Jim Bewley.........
Rug Hooker & Woodworker Extraordinaire
The Woolwrights have been so fortunate to have Jim Bewley as one of our members. Jim is a worker of wood and and also a great rug hooker. Jim has been a rug hooker for at least 18 years and is a retired carpenter by trade. At the current time, he is in the process of crafting 400 birdhouses for Longwood Gardens and the birdhouses will be displayed in the Rose Garden from Thanksgiving through January and you may also purchase Jim's birdhouses in the gift shop at Longwood. He has been making approximately 50 birdhouses a month and has over 200 completed. When completed, each birdhouse will identified by the types of wood used. He also makes spoons, bowls, and wine stoppers.
As you will see from the following photos, these bowls and birdhouses are magnificent and works of art. The detail on each birdhouse is just incredible and some houses already have inhabitants. This is just the beginning of tale of the birdhouses and Jim and this story will be continued with additional photos of rugs and information and we hope to have Jim share information about his woodworking at an upcoming meeting.
Rug Hooker & Woodworker Extraordinaire
The Woolwrights have been so fortunate to have Jim Bewley as one of our members. Jim is a worker of wood and and also a great rug hooker. Jim has been a rug hooker for at least 18 years and is a retired carpenter by trade. At the current time, he is in the process of crafting 400 birdhouses for Longwood Gardens and the birdhouses will be displayed in the Rose Garden from Thanksgiving through January and you may also purchase Jim's birdhouses in the gift shop at Longwood. He has been making approximately 50 birdhouses a month and has over 200 completed. When completed, each birdhouse will identified by the types of wood used. He also makes spoons, bowls, and wine stoppers.
As you will see from the following photos, these bowls and birdhouses are magnificent and works of art. The detail on each birdhouse is just incredible and some houses already have inhabitants. This is just the beginning of tale of the birdhouses and Jim and this story will be continued with additional photos of rugs and information and we hope to have Jim share information about his woodworking at an upcoming meeting.
Stephanie Braskey's Handiwork
Stephanie recently brought her beautiful work to our day and evening meetings. She shared her quilting, appliqueing, and counted cross stitch. Thank you to Vickie Agnello for the photos.
Stephanie recently brought her beautiful work to our day and evening meetings. She shared her quilting, appliqueing, and counted cross stitch. Thank you to Vickie Agnello for the photos.
Marion Sachs is a wonder and a great artist! Friday, May 11, 2012, Marion once again shared her wonderful talents with the Woolwrights. Marion and her daughter, Maureen, filled their car and came to our meeting to show us what Marion does in her spare time! We have all agreed that we believe Marion does not ever sleep. Marion and Maureen showed seven quilts today, some machine quilted, but most every one was hand quilted at 12 stitches per inch. She used various type of embellishments on her quilts and they are the most beautiful quilts that I have ever seen. The detail in these quilts is exquisite. Thank you again to Marion and Maureen to giving us this magnificent quilt show!
“DO WHAT YOU LIKE – DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO”
These are the words of wisdom that were given to Marion Sachs when she began rug hooking….. “Do what you like – do what you want to do”. I think that we all eventually come to this frame of mind once we overcome the overwhelming feelings that everyone has when they first look at what other rug hookers do with color, patterns, and their own creativity. But, there are a lot of us who will forever look at Marion’s work in amazement.
Marion Sachs is a petite woman who originates from the Bronx of New York City. She has a twinkle in her eye and a little bit of that New York accent that will never leave. I always knew after listening to her tell about her rugs at Show & Tell that she just could not be from Lancaster County. Not being from here myself, I still had to ask just where she was from and hear her story of how she started rug hooking. Marion is quiet and very humble when you speak to her about her rugs.
Marion originally started out as a quilter and after talking to her daughter, Maureen, I think that we may feel the same way after viewing her quilts that we now know and feel about her masterpiece rugs. Maureen said that her mother’s quilts are unbelievably beautiful.
Marion started rug hooking 13 years ago after reading articles in a rug hooking magazine. She found a rug hooking teacher, Marguerite Hastings, through information in the magazines and took classes from Marguerite for two years. She also went to teacher workshops with Pearl McGown for two years, but decided that was not for her. Then she has continued taking classes with Peggy Hannum.
The rugs that Marion brought to show us today were beautiful and were quite large size rugs. She said she usually completes each rug in under a year and I heard several comments that it would take most of us five years to complete one. She does do a few small pieces, but then wonders when they are complete just exactly what is she going to do with them, it is just not the same as a rug that you can put on the floor and use. Marion does all of her own dyeing of colors and her favorite cut is a #3. That is right…. a #3! She actually went up to a size #6 before and that will never happen again! She loves planning the shading of a rug and, as you can see, her rugs are like paintings.
Marion has given rugs to her daughter, Maureen, and her grandchildren and told me she has probably completed at least 15 large rugs. She has asked that the rugs be kept within her family.
So…. Marion, thank you very much for bringing your pieces of art with you today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about rug hooking and we all look forward to seeing your future projects. You are certainly an inspiration to me and many others.
August 2013: Marion just won first place at the 2013 Maryland State Fair and first place at the York County Fair for two of her rugs. Photos directly below:
These are the words of wisdom that were given to Marion Sachs when she began rug hooking….. “Do what you like – do what you want to do”. I think that we all eventually come to this frame of mind once we overcome the overwhelming feelings that everyone has when they first look at what other rug hookers do with color, patterns, and their own creativity. But, there are a lot of us who will forever look at Marion’s work in amazement.
Marion Sachs is a petite woman who originates from the Bronx of New York City. She has a twinkle in her eye and a little bit of that New York accent that will never leave. I always knew after listening to her tell about her rugs at Show & Tell that she just could not be from Lancaster County. Not being from here myself, I still had to ask just where she was from and hear her story of how she started rug hooking. Marion is quiet and very humble when you speak to her about her rugs.
Marion originally started out as a quilter and after talking to her daughter, Maureen, I think that we may feel the same way after viewing her quilts that we now know and feel about her masterpiece rugs. Maureen said that her mother’s quilts are unbelievably beautiful.
Marion started rug hooking 13 years ago after reading articles in a rug hooking magazine. She found a rug hooking teacher, Marguerite Hastings, through information in the magazines and took classes from Marguerite for two years. She also went to teacher workshops with Pearl McGown for two years, but decided that was not for her. Then she has continued taking classes with Peggy Hannum.
The rugs that Marion brought to show us today were beautiful and were quite large size rugs. She said she usually completes each rug in under a year and I heard several comments that it would take most of us five years to complete one. She does do a few small pieces, but then wonders when they are complete just exactly what is she going to do with them, it is just not the same as a rug that you can put on the floor and use. Marion does all of her own dyeing of colors and her favorite cut is a #3. That is right…. a #3! She actually went up to a size #6 before and that will never happen again! She loves planning the shading of a rug and, as you can see, her rugs are like paintings.
Marion has given rugs to her daughter, Maureen, and her grandchildren and told me she has probably completed at least 15 large rugs. She has asked that the rugs be kept within her family.
So…. Marion, thank you very much for bringing your pieces of art with you today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about rug hooking and we all look forward to seeing your future projects. You are certainly an inspiration to me and many others.
August 2013: Marion just won first place at the 2013 Maryland State Fair and first place at the York County Fair for two of her rugs. Photos directly below:
THE ILLUMINATED LIFE OF MAUD LEWIS
Spring flowers beginning to bloom, a warm, sunny day in February........ what a great day! I had the opportunity to attend the monthly hook-in at Betty Krull’s home in Lititz, PA. Betty and four of her hooking buddies started their own group about four years ago. Actually, Vickie, Joyce, Janice, and Helen knew they would have a great opportunity to work with Betty and learn so much more about rug hooking and color planning that this was something too good to pass up. Now, as dear friends, they are there to support of each other with rug hooking and anything else in life that happens to pass through the sunny, light-filled diningroom at Betty’s home.
So, in the past year or so, Betty shared a rug with the other ladies that she was working on titled “Children To School” designed after a painting that was done by Maud Lewis. The group quickly became interested in the Maud Lewis story and they all decided that they wanted to join Betty and hook rugs also designed from Maud’s paintings. Betty ordered the rugs from Canada and the group began the Maud Lewis project. Now, I am told that some in the group were a little unsure of their ability to hook the rugs with the proper shading and colors that Maud had used in her very colorful paintings, but as I look at the rugs, they are just absolutely beautiful! Some are completed and already have been promised to family members, but others are still a work in progress. The rugs definitely show “the reality of simplistic living” as noted by Betty.
If you would like some interesting reading, please check out "The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis". This colorful book gives the history of Maud, a severely handicapped individual who made the very best of her life never saying "woe is me", but fighting on to make the most of her very meager surroundings.
Thank you, Maud Lewis Ladies, for the wonderful day of celebration of friendship, conversation, and sharing in the sunlit kitchen of Lititz.
THE EMBELLISMENTS OF MARGARET WENGER
On May 24, 2011, Margaret Wenger had a program for the Woolwrights demonstrating the use of a wide variety of fabrics, etc. to embellish hooked rugs. As you can see from the attached photos, Margaret is very talented and her rugs are beautiful! "I like to use all different types of materials because it is fun to use something different and it also adds something special for me to the rug . It will be a one of a kind and I like that. I have used materials from silk to paper in my rugs which makes them very special to me."
On May 24, 2011, Margaret Wenger had a program for the Woolwrights demonstrating the use of a wide variety of fabrics, etc. to embellish hooked rugs. As you can see from the attached photos, Margaret is very talented and her rugs are beautiful! "I like to use all different types of materials because it is fun to use something different and it also adds something special for me to the rug . It will be a one of a kind and I like that. I have used materials from silk to paper in my rugs which makes them very special to me."
Deb Burcin, Anne Stevens, and Mary Lynne Naples (left to right)
THE STORY OF THE CHICKEN RUG
(Updated Note 1/30/2014: Please look at "The Chicken Rug Challenge on the website for more fun with the chicken rug.)
Months ago after a trip to a Brandywine Rug Hooking meeting, Anne, Mary Lynne, and I stopped at an antique store on the way home. We saw an antique rug with a chicken design which we all agreed that it would be fun to hook. We decided to hook the rug on our own and when we were all completed, we would share our rugs with each other. So off to home we went. I made a pattern for the rug and gave it to Mary Lynne and Anne.
Then one day, while I was on the computer, I received a comment about one of my rugs on Rug Hooking Daily from a fellow hooker living in the United Kingdom by the name of Jill Dian Izzard. Whenever someone comments on one of my rugs, I look at their information and view their rugs. Well, I was fascinated when I read about Jill and found out she is a fiber artist who is very talented and does unbelievable work. So I wrote her, thanking her and asked if she would be interested in making a donation for the 2011 ATHA Biennial since I was trying to get donations from all over the U.S. and other countries. Jill was excited about making a donation for the Biennial and made wonderful donations to our cause. I found out that Jill and some friends had a newly formed rug hooking group, of about six people, and some had never even hooked before.
So I talked with Mary Lynne and Anne and asked if they would be interested in asking Jill and her friends to join in with us on the chicken rug. We all agreed this would be great fun! So I wrote Jill to ask her if she and her group were interested and they decided to do the same. At this time, I believe there are three people in England working on the same design, but they are hooking the rug in abstract design which the three of us here in Lancaster County cannot wait to see.
We kept our colors and ideas for our rugs completely secret, never seeing the other rugs. So recently we got together for the big reveal at lunch and just had the best time seeing how each of us made our choices in colors, cuts, and finishing.
But the best part of this whole project is that now we have new friends from another place in the world and continue to correspond with stories and photos weekly!
(Story and photos to be continued when we hear
from our friends in the United Kingdom)
(Updated Note 1/30/2014: Please look at "The Chicken Rug Challenge on the website for more fun with the chicken rug.)
Months ago after a trip to a Brandywine Rug Hooking meeting, Anne, Mary Lynne, and I stopped at an antique store on the way home. We saw an antique rug with a chicken design which we all agreed that it would be fun to hook. We decided to hook the rug on our own and when we were all completed, we would share our rugs with each other. So off to home we went. I made a pattern for the rug and gave it to Mary Lynne and Anne.
Then one day, while I was on the computer, I received a comment about one of my rugs on Rug Hooking Daily from a fellow hooker living in the United Kingdom by the name of Jill Dian Izzard. Whenever someone comments on one of my rugs, I look at their information and view their rugs. Well, I was fascinated when I read about Jill and found out she is a fiber artist who is very talented and does unbelievable work. So I wrote her, thanking her and asked if she would be interested in making a donation for the 2011 ATHA Biennial since I was trying to get donations from all over the U.S. and other countries. Jill was excited about making a donation for the Biennial and made wonderful donations to our cause. I found out that Jill and some friends had a newly formed rug hooking group, of about six people, and some had never even hooked before.
So I talked with Mary Lynne and Anne and asked if they would be interested in asking Jill and her friends to join in with us on the chicken rug. We all agreed this would be great fun! So I wrote Jill to ask her if she and her group were interested and they decided to do the same. At this time, I believe there are three people in England working on the same design, but they are hooking the rug in abstract design which the three of us here in Lancaster County cannot wait to see.
We kept our colors and ideas for our rugs completely secret, never seeing the other rugs. So recently we got together for the big reveal at lunch and just had the best time seeing how each of us made our choices in colors, cuts, and finishing.
But the best part of this whole project is that now we have new friends from another place in the world and continue to correspond with stories and photos weekly!
(Story and photos to be continued when we hear
from our friends in the United Kingdom)
"Chicken Rug" - Designer Unknown - Hooked by Jill Dian Izzard
We have heard from our friends in the United Kingdom and things are progressing along very nicely. They are all members of a rug hooking group called Hooked-In-London Rug Makers and live in or near London.
Here is their website address: www.hooked-in-london.blogspot.com. They have included the Woolwright's website address on their blog. Take a look and see what our new friends are doing!
Jill has sent photos of her chicken rug and it is quite beautiful. She sent photos of the front and back. What brilliant colors!
The project still continues and hopefully after annual vacations in August, we will have more photos to share from England.
Here is their website address: www.hooked-in-london.blogspot.com. They have included the Woolwright's website address on their blog. Take a look and see what our new friends are doing!
Jill has sent photos of her chicken rug and it is quite beautiful. She sent photos of the front and back. What brilliant colors!
The project still continues and hopefully after annual vacations in August, we will have more photos to share from England.
Ruth's Cockerel, Jill's rug, & Margaret's Coaster
Notes from Jill: "The original pattern you sent was given to all but was just used as a 'starting point' for abstract ideas to flourish and take over! As you can see Chicken Designs have been interpreted in very different ways. But it has been such good fun and there will be more to come later.
We have all used different fabrics to hook our creations. I used mostly old T Shirts/vests which I dyed to get an 'antique look' to my rug. Then when the rug was finished I sheared off the top of the loops. The chicken itself is quite fluffy because of this shearing."
The following photos were all started as a result of our project all with the theme of The Chicken Rug!
We have all used different fabrics to hook our creations. I used mostly old T Shirts/vests which I dyed to get an 'antique look' to my rug. Then when the rug was finished I sheared off the top of the loops. The chicken itself is quite fluffy because of this shearing."
The following photos were all started as a result of our project all with the theme of The Chicken Rug!
