Textile Working

Beatrice Harnish (Mason)

2013-09-11T13:09:54-04:00

I was born in East River Point, NS in 1944. I was taught at a very early age how to Hook rugs, Quilt, Sew,Knit, Etc. Thanks belongs to my Mother,Eileen Harnish(Jollimore), Father Eldon Harnish, and especially my Grandmother Lottie Harnish(Schnare) all of East River Point. I learned a totally different trade with my Grandfather William Harnish in his Cooper shop. He taught me all phases of barrel making,cutting wood,the use of using a draw bench and a draw knife,using a schythe for cutting grass, etc. I did not have a boring childhood, always something to do. But I mostly looked forward to my GrandMother's hooking and quilting bees with all the ladies and gents because I was allowed to help. I have continued over the years to dabble in making rugs the old fashioned way with recycled clothing and do so to this day.

Germaine Clothier

2013-09-11T10:01:26-04:00

Germaine Clothier creates suttle mats, tote bags, table cloths, and othe sewn items

Hilary McCarron

2013-09-11T10:25:55-04:00

Hilda Cleveland

2013-09-11T07:44:04-04:00

Hilda started rug hooking at age eleven (1944) and was taught by her mother. Back then rug hooking was bartered for household goods. Later Hilda hooked rugs to sell outright.
Hilda has always lived in Blandford and has continued to hook rugs every year and is still producing.

Mona Boutilier

2013-09-11T12:48:47-04:00

I studied jewelry at NSCA with Ms. Nora Gorman. Iwent to New Jersey and studied mold making, casting, making procelin flowers etc.
I do knitting of all kinds and sizes.
Hairpin lace is a lost art but easy to do. Come and learn every Thursday from 2 - 4 PM form May 1st to October. We will supply the equipment you need.

Myrna Reeves

2013-09-11T07:51:27-04:00

What I do now started at my great Aunt Aliza's Knee. She taught me traditional crafts such as; quilting, hooking, braiding, cross stitching, knitting, crocheting, patchwork, making dollar mats and biscuit cushions. Although I'm no expert I'm any of the above, I have won numerous awards including Best in Show at Maritime Fall Fair for my "spectrum" braided rug. Because of this I was invited to be a participant in the "At Grandmother's Knee" project. My main interest is passing on "endangered" crafts. I'm particularly intersted in demonstrating the making of these to young folks.

Paul C. Hogue

2013-09-11T10:20:50-04:00

Paulette Barkhouse

2013-09-11T07:48:12-04:00

I took up hooking about ten years ago. I taight myself, but my mother hooked rugs when I was a little girl. I never dreamed I would hook rugs one day, but I do, and sometimes I hook pictures that people give me to hook for them of their homes and places on mats for them to enjoy.

Slipcovers etc. by Jill

2013-09-11T13:15:16-04:00

Slipcovers etc. by Jill started in 1998. Jill Keddy, owner/seamstress, is self-taught. Specialities are custom-fitted slip covers for sofas, chairs seat cushions, draperies and various window treatments. Alterations to clothing is available, provided customers provide their own fabric. Design consultation is available. Large pieces of furniture are fitted on site. Experienced in all types of slip covers and draperies.

Susan Bezanson

2013-09-11T07:55:00-04:00

Susan Lord

2013-09-11T10:35:55-04:00

Susan lives in Blandford and started hooking after she retired in 2003.

When she was a child, many homes had a large hooked mat by the front door for muddy shoes or by the bed to keep your feet from hitting the cold floor when getting up (before wall-to-wall carpeting). These mats were often in the 'hit and miss' or 'log cabin' designs. In today's world, doormats can be purchased at any department store and hooked mats have become beautifully crafted works of art. Susan wanted to carry on the tradition of hooking the rag mats in the style that many women of her mother's generation hooked.

Susan's mats carry on the tradition of primitive mat hooking using the straight line method. She hooks with cotton and cotton/polyester blends to create her one-of-a-kind mats. Their smaller sizes makes them ideal for on tables, hearths or as wall hangings and her colourful, original designs will brighten any room.

A member of the Aspotogan Arts and Crafts group, she won an Excellence in Rug Hooking at the May 2004 and May 2005 Spring Gallery Show. She also displayed at the Hub-Arts Show in July 2005.

Yvonne M. Hennigar

2013-09-22T18:22:40-04:00

Yvonne Mason- Hennigar was exposed to rug hooking at her faternal grandmothers home on Big Tancook Island. Functional floor coverings were created from discarded clothing and yarns. She creates hooked rugs from commercial patterns but the major pattern sources are drawings inspired by every day surroundings.