Karen Whidden: Class of 2018
Name: Karen Whidden
Location: Southern Pines, North Carolina
Tell us a bit about yourself. What are some of your interests and hobbies?
In addition to rug hooking, I enjoy gardening and making pine needle baskets.
How did you get introduced to rug hooking?
In 2004, I retired and moved to Southern Pines, NC. A woman I had worked with lived nearby and introduced me to traditional rug hooking. I instantly fell in love with it.
What was your first project?
A small sunflower and ladybug pattern that I made into a pillow.
Is there one rug that stands out as being particularly memorable?
Yes, My favorite rug was an adaptation of Monet’s La Japonaise with its rich colors and intricate design. It turned out beautiful.
Is there a particular style of rugs that you're most interested in hooking?
I love the challenge of hooking detailed patterns with #2-, 3-, and 4-cut wool rug warp. Adaptations of artists paintings lend well to my personality and skill. Also, I try to remember to include a small ladybug on all my rugs as my signature (sometimes I forget...).
What's your favorite part about hooking a rug?
The relaxation while hooking and the feeling of accomplishment when finished. Rug hooking, like reading a good book, takes you to wonderful places and provides hours of enjoyment.
What's a piece of advice you'd give to a new rug hooker?
Relax and enjoy your first loops. Attend a class or workshop and experiment with dyeing your own wool. Creativity has rewarding results.
What do you love most about Celebration?
Celebration affords rug hookers the opportunity to have their work appreciated and recognized by fellow rug artists. It also offers many new ideas and information to make rug hooking more interesting and fun!
Table of Contents
- Windsor Oval, Celebration XVII
- Country Store, Celebration XVIII
- Wild Poppies, Celebration XX
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jette, Celebration XXI
- La Japonaise, Celebration XXII
- Dream, Celebration XXIII
- Dance at Bougival, Celebration XXV
- Eagle Spirit, Celebration 26
- Luncheon of the Boating Party, Celebration 27
- Wilson's on the Lake, Celebration 28
Windsor Oval, Celebration XVII
"I fell in love with Windsor Oval, a Karl Kraft pattern, when I first started hooking in 2004. I loved the various types of flowers and the color possibilities of each. This..." Read more.
Country Store, Celebration XVIII
"In 2006, while visiting the McGown Teachers' Workshop Exhibit at Caraway Rug School, I took one look at a completed Country Store and knew that I wanted to hook this..." Read more.
Wild Poppies, Celebration XX
"My favorite period in art history is the Impressionist Period. I am fascinated with the artists and the way they captured their subjects. It seemed fitting that my next..." Read more.
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jette, Celebration XXI
"My granddaughter had a poster of Sunday Afternoon on her bedroom wall; and, since I enjoyed hooking Monet's Wild Poppies so much, I decided to take on the..." Read more.
La Japonaise, Celebration XXII
"I enjoyed hooking impressionist pieces so much that it was time for another Monet! La Japonaise caught my interest with its rich colors and intricate design. Madam Monet's dress..." Read more.
Dream, Celebration XXIII
"While thumbing through Jody Bergsma's greeting card catalog, I was struck by the beauty of her Dream design. I loved the colors, theme, hummingbirds, and the magic of..." Read more.
Dance at Bougival, Celebration XXV
"This adaptation of Pierre-August Renoir's Dance at Bougival was an interesting piece to hook. The dancers are the focal point and were the most challenging part to hook. I had to..." Read more.
Eagle Spirit, Celebration 26
"In preparation for Caraway Rug School I selected another Jody Bergsma picture. Eagle Spirit Come…and Inspire Us to Fly was an obvious choice. I wanted to hook a piece with..." Read more.
Luncheon of the Boating Party, Celebration 27
"Time for another Renoir! This rug was perhaps my most demanding piece. I find hooking faces to be particularly challenging, so I figured that the best way to improve was to hook..." Read more.
Wilson's on the Lake, Celebration 28
"I had saved this picture from a calendar several years ago. I loved the beautiful fall picture of a country store with a 'woody' parked outside. Since it did not..." Read more.