Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia monthly guild meetings: Last Thursday of each month except July, August and December from 10 am to 2pm. Morning coffee break provided. Bring your own lunch. Church hall at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 25 Phoenix St., Bridgewater. Contact Heather Gordon, 902-640-2369, [email protected]
Hebbville at the Hebbville Fire Hall, Thursdays from 10 – 2. Tea and coffee provided. Bring your own lunch. September to June. Contact Jean Wentzell, 902-354-3550.
Trinity – the Rose Bay/Riverport group, every Tuesday (September to April) 1 - 4 pm at Trinity United Church , Rose Bay Contact Carol Harvey-Clark 902-624-9312 or [email protected]
Spruce Top at Spruce Top Rug Hooking Studio, 255 Main Street, Mahone Bay. Sundays 1 – 4 pm Contact Carol Harvey Clark, 902-624-9312 or [email protected]
Main Street Hookers at Encompassing Designs Rug Hooking Studio, 498 Main Street, Mahone Bay, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays year round from 7 - 9 pm Contact Christine Little 902-624-0370 or [email protected] Visitors and travelers welcome.
Liverpool on Mondays from 10 – 2 at the Superstore meeting room, Liverpool. Bring your own lunch. Contact Rose Decker 902-354-5597 [email protected]
Shelburne on Tuesdays from 10-2 at the yacht club on the waterfront. Bring your own lunch. Contact Gail Daniels 902-656-2574 [email protected] Continues through the summer.
In addition to these larger groups, there are several smaller groups that meet at the member’s homes. We will try to provide information for newcomers when possible.
Summer Hook-ins for 2013 River House on Thursdays July 11 and 25, August 8 and 22. 10 am to 2 pm. Join the Hebbville group in Petite Riviere this summer. Come and hook by the river. Contact Jane Steele at 693-3111 or [email protected]
Bell Island on Mondays July 5 until end of August, except for August 5. 10am to 2 pm at the LaHave Islands Community Centre next to the LaHave Islands Marine Museum. Earl Smith’s famous blueberry scones and cinnamon buns, tea and coffee are available by donation. Travel across beautiful Crescent Beach and enjoy a day on the islands.
Summer Shows for 2013 From Mat To Masterpiece – Lighthouse Rug Hookers - July 2 - 28th at the DesBrisay Museum
From the Beginning – A Retrospective by Doris Eaton - opens July 6 at River House
Out of the Box – Innovative pieces by The Square Zebras – opens September 7 at River House
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Welcome from the South Shore Lighthouse Rug Hookers.
We are delighted to support the DesBrisay Museum’s summer theme of Women At Work. Traditional rug hooking has been an important part of women’s lives in this area since the mid-1800’s. At first, hooked mats were used to provide comfort on drafty wood floors and to add a touch a colour to the home. As women’s lives and roles changed, rug hooking evolved from a household chore to a form of artistic expression. The display areas in this show reflect different periods and styles to show how changes in women’s lives are reflected in changes in rug hooking.
There is a tendency to regard heritage pieces simply as drab old mats. We challenge that perception. Considering the circumstances under which they were made, each and every one is, in its own right, a masterpiece. Each mat reflects the artistic spirit of the maker.
Although it is no longer a necessary activity, rug hooking is not a thing of the past. There is an active and vibrant rug hooking community on the South Shore preserving traditional styles and experimenting with innovative fibre techniques. Please feel free to drop in and visit one of our summer hook-ins and shows.
Keeping Traditions Alive
As you enter the show, you will see how traditions are being kept alive. These pieces are hooked with original patterns and designs, using traditional hooking styles and materials, yet they have a very modern look - a contemporary colour palette, a new dye technique, or an unusual treatment of a traditional design.
Traditional Hooking
On the fireplace wall, you will see wonderful heritage mats, early hooking tools, original Garrett Bluenose patterns, yarn hooking and new mats hooked in traditional Nova Scotia styles.
20th Century Revival
In the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s , a period of greater affluence and increased leisure time, there was renewed interest in rug hooking with emphasis on new dyed wool, shading and swatches, formal Rittermere, Moshimer and Pearl McGown patterns, all hooked in fine cuts (mainly #3) and fine shading. This was the period of the first guilds, early rug schools and development of teacher training and certification. A selection of these beautiful classic rugs extends down the center of the display.
Contemporary Hooking
Multi-fibre pieces, wall hangings, modern folk art styles, a proliferation of original designs - the sky is the limit for artistic expression. We now enjoy story mats, hooked portraits, abstract designs and multidimensional creations. Many are unique and innovative. Others reflect innovative application of traditional influences, which takes us back to Keeping the Traditions Alive and back to the entrance of the show.
Thank you for visiting from Mat to Masterpiece
DesBrisay Museum
130 Jubilee Road, Bridgewater, B4V 2A7
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 - 5 and Sunday, 1 - 5
902-543-4033