HELEN - Forty-four rug hookers from all over the nation have gathered at Unicoi State Park lodge to hone their art this week.<br />
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Three nationally known teachers Bea Brock, Kerrville, Texas; Diane Stoffel, Brewster, Massachusetts; and Donna Hrkman, Dayton, Ohio; are teaching advanced fiber art techniques to eager pupils from all over the nation.<br />
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Noted portrait artist as well as fiber artist Pris Buttler of Gainesville and her daughter Christy Fultz, also of Gainesville, are the directors of this first-ever Georgia event.<br />
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Rug hooking, or fiber art, is believed to have originated in North America, specifically along the Eastern Seaboard. It is called the only true American-borne art. In its earliest years, rug hooking was a craft of poverty. Today rug hooking is referred to as a fine art, as these creations are hung on walls as well as decorate floors.<br />
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The rugs are made by pulling wool of various widths up through such fabric as rug warp, monk's cloth, or linen. The wools range from checks and plaids to hand-dyed colors.<br />
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Designs for the rugs are both hand drawn or commercially produced and can be as complex as family portraits to as simple as geometric shapes. Rug hooking has been popular in North America for at least 200 years.<br />
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At the end of the camp, the rug hookers hold a "show and tell" to show each other what they worked on all week.<br />
