I can’t believe we’re already into March! Where did the last month go!
First Tuesday is tribute day at Sunshine Rug Hookers, and this month we were able to enjoy the wonderful work of Jeanne Wallace.
Growing up during the depression, Jean’s family had always made rugs of old clothing cut by hand. (Jeanne brought one of these ‘hand cut’ rugs, and somehow I missed getting a picture of it.)
She said that she was astounded to discover that there were ready made patterns, and wool cutters to cut the wool into small, even strips. She felt like she had discovered a new craft on her first visit to a ‘rug hooking store’…(Rittermere’s…then located ??? toward Hamilton??)…she purchased this pattern, and the cut wool to make it.
She said it is now faded, but it is still a beautiful piece. She was delighted with this ‘new’ form of hooking, and took lessons to learn shading etc.
Some of her first small pieces were shaded flowers and fruit.
Jeanne said this is her ‘oldest’ rug…and it now has a place of “honour” in the basement in front of her washing machine.
For a period of time Waldoboro was a very popular style. They would make these small pieces for sale. I love the little piece mounted on barn board….the picture doesn’t do it justice, and you can’t see the precise sculpturing either.
Jeanne admits that hooking animals isn’t her favourite subject matter, but loves her giraffe, done at a workshop with Jon Ciemiewicz.
These beautiful eyes were done at a workshop at Green Mountain.
While on her trip to the Green Mountain Workshop, she took a picture of this quaint covered bridge, then later hooked this from the picture.
This purse is a Jennifer Manuell pattern, hooked after a workshop taken with her.
When I first joined Sunshine Rug hookers, after retiring from teaching, I remember watching Jeanne working on this piece. I was totally in awe at how she could translate a picture into wool so beautifully.
I found out more about it Tuesday….. it was adapted from a painting done by her daughter.
The trilliums in the border set the time and place as Ontario in springtime.
Jeanne hooked this Christmas stocking using a variety of specialty hooking techniques.
This piece was hooked at a ‘hit and miss ‘ background workshop. Jeanne said the wool was put in a brown paper bag and pulled out at random to create the background. Hard to believe …it seems so beautifully planned and highlights each cup so well.
I’ve always admired this Rittermere pattern, and it’s beautiful colour pallette. Jean’s piece has an interesting story.
For some reason (I can’t remember exactly the circumstances)..Sunshine was given a number of patterns and partially finished pieces. Jean selected this one, which was partially hooked,…but came with no wool. She said it was difficult to match the colours…but I think she did a wonderful job!
This piece is a Deanne Fitzpatrick pattern. Jeanne is a wizard with a needle, and applied a braided edge.
Last Fall Jean was our leader for creating hooked ‘still lifes’, and gave a wonderful workshop on composition, balance etc.
This is her hooked example.
We recently held an auction of patterns , wool etc. left by the passing of our dear friend June Baker. (the money raised was sent to the Rug Hooking Museum).
June had started this small yellow plaid, and Jeanne thought it was too beautiful and precise not to finish.
Being ‘hooked’ on the procedure…she is now in the process of hooking the Wallace plaid…shown here in a tie
….a landscape
….Father Christmas
…a penny mat/applique/hooked combination…done at a workshop with Bea Grant.
In spite of her obvious hooking talents, Jeanne considers herself primarily a quilter….and a hand quilter to boot! I’ve seen many of her quilts, and they are highly prized. She keeps a notebook on them, and reported that she has completed 71 full sized quilts (all quilted by hand)….it boogles my mind!
This is a rare example of a machine quilted panel.
She didn’t bring any quilts with her on Tuesday, since they are heavy to carry, but these are two hand quilted panels. The Japanese lady in particular took my breath away
What a talented lady! Thanks for sharing with us Jeanne.