My work includes various sizes of hand hooked rugs and mats. In my use of color and design, my rugs are considered primitive or country Victorian in style. All designs are original; the wool strips are cut by hand from recycled and heirloom fabrics, and many of the colors are the result of natural dyes. The tools I use were inherited through three generations. My craft show booth also includes a variety of related products--all hand made: antique and reproduction wood benches with hooked covers, hooked ornaments and stuffed Santas, as well as individually designed kits for customers to learn the traditional craft of rug hooking. No two kits are exactly the same!
Because of my 30 year career as an elementary art teacher, I am always excited about getting people started on a new craft. Classes are available for beginning and experienced rug hookers in pattern design, dyeing for special color effects, and primitive style rug hooking.
Several of my rugs have been exhibited at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, Maine, at the Portland Public Library, and the Whimsical World Art Gallery in Portland. My work was accepted in Philadelphia at the juried Moore College of Art Alumnae Exhibition of 2004. The same year I had a solo show at the Maine Fiber Arts Center in Topsham, Maine. 2005 exhibitions include "Gallery 302" and "Old Point Comfort Gallery". I am currently a member of the Saco Valley Fiber Artists, the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild, and the Maine Education Association. In 2005 I was selected as one of the 200 Best Traditional American Craftsmen by Early American Life Magazine's jury of Curators from Historic Williamsburg, Sturbridge Village, and Shelburne Museum.
Thank you for visiting my web site and Happy Hooking!
Love, Janet Conner
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