Welcome to Blue Ribbon Rugs

Hello, fellow rug hookers!

Here at Blue Ribbon Rugs I want to share my designs and hooking projects. I hope you find a fun variety of designs to choose from, including primitive style rugs and more varied original pieces. I love hooking and I love designing, so I want to get others interested in rug hooking and also challenge rug lovers like myself to try new patterns. (continued below)

Newest project

Here's a great project I just completed for Rug Hooking Magazine. It's part of a challenge hosted by the magazine to take the Twelve Days of Christmas and have a different artist for each of the days create a 12-inch by 16-inch hooked mat. The results of the challenge are in the Nov./Dec issue of the magazine, available now.

I was lucky to get to do one of those Days, and I chose Three French Hens because I love animals and I love doing pictorial rugs. I actually did some research on antique French hen breeds, so each of the three hens I hooked represents an actual French breed. It's been a real thrill to get to do this project and I hope you all enjoy seeing it!

(Welcome...continued)
I have been an artist all of my life, but I'm relatively new to rug hooking. Four years ago, Alice Strebel of Kindred Spirits hounded me (in a good way) to try hooking, and it's become a passion for me. I love to create new designs and experiment with color and texture. It's been a real thrill to develop my talents as a rug hooker, and I know it's something I will devote time and effort to for years to come.

I primarily hook in primitive widths of 8 count, or 1/4 inch strips of wool. I use smaller widths for detail work, however and I think a variety of widths within a rug makes it more interesting visually. While I love primitive style rugs, I am also finding that I can really express my artistic love of color by doing some other designs, more animals, more portraits, more varied designs.

I have contributed articles and projects to Rug Hooking Magazine and will continue to do more, if asked. I belong to the Kindred Spirits monthly hooking group and enjoy being part of groups like that because they open the door for creative input and sharing of ideas.

I hope to keep this web site updated and renewed regularly with new designs and links to other rug hooking sites. I also want to add tips and pointers to those who are interested in designing their own rugs.

Happy Hooking!

Donna Hrkman