Tag Archives: fiber artists

Sauder Village 2010

Last year we thought all the forces had gathered at Sauder Village in Archbold, OH for the Rug Hooking Week in a “perfect storm”. Well this year the exhibit was even better.

Ruckman Mill Farm at Sauder Village 21010

Starting with the pinnacle of inspiration: Noah’s Ark and the collection of works by Mary Sheppard Burton and Leonard Feenan as the featured exhibit.  Although Mary had recently passed away, the retrospective included personal pieces never seen to the very last piece she was working on, being completed by her grand daughter, Jennifer Zamato who was in attendance.

Kathy Wright the event coordinator for Rug Hooking Week at Sauder Village, pulled together several small collections including six rugs hooked by members of a close network.  Each rug included elements worked by every one of the  members.  The owner started their rug and others knew the recipient well enough to either go along with their “likes” or play with this, responding directly to the work already on the piece. The visual step by step evolution of the rugs provided along side, added to viewers appreciation of the process.

Jim and I were thrilled with the turnout again, thousands annually make their treks to what is becoming, after fourteen years, the premier annual exhibit of hooked rugs in the United States.  Friends who only see us here, to workshop attendees over the past year visited, shared their works and went home with more colorful wools, or new patterns.

We were invited back for the 15th Annual Rug Hooking Week, August 15-20, 2011. Go to www.saudervillage.com  and review the Hooked Rug Week Special Events

My urban experience- Ottawa

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Why not just go two hours out of my way after travelling for two weeks and visit Barbara Lukas and Ottawa, Canada. She lives right in the city, yet in a tree-lined historic district, and took me by car and foot all over. We hit the hightlights and more, even stopping to hear part of an outdoor concert, whizzing past the longest ice skating rink (not in season),  over to Quebec and the thrift shop haunts for stuff and FRENCH fries. 

My art lesson was at the National Gallery where we toured the Canadian Arts Galleries focusing on the Group of Seven towards modern.  Seeing artwork in person validates the scale, techniques, materials and colors which the artists chose for their pieces.  Reproductions are informative but I can’t emphasize too strongly to anyone, “Visit art”.

We went to the Farmers Market and I had bubble tea.

Two Bubble Teas and Barbara's stripes

The caramel Tapioca pearls are fun and come through the special wide straws quickly.  We had to return to this shop as the tapioca were not ready when she opened at 10;00.  Well worth the return for the novelty and visual.

Barbara invited several fiber friends over for dinner. And each brought along some of their work.  The evening was filled with sharing and learning from each other. We covered topics as broad as how to preserve using new media current fiber artists at work, in studios or even as we just did in a salon session talking about creativitiy. Other topics were use of color, materials, inspirations for designs, how exact one medium (quilting) is and forgiving another (rughooking).  What benefits we derive from working slowly with our hands and fibers to create.   I look forward to returning to this group in the next year and continuing our effortless journey.