There is a new Rug Hooking media outlet! 
A quarterly online magazine published by Rug Hooking Magazine and featuring a tour through our Studio in the premier issue. Subscriptions are $9.95 per year and available at www.RugHookingMagazine.com or click here
Twelve fiber artists selected by Susan L. Feller for their innovative designs and in some cases young energy, depict the Zodiac signs in hooked works. The collection is published in Rug Hooking Magazine’s Jan/Feb 2012 issue.
Virgo, by Francine Even, CT, USA
Seeing the pieces in the magazine and reading the thought processes is one thing but actually viewing all twelve works and meeting some of the artists can be done by attending Sauder Village’s 16th Rug Hooking Week in Archbold, Ohio. The event is Wednesday-Saturday, August 15-18. Susan will lead a gallery walk with fellow artists during the exhibit. See events, workshops or sign up when you arrive.
Barbara Ebersol Star Flower Mat hooked by Susan Feller
Nan Loncharich's how-to book
Loncharich flower using Susan Feller ArtWools
This gem is made exclusively with our wools and a great button to anchor the petals.
When there is not too much time to hook… but you need to record a memory, make a 5 inch square. The following are vignettes of three great destinations where I have taught this summer.
Pacific Ocean, Central Michigan Sand Dunes, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Waves crashing on the black sand
The Cambria Pines Rug Hooking Schoolwas site of my Pacific Ocean experience. Thanks to Gene Shepherd this East Coaster has stepped into the cold, Pacific.
Vivid memory of Sand Dunes Lake Michigan
Central Michigan is bordered on the left by Lake Michigan, there are giant sand dunes on the coast and inland they are covered with trees and grasses, hidden monsters. This scene was during the Manistee Rug Hooking School in late June.
Square Bales in Ontario
While teaching at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario I travelled to Prince Edward County several times. One visit caught their technique of stacking the square bales of hay into small pyramids prior to pick up. Went back three days later and the field was empty. Goes to show you, carry your camera and a journal to catch memories.
Feeling abit like the Royal Couple, (Will and Kate), I have been in Canada since June 24th, hosted by Susan Sutherland in the Kitchener/Waterloo area to conduct a fraktur design workshop within the Mennonite region of the design source. The following hostess was Anne Boissinot who lives near the McMichael Collection in Kleinburg. We toured this museum complex for a full day, exchanging our artistic views. What a great way to learn– visit a museum with a friend with similar interests.
I stopped briefly at Rittermere-Hurst-Field to lunch with Jeanne Field, Andrea Shepphard and the family/workers. Will be back for the Circle of Friends on July 9th in Aurora. See www.Letshookrugs.com for information.
Now in Belleville for the two weeks, enjoyed Canada Day by touring Prince Edward County. Art exhibits, farmers markets, and a beautiful day all recorded in my mind or on camera. Took shots of the sun moving across a mowed field highlighting bands at a time. The square bales were stacked in pyramids to be picked up later. Shapes, light and values were on my mind since this is the theme for the Loyalist College class beginning July 11th. www.Loyalistfocus.com see Susan Feller for details, opening in class still.
Just a quick note, and I will update this post with images later in July.The Western Shore Ruggers of Manistee and Onekama areas in Central Michigan, hosted another successful weeklong rug hooking camp.
The work which came out into the hallway to be viewed on Thursday from the five classes proved there were very serious teaching and learning going on.
Since this was my first time as an instructor, not to be my last (coming back in 2014), I was thrilled to spend evenings with the others and our tour guide. We visited the 95 tall Giant Sequoia, the sand dunes and Lake Michigan and numerous lakes along the way. More details to come.
Susan and Nola and the Pacific
A week on the Central Coast of California in early June extended our Spring weather right when it was 100 degrees and humid in West Virginia!
Cambria Rug School is held at Cambria Pines Lodge and filled with wonderfully talented people. Seven instructors with a wide range of experiences, and 90 students with guests filled classrooms and dining areas from Sunday evening until Friday at lunch.
Gene and Nola Heidbreder looking at the Pacific Ocean
Gene Shepherd coordinated a great week with teaching, as auctioneer and as tour guide. The Pacific Ocean was very cold, but exhilarating as Nola and I got our feet washed, and warmed again on the dark black sand on Wednesday afternoon. We saw pelicans bathing and flying overhead along with seagulls of all shades.
We also squeezed in a trip to Hearst Castle after classes on Thursday. There is a view! Thankfully the family and state have preserved 13 miles of coastline with conservation easements.
Hearst Castle Pool and view
Again a great group of students and wonderful weather for the 47th Cedar Lakes Rug Camp in Ripley, WV. Registration for 2012 is open now. Contact Nancy Blair at thhkrugs@altelco.net or call 616-895-6378. The dates are May 13-18, 2012.
Seems the theme for rug designs included birds, flowers and geometrics. Wow! Must have had some inspiration from the FRAKTURS. They sure did. We also learned about the elements and principles of design and used these lessons when looking at the rug exhibit on Wednesday.
Family trees, Floral Bouquets and Spring Rabbits were popular subjects for the Fraktur patterns created by students in the Laurel Mountains workshop.
ArtWools Studio of Susan Feller 