I have been in Toronto for the last two days buying leather supplies. But I also went to see the hooked rug display at the Textile Museum. I took photos of my favourites to share with you. The Canadian themes with beavers and maple leaves were strong. I particularly loved the second rug, the chunky beaver with the wonderful setting including the chewed trees.
The border on this rug by Ruth McWhirter was so charming, I had to share it. I’ve used hearts in a border before on my rugs, but I love the way these hearts interlock as well as the play of red and black.
Grenfell rugs are so often outstanding. Look at the precision. And it’s the same for the exquisite Quebecois rug which follows.
And how lucky to see an Emily Carr rug!
However, my favourite piece of the show was Joanna Close’s kitchen. Joanna documented her family farm in rugs before it was torn down to make way for a gravel quarry. The farm had been in Close’s family for six generations, from 1858. This piece is the only one in the series to depict the farm’s interior. It embodies the creative impulse of women who found the time, amid long days of hard work, to honour their world and make something both beautiful and useful. (And when I checked her website, I found Joanna is also a delightful sketcher. Check out her drawings HERE.)
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