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This view is one of many from the Avenue of the Giants, a scenic highway up in northern California. The Eel River and the South Fork Eel River are ever present as you cruise along the two-lane road through the redwood forest. My rug is based on a photograph I took on a trip up to Humboldt County to judge rugs for their fair. My mother came along for the ride, and we so enjoyed the redwoods and vistas of the river and mountains.
On the Eel River, 24″ x 16″, #4-cut wool on linen. Designed and hooked by Laura Pierce, Petaluma, California, 2024.
I used hand-me-down strips and wool from my personal stash to hook On the Eel River. I tend to hook colors that are available rather than dye colors to hook. Some colors worked really well, and I had just enough. When I run out of a color, I have to stretch a bit and find colors that will work well or are good enough. Some of my color plan changed as I worked through the depth of the view and the mountains repeating into the distance. Some colors I intended to use didn’t have enough distinction.
From the Judges:
The rug appears simple at first glance, but it draws the viewer in through the use of directional hooking. The colors are subtle, but perfect.
I love the group of trees on top of the distant hill on the bend of the river. The branches framing the view were challenging to hook because the background had to show through in places. To finish the rug, I folded the edges in and whipped with “chunky punch yarn.”
Laura Pierce
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
Laura started hooking rugs in 1996, then began teaching in 2003. Several of her rugs have been chosen for Celebration, and Laura was inducted into the Celebration Hall of Fame in 2018.