Even though I was in Sonoma County for a workshop on prodded flowers, I did manage to sneak away at one point to make a visit to Emma Webber’s rug studio.
Emma, who is in her early 90′s, has been hooking and braiding rugs most of her adult life.
For over 6 decades, using just a hook and no frame, she has managed to make a staggering array of hooked treasures. Although it was hard to pick, I think this one was my favorite.
Her sense of color and fun is evident in all of the dozens of rugs (80+ I would guess) I saw displayed in her home.
These days, most of her time is spent braiding rugs, as it is a bit easier for her to do than hooking. Of the 12-15 braided rugs I saw laying around for sale, every single one utilized color combinations that I thought were particularly pleasing on the eye. Then, there is her technique, which is flawless.
Of course, I was there to see the hooked rugs. I can’t make up my mind if this little panther rug is my second favorite of her rugs … or my first choice … it would be difficult for me to pick between this one and the first one shown on the blog. I keep going back and forth between the two.
In every room and on every wall of this house is something worth looking at.
In talking with her daughter (Laura Webber Pierce, another of my favorite rug hookers) I learned that Emma has always made almost all of her rugs out of found and scrap wool. While this one does look like it is made from found wool -
Most of her rugs give the impression of an artist that, one would expect, did a lot of dyeing to get the wonderful colors that she features in so many of her pieces. I am just sorry that I did not have the time to shoot every single rug while visiting with her, or the space in today’s blog to print all of the rugs I did shoot. Hopefully, however, there are enough here to give you a sense of the large body of work she is busy producing.
LC
October 26, 2009 at 6:20 am
Emma–just looks like someone who it would be amazing to talk to and spend lots of time with. I can’t imagine the stories she can tell! Her works both hooked and braided are great! LC
Sarah P
October 26, 2009 at 6:39 am
I, too, have had the privilege of seeing Emma’s rugs! They are like a treasure-store of originality and creativity, aren’t they?!? What a role-model Laura has had. Emma has come at least once to Laura’s LIttle River rug school, which is where I am headed next week! A wonderful place and great little school with two teachers – very intimate!
alice
October 26, 2009 at 6:56 am
Oh, Gene ~ what beautiful rugs!! Emma is a true artist!! I love your first choice ~ that rug is spectacular! I would love to see more of her rugs! I enjoyed the photos of the class and your dyed wool had to be a big hit ~ it was so beautiful!!
Jo
October 26, 2009 at 7:05 am
I would definitely have to have a “LIST” of favorites.
Brenda McGee
October 26, 2009 at 7:39 am
How wonderful!
Arline Keeling
October 26, 2009 at 7:44 am
Thank you for introducing such a wonderful talented artist such as Emma…….I didn’t think I would ever see geometrics that would compare with yours……..I think the pink one reached out to me…..
Your trip to wine Country was very enjoyable……Your classes looked very productive and all that wool is quite a sight on its own. V. Sharmay
Arline Keeling
October 27, 2009 at 8:16 am
Gene, I would love to hear how the classes that Sarah mentioned. Lauras’ Little Rug School………V. Sharmay