Some history of PEI hooked rugs or mats as they are called

Not much has been written down about the 'everyday work' of women. We have found out what we know in bits and pieces over the years. Our desire to know more all started with my paper for a PEI arts course  at the University of Prince Edward Island way back in the nineties. I wrote the paper before I knew anything about the deep traditions of PEI and Maritime rug hooking.  But once Heather and I started finding out little bits and pieces about the women and their rugs, we wanted to know more. Luckily for us, Heather always took pictures. The pictures were a great way for us to talk to the people who had hooked the mats. They couldn't believe we wanted to take pictures of 'those old things'. There are a couple of places that have information on the history of hooked rugs. One is this article by Anne Nicholson of PEI whose short history of PEI mats is: http://www.gov.pe.ca/firsthand/index.php3?number=44601&lang=E

My paper on Rug Hooking is in the Island Collection at the UPEI library. One of these days I may get it retyped and on here for you to read directly.




Jack likes the vintage look, the Cavendish Mat




This is the new Cavendish by Heather

 You can read about our lives as rug hookers today at this site:
http://seaandbescene.com/2011/10/three-sisters-one-success-story-pastimes-pei/

We also had the Great Canadian Adventure guys visit us in September; they are getting their PEI stories on line. I am waiting with guarded anticipation for their story about Pastimes PEI and our collection of Barry's machinery outside the studio.

Sheep Frolic is latest pattern to hook at Pastimes PEI

https://www.facebook.com/pastimespei

Rossignol's Wine Dine and Shine - Pastimes PEI and Brenda Watts Woodworking were there too

https://www.facebook.com/pastimespei

gosh we had a great day for the event - blueberry stomping, wine tasting, horse rides, food, food and much more...


you have to see this to believe it

 The scenery is nothing short of beauteaus.. you know what I mean

even the ferry passed by....

'Little PEI Cottage' Rughooking kit and the dust bath today

Also new at the shop..bette's latest Island Scene, wool on Cotton Warp.                   

It's always nice to put new things on the wall so the new Little PEI Cottage kit and the origional hooked piece fit nicely with Bette's new work. She modelled it from a homestead she saw in orwell. prince Edward Island. it looks exactly like Orwell because, the houses are set back from the road on that drive to Eldon on the Trans Canada Highway, Route 1 on the way to the Wood Island's ferry.

We have already sold a couple of the new little kits; we are always happy when people like them as much as we do. You can see that we are carrying a few select pieces of Brenda Watt's Woodworking. the cutting boards and wine stoppers are very popular items as well as the acorn doorstoppers. .. easy to pack and bring back to friends as an unique souveneir of PEI.

Yesterday a really nice flower in the garden was damaged by some of the folks here; I'll show you what I mean via this morning's pictures in the garden:



The 'people' disturbing the flowers for their own pleasure..





and their friends joined in....



they are not that cute.....look at me, guys...

Cock of the Walk...



getting reaady for harvest...