Canada's East Coast has a unique craft heritage that has seen generations hooking rugs during the long winter evenings. Hooked mats and rugs were originally intented as functional pieces--a place to wipe dirty feet at the back door, or a cover for drafty floors. But at some point aesthetics crept into this process, and those simple mats have evolved into the wonderful folk art rugs we see today. Nova Scotia's Doris Eaton has been hooking rugs for nearly 50 years and is one of the region's most well-known rug-hookers. A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking features over 80 of Doris's colourful and lively rugs and the inspiration and materials behind her art. Doris also shares some of her tried and true techniques, including her famous "Eaton Edge" for finishing a rug. With a foreword from fellow Nova Scotia rug-hooker and artist Deanne Fitzpatrick, A Lifetime of Rug-Hooking is a marvellous visual tour of the work of an influential East Coast folk artist.

Create one-of-a-kind hooked rugs of your favorite wild animal or family pet using either wide- or fine-cut wool strips. • Tips from an accomplished rug hooking designer and teacher on how to design an animal hooked rug and how to translate that design into a finished creation • Techniques for hooking hair, fur, feathers, and scales • How to hook eyes, ears, and noses • How to capture an animal's personality in wool

Rug hooking tools and equipment made simple, from advice on choosing the perfect wool to finishing your hooked rug. • Step-by-step instructions on how to hook a rug • How to draw your own pattern • Troubleshooting and tips for new rug hookers • 8 projects with patterns and complete instructions

Everyone loves primitive hooked rugs. Learn the secrets to making your next wide-cut hooked rug a success. • Hooking with wide cut strip--tips and techniques from the expert • Making new rugs look old • Color planning for primitive rugs • Primitive motifs for your wide-cut rug • Hooking details and lettering with wide cuts

Every rug hooker needs a resource for edge finishes. This comprehensive book covers eight different techniques, providing helpful tips and suggestions for professional looking edges. Includes a range of styles from simple whipping to complex combinations of hooking and braiding. Contributors are teachers, designers, and artists well known for their fine work and innovative techniques. Step-by-step color photos show you how. A must-have for rug hookers everywhere.

Celebrated textile artist Deanne Fitzpatrick learned early that traditional rug-hooking is so much more than just making mats for old houses. This intricate art form has given her the chance to speak without words. It has built her a supportive community, a successful business, and an international reputation. But most of all, hooking rugs has allowed Deanne to live a life she loves. Reflecting on her twenty-five-year career, Deanne shares lessons gleaned both at the frame and away from her studio. Whether it's dealing with an artistic block, or balancing running a business and raising a family, Deanne has navigated it all with frank humour and grace. Containing over 75 full-colour photos of projects past and present, Making a Life is an ode to the joys of leading a creative life.