Preview: Doris Norman (and parties!)

**Doris Norman is featured in Issue #5 of CreatedHere magazine, coming out this week! We are celebrating with three launch parties at the following locations, 5-7 pm: July 6th - Yarns on York in Fredericton, July 13th - Good Fibrations in Saint John, July 20th - Apple Art Gallery in Moncton. Hope to see you on one of these days! You can also pick up a copy online here. ** Text and photos by Marie-Helene Morell

Several years ago my in-laws, Jim and Bev, went on a walking tour in England, walking during the day and staying in B&Bs at night. When they arrived at one of these B&Bs in the middle of the rural English countryside, they noticed beautiful hooked rugs on the walls and on the floors. Jim and Bev, being the friendliest Canadians of all the Canadians, started chatting with the owner about rug hooking, who turned out to be a rug hooker herself. Of course they had to mention their friend Doris Norman who was also a rug hooker. At the mention of her name, the owner exclaimed, "Oh I know Doris Norman! I've attended several of her workshops." This goes to to show two things: the world is a very small place, and Doris Norman is a world-class rug hooker.

Doris has been a prolific rug hooker for over 30 years, working to further the art by sharing her skills and expanding the rug hooking community in New Brunswick.  It was my in-laws who first told me about Doris. In true Maritimer tradition, the families have been friends for years and my sister-in-law is her neighbour. "You have to go visit Doris!" they said, "she makes beautiful rugs and has so much art in her home." They weren't wrong! Doris' home is positively chock full of gorgeous hooked pieces on the walls, floors and furniture, as well as work by artists she admires.

I had a lovely chat with Doris and got a tour of her workspace, studio and home, which doubles as a showroom/gallery of her work. I was amazed by what she is able to create with rug hooking, a technique I'd heard about but never tried myself. It's incredible what can be done with simple loops of wool!

Here is one of my favourites of Doris', a depiction of her husband walking on the seashore with two of her granddaughters. The colours are so subtle but make you immediately think of the sea.

Read more about Doris in Issue #5 of CreatedHere magazine! You can come to one of our launch parties listed above, or pick a copy up online! There's one full page photo of my *favourite* piece of hers that will knock your socks off.

-MH