To view a an introduction to the group and a sample of the DVD visit:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4mal0_rugs-short_people

Magazine Articles in pdf

Rug Hook Magazine 2004

ATHA Newsletter 2009

History

 In the mid 1990’s a group of expats in San Miguel de Allende (SMA) were searching for ways to help local impoverished women. Ted Mclaughlin, a Canadian antiques dealer, suggested rug hooking, perhaps thinking of the success of Grenfell rugs. Little did he know that within 15 years rug hookers from all over Canada and the US would be donating carloads of wool and supplies and purchasing rugs totaling thousands of dollars a year from people in the small village of Agustin Gonzales. It started with a desire to help and person-by-person the project expanded.

Mujeres en Cambio (MEC) was launched from that conversation. Their purpose was two fold: One, to provide scholarships for girls since public education is not free in Mexico. Fundraising for scholarships was done through monthly luncheons prepared by MEC members and by private donations. Two: To teach a profitable craft to rural women thus increasing their families income. Ted’s suggestion of rug hooking was adopted. Local artist Gerry Gill offered to teach the first classes. Pakina Langensheidt, the mayors’ wife, arranged a classroom at DIF, the local social service organization. With this small beginning rug hooking landed in Mexico. During the first few years, rugs were sold at the MEC luncheons but sales were very slow. In 2000 I became involved as a photographer, taking photos of the woman for a website I was creating for MEC. During that first visit, Susan White bought all their rugs, $800 worth, for her folk art store in Austin TX. The women were flabbergasted. They had never sold that many rugs or made that kind of money before in their lives. We showed these rugs to the sisters at the famous Las Manitas restaurant in Austin. They loved the rugs and for five years every fall I would bring back a collection. They would grace the walls of the restaurant for the month of Dec and sales were good. I also began showing them at the Christmas fairs in Austin. People were charmed by their unsophisticated designs. Note: I do not make personal profit from any sales.

 The real miracle began in 2004 with this very magazine. It ran an article about the project in the fall/winter issue. That one article started the domino effect. First there were rug sales followed by calls from women around the USA and Canada. They wanted to help. They sent wool, hooks, cutters and more and more wool. The Brandywine PA rug hookers asked if I could send them some rugs to sell at their yearly rug camp.  Then two years later Barbara Hanson called from Hillsboro OR. She had seen the article and asked me what my dreams were for the project. I had always wanted to see them shown in a real art gallery setting. She arranged this at the Glen Viola Cultural Art Center in Hillsboro. All the walls of the center were covered with rugs and I arrived with a slide show and talk. I continued to receive emails and calls and donations. People visiting SMA wanted to visit the village and buy the rugs. Barbara organized the first “Rug Hooking Knows no Borders” rug camp in 2008 in San Miguel. A highlight of the camp was a trip to the village.  Forty campers sat side by side with their Mexican counterparts, hooking together. Bea Brock, Kerrville TX, one of the teachers, asked them where they got their inspiration. Some of these women can barely read or write but that has nothing to do with their intelligence or creativity. Pueblito told of being overcome by the green of summer and made a rug with lots of green, Anselma mentioned being out at night gazing at the sky that inspired a rug of dark blue with white shining stars.