Gene’s Rug Hooking Blog

Like many other rug hooking groups around the world, my local ATHA Guild, The Orange Coast Classics, had a special party on Saturday.  As luck would have it, November 21 also happened to be the day of the International Rug Rave for Rug Aid.  Always on the look out for as many reasons to party as possible, my guild was happy include the Rave as a part of our holiday celebration.

Although we did spend time talking about Rug Aid, Heather Ritchie’s program for teaching blind Gambians to hook rugs as a means of supporting themselves and their families, the real focus was on experiencing what it must be like to hook without sight.

While no one is suggesting that a few mins. of hooking blindfolded can even remotely qualify as being the same experience as that of a sightless rug hooker, it certainly did get us to thinking about the great achievements being made in Gambia.

I had, as previously mentioned on the blog, made wool blindfolds for the event.  If we had to be blindfolded, then an attractive wool piece seemed the obvious choice.  Those who wished to do so could keep their blindfold, after making a donation to Rug Aid.   Money coming in from just the blind folds came to $273.  Then, at the actual guild meeting, the group decided to donate an additional $500 to Rug Aid, making a grand total of $773 from out event. As November 21 is also Heather Ritchie’s birthday, this donation will also have to double as our gift!

Of course, everything was not limited to just educational and benevolent pursuits.  We did have second breakfast … elevensies … and lunch.

There was also plenty of time for people to just sit and hook together.

The Beauport rug showed up for a report and was passed off to the next guild member who will continue the work of this recreation.

While not every one donned a blindfold, there was a steady stream of willing participants.

It was a good day all around … all around the world, that is.