There are only a few hours left in July before we turn the calendar page forward to August. I think I love August because it means we are closer to September...which means cooler weather and Fall is on its way! But I couldn't let July end without posting my pictures from the fabulous Holland (Michigan) Rug Camp. I absolutely love this camp and hope that I am invited back another year to teach again. My students are always the best!
First of all, we found out that Fran turned 90 in mid-July. Well, I must say I would have never, EVER guessed that Fran was 90 years old, or even close to that age. My, oh my, she is a wonderful rug hooker with a kind and gentle personality to match. When I grow up, I want to hook like Fran!
Fran was hooking a version of a Magdalena Briner rug. Her leaf was stunning!
Here is a general idea of the main hooking room at the Holland Rug Camp. It's a bee hive of activity!
And now for some of the rugs at the rug show which took place on Wednesday (July 13th):
Ah Tis Spring, a Notforgotten Farm adaptation, hooked by Sherry Dart. She hooked this last year in my class.
Sunflower Witch, a Notforgotten Farm adaptation, hooked by Dawn Walczak.
Jane Miles hooked Brave Hunter, which is a Barbara Carroll pattern. Jane hooked this last year in my class.
Emma's Garden hooked by Judy Malarney and designed by Kris Miller. Judy started hooking this rug earlier in the spring during a one-day workshop I taught for her rug hooking guild.
Give Ye Thanks hooked by Kathleen Keithly. This is another Notforgotten Farm adaptation.
Dawn Walczak hooked Glad Tidings in my class last year. This is a Notforgotten Farm adaptation.
Marie McDonald hooked this rug in a class with Susan Feller. It is Kissin' Wears Out, a Notforgotten Farm adaptation, but Marie personalized it for her anniversary. What a great idea!
Sheila Murphy Russell hooked this purse in my class last year. It is a Merry Hooker pattern.
Arlene Johnstone hooked this Keith Kemmer pattern called Red & White Oak Runner.
Kathy Purk hooked this in my class last year. I believe it is a Diane Kelley pattern.
Marg Talbot hooked this in my class last year. It is designed by me and it is called Juanita's Roses.
This is Sun Flower, a PJ Rankin-Hults adaptation. It is hooked by Sue Russell.
Judy Colley hooked my pattern, Bird of Paradise. It was on a table at the rug show and I couldn't get a whole picture of it...but I think I like Judy modeling the rug better!
Now here's what I love about rug hooking...I have color planned this design a couple of times as a wide-cut/primitive rug, but Judy's version just blows me away! It is fine-cut with shading and dip dyes...and equally as stunning this way! Thanks for honoring my design in such a beautiful way, Judy!
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And now on to the "Throw Down.."
If you don't know what a throw down is...well, it is when all the students take the rugs that they have been working on all week and lay them out on the floor or the ground outside (it was a beautiful day for this), and show off what they have done. It's always a big highlight of the week for me.
Since we were out in the bright sunshine with a little bit of shade thrown in, my pictures were less than optimal. Here are just a few of the rugs. Please excuse the shadow of my arm!
Smell My Feet (Notforgotten Farm adaptation), hooking by Donna Gardella.
Herb Angel (Notforgotten Farm adaptation), hooked by Barbara Moran.
Holly & Ewe, designed by Kris Miller and hooked by Sherry Dart.
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A very sweet picture of my class (I love these gals to pieces):
The highlight for the students is the grand prize drawing on Thursday at 7 pm. Nancy Blair draws a student name and that person wins 10 yards of overdyed wool. And the winner was:
Judy Truax!
I think there was some kind of wonderful Karma attached to my classes here at Holland because my students won the wool prize both of the years I taught! Quite a thrill for me! I was very honored to help Judy pick out her wool colors along with the help of Judy's teacher back home in Indiana, Arlene Johnstone.
Judy's fabulous armload of wool! A good way to wrap up a week at rug camp!
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