ABOUT US
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Hi Everyone,
I love everything about rug hooking and I enjoy the people I meet who hook.
However, after 11 years, I am stepping away from selling rug hooking supplies. Frankly, my mind and body need a rest. I started my own businesses when I was 32 and after 26 years, I long for some calm and also more spontaneity in my life.
Networking among rughookers is vital. I will continue to post Western Canadian events and contacts on this website as submitted to me. Also, I will be offering more of my own pieces for sale in the website gallery.
It's been a grand and sometimes (even in this low-key activity) WILD ride.
Best wishes and thanks to all of you wonderful customers for your support!
Colleen Wike
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Sage House Studio, on Vancouver Island, is a rug hooking studio located in a little seaside cottage surrounded by fragrant flowers and herbs.
All you need to create charming hooked rugs can be found here so come and visit!
Hooking rugs can be the ultimate in creative expression. It is relatively simple to learn, and consists of one stitch - using a hook to pull a loop of yarn or fabric strip through a hole in a backing.
From this basic platform, you can expand to design your own patterns, dye your colours and hooking the cloth strips into the backing. There are many levels of rug hooking and the combimations of colour, texture and design are endless. The craft is appealing because it makes the beginner look good, yet challenges the expert.
A list of rug-hooking groups can be found here.
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ABOUT COLLEEN WIKE
My passion to hook germinated at age 4 when I “helped” my grandmother hook at a huge frame resting against her kitchen table. The dark print of her traditional Mennonite dress contrasted wonderfully with the brilliant primitive purple and yellow pansies that she was creating.
 This is a rug I hooked after tracing one of her own rugs.
She died at age 59 and I subsequently learned the finer points of rug hooking from my maternal grandma (below) about 30 years later. She lived to be 103. Her large primitive rug hook is one of my dearest possessions and I use it always.
This wise advice is adapted from an old book circa 1947, that I found in a Salt Spring Island used bookstore. It has a "common sense" approach to rug hooking that appeals to my Old Order Mennonite roots:
Four steps to Freedom From Fear & Frustration
[in designing your rug]
1. Don’t fuss over your designs.
You may have an idea come to you and you can’t wait to get it drawn. Do it while you are in the mood but know enough to stop at the right time! You’ll draw something and instead of stopping when the creative mood is over, you’ll go just a little bit farther and often spoil what you have done. It isn’t the time that you spend on a design, it’s what you do in that time that counts.
2. Keep your designs simple. Do not try to cram too much into one design. You have to allow space to show off your design. See your rug as a whole design, not as separate flowers or units.
3. Be original. Make your own or adapt from others and go with what resonates with YOU regardless of what others say. Have your own style. You may not be a famous artist but your work can be unique.
4. Do not aim for perfection in your designs. It’s handiwork that you are doing, so make it look that way.
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WORKSHOPS: Hand Hooked Primitive Rag Rugs by Val Galvin
Workshop dates:
2008 DATES:
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Learn how to turn wool rags into beautiful heirloom rugs.
Val Galvin has been designing and marketing her own rugs since 1980. She has hooked over 100 pieces that grace homes from here to New York City.
Val will walk you through detailed instructions on fabric preparation, backing and finishing techniques, simple design and hooking methods. Classes include:
Starter frame, burlap backing, assorted wool and miscellaneous fabric strips, primitive hook.
Students bring a bagged lunch, medium scissors, notepaper and pen. Plan on visiting Sage House Studio in Chemainus for a total-immersion rug hooking experience after your class.. Sage House also carries all supplies needed to hook your rugs as well as rug kits and burlap designs. A one day class takes place at Val's home at 10087 Chemainus Road.
10:00AM to 3:00PM Class fee due upon registration.. To register phone Val 246-3979 Class size is limited. Fee $75.00 |
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6th Annual Hook By The Sea Retreat/Workshop
DATES:
September 19-21, 2008
Dorchester Hotel, Nanaimo, BC
Teachers: Lucinda Hepting, Val Galvin, Debra Davidge, Sunny Runnells
Contact Lynne Smith (250) 245-7678
hookbythesea@yahoo.ca
Prairie Harvest Rug Hooking School
DATES:
September 21-26, 2008
St Peter's Abbey, Muenster, SK
Teachers: Wendy Halsall, Doris Norman, Anne Boissinot, Marlene Bartlett, Lynn Roth & TBA
Contact Dorothy Oltsher (306) 373-3040
doltsher@shaw.ca
Woolly Thyme Rug Hookers
5th Annual Winter Hook-In
DATES:
January 16-17, 2009
Gordon Head United Church, Victoria
Contact Sheila Stewart Blair (250) 595-6406
sheilastewart@telus.net
Braid-In & Hook-IN
Thetis Island, B.C.
March 21-25, 2008
Where: At beautiful and quiet Capernwray Harbour Bible College on Thetis Island off the East coast of Vancouver Island.
When: Arrival Friday afternoon March 21, departure Tuesday morning March 25. This gives three full days of braiding or rug hooking at your heart’s content.
Cost: 1. $204.00 for 4 nights lodging in cabins with 11 meals. Linens are provided, however for those who do not wish to bring their own towels, $5.00 a day fee is applied.
2. $232.00 per person 4 nights lodging with 11 meals in a deluxe suite in the main building overlooking the sea as seen in the photos attached. Linens and towels are included. There are 6 of these suites, suitable for two singles or a married couple, available on a first come, first served basis.
Accommodations: Lodging is in nice, winterized cabins with showers. Up to 7 single persons may be in a cabin, but a smaller number are also acceptable. There are separate cabins for married couples also. Meals are served in the dining hall. There is a large, pleasant meeting room for setting up crafts and leaving them there. Three sewing machines, ironing board and iron for braiding work will be placed. Because this is Easter weekend a community church near Capernwray has services available on Easter Sunday.
Provisio: Bring your own projects, tools, wool, materials. No formal teaching is available at this time, however shared expertise will happen naturally.
Reservations: If you desire to attend contact Patsy Simon at karlheinzsimon644@hotmail.com or Beth Bolster at bolster2@telus.net and telephone 250 246-3350.
The first to mail in their non-refundable deposit of $50.00 to Beth Bolster, received by January 15th, will secure a spot. Beth Bolster, P.O. Box 2-2, Thetis Island, B.C. Canada VOR2YO
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In Lantzville BC, Wendy Hallsall offers daytime classes.
For information, please contact her at wenhal@shaw.ca or call (250) 390-4501. |
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I am posting a list of rug hooking groups in British Columbia, as of April 2008. Please contact me if there are omissions or corrections.
Vancouver Island
Chemainus: contact Colleen Wike at info@sagehousestudio.com
Duncan: Faye Gillbert (250) 748-7068
Nanaimo/Nanoose: Dogwood Rug Hookers contact Shirley Burns at gsburns@shaw.ca
Victoria: contact Martha Barchyn at barchyn@island.net
Victoria: contact Sheila Stewart Blair at sheilastewart@telus.net
Sidney: contact Diane Cross at spincros@shaw.ca
Comox Valley: Peg Challender at johnpeg@telus.net
Mainland
Chilliwack: Tuesday Matters Rug Hookers contact Betty Lou Carver 1(604) 824-4095
Vancouver: contact Michele Silver-Sirois at bigdogrugs@yahoo.ca
Kamloops: contact Lois Peters at lpeters@tru.ca
Kelowna: Jean Anderson at e-j-anders@shaw.ca
Summerland: Ann Kiefer at rskiefer@shaw.ca
Squamish: Jane Iverson at nothingfiner@direct.ca
Shuswap: Lynda Diepold 1(250) 675-5016
Maple Ridge Gone Hooking meets each Wednesday from 10:30am - 3:30pm Beginners lessons with supplies available.For more info please contact Freda at (604) 463-0043 email gohook@telus.net
White Rock Irma Melanson (604) 531-6041
Campbell River Bev Morris (250) 923-6545
Port Hardy/ Coal Harbour Debra Davidge 1 (250) 949-7988
Salt Spring Island
Sandy English at gordonenglish@uniserve.com
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LINKS:
Ontario Hooking Craft Guild
ATHA -Association of Traditional Hooking Artists
Big Dog Rug Designs
Rug Hooking on Line
McGown Guild
Jean Delaney Designs
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