Janet Brandt learned about beautiful things from her mother. Everything from fashion to furniture, her mother taught her a classic and elegant approach. From her father, she learned the value of good craftsmanship. From her Gramma, she learned to hook rugs. As a teen, Janet started in fashion display and illustration, then earned a degree in architecture in 1976, only to eventually return to textiles. After hooking her first rug in 1986, she began designing original rug-hooking patterns. In 1990 she started Carijarts, a mail-order catalog of rug hooking patterns and kits. She has written many articles for Rug Hooking magazine and was named among the top 200 craftsmen by Early American Life magazine. One day, she decided to combine the luscious textures and colors of wool, as they appear in hooked rugs, with the techniques of applique and quilting. That was the beginning of wool-on-wool art quilts. Janet published her first book in 1991 titled, Sphere—The Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs. Her interest is in embroidery, textiles, history, and folk art. She is married, has two children and lives in Indianapolis, Ind.
This month’s featured author may provide inspiration to the members of OPQG’s “Woolie Ladies” group and others interested in working with wool. The OPQG Library has the following books in the collection:
WoW! Wool-on-Wool Folk Art Quilts includes 11 wool quilt projects plus directions for traditional rug hooking. Everything you need to know about working with wool is included, such as tips for choosing new and recycled wool and directions for washing and dyeing wool. You can make colorful, warm, and touchable petal rugs, penny rugs, and hooked rugs. There are even instructions for making a quilt into a tree skirt for the holidays. Combine the luscious textures and colors of wool with quick applique and quilting techniques.
Folk Art Animals includes instructions for eight projects, including quilts, table runners, and pillows. There are 25 templates for cats, chickens, sheep, roosters, camels, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, peacocks, and more to be used for easy applique techniques for cotton wool and wool felt. You can also find a variety of ideas for using penny-rug style borders and embellishments.
Enjoy!
