Looking down the paths that make up my life’s journey, I have realized that I have always been driven by three lasting passions: A fascination for textiles, the desire to learn the skills of years-gone-by, and a love for animals.

I have always loved making things with my hands; color and texture spark my creativity. I learned to knit at an early age and was mesmerized by my grandmother’s friend’s rug looms and spinning wheels. I knew one day I would come to find satisfaction in learning their time-honored secrets.

Many years later when I was a production sewer for a local clothing designer, I discovered rug hooking quite by accident. The designer was incorporating beautiful hand-dyed woolens into her clothing. She explained that it was rug hooking wool. I was intrigued to find out more! But I didn’t know where to go or who to ask. I bought two rug hooking books and an issue of Rug Hooking Magazine and read them from cover to cover. I discovered it was everything I loved; color and texture, design and old time skills, working just like women did 100 years ago.

I have been happily rug hooking for over 5 years now. My rugs have won ribbons and awards at my county fair, the Michigan State Fair, and Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. I have also recently won an honorable mention spot in Celebrations XIII to be published by Rug Hooking Magazine in September 2003.

I have come a long way, but I’m still learning. I have met so many wonderful people and made life-long friends. God has richly blessed me. It is a rewarding journey that satisfies my creative yearnings.

You may ask “But what happened with your love for animals?” Well, I live with my husband, two sons, two dogs, two cats, two sheep and five angora goats in Howell, Michigan. My husband shears the goats twice a year and I spin and sometimes rug hook with their mohair. Our life is certainly interesting but for a determined fiber artist, it can’t get much better than this!

I hope you find your rug hooking journey as satisfying and enjoyable as mine has been.

Happy hooking! Kris Miller