Rug Hooking Magazine - All-Time Favorite Hand-Hooked Rugs: Celebrations Readers Choice Winners

Albert WileWorm Digger, 28" x 31", #2- and 3-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Suzanne Gunn, Centreville, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2007.

S uzanne Gunn keeps an eye out for interesting design ideas as she travels the Nova Scotia countryside. While on a subject-seeking foray along the Fundy Coast, Suzanne happened upon Albert Wile who was way out on the tidal flats digging for worms. With camera in hand, she hiked out to take some photos of him. But by the time she reached him, he was taking a break, sitting on his bucket, having a cigarette. I asked if he minded if I took some photos, recalls Suzanne. He said, Fine, but take them as I am.

Over the years, Suzanne has snapped other worm digger pictures, but the ones of Alberteven though he wasnt working at the timeturned out to be her favorites. The photos I took of him sitting on his bucket proved to be so much more moving than the ones of him at work. The two of them chatted about his life on the tidal flats, giving Suzanne more insight into what she wanted to convey in this rug.

Because many of her rugs are set in the same locale, Suzanne already had on hand the dyed wool she needed for the waters and beaches. Suzanne loved hooking the pants, which were covered in mud. It was a challenge to show the fabric through the mud while also showing the contours of the fabric.

Suzanne had problems figuring out the colors for the face, arms, hair, and beard. If she questioned her color choice, she ripped it out and started over, even if it was a whole weeks work. In several areas, she re-hooked over and over to get the realism she wanted. The end result is an amazingly lifelike portrait in wool.

Reunion on Quince Street, 24" x 32", #2- and 3-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Lynne Fowler, Westover, Maryland, 2007. BILL BISHOP/IMPACT XPOZURES

Reunion on Quince Street

Third Place Readers ChoiceOriginal Design

Lynne Fowler

L ynne Fowlers rug depicts herself and her college friends who get together every three years for a reunion, reliving old memories. Lynne takes photographs of these precious times, and this design is a compilation of several shots. Here we see three of the women walking down a ginkgo-leaf-covered street in Philadelphia. If you look very closely, youll see Lynne peeking out from behind a tree. The autumn colors, the golden leaves, and the warm browns throughout are a wonderful snapshot of fall in Philadelphia.

Lynne planned the colors. She worked from a huge pile of golds and greens for the trees and leaves, focusing on values and small shapes, trying to make the natural elements of the rug appear impressionistic and warm. The dark building to the right of the figures was a challenge. Lynne discovered it was difficult to imply structure. Rather than considering it as one object, she broke it down into small sections and hooked each section one value at a time.

She loves the intimacy of these good friends who shared a wonderful time in life together, and she loves the implied motion in the rug as the women stroll down the street during their reunion. The rug now hangs in the entry hall of Lynnes new studio space, beckoning people to come in and share their own memories.

Leopard, 21" x 21", #3- and 4-cut wool on rug warp. Designed by Jon Ciemiewicz; hooked by Judy A. Carter, Willow Street, Pennsylvania, 2007. BILL BISHOP/IMPACT XPOZURES

Leopard

First Place Readers ChoiceCommercial Design

Judy A. Carter

J udy Carter is a long-time rug hooker with more than 80 completed projects to her credit. She designs her own patterns and tackles commercial projects as well. This rug was a natural choice for Judy: she already hooked close-up rugs of a lion and tigerprojects she found dramatic and fun. Leopard fit into the series, and she liked that the design incorporated more of the body of the animal.

Judy prefers using textures and fine cuts of wool to capture the realistic look of animals. This rug was no exception. The most challenging part of this rug was the big cats paw. There isnt much contrast in the paw, so its hard to make it look realistic, says Judy. Judy discovered that concentrating on the dark spots for contrast made it much easier to capture the realism.

Judy finished the rug with cording, whipped with Persian wool yarn. She attached one side of the rug tape while she whipstitched it so she only had to hand sew one side of tape. This gives a smoother finish, she says.

Poppy Seed, 28" x 43", #3-cut wool on linen. Designed by Heirloom Rugs; hooked by Peggy Hannum, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2006. BILL BISHOP/IMPACT XPOZURES

Poppy Seed

Second Place Readers ChoiceCommercial Design

Peggy Hannum

P eggy Hannum has been creating rug art for more than 30 years. During that time she has completed many rugs, using many different styles and various cuts of wool. This rug,