"Mayflowers" Hooked by Ann Amberg, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The mayflower rug is the first rug hooking experience I have had.  The  instructions were easy to follow.  LinArt Designs has many unique and beautiful patterns and kits, however I chose the mayflowers as it is the Provincial Flower of Nova Scotia where I was born.  I enjoyed creating this hooked rug.  It is very beautiful.    A.Amberg, A Happy Rug Hooker in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Aunt Babe "The Happy Rug Hooker" at age 84

70 years ago my sisters and I hooked rag mats to protect the linoleum floors and keep it cozy under foot.  My Dad drew the designs and we searched for the strongest materials available.  It was great fun.  This past winter I hooked "The Sandy Point Lighthouse" by LinArt Designs.  It was my first experience in hooking with yarn.  I added clouds, rocks and high tide to my original pattern.  I'm overjoyed with my project.  This fall I am anxious to start a LinArt Designs rag mat. Happy Rug Hooker at 84 - Winifred Bower, Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

"The Cape Light" Hooked by Rita's Jenkins Class, C.S. I, Nova Scotia

I chose the "Cape Light" kit from LinArt Designs for my class in "Introduction To Rug Hooking".  The kits contained 100% wool yarn in bright happy colours.  The kits also contained a professionally silk screen pattern on quality burlap with 2" seam allowance.  The 15 students found the pattern easy to use and when finished they were all very pleased with their project.   Rita Jenkins, Instructor, Port Clyde, Nova Scotia

"The Croak Family" By Barbara Leduc, Wilmot, Nova Scotia

I chose the Leap Frog pattern from a selection of cartoon patterns and hooked this mat in hand dyed wool using a #4 cut.  It was a delight to hook and I am anxious to start my next project from the cartoon series.  Keep designing those interesting characters.  This series would make lovely children's mats.   Happy hooking, Barbara Leduc, RHGNS - Teacher

"Happy Crows"

I love cartoons.  They bring a smile to us all.  The "Happy Crows" are one of my favourites. The crows mate for life and that is why I put the hearts in the design.  Her toe nails are painted to match the hearts. Crows are popular around my home.  They are so fascinating and clever.  Perhaps if they had a more attractive colour, people would appreciate their skills.  If you choose to do one for your grandchild, or simply for a smile, make up a story to go with the scene in the mat.  Enjoy the cartoon series.

"Abstract Circle Large"

Abstracts are exciting to me because you can create your own colors and values.  You can rug hook them in 100% wool yarn or wool strips.  They are a fun project and easy to do.

"Fancy Floral"

What is more beautiful than flowers?  I love flowers whether wild, garden or hothouse.  We can never have too many flowers.  We can do them in fine shading, or outline and fill.  I will be offering you instructions on how to do an "impressionist" garden, similar idea to my home page. Take pictures of your garden this summer and you can enjoy doing them this winter.  Regardless of what level you have accomplished, if you can relax, enjoy, and do an impression only, you can create a beautiful piece!

"Mother with Lambs"

Like all types of fiber art, the primitives can be a lot of fun.  This is a real chance to use your textured wool, like raw fleece.  Also just to outline and fill or do a large cut to make huge beautiful loops.  Many of the designs here could be called primitives especially the cartoons.  I have been studying the animals in the neighbours yards lately, so we will have some interesting designs coming your way soon!

"The Common Loon"

"The common loon" is my first design for rug hooking wild birds.  I want these designs to be enjoyable and simple enough to recognize the type of bird we're hooking.  One rule of thumb on birds, always hook the way the feathers grow.  For instance, hook the feathers away from the eye and towards the back of the head.  Do the eyes first, once that is correct the rest is easy.

Just a word of thanks to Linda who helped me get started hooking with yarn, I love it. Great job done. thank you. Marj. B