Featured Rug Hooker, Patty Tyrrell

Patty Tyrrell and four friends traveled to Billings Montana, 15 years to take a class to learn how to hook rugs. Out of the four friends, Patty was the only one who stuck with it. She has, since then, taught numerous others.

Patty is from the town of Shell, Wyoming. Population of around 100 people. In her Story Rug, which is her third rug, she shows the Wyoming ranch, and her childhood memories. Below is her story.

 

"This is our home with a backdrop of the beautiful Big Horn mountains. The W and Jirp are actually a natural part of the mountain. Our family calls Jirp mountain" our mountain" because Jerup my maiden name is pronounced like Jirp. Of course it was hard for me to hook in the real way the mountain looks..  In the rug is  my dad with his specialty of growing Tall corn and playing the fiddle. He was the bus driver of the Shell country school for 25 years. I took over his job when he retired and I'm on my 28th year of driving school bus!  My mother was a wonderful cook, gardener, and above all she only saw the good in people.  My brother and myself playing in the yard with our sheep, horses and dog.  I can still drive by my old home and smile..."

 
The first time I saw Patty's Story Rug I just couldn't stop looking at it. It is absolutely outstanding.
 
She is also very creative in the way she displays her rugs. For instance, these chickens are displayed in an old window frame that she has painted blue. This set is hanging in her dining room along with several other rugs on the main wall. 

 

Speaking of chickens, Patty hooked this adorable weather vane from a kit. It was her second rug.

The cabin rug, turned pillow, is one Patty designed for friends of theirs that live in California and still have a cabin in Shell. Patty said, "they are over run with friends inviting friends." Isn't that how it always goes?

Meeting on the Path is a rug designed by Deanne Fitzpatrick. Patty has made more than one of Deanne's patterns, one of which she donated to her church and hangs in the reception room. Patty is a generous and she is talented.

Patty has the rugs she had hooked, displayed all over her house. It is such a treat to see them all. Patty Tyrrell is a special friend and we are all so grateful that she is in our group.

Blog written by Sylvia Gauthier. 3/26/14