Rug hooked chair pads.

A series of rug hooked chair pads .... hot off the hoop! In the tradition of rug hookers of long ago, I use only recycled materials. Recently, I've been using recycled burlap coffee bags which, unlike the finer "hairless" burlap, will leave visible fine burlap fibres. With use and wear, these little fibres should eventually work their way into the fabric.

Each chair pad measures approximately 11 1/2" in diameter; $65 each.  ALL SOLD

Rug Hooked Bench Pad/Runner

Another in my recent series of "hit or miss" rug hooked bench pads, the rich browns and vibrant autumn colours of this piece would be sure to add a touch of warmth to any space.

Hooked with recycled wool on burlap, this piece measures 27 1/2" x 11".
$180  

Hooked rug

The fall weather continues to be glorious for working outside and this new piece seems to reflect the cheerful mood of the season!   I'm kind of in love with the way the vivid reds show up on the mottled green (hand-dyed) background.   The rug, hooked with wool on burlap, measures 33" x 20 1/2";  $375   SOLD

Rug hooked bench pad, chair pad, hot pads and coasters!

It's been an absolutely beautiful start to fall, so I'm taking advantage of the lovely weather and the front porch to continue my work. Here are a few new rug hooked pieces that I've just completed.

The bench pad is done in a "hit or miss" design using strips of wool fabric; the background is hooked with yarn.  The soft colours and simple design would work well in a rustic or contemporary setting.
 Measures 28" x 10 1/2";  $180.00
SOLD

Fun and functional -  this"coneflower" hot pad was hooked with wool on burlap in rustic autumn tones.  
Measures 8 1/2" x 8 1/2";  $40.00
SOLD

More fun and functional - a  primitive style hot pad hooked with wool on burlap in a heart design.  

Measures 8" x 8 1/2"; $40.00

SOLD

Rug hooked chair pads add so much life to an old wooden chair!
This piece was hooked  with wool on burlap in the "hit or miss" style.
Measures 11" in diameter; $65
SOLD

I love these colourful hooked coasters!
Each measures approx. 4 1/2" square; $28 ea.

Last Day of Market!

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is my last day at the Lakefield Farmers Market.  (Market continues until Thanksgiving weekend for most other vendors - and local produce is at its best!)

I have two more hooked pieces that I'll be taking along with me tomorrow.  It seems, without even realizing it, that I've been tending towards the autumn colours now that summer is nearly at an end.

Rug Hooked Hot Pad - with a cheerful coneflower design.  This piece measures 8" x 8"; $40.00  SOLD

Rug Hooked Bench Pad/Table Runner - measures 28" x 8 1/2"; $160  SOLD

Rug Hooked Hot Pad

Here's another new piece that will be going off to market tomorrow.  This brightly coloured hot pad was hooked with a wide cut wool on burlap.  The piece measures 8" x 8";  $40.   SOLD

Rug Hooked Bench Pad/Runner

It's been a very busy and successful market season this year, and I've so enjoyed being part of this community-based market again this summer.  I took a bit of a break from rug hooking to focus on some yarn projects - wool baskets, hot pads and coasters - none of which even made it into my blog posts!  I'm now back to hooking, and - although it's only August - am preparing for upcoming Christmas events in the Peterborough and Lakefield area.

This hooked bench pad (or table runner) that I just completed.  It's hooked in the 'hit or miss' style, with a dark olive green background.  This piece measures 27" x 9";  $160.  SOLD

Hooked Chair Pad

I was recently invited to do a "pop-up" market at the newly opened Towns & Leahy Mercantile, a delightful general store in the tiny village of Duoro just east of Peterborough, Ont..  The store, originally P.G. Towns, serviced the surrounding farming community back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was recently newly restored by grandchildren of P.G. Towns in partnership with the Leahy family and focuses primarily on all local produce, meats, chicken, cheeses, eggs ...... It's a joyful place where customers come in and stay a while to visit; local musicians stop by to play some tunes, and folks can sit on the old front porch and enjoy a freshly made deli sandwich...

I took some of my rug hooked pieces to the shop; and planned to do some demonstrating ... instead, I had fun encouraging the many visitors to try rug hooking for themselves.  It was a FUN day!!

I had just finished this colourful chair pad in time to show it at the shop.  It was sold before I even had a chance to put it on my blog.  Happily, the customer sent me a picture of the piece in its new home.  Looks great!

SOLD

Hooked Rug with Sunflowers

Throughout the first half of the 1900s, hooked mats on floors across Canada carried the name "Bluenose," a well-known Nova Scotian name. Some even carried an image of the famous fishing schooner of the same name. About 1926, the Garrett family business in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, adopted the word as its trade name for hooked mat patterns. Its printed burlap patterns, distributed by mail order, transported the name and the company's designs into homes far away. Although Garrett's was neither the first nor the only producer of hooking patterns in Nova Scotia, the company was certainly the largest, and by far the longest in operation.

Among my late grandmother's treasures was a lovely Bluenose Rug pattern in a lively sunflower design. I'm so glad I held onto the pattern for some 40 years - never dreaming that I'd end up hooking rugs myself.  Just recently, I dug out the pattern and transferred it to a new piece of burlap - and voila!

The mat measures 31 1/2" x 20" - $325.  For more information you can contact me at rdyer@nexicom.net    SOLD

Hooked Rug

Here's a cheerful hooked mat just perfect for home or cottage!  It would also make a great house-warming gift.  Hooked in vibrant colours of wool onto burlap, the piece measures 32" long x 18" wide.  $325.  For more information, you can contact me at rdyer@nexicom.net.  Or send me a PM on my Coral Door Studio Facebook page.

SOLD

Hooked Rug

This curly-coated, floppy-eared sheep is looking for his forever home!  The whimsical hooked mat is a bit of a departure from my more contemporary pieces, and I loved working on it.  Hooked with recycled wool fabric onto burlap, the piece measures 29 1/2" x 25" and would nicely grace any cottage or home.  $350.

Please contact me at rdyer@nexicom.net - or at Coral Door Studio on Facebook - for further information

SOLD

The Art of Slow Stitching

I have long been drawn to the art of slow stitching - mindful, organic, hand stitching. It can come in many forms such as quilting, textile collages, and even mending.  Over the years, I have collected beautiful bits of fabric, lace, antique handkerchiefs, and ribbon, determined that one day I would focus on this contemplative art form.  So when life handed me a lemon in the form of a broken arm, I put away other more strenuous projects and dug into my collection of beautiful old textiles.  Over the six weeks of healing, I let the colours and textures speak to me as I worked them into a collection of lovely fabric collages.

Finished pieces may be hung as is, mounted on a backing, or framed.... I've included a couple of interesting ideas including an antique hanger of some sort (?); and even an old metal toilet paper holder that I found many years ago in a cottage outhouse!   (Hangers are not for sale).  For info on any of these pieces, please contact me at rdyer@nexicom.net or on Facebook.

White Lace with Heart
Measures 10 1/4" x 11"
$60

Violas
With Lace and Linen
Measures 8 1/2" x 9 1/2"
$50

Violets
With Lace and Beads
Measures 6" x 11"
$40

Lily of the Valley
With Lace
Measures 13" x 5 3/4"
$60

SOLD

 I found this lovely set of tiny red-scroll edged linens at East of Eden Antiques in Woodview, Ontario.  Each piece measures 4 1/2" x 7".  These diminutive collages would look lovely in frames or shadow boxes.    $28 each or set of four for $100.

Hooked Rug

Just finished - this wool rug, hooked in jewel tones on a black background, would make an impact in any small space,  and in any decor - contemporary or rustic.  This piece measures 29" x 22" - $325. For more information, you can contact me at rdyer@nexicom.net.   SOLD