Garland Farm Wool(GFW):What brought you to Rug hooking?

Lesa Morrissey(LM): I have always liked fiber even though I didn't study fiber at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). One day ten years ago I went to a quilt show where a woman was demonstrating rug hooking. I thought it was wonderful, very old fashioned. I like old things. I am frugal. A true Yankee. After that show I took a trip to Vermont and bought all the supplies and started hooking. I took Barbara Carroll's wide cut plaid and texture class at the Green MT School which was great because I had been hooking with a 3 & 4 on unwashed wool. It was like a light came on. Texture Texture Texture. Brushed colors in an old fashioned primitive way. Even bright! Wide and crunchy textures. I loved it.

GFW: What influences your rug designs?

LM: I have never bought a pattern. Even though I have a background in art. I don't think of myself as a great drawer. But for patterns I never saw something I wanted to hook. It was like if you see this great pattern with a dog and you have a cat so you have to change it anyway. You don't have to re-invent the wheel. I take ideas from everywhere. Coloring books, tracings of shapes. Like tracing a drinking glass. Primitive is great because if you want a cat all it has to have is pointed ears and whisker and it looks like a cat.

GFW: What is your favorite Rug tool?

LM: The Hartman Hook. I couldn't rug hook without it. I have three of them. They are hand made it's like holding a favorite spoon or the best drinking mug.

GFW: How have you evolved as a rug artist?

LM: The more you see, take in from shows, museums and all different types of magazines, I get more color ideas and shapes. I sit in front of my wool and take it in.

GFW: How do you pick you distinctive color palettes?

LM: I start with either a dark or light color and work my way out from a part of the rug. If you choose a light background then you need contrast for your objects. I don't usually color plan the whole rug at once things sort of evolve.

GFW: What's your challenge for you?

LM: Doing the same thing twice. The self-portrait was a challenge. I had been to a show and there were lots of rugs of women. So I just did it. I don't plan. It's too much to live up to if you plan too much. If you just let things happen, you are happier.

GFW: Thank you Lesa. We love your work.