Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

91 and still hooking!

6/27/2013

1 Comment

 
My mom, Anna May Austin, by Guest blogger Mary Schlech
PictureAnna May gave this Blue Rocks rug to Mary's younger sister.
Here's a picture of my proud Mom who is 91 years old and still a hooker! I just got back from the states where we celebrated Mom's birthday!

My dear mom began hooking in her late 40's with her best friend in Darien, Connecticut. Her friend never completed the first piece, Mom never stopped. She is an avid sports fan and hooks while watching her favorite Met's baseball team. It is a joy to sit and hook with her. She lives in Florida and when I visit I bring my rug and my wool. She has Alzheimer's now and I sometimes have to push her to work on her project but she is always happy when she picks up her frame and gets to work.    
Mary Schlech

The rug being held by a smiling Anna May is Blue Rocks.  (Can be viewed at http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/signature-designs.html )  This is one of the most popular designs with tourists who come through the door and fall in love with the scenic beauty of this small fishing village just a short hop down the coast of Lunenburg.   The scene depicts a summer's day and a boat waiting to be launched on the skid.  Maybe it will be pushed into the water for a day of fishing or just motoring along the coast to enjoy the salt air.  If you go to Blue Rocks you can stand and look at this view, maybe the boat won't be there but the building is and the houses across the water dot the hillside.  When you look at this rug, you can almost hear the waves lapping on the shore and feel the ocean breeze brush by your face.   

I've drawn this pattern and made a kit many times over the years  and a finished version of the rug graces the wall of the shop.  It was originally hooked by Blaine Allaby and when he expressed an interest in selling the finished piece I jumped on it to represent the pattern.   Mary's mom did a fantastic job hooking her version and I'm sure it is a treasured gift of a mother's artistic talent, an heirloom to be treasured for decades to come.   If I did the math correctly, Anna May has been hooking for over 63 years, longer than some of us have been alive.  Sorry to hear that she is now struggling  with the terrible disease of Alzheimer's but knowing, she is surrounded by love and encouragement is heartfelt. 

Mary has been coming into the shop for many years.  The acorn didn't fall far from this family tree in that she is very talented designer and rug hooker.  Some of her pieces are regional to places she's visited or lived and she enjoys a challenge, taking on projects that evoke much thought and careful colour decisions.  I wish I had some picture to post of some of the projects it has been a pleasure to see but alas there are none.  She just called me with an emergency for a piece of wool she though maybe her husband used as a rag and when I delivered the bad news that it was no longer available she pleasantly said she would make it work with a bit of altering to the design, a clever solution to what could be a challenging block.  Personally I'd pull my hair out and on go on a chocolate bender!   I always look forward to a visit from Mary to see what she has been laying her hand to....I'm always filled with wonderment and awe at the creativity of her vision.   

1 Comment
Susan Doyle
6/27/2013 07:43:25 am

What an amazing lady! Happy Birthday to her & hope she has many more. I also love this rug & maybe someday will be able to give it a go.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL