Come and Hook!

This weekend I will be at the 5th Annual Peterborough Fibre Arts Festival. This is my third year attending this festival and I love it more every year. It is so nice to chat with other fibre artists and organizations, and share my love of rug-hooking with the event visitors! I always have a demo table set-up where anyone can sit down and try their hand at hooking, and I will of course have a variety of rug-hooking kits and some others supplies.

 

Hope to see you there!

xox

Margot

Pumpkin Spice

I've been working away lately to create kits. Apart from the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival in two weeks, I am teaching a beginner workshop near home tomorrow, at a sweet yarn shop in Peterborough. They offer all kinds of classes in knitting, and some in rug-hooking and needle felting - some with guest teachers (like me;). For more info click here. I meant to share the news about this workshop earlier on the blog, but last I heard it is full. If you are interested in a beginner workshop in the future feel free to let me know, I am in the process of developing a 'traveling' workshop to small groups of aspiring hookers :).

Kits include instructions, design on burlap, small hoop, wool*, rug-hook* (*optional)

Here are a few photos of the coaster kits I have available, and will be working to get up in my etsy shop soon :)

Pumpkin Spice // Tweet Tweet // Sweetheart // Flower Power

The coaster kits finish to approx 4"x4", which is the perfect size for a hot cup of tea. And as it states above the wool and hook are optional so if you prefer to choose your own colours, you can purchase wool separately - or use some of those yarn scraps you have laying around home.

Hope your fall is fabulous so far - less than 4 weeks to due date :) So much to do so little time!
xox
Margot

35 weeks, new rug kits, and more!

Another month just slipped right by, while I was... working, chasing a toddler, prepping for fall crafts, growing a baby, sleeping. Who knows. I can't believe it went as fast as it did. And now I am over 35 weeks pregnant, which means the new baby will be here before we all know it.

Normally this time of year, I transition from my busy summer job at the park to a quieter time with Pip at home, with some part time work and crafty business mixed in. This year with the new baby on the way I am still transitioning to spending more time at home, but I won't be working through the winter. I am however, going to try to spend some time on crafts. I have been working on some new rug-hooking kits as I have a few teaching/demonstration opportunities coming up.

This is my newest coaster kit: pumpkin spice, and I am working on hooking a couple other example coasters for previously developed kits. I have re-vamped the look of my kits to have better instructions, and a more visually appealing display page. I am hoping that will bring good sales at this year's Espanola Fibre Arts Festival.

I have a few more fall updates to share, but I will save them for another post or two :) Hopefully I can get back into a more regular posting schedule!

Margot

Holiday Hooking

I am teaching another course at Needles in the Hay tomorrow, 2-4pm. If you are local, and interested in learning how to rug-hook, there is still some room in the workshop! I have been working on a new festive design, as well as making up some coaster kits. I can't seem to make up enough to get my shop stocked up, but I am hoping to get that done in the next week or two!

  

I seem to have a lot of crafting happening this fall, and so far it has been great. Very busy, but a wonderful experience also! I will hopefully have a few of the kits photographed and in the shop by the end of next week, just in time for a crafty Christmas gift!

Happy Crafting friends!

xox

Espanola Fibre Arts Festival

Are you noticing a theme? So far my fall has been busy with fibre arts and crafts, and I love it! Last weekend Pip, my mom and I made the rather long trip up to Espanola, Ontario to attend their Fibre Arts Festival. We stayed with some friends on Friday, and then Saturday morning as my brother was prepared to look after Pip, mom and I headed to Espanola to set-up for the festival. It was cool and rainy but what a warm atmosphere inside!

Source

Above is a view of my tables (I'm in the blue sweater, looking into the basket on the left), one of the few photos of the day, none of which I took. I was so busy demonstrating rug-hooking, giving mini lessons and selling my introduction to rug-hooking kits I barely even had time to eat. I was surprised, but I sold out of almost everything I took, and people were so interested to learn about the craft, and where I learned.

I also taught a workshop in the afternoon to a group of 15 people, 8 of whom were kids around the age of 10. And everyone loved it! I so enjoy teaching, it is awesome to watch as people begin to understand the craft, and then through the workshop become more proficient. I am hoping I get some photos of completed work, or even semi-completed with questions would be exciting!

Overall it was an amazing day! I am definitely planning on heading back next year, partly because I didn't have time to see the other artists and displays, but mostly because it was such a relaxed, positive and encouraging atmosphere! Thanks so much to the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival for putting on such an awesome event, and to my mom for helping run my table - couldn't have done it without you!

I am planning on stocking Hooked Goods with some patterns in the next week or two, and if you are local to Peterborough there is another workshop at Needles in the Hay on November 2nd.

Happy Crafting!
xox

Spreading Fibre Love

This past weekend I participated in the Third Annual Fibre Arts Festival in Peterborough. I was there on behalf of Hooked Goods, sharing some of my rug-hooking knowledge. I was amazed at the people who were interested in rug-hooking both learning how it works and about where I learned the craft.

Photos by Monica Williams

For the Festival I created a couple blank frames for visitors to give rug-hooking a try, and I was working on my own piece as a demonstration. I also created a few small kits that folks could purchase to give rug-hooking a try on their own.

The kits were really popular, with a small coaster sized design on burlap, a hoop and basic instructions, people seemed really interested in trying out the new (to them) craft! And because of the interest and demand I've decided to make some more kits, and perhaps list them in the shop - so be on the look-out if you are interested in trying your hand at a little hooking!

I also made connections with numerous people who were interested in learning through hands-on workshops, so I will be creating a few workshops in order to teach this traditional craft. If you are near me and interested, feel free to send me an e-mail with any questions!

xox

Crafting

Some of the crafts I do are rather time consuming, and rug-hooking is no exception. You have to fill almost every little hole in the burlap with a loop of yarn, and depending on the size of your rug it can take a long time (see some of my larger ones here). So I'm working on smaller rugs, and they go fairly quickly when I actually sit down and work on them.

So today, I'm going to take some time to work on these little rugs before I head down to Toronto to visit a friend! I think it's going to be a good day :)
xox

Craft Update

So here is a little update, like I promised, about what I have been working on recently. Some sewing, amassing the boot beanies for the approaching cold weather, a nautical themed headband. And can you guess what I'm planning with that colourful yarn?

 

 

 

 

It's been great, I hope I can keep it up! What have you been up to?
xox

New Shop Peeks

So I have a couple of hooked items that I will be adding to the shop later today. And I thought I would share here! These are all hooked mug rugs, using up-cycled t-shirt, wool and acrylic yarns. And just to let you know I'm working on some fall/winter themed hooked items to get the shop ready for all the upcoming holidays!

 

Let me know what you think, they will be posted in the shop soon!
xox

Weekend Workshop - Edging your Hooked Rug (I)

Using Burlap as a canvas, you have created  hooked rug, that has burlap around the edges, and looks unfinished. 
 (To learn how to start this project see Rug-Hooking 101). 

Follow the tutorial (click on the tutorials page, and follow the appropriate link) to learn how to finish the edges of your rug and make it look as clean and complete as these coasters.

Pretty cute aren't they? And I'm already on to the next set!

What have you created recently?

Playing Catch-Up

On a beautiful sunny day, nothing seems better than to soak up the rays while crafting with my boy.

Weekend Workshop - Rug Hooking 101

So with all my talk about rug hooking, I thought I should give you a little view into how it is done. Here are some of the Rugs that I have completed.

 

< The first rug I hooked, a kit desgined by Molly at Molly Made


> My third rug, a design that was inspired by an older kit that my grandmother had (something else I inherited from her)





And my pride and joy:

I made this rug for my parents for Christmas. It was supposed to be for Christmas 2009, and when I started it in August 2009 I thought I had lots of time ahead of me. But no, unfortunately when I was still in school and working, rug hooking had to take the back burner. And then I worked on it a little here and there. Then in October 2010, I decided I had to get to work (after a quick trip to my second home in Sept I was energized). But when December 26th rolled around (when we visited), I still wasn't finished. So I wrapped it, and gifted it to my parents and when they opened it said "I have to take it back with me to finish it". Luckily no one was too stressed, and I got it done by mid-feb when I visited them. Now it has a place of honour at their cottage :)

Now, for your to start your own hooking projects. Visit the tutorials page and follow the appropriate link!

Hooked

I thought I would share my latest creation. Well, it's not totally created yet, but I'm working on it. Hooking is a slow process, and my last one took my a year and almost 7 months to complete. This time round I decided that I was going to use strips of fabric and see how I like it compared to using wool, which is what I normally use.

I have been meaning to make some coasters for a while now, but was working at finishing my parents Christmas gift. So now that is done, and I am on to the coasters. Using t-shirts I decided very early that I didn't like the t-shirt on it's own. I will be using a bit of wool to give the rugs more texture. Take a peek:

Originally I thought I would make them all the same, but I determined that would be boring (perhaps just for me). So I will use all the same colours, but to each one a different design. I'll keep you posted on how they turn out.

What do you think so far?

From Hooking to Stripping

This time round I am using old t-shirts for my rug-hooking. The benefits of t-shirts is the vibrant colours, the durability of the fibre (especially if I want to make a floor rug), and very low material costs. Last time I went home to visit my parents, my brother was on reading week. I asked both him and my dad, "do you have any t-shirts you are willing to donate to the craft fund?". By the end of the day they had both gone through their closets and drawers and I had about 20 t-shirts ready and waiting to be turned into crafts! So here is some of the stripping I've been working on. Some of this was completed a little over a year ago when I had a stripping part with some friends - thanks girls!

And in case you were wondering, I did share my finds with Crystal, and and she managed to make a super cute t-shirt and sweet pair of striped pants for Loo.

Have a wonderful Friday! It's a beautiful sunny day here :)

I'm a hooker.... WHAT?

Rug Hooking is a traditional Newfoundland activity. Traditionally women used to rip old pieces of fabric (worn out clothes) and hook them through burlap to make rugs for the floor. The first time I was in Newfoundland I had the opportunity to meet the Tableland Rug Hookers, and photographed some of their rugs for a poster.

Since I have always been into crafting, I had to get my hands on a rug. Molly, who owns her own Fibre Arts Studio, was kind enough to walk me through the basic rug hooking technique. She is the one who started the Tableland Rug Hookers, she teaches the craft, sells her own creations as well as kits and supplies for beginners and advanced hookers. :)

My first rug was a kit created by Molly. My kit did not include wool or a frame as the new ones do, so I got to choose all my colours. You can see this rug bottom right. Then, I completed the flowered rug, which was based loosely on a pattern my grandmother had and never completed. And finally the flags, which took a year and a half to complete. This was created from Newfoundland inspiration, and I designed it myself. I plan on continuing with my rug hooking, but next I'm going to try using strips of t-shirt (that process is called stripping, more on that later!).

Molly does have a blog, if you are interested in seeing some of the things that she has been up to. As me for me, I'm on the hunt for old t-shirts; something my friend Mrs. Crafty Ave is also on the look-out for! I'll fight you for them!? No we're friends, we will share :)