Sam's first memories of rag rugs were with her paternal grandmother way back in the early seventies……
My grandmother was born in 1903 at a time of great poverty and everyone 'rag rugged' more out of necessity than pleasure. She had six

children who in return gave her twelve grandchildren (I was the second youngest.)
She was a traditional glove-maker working from

home and all her children, many of her grandchildren and some of her 21 great-grandchildren, were involved at some time or another in cutting up strips of fabric and poking them through old flour sacks with a proddy or clippy.
We would sit at the hearth at my grandfather's

feet surrounded by old blankets, flour sacks and some of grandpa's old tatty work shirts (some of which he found very difficult to let go, and he could often be seen rescuing one from the pile when granny wasn't looking.)

It would keep us occupied for hours, days! Sometimes if we were really good we'd be allowed to take one home, mine warmed my feet every morning as I got out of bed for school.

It was a very comfortable, warm feeling and thrilling at the age of six or seven to know this was something I'd created. Creating something which carries a reminder of someone you love can be a powerful bond. Maybe Aunt Pearl's old dress she wore for a dance or Uncle Ted's gardening slacks or maybe if you were lucky one of Grandpa's work shirts (one he'd missed!)
Granny would move the older, more tired looking rugs to the back door whereas the newer ones took pride of place.
I so enjoyed working with recycled fabrics that on leaving school I went on to study Art Design and Textiles at Kidderminster College (the home of carpet making, and known world-wide.)
We created rugs and wall hangings that adorned the walls of the college vestibule for many years.

After working as a children's Nanny for many years (the excuse I needed to travel the world) my interest never waned in 'rugging'. Witnessing rugs being created on 'Peg Looms' in Israel, Spain  Tunisia and Germany made me realise that this was indeed a world-wide 'Art'.

I finally made a earnest 'comeback' to 'rugging' in mid 2004, whilst ill and unable to work for a brief period. I spied an advert for a rag rug workshop run by Jenni Stuart-Anderson. I attended one sunny morning (with my very keen Ma in tow) and soon realised how much I'd missed this wonderful therapeutic art! Within weeks our four bed-roomed house near to Worcester, had "shrunk" as the "spare" bedroom and "conservatory" became stores for a mountainous pile of rags. My daughter Livvy likes nothing better than to be given a spare piece of hessian and an old blanket and set to work, so here the tradition continues......

Almost everything about our society these days is 'throwaway' which is why rag rugs inspire me so much. To take an otherwise discarded, useless item and turn it into something useful and beautiful is truly a wonderful feeling, which is why I will

only use recycled wools and cottons etc. working on a frame with a speed shuttle or on my lap with a clippy.
Most of every waking day is now spent sketching ideas, dying fabrics, and creating rugs and wall hangings which is limited only by imagination (oh, and the school run!)

I mainly take inspiration from what is around me, long country walks across the Malvern hills with my brother Graham and my family, and my travels. Tunisia's bazaar's with their overpowering scents and colours from the spice markets to the deserts of Namibia which, at first appearance, seem quite barren.
On a recent sponsored hike across the Naukluft National Park in Namibia for M.A.G.*, I found inspiration at every corner. From singing Gospel songs around the campfire at night, the roots of the largest acacia tree I'd ever seen, the long arduous walks through dry river beds, abseiling down the edge of Blood Mountain, to our discovery of half eaten Ostrich eggs by hyena's and the zebra who didn't get away!  My grandmother would be very proud that her early instructions have inspired me so much and I thank her for that and dedicate this website to her!

Please browse the Rug-Gallery or the Bag-Gallery for most recent creations. Some items are for sale and some are commissioned items and are already sold. What better way to let someone know you care than commissioning a rug or wall hanging to celebrate a Birth, Anniversary etc.

I am willing to discuss any ideas via e-mail or telephone,
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Look out for forthcoming exhibitions etc: