My motivation with every rug is the desire to create an original design, the subject having a special meaning to me, and which is aesthetically pleasing to others. Original designs become an extension of you and your vision…it's your story. Each rug stands alone because each reminds me of a time, place, person and feeling unique to that work.
Some gallery rugs are in the possession of private collections. They are shown here to serve as a compilation of previous works to show the diverse interests of the artist and demonstrate the evolution of hooking expertise.
Visit the Web Store for latest available rugs.
$95.
Approx. 13" diameter
This chairpad is an original design and hand-hooked in a primitive hooking style with 100% wool fabric strips in a wide cut, and the edge is whipped by hand with wool yarn.
Use it to bring a touch of Fall inside for a nice seasonal decorating change. Perfect for a dash of color on a tabletop as well.
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Tartan Window
$260.
Approx.. 25” x 13
This original design is hand-hooked in a primitive hooking style with 100% wool fabric strips in a wide cut and the edge is whipped by hand with wool yarn.
Twelve 4” squares hooked in assorted warm shades are punctuated with small red squares scattered in each square. Reminiscent of a log cabin quilt pattern with a contemporary twist. ‘Rainbows’ and mini hearts bookend the design.
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Winter is Coming
$95.
Approx. 9.5" x 12"
This original design is hand-hooked in a primitive hooking style with 100% wool strips on a monks cloth backing, and edges are whipped with 100% wool yarn.
A solitary pine stands straight and strong in the foothills while snowcapped mountains bring the promise of another chilly, winter season ahead. Yet evokes a calming effect.
Lay on a tabletop or chair seat to bring the outside in, especially fun in a ‘den’ or a woodsman’s retreat.
Pinto Pony Chairpad
$95.
Approx, 14" diameter
This chairpad is an original design and hand-hooked in a primitive hooking style. It is hooked with 100% wool fabric strips in a wide cut and the edge is whipped by hand with wool yarn.
Since the American southwest has the greatest number of pinto ponies in the world, this chair pad has been hooked in colors representing that region and with stylized decorations. The desirable patterns of pintos were found in ancient artworks and continue to be used today in decorative pottery, home decorating and hooked rugs.
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Basketweave (2021)
$575.
Approx 33-½”w x 18-½”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
This artful, geometric pattern is at home in either a country or contemporary home. The uniform color pallet is strategically placed to form a pleasing ebb/flow pattern. Can also be hung vertically for an unexpected view.
Meet Me in the Alley for Dinner (2020)
Approx. 23”w x 17-1/2”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth. The edges are whipped by hand with wool yarn.
Who doesn’t love a love story! This shadowed alley forms a perfect backdrop for a late-night rendezvous The up-and-away eyes on the would-be lovers reflect the innocence of an unlikely match.
Don’t you love the meatball?
Private Collection
(A credit goes to Justin Walsh for his assistance in transferring the design to the monks cloth backing, expertly hand-done by a 5-year old aspiring artist)
Zentangle Bear (2021)
Approx 27”w x 19”h
An original design, hooked by hand in a #7-cut wool on monks cloth. The edges are whipped by hand with wool yarn.
Zentangles are designs that include free-style patterns, often within a larger outline or with no defined outline. It’s really an upscaled doodling that anyone can do.
Design elements on the bear include a stylized snake, feathers, eagle, and a fish for the head….and a ‘heartline’ often seen on animals in art pottery as a swishing or zigzag line in the shape of an arrow from the mouth to the heart.
The grandsons joined in to draw their unexpected ‘crazy art’ on the backing for the background, trees and sky.
Private Collection
Bernadette in a Box (2020)
Approx 26”w x 20”
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Kitty loves to cozy up in small spaces to nap, play, hide or stage an ambush. She dominates her space and amuses us with her antics.
The background is hooked in a primitive style with random roving and coordinating stripes to anchor the box. Colorful hit and miss blocks border the whimsical design. The focus of this rug…Bernadette in her happy place.
Private Collection
Pumpkin with Swag Chairpad
The Dog Team Tavern
Approx 30”w x 26"h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Sir Wilfred Grenfell and his wife, Lady Anne Grenfell were huge influencers in the rug-making cottage industry in Labrador and Newfoundland, delivering materials to the crafters via dogsled if necessary.
The Grenfell’s established a “Dog Team Tavern” salesroom in Middlebury, Vermont in 1936. This was a successful outpost for rug makers to display and sell their Grenfell rugs.
Showcasing the desirable and sought-after Grenfell rugs supported the local economy and promoted the art of rug hooking to a broad audience.
The Dog Team Tavern rug has its own story to tell and is a snapshot of its place in rug hooking history, 1936-1946. This rug tells how they did just that by capturing who, what, when, where and how.
Selected for inclusion in the annual publication of Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs® 2021 Private Collection
Runaway Rabbit (2020)
Approx. 25” w x 18” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut. new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
For some reason, a rabbit on the move always appeals to me. This design is in keeping with a primitive style, with no facial details or shading. Blueberry bushes add a pop of color to the background and the border is hooked with “tongues”, popular with applique enthusiasts.
You might think the bunny could be my spirit animal since usually my speed in most things I do is ‘fast’. However, hooking a runaway rabbit did not make me hook this rug any faster. It still took 3 months to complete.
Private Collection
(Note: In the Native American Zodiac my spirit animal is the beaver; in the Western Zodiac, the fox)
Flute in Red Rocks (2020)
Approx 12”w x 24” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
his flute-playing dancer, Kokopelli, is a fertility deity, presiding over both childbirth and agriculture.
The image is one of the most easily recognized figures found in petroglyphs and pictographs from long, long, long-ago centuries.
In recent years, the familiar figure has been adopted as a broader symbol of the Southwestern United States and adorns keepsakes from the region.
The red rocks landscape is prominent, adding a fitting background to a mythical entity.
Private Collection
Glory (2019)
12” round chairpad. An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
$95.
An adaptation of a patriotic image in familiar, weathered colors. It evokes the comfort and safety of home.
Private Collection
Medicine Wheel (2019)
Approx.14" w x 19-1/2" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The Medicine Wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, is a symbol used by native nations representing stages of life, health & healing. The 4 colors used by the Lakota nation are red (north), yellow (east), white (south) and black (west). Colors and placement on the wheel varies by individual tribal customs, and spiritual customs that are shared across native nations. There is no one Medicine Wheel for all of Native America.
In addition to the sacred directions, each having a spiritual meaning for life, there is Father Sky (blue) and Mother Earth (green), and Spirit Tree (white in this example).
Decorative touches are often seen on pottery, blankets, ceremonial regalia and jewelry…some images are my interpretation.
Private Collection
The Chase (2018)
Approx.25-1/2w x 16”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Spirited horses tell a long ago story, permanently chiseled on a cave wall. Known as a pictograph, rock relief, petroglyph or rock sculpture, they all represent a “language” in artform. A Petrograph on the other hand, is an image drawn or painted on a rock face. Other symbolic figures incorporated in the design represent artifacts essential to the time.
Private Collection
Poppies and Pansies (2019)
$485.
Approx. 34" w x 18-1/2” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The decorative and colorful designs of Polish Pottery were the inspiration for “Poppies and Pansies”. The amazing artists in the pottery factories paint their cheerful art on greenware passing through the production line.
The design for this interpretation of the pottery evolved as it was being hooked, incorporating familiar images of circles, flowers and butterflies surrounded by the signature cobalt blue featured on the majority of this pottery.
Homeland (2018)
$1225.
Approx. 25-1/2" w x 19-1/2" h
Featured in 2019 Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs®
Homeland drew inspiration from the beauty of our native cultures, the symbolism incorporated in everyday settings, and our beautiful lands, streams and mountains. Even images of sacred animals held in such high regard to the way of life and sustenance are woven into native designs.
The spirit of ancestral horses are captured in the clouds serving as a reminder of past generations. Decorating the border are interpretations of native bead work, colorful stripes found in pottery and blankets and squash blossoms in the corners.
One in Every Crowd (2018)
Approx. 20”w x 17”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
While familiarity and camaraderie are shared while travelling with like-minded individuals, there may come a time to shake things up and be confident in a unique style that distinguishes you from the crowd.
Private Collection
Pick Me! (2018)
$95.
Approx. 20”w x 5”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #7-cut, repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
A tidy assortment of pumpkins to enhance a stair riser or seasonal table. Hooked entirely from a gentlemen's wool patchwork jacket. Fashion has never been so honored! (A photo of the jacket will be sent upon request. See it to believe it.)
Runny Bunny (2018)
Approx. 20"w x 5-1/2"h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Since bunny bodies are designed for running and hopping, with strong legs and well-sprung muscles, some varieties can reach speeds of 25 to 45 mph, jackrabbits even faster. No, you will not be able to run faster wearing bunny slippers.
(Suitable for hanging over a door frame, drawing attention upward, or on a stair riser.)
Private Collection
Street With No Name (2018)
$125.
Approx. 20"w x 5-1/2"h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
This mat evokes a friendly neighborhood street scene with absolutely no connection to the suspenseful, dark & gritty 1948 film with a similar name. SWNM portrays a colorful, diverse street in an idyllic town, if only a fictional one.
Patchwork Horse (2018)
Approx. 20"w x 8-1/2"h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
A country horse in a primitive hooking style.
Private Collection
Spirit Bear (2011)
Approx. 29" w x 19" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and reclaimed 100% wool on monks cloth
The Kermode bear of British Columbia is revered by local culture due to their special color and rarity. One in ten black bears are born white and are known as the 'spirit bear'.
Incorporated in the rug are subtle symbols of a spiritual nature including a turtle, snake, fish, mountains, sun and pine tree.
Borders add to the story with the blue & yellow design representing sun and sky. The Bear Paw quilt pattern is in the corners, and the design on the sides represents native beadwork. Can you find my initials?
(Rug Hooking Magazine: Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs XXII
Private Collection
Shy Rabbit (2018)
Approx. 21” w x 6" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Wild rabbits are a speedy bunch, and when being chased, they will run in zigzag formations to confuse, rather than outrun, their predators. They can make their get-away into underground rabbit communities of expansive and secretive burrows.
For the Native American tribes of the Northeast Woodlands and Northern Plains, the Rabbit Dance is one of the important social dances which can be seen at some inter-tribal powwows today. Private Collection
Asbury Park (2018)
$335.
Approx. 25” w x 16” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
A trip to the Jersey shore would not be complete without experiencing the Asbury Park boardwalk, beach, and especially the fun & games for all ages. Do all these activities and you will have a full day “down the shore”.
Ravens Secret (2017) - Trade Blanket Collection
Approx. 24" w x 18" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Ravens are misunderstood creatures. Cultures vary on their opinions of them from evil to playful to mischievous. Century-old myths tell of ravens being messengers or tattle-tales, and in some native cultures they are described as tricksters who wish to deceive. They are rascals!
This rug has many symbols and vivid imagery to keep your eye moving through the design. There is one detail hooked here that I’ll share with you, intended to test your interpretation of a design in disguise. The two rows of ‘H’ shaped figures are adaptations of frogs. Did I trick you? Maybe I am the Raven.
Private Collection
Orphan Train (2015)
Approx. 37” w x 17-1/2 h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program, organized by Children's Aid Society and later, the Catholic New York Foundling Hospital. Orphaned and homeless children in the east were transported to homes located largely in rural areas of the Midwest on trains that were labelled “orphan trains” between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children.
The year 1917 on the train station was chosen to represent details during this time. Sometimes only a handful of children were on the train, not carloads. However, the many faces represent the thousands that were transported over time. The truck, train and clothing are stylized and may not be true renditions of a particular time. No facial details were used since it's not certain how happy or sad the orphans were about this.
This 'snapshot' tells a good history lesson about a time that is not familiar to many. The life of a child is not often described in history books, but they were a part of it and had their own story to tell.
Private Collection
Little Black Dress (2016)
$345.
Approx. 24" w x 18" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Little Black Dresses have been a must-have in womens’ closets for decades when everyone had a go-to LBD that could be worn to any occasion, any time of day…. Dress it up, or dress it down.
Each woman here coordinated her LBD in her own hair style and accessories. The only facial feature was lipstick color complementing each look.
Could all 5 possibly be the same person at different ages wearing the same dress….The young teen---the late teen in college---the grown up graduate---a business woman with a blazer and briefcase---and the older woman in pearls?
Welcome Home (2016)
Approx. 25-1/2” w x 16-1/2" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Country dwellers may already be familiar with scenes of a cabin in the woods, and city dwellers have surely seen Christmas scenes evoking the warmth of a welcome home sentiment. Whether in a warm or cold climate, nothing endears us more than to return to the safety of our home…at least I hope so.
Private Collection
Empire State (2016)
$425.
Approx. 17” w x 25” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The architecture of the Art Deco period inspired this rendition of the world famous Empire State Building, its 102 stories standing majestically today as it did when completed in 1931. It has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The interior details in modern stainless steel, glass & illumination capture the design and glamour of pre–World War II architecture in New York. Gorgeous high corridors, embellished elevator doors, tiles, relief and art fill the lobby and halls.
The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. If you haven’t seen it, you should.
Forty Flavors (2015)
Approx. 22-1/2" w x 6" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
The long, narrow shape of this mat lends itself to a place above a doorway, or tucked against a stair riser. Hung vertically also adds another surprising view. Sometime you just have to pull out the stops and let creative whimsy take over. When imagination is set free, this happens.
Hey, wait a minute. Fish come in some very unusual shapes and colors so who’s to say this is strictly fantasy. One day we may hear of a discovery of a new species…but remember, you saw it here first.
(Suitable for hanging over a door frame, drawing attention upward, or on a stair riser.)
Private Collection
Trade Blanket (2015)
$525.
Approx. 24.5" w x 16" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
Many triangles form a geometric pattern in pleasing bold colors. No curved lines were used to hook this lively combination of repeating and complementary ‘woven’ rows. They come together to form a harmonious design. However, look deeper and you might see suggestions of coral and diamondback snakes and fanciful fish that will have your eye moving along its rows.
Imagine (2011)
Approx. 24.5" w x 19” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The inspiration for this rug is the John Lennon memorial, Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, NYC. Subdued colors were used, primarily black, grey and green to create a calm, reflective mood, with a spot of red for love.
You might recognize images from Central Park and the New York City skyline: the mosaic inlay, the Central Park red-tailed hawk, rocks, park bench, Lennon woven into the tree bark, Dec. 8, 1980 hooked in the left border, the towers of the San Remo on 75th/Central Park W, and the façade of the Dakota on 72nd.
More than 30 years after his death, Lennon fans still gather on anniversaries to lay flowers and light candles, singing songs to pay tribute to his talent and memory.
Private Collection
Tessellating Collection: Fish with Beading (2014)
Approx. 36” w x 18” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Design and texture come together in one rug. Tessellation is an arrangement of interlocking, alternating and repeating identical shapes.
This rug also incorporates customary straight line hooking and another hooking technique known as alternate or ''beaded" hooking, which uses two contrasting wool strips held on the underside of the rug side-by-side. First one color is pulled up, then the second color is pulled up, alternating to fill a single row of light, dark, light, dark wool strips. Can you see that every half fish is done by the beading/alternating hooking technique?
If this isn't enough to remember, the border is a ‘hit and miss’ design using strips left over from previous projects, hooked in a random fashion without color planning.
(No actual beads were used in the creation of this rug)
Private Collection
Mustang (2014)
$390.
Approx. 24” w x 13” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Our American west is characteristically an arid environment, with endless vistas of gorgeous colors blending earth and sky. As peaceful as mesas may appear, these are harsh environments, formed of weathered and weakened, eroded rock and the uplifting of more resistant rocks by tectonic activity, breaking the sides into a staircase pattern called "cliff-and-bench topography". Since mesas are horizontal rock layers, so was this rug hooked in colorful, blended horizontal rows of every imaginable color of a western sunset.
Alone in the vastness, a solitary horse frees itself in the open terrain, energizing our senses with his full-out movement and spirited attitude. The ultimate expression of freedom.
Note: The free-roaming mustang population is managed and protected by the Bureau of Land Management under United States law.
Caribe (2016)
Approx. 21" w x 6” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
This little beauty languishes and blends with the colors of deep tropical water. A collection of calming blues, teals and lavender reflect the peaceful underwater environment.
(Suitable for hanging over a door frame, drawing attention upward, or on a stair riser.)
Private Collection
Come! Sit! Stay! (2012)
Approx. 23" h x 32” w
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Fred’s is a restaurant in an Upper West Side neighborhood in NYC. It’s named after the owners’ dog, Fred, shown on the left. Diners are encouraged to bring framed photos of their dogs, adorning the interior walls with hundreds of pet photos. The commands: Come! Sit! Stay! welcome dogs AND their owners.
Hooking the couple going into Fred’s was a challenge…would it be possible to get enough details in a small space? Yes, just one loop or two can give a hint of what it is meant to be and your imagination translates it into the image.
Other details incorporated were the fairy lights in the trees at Lalo’s across the street, assorted passing vehicles, the Hudson River & NJ in the distance and a street sign at Amsterdam and 83rd. Private Collection
The Beekeeper (2013)
Approx. 27" w x 17" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
My Dad was a beekeeper. We children liked to see him in this funny outfit, he looked like a spaceman, which was an intriguing thought in the 1950’s. We were also curious to see him work his hives but stayed far away when dad was keeping his bees, as seen by the little girl figure watching from behind the tree.
Private Collection
Can You Hear Me? (2013)
Approx. 25” w x 15-1/2” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
Many good childhood memories were made at the family home during the time I was 6-12 years old, and some are captured in this rug.
Two of my longest-lasting memories are of learning to ride a bike by rolling down the hill on the front lawn.
The other was trying to make a string telephone connecting my sister's bedroom with mine, which was not one of our brightest ideas. Mom and Dad would have thought we were very funny and clever if we didn’t make holes in the window screens to run the string….ow.
My Private Collection
Pirate! (2011)
Approx. 20” w x 25” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Piracy on the high seas was not romantic or idyllic. It was a ruthless and treacherous time. It was all about the ‘treasure’ and the pirates' scheming and personal sacrifices made to get it, evident in the pirate's expression.
Incorporated are familiar 'pirate' images, the crows nest, the Jolly Roger, and on the deck the Captain, treasure chest, a ship's cat, gangplank and parrot. Under a troubled sky, the pirate spies the next target.
A treasure-map border includes some of the hazards pirates encountered while on their journey for the prized booty: mountains, getting lost, crossing a river, fighting other pirates, a volcano, bad directions and an alligator in a pond.
Private Collection
Battleship New Jersey (2010)
Approx. 30" w x 20" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and reclaimed 100% wool on linen
The decommissioned Battleship New Jersey rests in Camden, NJ after serving in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, the Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm, earning 21 campaign ribbons that complete the border.
This rug reminds us that its crew had a sense of pride, love of country, and were committed to defending our way of life.
A written detailed description of the ribbons is folded and sewn under the binding to be discovered in the future.
Donated to the Battleship New Jersey Museum, Camden, New Jersey
On public and permanent display
Western Welcome (1994)
$125.
Approx. 23” w x 10.5” h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
A stylized feather border and the superscripted welcome come together on a background of mottled blue wool resembling faded denim. This warm & friendly mat will fit right into your home, especially if you decorate with clay pottery, woven baskets and anything made of leather.
Colorful Desert (2004)
Approx.2 1.5" w x 16.5" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The freedom of hooking-at-will yielded this interpretation of how a desert might appear to an artist by incorporating many colors from her pallet.
Four Peaks of the Mazatzal Mountains in the Tonto National Forrest are prominent in the distance, east of Phoenix.
Private Collection
Animal Crackers (1995)
$175.
Approx. 39" w x 27" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, repurposed 100% wool on burlap
This rug was inspired by a vintage cracker box. It is not certain that all these animals ever appeared in a circus, but they made good subjects to hook into a rug recalling a childhood memory of simple, savory crackers.
The stylized circus wagon features heavy wagon wheels and a scalloped design in the border reminiscent of century-old wagons.
In 2018, Nabisco announced a design change in the way animals are depicted on the cracker box. The 1923 design of animals behind bars in a circus wagon was abandoned and redesigned. The images on the boxes are now of free-range animals in a savannah.
Hudson Bay (2013)
Approx. 30-1/2" w x 23" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
The four colors of a Hudson Bay blanket (green, red, yellow and indigo) along with several 'points' indicating the blanket size or value, frame the beautiful Hudson Bay and surrounding evergreens and mountains.
As the design progressed, the story evolved to tell of early ships coming into the Bay to trade for fur pelts. In the foreground, a bear, rabbit, raccoon and beaver blend into the woodland and a protective Native American observes the ships' arrival.
Private Collection
Our American Bison (2008)
$95.
Approx. 23" w x 19" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
A tribute to the American Bison and the valuable source of survival to our indigenous people .
Tessellating Fish (1998)
Approx. 35" w x 18" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
Tessellation is an arrangement of interlocking, alternating and repeating identical shapes.
The art form originated many centuries ago. Today it is still a very desirable pattern in fabrics and stone & tile work.
Where light colors are used against dark, a 3-D effect emerges.
Private Collection
Jerry Lives (1999)
Approx. 22" w x 22" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4 and #6-cut, repurposed 100% wool on linen
If you experienced the 1960's you may get the meaning of this design.
Jerry Garcia was a founding member of the Grateful Dead. This tribute rug was hooked several years after his passing and recalls a vibrant and influential time in rock history.
Private Collection
Kaleidoscope Eyes (2010)
$525.
Approx. 29" w x 25" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
This was a fun rug to design and hook. The central character is prominent, drawing your eye to her face and hair. But the little fellow in the boat is actually a major player in this story rug...or is this a fantasy rug? Or both.
Rainbow Trout"(1997)
$85.
Approx. 16.5" w x 14" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4 and #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
A playful look at a stylized trout. It earned a second place ribbon and the Judge's Award at the Flemington Agricultural Fair, and it is attached to the back of the rug.
Humpy (2006)
$95.
Approx. 25" w x 18" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4 and #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
Participation in the Humpy Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska inspired this interpretation of a humpback salmon resting in the cool blue water under an evening sky.
Seven gold stars of the Big Dipper and the North Star direct navigators to true north. This combination of stars symbolically appears on the State Flag of Alaska.
Welcome Hearts (1994)
$140.
Approx. 32" w x 17" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4 and #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
Greet your guests with an early rug design to welcome them home.
Night Fishing (2011)
Approx. 24" w x 19-1/2" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
Two of my favorite places were merged in this rug: Pennsylvania & Alaska. Creating original designs allows freedom to pull together related but distant experiences into one design.
Of course, bears don't fish as we do. I'm sure in their own way they enjoy the experience just as much, especially on a dark night, accented with a blast of moonlight reflecting on the water and under a sky of dancing Northern Lights. The turquoise, purples and pink popped and brighten the overall rug. So does the glowing campfire.
Private Collection
An Amish Quilt Stripe (1995)
$90.
Approx. 28" w x 21" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
Also called Roman Bars, the simple design is hooked in bold colors frequently found in Amish and Mennonite quilting.
This is one of my earliest rugs and you can see I took little risk. I learned to hook in a straight row though! Turkey red, teal and purple combine to deliver a great punch of color...visually stimulating.
Red Rooster (2014)
Approx. 16.5" w x 21" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
Red Rooster was a quirky, little mat incorporating remembrances from the local county fairs in rural America. There, you’ll find the most astonishing variety of poultry in more sizes and colors than you could ever imagine!
Key elements combined in this mat are the county fair signage, an awning striped tent, hexagonal chicken wire border and straw under the feet of the champion rooster. For many poultrymen or poulterers, after raising a prize rooster, the next best thing is winning a first place ribbon.
Private Collection
The Answer is Blowing in the Wind (2009)
Approx. 20.5" w x 16.5" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on monks cloth
Using wind as a natural resource to produce energy is sometimes controversial, but may become more acceptable as we measure its benefits.
To evoke the sensation of wind, roving lines were used in the swirling sky and curving landscape. Even the script and date are in cursive!
Private Collection
Whiskers (1991)
Approx. 36" w x 28" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, repurposed 100% wool on burlap
In 1980, my young son drew a picture of our cat, Whiskers. As mother's often do, I placed the prized sketch in a drawer where it remained for 11 years when it surfaced and served as the model for this rug.
The rug is worked in 4 basic colors: red, black, grey and white, the background coming from a men's houndstooth sportcoat. The mouse border adds to the story of bewilderment in the cat's face.
Pet images have long been incorporated in wool mats, serving as a lasting memory of a long-gone friend. It does for us. The original artwork remains folded in the binding of this rug.
My Private Collection
Arizona Landscape (1992)
$900.
Approx. 40" w x 27" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, reclaimed 100% wool on burlap
This is one of my earliest rugs. Its simple design recalls the Arizona landscape with its endless rows of mountains and soft pastel sunrises and sunsets peeking between.
The border is a sawtooth or a chevron pattern, often seen decorating southwestern textiles and pottery.
Arizona remains a very special place with a fabulous artistic vibe.
Moose (2006)
Approx. 23.5” w x 19.5 ”h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, reclaimed 100% wool on burlap
A depiction of a woodland scene in a naïve style; an early interpretation as comfortable in a traditional home as in a minimalist, contemporary setting.
Private Collection
Quilt Star (1996)
Approx, 19" w x 19" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #4-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on linen
This is a simple and pleasing variation of the Texas Star quilt design. It is sometimes called the Lone Star pattern.
Muted earth-toned colors reflect the landscape of that region and are favored in both early and modern hooked rugs and quilts. White and red draw the eye to the center, and gold is sprinkled conservatively throughout.
Care is given to keep lines straight and points sharp in order to maintain the integrity of the design. It is far easier to hook a Texas Star than to quilt one!
Private Collection
Stained Glass (1990)
Approx. 33" w x 23" h
An original design, hooked by hand in #6-cut, new and repurposed 100% wool on burlap
This was my first hooked rug, completed in 1990. I may have been a novice hooker, but knew the value of dating original work, and glad I did! Always incorporate a date and/or your initials in the design or on a label attached to the back.
Identifying vintage rugs would be more accurate with a makers mark and date, and attribution adds interest and value to the work.
I don't know what inspired my Mother to take a hooking class at adult education, but she did, and introduced me to the art. This was the beginning of a life-long desire to create in wool, and to appreciate both vintage and contemporary rugs.
My Private Collection
SMALL MATS
These small mats, average size 10" w x 10" h, fit comfortably in small places, on a table top or as a wall hanging, and easily add a nice 'pop' of color and warm texture to your room. All are hand-crafted, original designs in 100% wool on monks cloth or linen.
Adaptations of those in private collections can be reproduced. Please inquire.
Native Pot (2018)
$65.
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Appreciation of native artisans. Humblest designs represent imagination and individuality.
Ol' Sol (2015)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: In spite of its age, the sun continues to bathe us in its warmth. Even on sunless days or dark nights this blast of light brightens a room with a wizened, comforting charm.
Private Collection
Brown Bear (2019)
$65.
Approx. 10" x 10"
Inspiration: A solitary, wandering brown bear passes through a natural landscape on a fall day. Always on the move, covering long distances in search of food. Especially hungry at the start of the winter hibernation.
"Midnight Serenade" (2017)
$65.
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: A moonlit night on the desert silhouettes a solitary coyote....calling to a companion?
"Cave Art " (2016)
$65.
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Experts argue whether images of horses found in caves thousands and thousands of years ago were figments of imagination or whether the artists were painting them as they saw them. Either way they surely represented symbolic meanings from a variety of cultures.
Decorated caves are priceless treasures of art and history and we must preserve them for the future.
"Great Bear" (2016)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Bears are an important part of Native American culture, symbolic of physical strength, agility and quickness, and represent courage and leadership. The bear is a Mother-symbol.
If you embrace the spirit of the bear, you may believe in its healing abilities to help self or others, and the importance of balance and comfort in solitude, quiet time and rest. The spirit of the bear provides strong grounding forces in touch with the earth and the cycles of nature; it is a powerful guide to support physical and emotional healing.
Private Collection
“Spruce” 2016
Approx 10” w x 10” h
Inspiration: Years ago, a small potted Christmas tree was planted in the yard after its service and now stands well over 30’ high. This is a tribute to the longevity and stateliness of the perennial evergreen.
Private Collection
“Bird on Branch” (2015)
Approx 10” w x 10” h
Inspiration: Color! Nature provides us with striking bejeweled birds that dazzle us with a beautiful spectrum of colors, while smartly conveying different messages to other birds. They do this not to impress us but to impress each other, and sometimes artfully provide camouflage for protection. A hit or miss border balances the central design with a riot of color.
Originally, the name of this rug was "Tim Macaw". Which do you like better?
Private Collection
"2012 Olympics" (2012)
$48.
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: In the 2012 London Summer Games, Michael Phelps made history with a total of 22 Games medals, including 18 golds, making him the most decorated Olympian to that time.
“Turn Around” (2016)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: The sun stands for light, power, strength and vigor. In astrological terms, the sun represents Yang energy, which is masculine in nature. Everything has a dark and a light side. As the sun rises and sets every day, every person has his days of glories and nights of darkness in his life.
Private Collection
“Penny” (2012)
Approx. 9" w x 9" h
Inspiration: A rendition of a log cabin quilt pattern, with a ‘penny rug’ border which is also known as ‘lamb’s tongue’. Harmonious colors and patterns are striking against a black background.
Private Collection
“End of Day” (2012)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: A small boat tied up at sunset is a familiar sight on the water. Serene, but ready.
Private Collection
“A New York Beauty” (2014)
Approx. 9” w x 9” h
Inspiration: A variation of early quilt patterns Crown of Thorns and Rocky Mountain, usually quilted in a series of triangles in a curving quarter circle. However, in the 1930’s the triangular ‘beauty’ of the Statue of Liberty and the art deco crown ornamentation of the Chrysler Building, backlit by the New York City skyline, gave an old quilt pattern a new name, New York Beauty.
Private Collection
“Cogwheels” (2015)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Intricate and beautifully designed gears, or cogwheels, have been in use for centuries. The industrial and automotive ages embraced functional and trusted gears of all sizes and loaded them into all kinds of mechanical gadgets. These are spur gears, the simplest type of gear, a disk with projecting teeth.
We depend on hardworking gears many times during the day without a second thought. In fact, we expect gears to be on the job even before we are out of bed in the morning. Alarm clocks and wristwatches are full of them.
Private Collection
“Blue Beauty” (2015)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: The Art Deco design period. This imaginative and geometric decorative style adorned the inter-war years with streamlined patterns, sharp angles, loopy curves, combined with the nostalgia and romance of lavish energy of the 1920’s and 1930’s.
No stranger to luxury, the automotive industry was influenced by the flourishes of high-end decorative embellishments, contoured design, bold visual detail and horizontal "speed lines".
Srivate Collection
"Fish Rock!” (2012)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Living with a family of fishermen spawns an appreciation for the wide variety in size, shape and color of fish…each species is a work of art.
Private Collection
"Blue Star" (2012)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: A simple blue star seeks peace and tranquility, promotes physical and mental relaxation, and radiates hope.
(Donated as an auction item to benefit a cancer patient)
Private Collection
“Autumn Wind” (2012)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Swirling leaves and a spinning swing caught by the wind on a fresh fall day.
Private Collection
"Black Bear on Blue" (2015)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: A solitary, wandering black bear. Always on the move, covering long distances in search of food. Especially hungry at the start of the winter hibernation. A desirable trait: Resourcefulness.
Private Collection
“Mola Bunny” (2012)
Approx. 9" w x 9" h
Inspiration: Mola is an art design originating in Central America, attributed to the Kuna women of Panama. Mola designs are typically geometric shapes outlined in a contrasting color, primarily in fabrics but also in body paint. Not just for Easter.
Private Collection
“Ever Green” (2015)
Approx. 10" x 10"
Inspiration: In the quiet of winter, evergreens remain vibrant with rich, pleasing shades of green while other trees turn brown or go leafless. The pyramid-shapes stand stately, offer a comforting scent and are sometimes adorned with berries and cones. During the growth cycles, needles fall randomly, providing a fragrant cushion on the ground beneath their branches. Animals seek the protection that evergreens offer, while we decorate our homes for the holidays with evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands.
Private Collection
“Coyote Moon” (2012)
Approx. 10" w x 10" h
Inspiration: Many visits to the American Southwest and the lure of western lore.
Private Collection