Rug Hooking Extraordinaire

While volunteering at the local thrift shop, I met a woman who creates beautiful works of art out of wool strips.
She is a rug hooker, creating her own designs, inspired by things around her.Rug hooking is one of the original American crafts, probably born out of the waste not, want not ethic of days gone by.

One of these is her version of  an antique fraktur.

Rug hooking was something I attempted years ago- I still have that unfinished attempt, somewhere, with all the hand dyed wool strips, and the cutter. After seeing this, I may have to drag mine out, and try again. I tried it on a vintage piece of burlap, after sketching out my design. Burlap was probably not the best choice for a backing. This artist recommended using a linen, and was kind enough to invite me to her house to check out the  linen and a refresher course on hooking!! I may take her up on that one of these days!!!

This talented lady's name is Donna Lees Bleam, a fiber artist with the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Arts Guild here in Virginia.

Below are two of her pieces-click on the photos for a closer look.

This first one is an old tavern sign.

 

This is the fraktur.

 

Absolutely stunning work in person!

I may have to see if I can locate the box with my rug hooking tools, I feel the urge coming on....!!!!