Liv Aanrud is a textile artist who combines elements of weaving, tufting, painting and drawing to dimensional fabric paintings and installations. In her talk to the Green Mountain Hooking Guild, Liv will discuss how her work progressed from painting into textiles, and how intuition, improvisation, rhythm, and scale influence how and what she makes.

She earned her B.F.A with a painting emphasis from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire in 2001 and an M.F.A from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2011.

Aanrud’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at New Image Art, Arvia, 1700 Naud, and TSA-LA in Los Angeles; Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe, NV, Oasis Gallery, Marquette, MI, John Davis Gallery and Pamela Salisbury Gallery in Hudson NY, and Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects, NYC. Her work has been shown in group exhibitions across the U.S., Taiwan, Germany, and Spain. She has an upcoming exhibition in Lillehammer, Norway.

She currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.

Website and video:

https://www.livaanrud.com/

https://vimeo.com/384615278

Registration is required (you’ll get the Zoom Link info in an email after you register)

Free for Guild Members, $5 for non-members.   Register Here!

22 = 2-gether 2-gether (again!)

The board is working hard on getting plans together for an in person Rug Show for November 3-6, 2022.

We’re making arrangements with the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier for a show, school, hook-in and vendors.

There is much to be done, and we’ll be looking for Guild members to step up and help out.

The December 2021 newsletter will have lots of information about how you can be involved.

Click below to access the 25 page September 2021 newsletter, with many upcoming events in September and October.

NOTE:  The Newsletter was uploaded with “June 2021” in the banner.   There is now a corrected version if you want to re-download for that correction.

for members

for non-members

The Board met and came to the conclusion that there wasn’t time to plan a Hook In for July, and that many members were busy with vacation plans and finally getting to be with grand-children.   We’ll look to schedule something in the fall.

We’re hoping your local groups are finding time and spaces to get together.

The Brattleboro Rug Social group was able to meet in our usual space for the first time last week.  It was so good to be able to be in the same space together.

We still hope people are thinking about how to Hook in Public  this summer, but the weather has been challenging!  Maybe looking into the fall will be good for that too.

We’re not far in our 251 Challenge to Hook in Public in all 251 towns in Vermont.  But please do let us know where you’ve been hooking or if you’re thinking about participating in a fair, Old Home Days, festival or other gathering.   We want more people to SEE what we do and get interested in hooking or punching.

Quite a few of our members met at  The Mad River Fiber Mill in Waitsfield on June 11th.

Are your local groups meeting – inside or out?   Send us updates and pictures!

An edited version of our May workshop, via Zoom is available here for those who missed it.  Thanks to Anne-Marie Littenberg for a great presentation and to Sharon O’Neill for facilitating, editing the recorded session and getting it up on our YouTube channel.

We have set two challenges for our members this year:

1.  Hook a Door  –  see details of this challenge.
2.  Hooking in Public in all 251 towns in Vermont.   One or more members can host an outdoor hook in at a park, town green, gazebo, or other space.  Share your plans on our Facebook Group, and then, on the day, take a photo with some identifying landmark.  Submit photos, and town locations to barb@irislines.com for inclusion on a web page.  — Our version of the 251 club.

The 251 Progress Report:

Members have hooked in  35 towns  that we know of!   But we think there are more to be reported.   Send your reports  of  “hooking in public”  to barb@irislines.com.    Our goal is to be seen doing our art to raise awareness and interest.

We met  on Zoom and had fun sharing our recently completed and works in progress.

Best of Show (1 of 3) at GMRHG Virtual Rug Show 2020

Best of Show (1 of 3) at GMRHG Virtual Rug Show 2020

Honorable Mention at GMRHG Virtual Rug Show 2020

Honrable Mention at GMRHG Virtual Rug Show 2020

Honorable Mention in Virtual Show 2020

Best of Show (1 of 3) at GMRHG Virtual Rug Show 2020

We’ve posted minutes and copies of the “sticky notes” posted on “jamboards” during the meeting.

A jamboard is a collaborative tool that allowed many of the 30+ members in attendance at our Zoom meeting to respond to a few requests for input.

You’ll find the minutes and the jamboard notes linked on our About / Board Documents page.

The Board (including our FIVE new board members !) will meet via Zoom this Saturday to follow up on all the ideas generated at the January meeting.   Bookmark this home page, and watch for new initiatives and projects.

GMRHG Challenge 2021:

hook a door:   

·         any size

·         decorate it anyway you want – Christmas, spring, etc

·         can be your door or a door you saw in a magazine, your mother’s door,etc.

·         any color

·         with or without a house/barn/shed etc.

·         could be one you saw leaning on stuff at an outdoor flea market (like Brimfield)

·         Use your imagination

Once you are finished, post a picture to the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild group on FaceBook. Let’s see how many doors we can get hooked in 2021.

We just launched this the end of January and already have over 100 people joining us on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenmountainrughookingguild/

Don’t “DO” Facebook?   We’ve brought the most recent posts to you on this page of this site:  Our Facebook Group

All content for Newsletters should be sent to Barb   barb@irislines.com  (with GMRHG in the subject line, please!)

Newsletters for 2021 and 2022  will come out early March, June, September, and December.

Deadlines are the 15th of the month before:  so….  February 15,  May 15,  August 15, and November 15.

For each newsletter, we’ll do a random drawing from the member contributors for a great “door prize”.

Send YOUR ideas for collaborative “articles” to barb@irislines.com.

All kinds of content are welcome.  Please include photo of project, photo of yourself, and at least a caption, if not a paragraph or whole article.

• Recently finished rugs

• Works in progress

• Results of a recent day of dyeing

• Great new finds for your stash….. or stash busting projects….  or organizational tips!

Elect new board members!  Hear reports about 2020 Raffle and Rug Show!  Participate in discussion of Future Rug Shows and other activities of the guild.

Your participation is needed!

Details and Registration:   https://gmrhg.org/events/

Our president has challenged all of us to get Rug Hooking into our local news papers.

Click here to see a recent posting featuring our member Lynn Soule and her RBG rug that is part of our virtual rug show.

This week’s Only in The Islands by You features the work of Champlain Islands Fiber Bee Lynn Soule of North Hero who hooked this incredible portrait of RBG in a mere three months from a painting by Florida artist Alicia Betancourt. Thank you Lynn for sharing with us all.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg
March 15, 1933 – Sept. 18, 2020

NORTH HERO – Champlain Islands Fiber Bee Lynn Soule hooked this remarkable portrait of RBG from a painting by Alicia Betancourt. Soule saw the painting at an art festival in Florida and immediately asked the artist for permission to recreate as hooked rug.

Granted permission, Soule began hooking the portrait in January of 2019. She told The Islander, “it took about three months to complete, which was quick because I was so into it.”

“It really took on a life of its own. The jewels in the crown are part of my aunt Lilyth Coates jewelry collection, sister of Joyce Chamberlain. The collar is from Jane Straiton’s grandmother and the earrings are actually lapel pins representing the Scales of Justice and Gender Equality.”

The piece will be featured in the November/December issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.

When asked what her plans are for the piece, Soule said “It is hanging in my dining room and will stay there.”

The board determined we needed to postpone the membership meeting until January.   Watch this space for updates when things are finalized.   We did get some folks who came forward intertested in serving on the board — so that’s good news!

The Hooked in the Mountains 2020 online Show is available to view NOW! 

Go to

https://rugshow2020.gmrhg.org/

and enjoy.

Doing an online Show is a new venture for the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild and we have a lot of content for you. There are videos, essays, featured artists’ work and of course the members’ rugs themselves.

There are 3 jurors’ awards and 3 honorable mentions. We hope to return to an in-person show but we also hope this format helps get our work out there and maybe make it available to more people than ever.

Please send out the link to everyone you can think of, and share via facebook, pinterest, twitter or the platform of your choice.

The Show will be up and available for about a year.

The 2020 raffle ended just before out October 7 ZOOM celebration.

The winners  and (total # tickets submitted) for each prize are:

SRO Scrappy Rug One  — Dawna M  (262)

TES Tesselated Sheep — Beth M (257)

PPP Purple Rug and Pillow — Mary H  (32)

PSG  Pillow by Suzanne G — Darlene C  (143)

VSN Vermont Starry Night — Elise R (156)

WHE White Egret — Gina S (69)

SWF Summer Wild Flowers — Joyce G (29)

FSP Framed Sheep Photo — Kim A (13)

PHF Puritan Hooking Frame — Joyce G (77)

ONS Hotel Stay — Deborah K (43)

Winners were notified by text.

Board Members who donated the prizes will be in touch to arrange delivery of the prizes in the next few days.

We cleared just over $4000 in this raffle.

THANKS to all who participated!

The 2020 Online Raffle is OPEN at

https://bit.ly/rugraffle2020

Visit the site,  buy tickets and submit them for the prize or prizes of your choice.

August 30 update:  We’ve already collected $2500  from 69 individuals who have purchased 639 tickets.  The raffle remains open until October 7.

Tell your friends — include the address in emails, facebook posts, etc.

Below are links to a one-sheet with all the prizes, ticket package prices etc.,  order slips for selling to your friends,  and an ad which you can download and then send in emails to your friends.

You can also collect cash / checks from friends – but we’ll need full info from each of them.  Then send slips and checks payable to GMRHG to Barb Ackemann,  101 Washington Street, Brattleboro, VT  05301 — be sure it will reach me by October 1!

onesheet

raffle slips   (4 to a page for cash sales to your friends)

ad that will appear in Celebrations coming out in August

Continue Reading

Offering hand printed rug hooking patterns and supplies, Honey Bee Hive has more than 2,900 rug hooking designs, from Pearl McGown and Jane McGown Flynn, Kim Nixon, Carolyn Stich and more than 50 other artists.

Melissa Pattacini
patterns@rughook.com

https://rughook.com

(860) 888-6869

40 Forest Street
Manchester, CT  06040

2020 Raffle Sponsor

We will hold a business meeting via Zoom on Sunday evening July 19th from 6-8:00 pm.

Members will get an email with a link to sign up for the meeting. The reply to your R.S.V.P. will include the link to the Zoom meeting.

Our Spring Hook-In, scheduled for April 25, 2020 is also cancelled, but REPLACED by a Virtual Hook In and Show and Tell using the web conferencing platform Zoom.

At 10:00 on Saturday April 25, members will be able to log into a Zoom meeting, sit in the comfort of their own homes, and see other members as they share recently finished projects, or their current project.  Sharon O’Neill will moderate the session and call on members to share one at a time.

See Guild Events to RSVP.  You’ll then get a letter with all the details for logging into the Zoom meeting.

Here’s a screen shot from our recent board meeting, to give you an idea of how this might work. There were only ten of us, so we could all fit on the screen.  For the April 25 event,  you’ll see one person at a time sharing their projects.  And it can really be a hook in, because you can hook while you watch!  Just be ready when it’s your turn to to share!

A large group of hookers enjoyed the two-day Fall Hook in at the Stoweflake Inn in Stowe. The room was packed with enthusiasm. People from near and far shared the camaraderie of hooking. Several vendors were set up around the outside of the room. The colorful displays drew many a hooker over for a few more “must have” pieces of wool or accessories. Besides a Guild meeting run by our leader Gina and our very capable Board, we heard from two speakers and did some group sharing.

Judith Hotchkiss 

http://www.judithhotchkiss.com/

Judith Hotchkiss spoke to the group on Saturday afternoon. Judith has turned to punch rug hooking and punch needle embroidery and is currently most interested in combining punch and traditional rug hooking. She is an Oxford Certified Punch Needle Instructor as well as McGown certified to teach traditional rug hooking. She dyes all her own yarns and wool yardage and occasionally includes her own handspun wool. Judith lives and works in Deer Isle, Maine where she is constantly inspired by the colors and beauty of Downeast Maine.

Sunday before lunch:  Loretta Scena

https://www.facebook.com/LorettaScenaDesigns/

Loretta Scena gave a presentation on Sunday. She shared the story of her rug hooking journey and displayed many of her creative rugs. Loretta is a McGown certified Traditional rug hooking Teacher from Long Island New York. She is a self-taught fiber artist who loves to create embellishments and ornaments using beads, yarns and scraps of fabric. She is a member of ATHA, TIGHR, and the Pearl McGown National Guild, as well as several east coast guilds. She is the past president of the Long Island Guild of rug crafting artists. She has had her work published a few themed rug hooking Books, as well as Rug Hooking Magazine. She is the curator along with Michele Micarelli of the Exploring the Tarot Rug Exhibit.

See details about the Fair

A September event was just added by a member.

See details.

Our friends across the river sent info about a Rug Show in Concord, June 28-September 13.

Please check it out!

We had two excellent presentations at our Hook In in July.

Read about the event and the speakers by clicking the link to Continue Reading

We have two raffles to announce:

Tickets for each raffle are $5 for one ticket, or 5 tickets for $20.

Proceeds to benefit future programs for Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild.

The raffles are:

One-Night Stay at the Lake Morey Resort, in Fairlee, VT

and

Two-Night Stay with breakfast each day at the Stoweflake Resort in Stowe, VT

Continue Reading

July 13 and 14 we were at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee, Vermont

A big thank you to our new Program Chair, Sharon O’Neill for researching venues and making all the arrangements.

Continue Reading

Click here for a video preview:  http://mrvtv.com/450790-2/

The show ran through April 27.  More Details.

Sandra Grant has sent me photos from the show which I’ve included in the May newsletter!

About 50 of us met April 27, 2019 at the Capital City Grange in Berlin, VT, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Our presenter, Kathy Giroux, is a fiber artist who specializes in needle felting.   Kathy gave a brief history of needle felting, and then focused on the process using many examples of how she uses needle felting in her art.  We got a good overview of what Kathy means when she says, “I paint with fiber.”

We had two vendors for the spring hook-in in Barre/Montpelier:

• Mary Lee O’Conner – Hooked in the Mountains Wool
• Stephanie Krauss – Green Mountain Hooked Rugs

The newsletter went out this week with a list of Local Hook ins.   We did indeed scare up another that hasn’t been on our website:

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs, Montpelier, VT:

First Saturday of the month, October to June 1:00-5:00.

Free and open to all. Tea, coffee & snacks. For more information, contact Stephanie Allen-Krauss, 802-223-1333

Please send any additions / corrections to barb@irislines.com and she’ll get them in the calendar, and in this update.

Sharon was one of four artists interviewed on the radio for a show called The Upside VT Art Hop.

Here’s the link to the radio show.  Sharon’s segment is right at the top of the show at about  3:42

Note: You can click on any image to open it in a larger format.

Juror’s Awards:

The juror was Katie Kirschoff, a curator at the Shelburne Museum.

Kim Mizcik  – “Light Blocks”

Viewer’s Choice Awards:

• Whimsical Designs for Rug Hooking & Wool Applique
• Glorious Hand Dyed Wool & Wool Yarn
• Sari Ribbon, Silk Yarns
• Teacher, Colorist, Beeline Distributor, Miller & Ritchie Hooks
• A Full Spectrum of Color for All Your Projects.
• By appointment afternoons Monday – Thursday , Friday & Saturday mornings.

(802) 247-0089
Brandon, VT
www.fluffpeachybeandesigns.com

Do you love rug hooking, but hate to do the finishing work on your projects?  We’ll carefully hand-finish those projects for you.  Mother and daughter team of second and third generation Rug Hookers with more than 25 years of experience.

Ann & Annavitte French
New London, NH

(603) 526-9265
rugsfinished@gmail.com
www.rugsfinallyfinished.net

2020 Raffle Sponsor

www.amyoxford.com

2020 Raffle Sponsor

http://wcushing.com/

http://www.redhorserugs.com/

rughookseaside.com

October 17 – 21
Champlain Valley Expo,  Essex Junction, VT.

Opening Reception:  Tuesday, October 16,  5:30-8:30 pm

Just $10 to join the fun and see the show before it officially opens.   Meet the featured artists,  enjoy finger foods and cash bar.   There will also be a live auction of a rug by Peg Irish.

Show Hours

Wednesday – Saturday,  9-5
Sunday,   9-3

Location

Champlain Valley Exposition Center
105 Pearl St, Essex Junction, VT 05452

link to Google Maps

Our 2018 Featured Artists:

• Kris McDermet
• Anne Cox

Workshops:

Plan to take one or more of our one-day workshops with your favorite teachers.  Click the workshop title for more details.

• Wednesday October 17:  Kris McDermet — After the Hooking comes the Braiding
• Thursday October 18:  Anne Cox — Hooking Without a Net
• Friday October 19:  Diane Burgess — Learning to Hook Rugs
• Saturday October 20:  Karyn Lord — Wool Applique and Embroidery

Each workshop runs for one day,  9:30 – 4:30, with lunch provided.
The workshops are $125 each – additional materials / tools / resources may be available at additional cost.

Registration opened March 1, 2018.  Space is limited.   The Anne Cox workshop is full.

Rug Raffle

There is a new Rug Raffle featuring a rug by Kris McDermet named “Passion”.   Preview the raffle rug. Tickets will be available online starting in August, and will be available at the show.

Hook In at the Show

Guild members will be working on projects at the show, so you can see HOW this work is done.  We’ll have a frame set up for you to try your hand at pulling a loop!

Vendors

Vendors will be on hand with wool,  hooks, and other supplies.  See the vendor list.

Volunteer

There are many ways to help at the show – from helping with rug registration, to hanging rugs, to manning a table, to clean-up.

The volunteer form is available now!

Donate

We never quite break even and donations help!   Putting on the show involves renting space for 10 days, including the set-up and the 4 days of the show itself.  Our walls and lighting have to be stored from one show to the next, so there’s monthly rental for the storage unit.  Use our new online donation form, or you can make out a check to GMRHG and mail it to Biffie Gallant, 2024 Hebard Hill Rd, Randolph, VT 05060.

Show your work!

Online Rug Registration is open  or you’ll be able to  Download a PDF registration form.  A single $10 registration fee covers up to 4 rugs and/or any number of stars.

Make a star!

“Wish upon a star” is the theme for the show and we’re looking for members to hook a star-shaped piece to display. More about this challenge.

See our president, Gina Steen’s Television Interview: https://bit.ly/2LNHwiv

Putting on the show is a labor of love — but it costs money, too!   Click to make an Online Donation.  GMRHG is a non-profit 501c3 organization.