The finish makes the piece

Attending the 20th Annual Rug Hooking Week at Sauder Village I studied the 700+ works looking for different, effective finishing techniques.

The border of a rug design, fringe on an oriental pattern, embroidered fabric edge on a primitive composition all enhanced the time-consuming handwork rughooking entails. Here are some highlights. I realize my focus was on the details and not capturing the completed image for comparison……all the better for inspiration I hope.

: Barbara Branch used flexible piping on a SteamPunk piece

: Kathy Gaul, Meetinghouse Hill Designs manipulates fabric

: Paty Parish Pitts applied hooked words on stretched fabric surface

: Sandra Hall applied “double linen” thick fringe

: Sandra Hall added embroidery stitching to fabric wrap edge

: Marsha Hockaday mounted work on fabric with an accent line

The purpose of a “frame” is to enhance the subject and introduce it to the environment. These techniques completed each design, emphasizing the style (steam punk), drawing attention to the subject (bulky natural linen fringe on colonial design), providing interest (the rippled tail of eagle by Meetinghouse Hill Design).

Learn to select the right finishing technique and your work will rise beyond completed. See Finishing Hooked Rugs for step-by-step lessons from experts and select the right technique so your work will be more than just done.

by Rug Hooking Magazine

Inspiration explored 50 years later

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Blanche McDonald, Letter Gap, WV circa 1965 with mixed media footstool

In a five year research project gathering personal background about Otha and Blanche McDonald from Letter Gap, WV I have been inspired by their textile work. Incorporating collage, embroidery, trapunto and stitching the ladies work embodies traditions, make-do, and balanced composition = art. This post will describe my approach to making a footstool as they did in the 1960’s.

seven cans for the base of footstool

Materials needed: seven same sized empty cans (I used one pound coffee cans)
batting used in quilting
fabric to wrap the circumference of cans assembled into circle
embroidery threads your choice of colors
variety of heavy weight fabrics or upholstery fabric sample
fabric strips to hook (usually wool but your choice)
foundation backing open weave for hooking and stitching
needles, hook, scissors
mat board cut the shape of circle (two pieces)

Tape the cans together, six around one in center. Trace this shape on paper and use as template for pattern. Draw onto backing and gather your fabrics, threads, tools. This is the time to play. The McDonald Sisters’ compositions all conjure up gardens and nature. They collaged scraps of velvet, brocades and drapery fabric common in the 1960’s in central West Virginia and any rural community in the United States. The shapes were defined with yarns unevenly anchoring the edges of each petal or stem. Some other materials used to embellish were unraveled copper threads from a Brillo pad which have tarnished over the years but still have a twinkle hint of metal.

top of footstool in private collection

I do not want to replicate their designs for a couple of reasons. One the copyright has not expired, the ladies passed away in 1975 and 1976. Two as an artist I prefer to react and respond. Using a supply of discontinued samples of upholstery fabric acquired from Dillon’s Furniture in Romney (eliminating their dumping them into the landfill), cutting up and rearranging the pieces into a pleasing composition then filling in the spaces with hooked wool fabric and stuffing some of the fabric shapes this footstool cover evolved.

: upholstery sample for footstool

: shapes outlined on monkscloth for hooking areas

: hooked, applique’, embroidery

: embellished wool wrapped cans with top attached

Piecing three colors of wool to wrap the cans, I attached the top and put on a bottom of corduroy with mat board buffering the cans and fabric. The sides were embroidered with simple flowers. I stuffed the two main flowers on the top but stitched the stems with embroidery threads anchoring them lower than the hooked loops.

This footstool will be part of an exhibit at Sauder Village August 17-20, 2016focusing on Otha and Blanche McDonald’s life and their exposure to economic opportunities thanks to President Johnson signing the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964. They and many craftspeople have been honored in exhibits, purchase awards, and sales for the past fifty years.

Susan L Feller with mixed media hassock

Fifty years later another footstool and craftsman outside of her log home… me.

Stymied with process

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I have a good design, pile of materials in a variety of values, and know the techniques I want to use why is this process not enjoyable?

Sketch of Seneca Rocks #2 Susan L Feller

I think the last two ingredients are lacking something….but what?

Check out my decision process so far: layering fabric, working trees in different values embroidered, hooked and appliquéd, embroidery of leaves and then the rocks.

: yarns for trees, needles, sketch

: applique including path

: stitching of trees, cutaway for hooked sections

: Dark and medium dark choices

: another decision value of trees

: Work at rest, light tree on left appliquéd perhaps

: stitched, applique’ details

: studio work in progress

Decided I need to set this aside and work on another project while researching skills and shopping for supplies.

Came back to the piece and kept going. By selecting the upholstery material for rocks in value and different textures the piece seemed to come together. Turned it over to my partner, Jim Lilly who created a custom frame continuing the layers of forest. Seneca Rocks #2 is complete.

: collage, embroidery, hooked, upholstery fabric, wool strips, novelty yarns

: embroidery, hooked, upholstery fabric, novelty yarns, wool fabric, variety of wood species in frame

Traveling to Vermont

A change of season

History at Penn Dry Goods

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As one of 11 national speakers this year at Penn Dry Goods Market at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, Pennsburg, PA my topic of rughooking was well represented in the antique dealers’ collections. The lecture presented an overview timeline of rughooking techniques from sailors using their tools to pull yarns through canvas for riggings, handsewn coverings to creations that evolved into rugs as an open weave material in burlap became available in the mid 1860’s. Here is the handout listing the resources I used to create this historical background. History of Rughooking from an Artist’s Frame

Spreading through the Maritime Provinces of Canada and New England where winters were long and wool fabric available, I mentioned the people along this journey from pattern makers, authors, collectors, teachers and the artists in every home. The talk encouraged all to think of the individuals pulling or poking fabric into designs which pleased the maker and now are purchased (or made) to decorate our own homes. This list is just the beginning referring to fine artists who use the technique of rughooking History People who used technique as art

Look at the variety of rugs, mats, framed work the dealers brought. Interested in one contact the vendor directly, see this list. I would recommend this event May 19-20, 2017 with another lineup of presenters and dealers. Exhibits in the museum are interesting anytime. Featured now is Within and Without: the Art of the Book in the Fraktur Gallery

Ani DiFazio Antiques – hooked on linen pillowcase novelty yarns early 1900’s

Rug published in Hooked Rug Treasury, by Jessie Turbayne now available

David Tuttle
sold

Gatchellville Store – Madonna hooked in PA early 1900’s

Cat Lady Antiques – Mother and children Esther, Philip probably from New England

Nailor Antiques
half of a runner, black is heart design

Neverbird Antiques – Hannah L Hale, Newburyport, MA 1845-1849 sheered yarn

Rose B. Berry

: Sandy Elliott Country Antiques – cat chair pad

: variety of mats hooked, and braided early 1900’s

Review of exhibit: Hooked Images

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Roslyn Logsdon curator of Hooked Images

Recently Roslyn Logsdon coordinated an exhibit of contemporary fiber art by Carol Koerner, Marilyn Bottjer, Roslyn, Susan L. Feller, John Flournoy, and Sarah Province in a gallery at Columbia Art Center, Maryland. The exhibit statement’s overview indicates four of the artists work in fine traditional cuts and two introduce wider wool strips with a variety of fiber techniques. Read the full statement here: Hooked Images Curator’s Statement

Artist’s work was presented in a collage format allowing the viewer to study their personal style, techniques and use of materials then visit the next. With all six in the same space it was also easy to evaluate the full collection. Each contributed an artist statement and the titles told stories. Enjoy this virtual tour.

Susan L Feller collection

Susan L Feller Artist Statement

Carol Koerner collection

Carol Koerner Artist Statement

John Flournoy collection

John Flournoy Artist Statement

Sarah Province collection

Sarah Province Artist Statement

Marilyn Bottjer collection

Marilyn Bottjer Artist Statement

Roslyn Logsdon collection

Roslyn Logsdon Artist Statement

: Carol Koerner, Canning Jars

: Carol Koerner, Dylan’s Bike

: Carol Koerner, Crystal Bowl

: John Flournoy, Along the Breakwater Trail

: John Flournoy, Pennsylvania Barns

: John Flournoy, Koi Pond

: Marilyn Bottjer, Black & White

: Marilyn Bottjer, Going Around in Circles

: Marilyn Bottjer, Seeing Red

: Susan L Feller, Fall on Homestead

: Susan L Feller, Winter in WV

: Susan L Feller, Late Summer

: Roslyn Logsdon, Autumn Tree I

: Roslyn Logsdon, Abstract Spring

: Roslyn Logsdon, Autumn Tree II

: Sarah Province, Japanese Maple I

: Sarah Province, Silver Checkerspot and Black Swallowtail

: Sarah Province, Japanese Maple II

Columbia Art Center serves the community with art classes for young and old. The exposure of contemporary art hanging for six weeks in their galleries encourages innovation in emerging artists. Reach out to regional galleries, museums and art centers with proposals for exhibits of hooked images and educate the public.

Ninth Retreat Whitened

Travel Sketches-Seattle

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Beginning a new series based on my travels. The challenge is to simplify the experience.

I decided a journal approach will help develop style and studies for larger art. Less pressure to “nail it” the first time and as you will see, the exercise leads to my goal… concise yet informative designs. Techniques and materials are not clarified yet, although my new supply of cotton fabric and threads will be tapped into.

Thanks go to the students in my design class at Puget Sound Rug School, who energized my own creativity. The first sketch is a result of one of the exercises. List a topic, describe it in words and motifs.

Initial Sketch

Over the past week I have developed three separate designs inspired by the trip to Seattle. The City View has seen 6 versions so far. Next steps to decide size, techniques, materials and begin with my favorite tools-my hands. Slowly I will communicate.

: Contrast and lines

: #5 Seattle Impressions

: Reflections

: #6 Seattle Impressions

Exploring Seattle

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Two days ahead of Puget Sound Rug School I have immersed myself in Seattle visually and physically. Who knew you could “hike” five miles in a city? Camera in pocket and rain gear on here are some inspiring compositions.

Okan Arts Japanese cottons

First stop was a fiber mecca for me. Patricia Belyea has amassed an amazing collection of Japanese yukata cottons available for US quilting and fiber artists from her shop in Seattle or online at OkanArts.com. I selected bold patterns and intimate repeats of lines to be combined into my art.

Pikes Market produce

Vendors carrying produce, flowers, artisan products, and baked goods entice the tourists at Pikes Market down along the waterfront. The blast of color and natural shapes caught my attention.

: Contrast and lines

: Reflections

The city is filled with contrasting shapes, lines of different strengths, and shots of color in the structures, everyone vying for attention.

Coffee Beans

And then there was the sensual allure of roasting coffee at THE Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room. Notice the gentle curves of the copper tubes and the warm color of the roasted beans awaiting the personal selection.

All of my senses were heightened. I am sure to end up with some visual artwork from these hours spent in the Emerald City. Traveling from the West Virginia mountains to a metropolitan area increases the awareness of structure.

ArtWools Studio of Susan Feller

Exploring traditional textile techniques in the 21st Century.