Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters
Rug crafting skills came to Australia primarily through the many women transported to this country. Eventually the craft of making floor coverings from rags or fabric scraps fell out of favour because: • the rugs were not durable since they were made from feed or flour sacks and fell to pieces over time, hence few examples are seen in Australia; • only a few women’s crafts were deemed to have “value”; rag rug crafting was not seen as culturally valuable; and • prosperous migrants did not want to be associated with a craft of "thrift" and woven carpets replaced handcrafted ones; rug making skills were no longer taught. The "lost" craft of traditional handcrafting rugs ( NOT latch hooking) has been revived in Australia and now includes wall hangings, wearable- / 3-dimensional art and serves to pay tribute to the ingenuity and creativity of our Grandmothers.
Staff / Regular Volunteers: Currently 1-20 members / staff.
We reach: Currently 51-1000 people
Volunteer with us: Everyone who comes is learning about - and helping others learn about - this traditional craft.
We specifically work with: Anyone, Older People, Women
Learn a "lost" traditional craft while helping to save an aspect of Australia's cultural history.
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- Group / organisation name:
- Sunshine Coast Rug Crafters
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- Contact person:
- Judith Tompkins
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- Telephone:
- 07 5494 8179
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- Email:
- judi.tompkins@bigpond.com
