Lois's specialty was oriental style hooked rugs. She preferred the finer cuts and had a keen eye for detail when shading the roses she so loved.

I am so happy to have been able to visit with Lois before she died. My husband had an accident with the table saw and needed stitches so we went to emergency where I was surprised to find Lois. Although I could tell she was struggling she was still delightful and forever positive. She told me that she hadn't hooked in some time and missed it. I showed her the rug I was whipping and she enjoyed the whimsy of it. Every time I look at that rug I will think of her. When Bob entered the room I was impressed by the look of softness on her face and the love in her voice when she called him "dear". Truly, a love couple. My heart goes out to Bob for his loss.

When I first opened shop in a small room in my house, Lois was the first customer to walk through the door. I had been looking out of the window and saw a car screech to a halt opposite my driveway. The words "Rug Hooking" on the sign on the front lawn had grabbed her attention and she stopped short right in the road. She was so very pleased for me, wishing me all the best. It was people like Lois who spread my name around the community so that other rug hookers found their way to my door.

All those who knew her will remember her passion for baking and those delightful gingersnaps we all drooled over. Thin as paper, crispy and melt in your mouth goodness, every bite was a slice of heaven. The recipe follows.

Lois Sweeny's Ginger Snaps

½ cup butter
½ cup Fleishmann's Corn Oil Margarine
½ cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp Ginger
1 cup molasses

Mix above ingredients together and heat on the stove till hot. Remove from heat and cool 20 minutes or so. Add 1 tsp soda - dissolve by stirring well.

Add 3 cups sifted all purpose flour.

Place bowl in fridge till cool enough to handle, then make rolls. Chill again. Slice, place rounds on greased cookie sheet. Press down with side of hand and wrist until thin. Place sheet in oven of 350*. Turn oven down immediately to 250*. Set timer for 12 - 15 minutes. Remove from oven and use spatula to remove cookies at once.

Native Prayer

Let us not cling to mourning,
Do not stand on my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight opened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand on my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.


Author Unknown

Our rug hooking sister, Jean Morse, passed away April 14, 2007. She will be greatly missed by family and all those that knew her. She was a past president of the Nova Scotia Rug Hooking Guild and an honorary lifetime member. Her rugs achieved public acclaims and are private family treasures depicting the life stories of her family and love of the natural world.

A Personal Note:

I met Jean for the first time at a party shortly before I planned to open my rug hooking studio. She told me that she would like to give me some advice; words I shall never forget. With a gentle touch to my hand she said "Please promise me that you will always put quality wool in your kits." I assured her I would.

Jean was always coming into the shop to chat and show me the progress on her current project. (Over the past couple of years Jean hooked many of my designs that can be viewed on the website.) This one particular day she came in to purchase some more wool for a rug that I had designed as a gift for someone in her family. I jokingly offered myself up for adoption as both my parents had gone and I had no one to hook beautiful heirlooms for me. She told me that she would hook any one of my designs if I supplied the wool. At first I was embarrassed and immediately wished that I had never brought it up. Although I felt her offer was too much of an imposition, she made it very clear that she was serious and said she would love to hook a rug for me. I was deeply touched. She chose the pattern called Nautical Runner that resides in my husband's study in our home.