Designers
Barbara Carroll
Barb’s growth to the use of total textures and working to create antique primitive rugs has been a wonderful challenge and learning experience. She credits her success to her two great friends, Emma Lou Lais and Bobbie True.
Barb’s designs also include patterns based on the artwork of Elaine Cathcart, Bill Laraway, and Becky Mummert.
Carol Endres
Carol derives her inspiration from her faith in God and the spirit found in the daily lives of the pioneers. She uses the materials “at hand” utilizing paint, wood, fabric, paper and embroideries to create textural art works that have been translated to these patterns by Barbara Carroll. Carol’s art is reminiscent of the simple good life.
Warren Kimble
Warren Kimble and his wife, Lorraine, live in the picturesque town of Brandon, Vermont. The Kimble studio and shop are a treat to visit. Warren has been painting full-time since 1983. His work suits all lifestyles and has an easy way about it that just slips into any decor.
Warren is easy, fun, and down home, which is reflected in his artowkr. As Warren says, “All of my work is a rug.” And we say, “we are luck to add these designs to the rug hooking world.” All rugs in this gallery are designed by Barbara Carroll and are based on Warren Kimble’s artwork.
Edyth O’Neill
Edyth O’Neill was honored at the Star of Texas Fredericksburg camp in September 2008. This was a wonderful party for a wonderful legend of the rug hooking world! Many people came to honor Edyth and bring rugs hooked from her designs. We are thrilled to be able to show you some of the rugs that were on display in honor of Edyth.
Keeping The Past Alive
We believe that by recreating these wonderful old patterns, we keep the history of rug making alive. A special thank you to Barbara Benner of Red Clover Rugs for helping us create some of these rugs. Thank you also to Evelyn Lawrence of Hallstead, Pennsylvania, for all of her wonderful research on the history of Magdalena Briner and her rugs.
Magdalena Briner
Magdalena Briner was born in 1839 in Perry County, Pennsylvania. She married Jacob Eby in 1855, had a daughter, Ellen, in 1857 and was widowed in 1858. She moved back with her family to raise her daughter. Ellen married Charles McKeehan in 1880.
Magdalena moved into the McKeehan homestead to help raise Ellen’s four children and died there in 1915. Magdalena’s great-granddaughter remembers that there were hooked rugs throughout the house but that to her knowledge neither her mother nor Ellen ever hooked. So Magdalena hooked the rugs between caring for children, her elders, farm work, gardening and church concerns.
Dealers have dated the rugs from 1870 to 1890.
Keith Kemmer
Keith started making rugs back in the 70’s with store bought punch needle rug kits. It wasn’t until the mid- 90’s when he found his way to the more traditional style of rug hooking. As his knowledge of the craft grew, he realized the early primitive rugs were the ones he loved and wanted to emulate. Over the years he has pushed himself to achieve a primitive hooking style by attending workshops with many of the top teachers, including Barbara Carroll – whom he is honored to call a good friend. Keith designs patterns available through Spruce Ridge Studios and worked with Barbara Carroll on her coverlet pattern collection. Recently he has been teaching locally in the southeast Michigan area and selling his rugs through word of mouth and a shop in Ligonier, PA. His work has appeared in Designs for Primitive Rug Hookers by Jenny Rupp and Lisa Yeago and Pictorial Hooked Rugs by Jane Halliwell Green.
Keith has a BFA in graphic design and works as an Art Director creating marketing materials for national clients. He took up weaving in the late ‘80s and continues to weave. His focus for the past 20 years or so has been with fiber arts, including hooking, weaving, knitting and even spinning. He attributes his interest in fiber to his grandfather – a tailor in Chicago during the first half of the last century.