Halifax artist puts modern twist on centuries-old rug hooking craft
A Halifax fibre artist is putting her own modern twist on the centuries-old craft of rug hooking.
What started as a part-time hobby for Hanna Eidson has turned into a full-time gig thanks to the pandemic.
“I bought my first tufting gun probably April of 2020 with my CERB cheque because I had lost my job from bartending,” Eidson said.
(Source: Twitter/ h.h.hooks)
Turning craft into commerce, her business, H.H. Hooks, exploded online.
“I think my style of art kind of struck a nerve of what people were looking for during COVID when everyone was sort of sad,” she said.
“I think that like, bright, colourful, sort of quirky things had really come into fashion.”
(Source: Twitter/ h.h.hooks)
While the simple techniques of rug hooking haven’t changed, the tools have.
Eidson’s tufting gun replicates the hand-hooked effect, at a much faster rate.
The piece of equipment lets her push the boundaries of her art, like making complex, large-scale portraits, whimsical designs and even tongue in cheek décor.
(Source: Twitter/ h.h.hooks)
“Making something that’s a bit out of the realm of what people expect,” said Eidson.
Recently, she’s started making 3-D pieces, like canned goods and milk cartons.
(Source: Twitter/ h.h.hooks)
Eidson says she finds the repetitive nature of her craft relaxing.
She also gets others hooked with social media tutorials on how to create their own carpet-like crafts.
“I think it’s really fun to see it sort of getting a new life, with a new generation of people that are coming at it with a new perspective and new designs.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Tracking Hurricane Milton: Storm strengthens to Category 5 again
The U.S. National Hurricane Center designated Hurricane Milton as a Category 5 storm again after reaching wind speeds of 165 m.p.h. (270 km/h).
Hurricane Milton expected to hit Florida cities like Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach
Hurricane Milton is expected to leave a path of devastation across central Florida, from Tampa in the west to Daytona Beach in the east.
Meteorologist becomes emotional giving update on Hurricane Milton
A seasoned American meteorologist became emotional on air as he gave an update on a major hurricane, later suggesting the reason behind his strong reaction.
'I hope so': Marc Garneau on whether Liberal party still has room for Blue Liberals
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau, who describes himself in his new book as always-a-Liberal, 'but a decidedly blue one,' says he hopes the party still has room for someone like him.
4 people in Ontario sickened with listeriosis amid beef tongue recall: ministry
The Ontario Ministry of Health says four people have been sickened after consuming beef tongue believed to be contaminated with listeria.
'Very' serious issue: federal transport minister on contamination in northern Alberta town
The renewed pleas of people in Fort Chipewyan, Alta. for government to take action cleaning up contamination in their community have reached the ears of federal Transport Minister Anita Anand.
'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
'I find it really disheartening': Family calls out police after Ottawa senior falls victim to theft in parking lot
On September 11, Madeleine Gervais was the victim of a theft in Ottawa's west end. It happened in the Loblaws parking lot in College Square, when she was approached by a man and a woman who insisted to help her load her groceries into her car.
Dominican Republic starts mass deportations of Haitians and expels nearly 11,000 in a week
The Dominican Republic said Tuesday it has deported or repatriated nearly 11,000 Haitians in the past week, fulfilling a pledge to do so weekly as neighboring Haiti scrambles to handle the influx while besieged by gang violence and poverty.