped me draw my favorite Van Gogh-- his works are now in the public domain.

ABOVE: Ann Willey of Michigan designed around a story. She was inspired by a Greek myth. Holly McMillan was inspired by a style and achieved the look of Impressionism in her Native Prairie rug.

Reader Reviews of "Designed by You"... " There are two trains of thought in this wonderful book...one is the journey to the soul of being an artist, the other is a path to designing your own rugs. The writer weaves narratives sprinkled with lovely thoughts, funny phrases and keen observations. And those who judge themselves 'not good at drawing' have a path laid out here, too. I loved the read! " " Designed By You is a beautiful book of photographed hooked pieces accompanied by descriptions which read like short stories. Tamara Pavich excites and inspires through her helpful comments and instructions. Her affection for the art and for its creators shines through. A pleasure to read. " Please see the Nov/Dec issue of Rug Hooking Magazine for an excerpt from Designed by You on designs inspired by color. Looking for a Christmas gift for a hooking friend? In need of a little inspiration yourself? May I humbly suggest Designed by YOU: Ideas and Inspiration for Rug Hookers. You can find it on Amazon for $25.95... DESIGNED BY YOU ON AMAZON

p.s. I'm at work on a second book to be published by Rug Hooking Magazine in 2019. This one is all about how rug hookers pursue self-discovery and explore their own life stories and even help themselves heal through their art.

END OF PAID ADVERTISEMENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cozy, Cheerful, and Peaceful Winter Rugs We thought we would sprinkle seasonal rug photos throughout this letter, but it's more like a layer of frosting! So many Midwest Rug Hookers sent a variety of wintry rugs for us to enjoy. (In most cases, we can include the name of the designer.) I solicited some of them specifically. Above is Joanne Thomason's adaptation entitled "Home for Christmas" (Newton, Iowa). At RIGHT, coffee-lover Becky Pearson (Columbus, Nebraska) designed this rug that makes me want a steaming cup right now! BELOW, Dennie Hoffman (Papillion, Nebraska) asked permission of artist P. Buckley Moss to adapt this winter scene, which reminds Dennie of her family ranch out west. "I can almost smell the crisp wintry air," she said. Do you have a favorite winter rug? Christmas will have passed, but please reply and send winter scenes and motifs or any cozy rug for our February newsletter.

ABOVE: a winter scene hooked by Karen Greenfield, Elkhorn, Nebraska, in 2005. She can't recall whose pattern it was, but she added "the guy who flew off his toboggan." LEFT: Terri Bangert (Nebraska) hooked a sweet winter birdie with earmuffs and a scarf.

Fiber Art Museum Displays "Marry Me, Mary" When I requested permission to include a winter scene designed and hooked by Marilyn Becker, she wrote back with news. "I'm sending the rug to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, just north of Milwaukee," Marilyn said. Marilyn's rug will be included in the Third Fiber Arts Biennial, themed "Keeping Warm." It will be displayed from December 7, 2017 to March 11, 2018. "What an honor this is," Marilyn said. "Blows my mind. It's a beautiful facility in an old refurbished barn." Congratulations, Marilyn! A former Celebration winner, the sepia memento of her father's marriage proposal, "Marry Me, Mary," appears below.

ABOVE: MRH member Janice Lee's Heirloom Horse... Janice (Nebraska) keeps turning out beautiful rugs, but this one is a forever favorite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Midwest Rug Hookers on the Move... ...to Green Mountain Rug School

Midwest Rug Hookers Pat Dougherty from Warsaw, Missouri and Karla Egger from Martell, Nebraska, ventured to Montpelier, Vermont in June to attend the Green Mountain Rug School. One of the oldest and largest rug camps in the country, Green Mountain offers rug hookers a wide variety of classes over two sessions. Here is an account of their trip back east. "We chose the class 'The Art of Americana' with Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios in Michigan [Kris is pictured between Pat and Karla]. Kris talked about wide-cut primitive rugs, how to make a rug look old and showed several techniques to get that primitive look in rugs. BELOW: Karla's finished rug, American Barn by Wooley Fox.

RIGHT: Pat working in class at the Capitol Plaza Hotel Rug school is held in the beautiful Capitol Plaza Hotel where camp participants have the entire hotel to themselves. The historic hotel is just down the street from the gold-domed Vermont State House in the center of charming Montpelier. Besides the abundance of beautiful wool brought in by teachers, there is a fully-stocked store in the hotel lobby to provide any wool, patterns, tools, books or baskets rug hookers need or want during their stay.

"On the last night of the four-day session, students have the chance to show off their projects and see those of other classes during a gallery walk among all classrooms. This is a great opportunity to meet other teachers and students and view the wide variety of class themes. We had such a great time, we are going back next summer for the class “Capturing the Antique Style of Rugs” with Lucille Festa of American Country Rugs in Vermont. ABOVE RIGHT, Pat's finished rug, Antique Hearts by Kris Miller, and BELOW, the whole class on the steps of the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

"Following four wonderful days immersed in hooking in Montpelier, we took a couple of days to drive a few hours west to Evans Mills, NY, to visit The Old Tattered Flag.  Even though they were busy preparing for their Gathering of Friends event the next day, Julie and her mom Carol graciously took the time to show us around their shop and home and Carol hooked with us a while on the front porch. The Old Tattered Flag is a small shop that is full to the brim with warmth, hospitality and all the primitive rug hooking supplies you could want. Finding Tammy’s book, Designed by You, on the rack made us feel not so far from home after all!" If you are thinking of a trip to Green Mountain Rug School or have questions for our Midwest Rug Hookers on the Move, please write to [email protected].

Are You A Midwest Rug Hooker on the Move? Thank you, Karla and Pat, for sharing your travels with us. We welcome readers to write to us with the story and photos of your trip, so we can share your journeys with hookers around the Midwest! Keep reading, please, for MORE Midwest Rug Hookers on the Move in this issue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOVE: Winter Nuthatches, designed and hooked by Nancy Peterson, Glenwood, Iowa. BELOW: A vignette of a cold winter night, designed and hooked by Jan Goos, Silver City, Iowa. On the pond, night-skaters carry candles.

ABOVE: Christmas on the Farm, hooked by Luci Bolding, Omaha, Nebraska.

Stockings Are Hung by the Chimney with Care... I don't hook very many seasonal rugs or items, but my sister-in-law, Kay, loves decorating for Christmas more than anyone I know. So about eight years ago, I decided to make Christmas stockings for her family.

With family nicknames across the top, I hooked a single motif for each family member--the tree for Dad, the candle for Mom, the graceful bell ornament for Isabella. Christian (nicknamed "Chich") has such a love of baseball; hence the bat with a bow. The wrapped package is Gracie's motif. Grandma got us started calling her 'Woo' since she was a baby. For their dog Maisie, I hooked a doggie bone. Gold occurs in all the stockings, but I employed a different color scheme for each with a hit-or-miss background, using up a lot of noodles from other rugs. I hooked these on plaid wool fabric, so I wouldn't have to cover linen edges with whipping. I ended up whipping anyhow. BELOW: Six stockings, hooked by Tammy Pavich (Council Bluffs, Iowa) for Kay Phillips and her family.

Jodi's Christmas Trees Someday, we need a session with Jodi Isom (Lincoln, Nebraska) on making these charming Christmas decorations. The old wooden bobbins and the muted wool colors with bright accents make them just perfect for primitive-lovers like us!

Father Christmas and Mrs Claus Laura Schram's good friend Linda Ward (both from Lincoln, Nebraska) actually visited the shop of Deanne Fitzpatrick where she purchased kits for these 3D stand-up figures of Santa and Mrs. Claus, above. "The kits consisted of a washed plaid shirt with some wool including rough unspun yarn for Santa," Laura said, "and a plain skirt with smoother yarn for the Mrs." Laura added some of her own wool, sari silk, bells, jewelry, and the twig. The twig Christmas tree tied with green noodles--what a neat idea.

ABOVE: Father Christmas is 18" tall. Mrs. Claus is 15" tall. Both sweet hooked figures were completed just after Thanksgiving. Thanks so much for sending them, Laura. RIGHT: A Santa "dummy board," hooked by Bette Bryant, Nashville, Tennessee. His curly beard makes him 3D indeed, and how sweet.

More 3D Hooking Sheila Arbogast of Prairie Road Designs taught a class in hooking 3D toys, ornaments, and decorations at Heart and Hare in Kansas City, Missouri. Notice that some of the students are holding finished items, while others have been busy hooking parts of their 3D creations. We love the results, including the hooked nativity scene below. Thanks for the photos, Sheila. ABOVE: the class and their 3D creations. BELOW: a sweet and soft nativity scene from Sheila Arbogast

BELOW: A vibrant Christmas rug, Three Kings, by Lou Ann Ayres, Papillion, Nebraska.

Hooking at the Harvester, Council Bluffs, Iowa As soon as we learned about the Southwest Iowa Art Tour (SWIAT) in September, we knew it would be a great way to spread the word about rug hooking in our area. We loved seeing the work of other artists at the Harvester, and sure enough, many of the 400 attendants who came through the historic building---now devoted to artist lofts and art display space---were seeing hand-hooked rugs for the first time. The only disappointment was that rugs were not for sale (people really wanted to buy), but our visitors certainly liked seeing how rugs are hooked. ABOVE: Jodi gave a brief interview and video lesson for journalists who immediately posted it on their Arts and Culture page.

Midwest Rug Hookers who participated were Terri Bangert, Dennie Hoffman, Jodi Isom, and Tammy Pavich. Karen Greenfield's rugs were delivered and picked up by her husband Dixon, who was a huge help at the end of the show. During our weekend at the Harvester, we began a list of those who wanted to learn how to hook, and we followed up with our beginners class just yesterday (see article below). Got an art event in your part of the Midwest? Take the opportunity to showcase our fiber art. How else will art-loving newcomers find us?

We hope to participate in next year's Southwest Iowa Art Tour in mid-September, and we hope to sell rugs too, as a guild fundraiser. We invite you to join us. If you're interested in demonstrating hooking and displaying rugs, or in selling your own rugs, or in hooking a small mat or pillow to sell for the guild, please reach out to [email protected] .

Eleven Beginners Pull Their First Loops We checked into the Comfort Inn on Friday afternoon to prepare for our Saturday Beginners Rug Hooking Class. Just unloading our cars took a while! We (Dennie, Jodi, Karen, Tammy, Lilly, and Ann) hooked and chatted and went to dinner, and then we got serious about cutting wool, serging patterns, preparing kits, and arranging the room for our class. Yesterday morning, we welcomed eleven beginners! LEFT: Jodi Isom making kits, and BELOW, our beginners pattern designed by Jodi

Jodi stepped up to design and draw the perfect December beginners pattern--she drew a dozen of them, twelve inches square, on linen. Our new hookers learned how to hook a circle, a star, a simple tree, and the finer features of their snowman. When they're finished, they will have a sweet seasonal mat to mark the beginning their rug-hooking careers. BELOW: teacher MaryJo Lahners

Our students were very lucky to have the warm and wonderful Mary Jo Lahners for their first teacher. She put everyone at ease and shared her valuable expertise, alternating between lesson and practice, lesson and practice. We finished up at 3:00. We thank our excellent students, Patty, Ann, Ellie, Cathy, Kara, Marcia, Gloria, Ken, Jenifer, Sue Ann, and Alexis, for applying themselves to their projects with such diligence. They came from as far away as Des Moines and Hamburg, Iowa, and Stewart, Nebraska. What a friendly and enthusiastic bunch! In addition to our students, Lilly and Laurie hooked on Saturday and kept us company. Teacher's helpers were Dennie, Karen, Jodi, Tammy, and Holly. Warmest thanks to Karen Greenfield of Pretties and Primitives who sponsored our beginner hooking frames, and to Bob Christiansen of Bob Christiansen Frames who built and provided them for our guild so inexpensively. We also thank Black Box Wool for sending some fat quarters to our class for newcomers (and the rest of us) to purchase. Beautiful wool!

We're already at work on a January follow-up class to address finishing techniques and other topics of value to new hookers. If you know someone interested in a beginning rug hooking class next year, please put us in touch. We don't have a date on the calendar, but we will likely offer one from time to time. RIGHT: Patty working on her snowman BELOW: Lilly helped with wool-cutting and kit-making on Friday. During the beginners class, she hooked away on a Christmas-present rug (shhh) and encouraged our student hookers throughout the day.  As ever, thank you, Karen, for snapping photos!

ABOVE: An early primitive from Dennie Hoffman, Papillion, Nebraska. Those of us who hooked with Dennie long ago will remember how excited we were by the red tree and the tan sky. Who knew we could make the sky any color we liked?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE Midwest Rug Hookers on the Move... ... to Little River Inn Rug Camp Way back in the spring, Karen Greenfield and I signed up to travel to Mendocino, on the northern coast of California for the Little River Inn rug camp. The amazing Laura Pierce (above left) has run this camp for many years. We signed up for our friend and Midwest Teacher Anita White (right center), but all of us were hooking together in Abalone Hall, so we learned a bit from the wonderful Trish Johnson (left center) of Toronto, too. Laura's daughter Emma Logan (right) was everywhere, helping everyone. But I'm getting ahead of my story....

October 28th found us on an early-bird Southwest flight bound for San Francisco. We snoozed en route, so we'd have the energy to hustle bags to the car rental place and drive (cautiously) through downtown San Fran, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then shoot north to Petaluma for a stopover. On Sunday morn, we drove the last gorgeous four-hour stretch through pastoral hills, along Bodega Bay, into the vineyards, through dark redwood forests, and finally, along a high cliff with the blue Pacific below us. Soon we came upon a charming white gabled inn with a wide veranda, the place we would call home for five nights. The scent of pines, the crash of waves, an ocean-view room with a fireplace and veranda--we had to pinch ourselves. Had we gone to hooker heaven?

Well, we really had. Class from 9:00 to noon, and then lunch in the hotel restaurant. Class from 1:00 to 3:00 and then special afternoon mini-classes with small projects. We elected to keep working on our rugs during these mini-classes, but they sure were tempting. One class with Brigitta Phy taught hooking a simplified fiddlehead fern with velvet, modeled on Brigitta's rug, recently on the cover of RHM. Another offered a paisley pumpkin hooked directly on wool fabric with Anita White. Next year's mini-classes will depend on the teachers, of course. In addition to the planned activities, these two Midwesterners found plenty of time for gazing at the ocean from our veranda. After dinner, there was always something more to learn or do: slide shows on rug-hooking topics, a Halloween party, and chatting and hooking till nearly midnight.

ABOVE: Emma and Anita, in a yoga mood on Halloween night. BELOW: Andrine pondered her rug, even while celebrating at the Halloween party.

BELOW: The Yellow Fence, by LRI teacher Trish Johnson of Toronto

ABOVE: Brigitta Phy's "Irons in the Fire," on the wall of Abalone Hall. Quite simply, we found the whole thing intoxicating: the impressive rug show on the walls all week, the individual and group learning opportunities, our wonderful teacher, the on-site yarn shop (!), our walks through the garden to lunch each day, the friends we made and the sense of sisterhood among us all--and the rugs we started at Little River Inn. We enjoyed exploring Mendocino a little, though it wasn't really necessary. Right across the highway from the inn is a convenience store, a tiny, excellent restaurant called Wild Fish, and (can you believe it?) a handy post office for shipping wool back home. On the last night over dinner with Anita, we celebrated our decision to return to LRI in October of 2018 for a class with British teacher Tanya Graham. ABOVE RIGHT: one of the hydrangeas we passed each day in the garden on our way to lunch.

‌

ABOVE: grateful students with teacher Anita White, a pumpkin pillow propped in the window at Abalone Hall, and LEFT a gorgeous floral rug from the walls of Ab Hall... pics are all compliments of Karen Greenfield. BELOW: A creation of the late Emma Webber of Petaluma, California

On Friday morning, we drove south again through the towering redwoods and the golden vineyards, back to Petaluma, where one final treat awaited us. Laura Pierce gave us a tour of her late mother's charming cottage, where the astonishing rugs of Emma Webber are hung, propped on tables and mantles, and lain out on the floor for admirers like us to see. We were overwhelmed with the number and the originality in those rugs--and we now have Laura's permission to include an article for you in an upcoming newsletter. Stay tuned for more on the art of Emma Webber.

Thank you to travel buddy Karen Greenfield for most of the photos in this article. If you are interested in LRI Rug Camp in 2018, you may write to Laura Pierce at [email protected] . The camp has just filled, but Laura keeps a waiting list, and this year she had several cancellations. If you want to chat about the experience, feel free to contact Karen Greenfield at [email protected] or Tammy Pavich at [email protected] . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOVE: two pillows, hooked by Marie Schropp, Ames, Iowa, designed by Kathy Morton.

ABOVE: Andy Hall of Hall's Hooks at Sauder Village RIGHT: A tribute to the late Robert Townsend at Sauder Village Two Midwestern Men Honored at Sauder Village Sauder Village is the Mecca of rug hooking, and many Midwest Rug Hookers make the trip to Ohio in August to take in the marvelous rug displays and learn from teachers from all over the country. This year, Sauder Village honored men who have made a contribution to rug hooking, including Andy Hall of Hall's Hooks, Lincoln, Nebraska, and the late Robert Townsend of Altoona, Iowa. Andy, a professional jazz musician, makes and sells custom hooks, and Bob Townsend created the Townsend hooking frames and wool cutters that have been assumed by Beeline Art Tools (Bettendorf, Iowa) today. At many Midwestern hook ins and shows, Andy and Jan sell beautiful and interesting hooks creatively crafted by Andy from all sorts of antiques and tools. Today, many of us would not have our favorite frames and cutters, were it not for Sharon Townsend's request of her kind husband to invent what she and her friends needed to hook with efficiency and comfort. We're a few months late in offering our warm congratulations on these well-deserved honors.

Anita White Played Hooky in Cleveland Thank you, Anita, for sharing a couple of pics of your October ATHA Biennial experience. (I pulled a couple photos off the ATHA Facebook page too.) Anita, of Overland Park, Kansas, taught classes at the biennial and enjoyed the presentations. RIGHT: Anita (right) at the Biennial with her friend Jody on the left and friend Melissa between them.

ABOVE: Anita's class at the Biennial, hooking the New England Twist. RIGHT, delivering the keynote address, none other than Deanne Fitzpatrick of Amherst, Nova Scotia. BELOW, slide show at the Cleveland ATHA Biennial

ABOVE: Donna Hrkman's Nick @ Night, a portrait of her son in his favorite place, downtown Dayton, Ohio. Midwest Teacher Feature Coming Up in February: The Inspiring Donna Hrkman Many of us in the Midwest have had the privilege of learning from artist and teacher Donna Hrkman, and she has graciously agreed to be the subject of our first Midwest Teacher Feature. We're excited to share Donna's story and a selection of her exquisite rugs in our February issue. Call For Donna Hrkman Student Rugs Along with Donna's Teacher Feature, we will include a gallery of student rugs in the February newsletter. If you have a completed rug from a class with Donna Hrkman, please send your photo to [email protected] by January 20th, and please include the rug title, your name, city, and state. Not quite finished with your Donna rug? We bet you can get it done in time to be included on February 1. BELOW: More Kathy Morton Santas, hooked by Karen Greenfield (LEFT), and Janice Lee (RIGHT).

Gratitude to our Members While our newsletter connects us with our entire community throughout the Midwest, we owe a special thanks to those who have joined our guild and whose dues have helped our ATHA chapter get up and running. Warmest thanks to our thirty-plus members and supporters:

ABOVE: Sharon Townsend's peaceful "Snow Queen"

Terri Bangert Patricia Bock Ginger Bode Linda Boehle Luci Bolding Maxine Bowers Sandra Breach* Laurie Christiansen Shirley Cloyd Francie Conrad Ginny Crabtree Ann Eastman Karla Egger Karen Greenfield Flona Halley Cynthia Henning* Dennie Hoffman Jodi Isom Wanda Kamp Karen Krebsbach Mary Jo Lahners Judy Larsen Janice Lee Libbey Lundgren Mary McAlpine Holly McMillan Marsha Munter Tammy Pavich Sherrie Petersen Mary Rademaker Marianne Relka Kristi Roberts Deb Stachon* Sue White Dixie Wulf *Denotes future members who are in the process of joining ATHA

MIDWEST RUG HOOKERS MIDWEST CALENDAR OF HOOKING EVENTS Here's our latest calendar. 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 [email protected]. We will publish again on the first of February. 1/10, Intro to Punch Needle with Wool Threads, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773   1/11,  Fish School , (new native fish hooking pattern monthly) specially dyed wool, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 1/13 and 1/14, Hooking Faces with Pat Shafer , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 1/17,  Proggy Flowers (photo below). Intro to proggy, specially dyed wool for stemmed flowers. Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 1/27-1/29, Fancy Fibers Retreat “Under the Sea” with Kim Kaelin of FancyThisFolkArt, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 2/8:  Fish School , 2nd month of hooking great fish, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 2/14:  Creating Unique Fiber Mirrors , Hooking Techniques to frame a wall mirror, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 2/24, 22nd Annual Rock Creek Hook In , Lenexa, Kansas, Marilyn Schmidt, [email protected]. 2/28, Knitting with Wool Strips (small mat), Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 3/8,  Fish School , 3rd month of hooking great fish, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 3/9-3/11, Diane Stoffel OPEN Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 3/14,  Birds that Fly , 3-D and fun hooked whimsical birds (could be ongoing…there are lots of birds), Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 3/23-3/25, Jayne Hester Workshop (full), Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 3/27-3/29, Jayne Hester Workshop , Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 3/28,  Playing in Circles , a variety of methods to create wool circles in a mat that is textural and whimsical, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Paulette Wentzlaff, [email protected] or 651.429.9773 4/6, Nebraska Spring Hook In , Lincoln, Nebraska, Jan Hall, [email protected] 4/27-4/29, Finish-Your-Projects Weekend . FREE! Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699 4/28, Hook In St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri, Donna McHargue, [email protected] 5/4-5/6, Janice Johnson Workshop (full), Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 6/1-6/2, Maggie Bonanomi Rug Hooking Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 6/3, Maggie Bonanomi Appliqué Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 6/8-6/10, Kathy Clark Workshop , Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 6/17-6/18, Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival , Ames, Iowa, WEB SITE, IOWA SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL 6/17-6/22, Decorah Rug School , Decorah, Iowa. We'll publish teacher's names in upcoming issues, or watch for announcements at decorahrugschool.com 8/21-8/23, Sally Kallin Workshop , Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 8/24-8/26, Sally Kallin Workshop (full), Milford, Nebraska (west of Lincoln), Jan Hall, [email protected] 9/14-9/16, Pris Buttler Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 10/5, The Nebraska Fall Hook In! Watch this newsletter for details and vendor spotlights. Mark your calendar and come to Omaha! 10/6-10/8, Michele Micarelli Workshop (full, but you can get on our waiting list), Omaha, Nebraska, Dennie Hoffman, [email protected] . 10/26 - 10/28, Diane Stoffel Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 11/9 - 11/11, Donna Hrkman Workshop , Valley, Nebraska, Janice Lee, [email protected], 402-359-2699. 2018 DATES FOR OUR CALENDAR Got hooking events anywhere in the Midwest? Classes, camps, hook-ins? We would love to include them in our calendar, published again in February and in every issue (except October). Please reply to [email protected] with your dates, event title, (teacher name/s), city and state, contact person, and an email address. Even if we published your event this year, we need your help with the new dates and complete information for next year, please.

At LEFT, a stunning "proggy flower." Want to make one? See the January 17 class above in Mahtomedi, Minnesota!

Poinsetta Pillow ABOVE TOP from Midwest Rug Hooker Laura Schram of Lincoln, Nebraska. Don't you love the trim? And that chair? Directly ABOVE, a nearly completed poinsettia by Rita Schucker (Jane McGown pattern). I met Rita at Little River Inn in early November and asked her permission to share this rug with you. Rita has been hooking for many years, and she said that she is on a mission to finish up her incomplete projects. This poinsettia is beautiful, Rita! Almost done. BELOW: Glad Tidings, hooked by Sue Turner of Omaha, Nebraska.

BELOW: a Christmas floral, hooked by Linda Boehle of Omaha, Nebraska

WHAT IN THE WORLD TO GIVE TO A RUG HOOKER?

Lest we take them for granted, let's remember two institutions that exist only because of our support, and which may provide just the gift we seek for our hooking friends. Gift Idea #1: Gift Subscription to Rug Hooking Magazine In the current issue alone, there's a wealth of inspiration: Vivid hooked birds from Kay LeFevre Hooking the look of stained glass Still-life hooking of things you love Geometric doodling Hooking Vintage Ornaments, FREE Pattern Many projects in the spirit of the season For a limited time, you can receive a 1-year subscription to Rug Hooking Magazine for 43% off the regular price! You’ll save $15... the best deal available. In every issue, you’ll find stunning inspiration, expert tips and techniques, and a FREE pull-out paper pattern. RHM SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

Gift Idea #2: ATHA Membership  Have you considered giving ATHA memberships to your hooking friends? Being a national ATHA member supports the "mother ship" that guides the hooking world and--sometimes entirely behind the scenes--provides us with valuable support at the local level. ATHA is our wider community of rug hookers. Just $26 for your membership brings with it a magazine subscription to keep us all inspired and tuned into happenings, local, national, and international. ATHA MEMBERSHIP Don't have time to shop? With a click, you can give these rich and inspiring gifts and lend support to the institutions so vital to our art. BELOW: Christmas Runner designed by Barbara Carroll and hooked by Bette Bryant, Nashville, Tennessee

International Rug Hooking Day, December 4 Here's your reminder that TOMORROW is the day when, all around the world, rug hookers will be celebrating our art--with gatherings, with a quiet hour of hooking at home, and with photos posted on the Rug Hooking Magazine Facebook Page. We plan to post pics of our beginners class, and we encourage you to share what's happening in your part of the Midwest. We are grateful for such a vibrant community of hookers in the Heartland. Happy International Rug Hooking Day!

RIGHT, Sharon Townsend (Altoona, Iowa) hooked "Blanch and Sydney." That plaid apron! Amazing, Sharon. Our First Anniversary It has been one year, almost to the day, since we sent our first newsletter from Midwest Rug Hookers. You may have noticed that we've changed our masthead to reflect the name of our chapter, a name that welcomes and includes all who hook rugs in the Midwest. Our readership is growing, and it even includes hookers from far flung places like Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and California. We're happy to be connected with every one of you through the fiber that binds us. Our ATHA Chapter dues are only a buck a month. You can send $12 or $24, joining our chapter for one year or two. Here's something to download and mail to our treasurer, Dennie Hoffman: MIDWEST RUG HOOKERS MEMBERSHIP FORM MRH Chapter Gatherings Look for details in our February letter, but our Spring meeting will be held in Milford, Nebraska, on March 10, and we'll hold the Fall meeting in Valley, Nebraska, on September 8. All-day hooking will pause for a 1:00 meeting. If you are not yet a member, we'll welcome you to come and hook and laugh and be part of the meeting. Our masthead may have changed, but you can still expect frequent reminders and warm invitations to the Nebraska Fall Hook In . We have exciting plans for our sixth annual hook in next October--we'll keep you posted. BELOW: Those of us at the beginners class, wishing you joy on behalf of our entire chapter!

More cozy winter rugs below. We'll be back on your screens again in the new year. May your days be merry and bright, dear friends, and may you find pleasure in all the gifts of the season.

All our best, Midwest Rug Hookers

ABOVE: Saint Nick, hooked by Laura Schram, designed by Cabin Creek. BELOW: Dennie Hoffman's Glad Tidings and two more cardinals guarding their nest (this one is a floor cushion).

ABOVE; Notice the tree Sue Turner hooked so subtly behind her Santa in this simple and elegant primitive rug.

ABOVE: Peace on Earth and Santa under stars (pattern by Blackberry Primitives), both hooked by Karen Greenfield. Peace on Earth won a ribbon at the state fair. RIGHT: Love the snowflake border! Hooked by MaryJo Lahners, Lincoln, Nebraska. (Wish we had a larger photo file to do justice to this beautiful rug.) BELOW: Bette Bryant hooked the design of her Texas friend.

ABOVE: a sweet Feather Tree Runner by Lou Ann Ayres. LEFT: chair seat hooked by Tammy Pavich ten years ago, cannot remember the designer.

BELOW: So many of us have hooked this one. Judy Cripps' delightful reindeer, hooked by Tammy Pavich, kindly color-planned by Janice Lee to look as much like her version as possible.

Jane Scott's winter deer (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) ABOVE, and Sheila Arbogast's deer at LEFT (Prairie Road Designs, Missouri). Winter is the best time for deer watching and deer hooking!

Thank you, Sheila Arbogast (runner) and Linda Boehle (round rug) for sending these last two, below...  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

As ever, thanks to Cathy Stephan of Red Barn Rugs, Wisconsin, for the Prairie Star Runner in our masthead above.