Sanctuary

Salmon!

It may seem like a strange idea to have salmon as the focal point in a hooked rug.

However, I have designed and hooked over ten salmon rugs. At one point, I instructed my rug hooking guild to not allow me to hook another salmon rug for at least a year. It seems I cannot help being drawn to the salmon, they are in my blood so to speak.

I was raised in a small town in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by bays, inlets and beaches.

The salmon for centuries to present time were important to the Native American cultures. In my hometown, the fishing industry was a major part of its economy beginning early on in the twentieth century. My grandfather, father, brothers, uncles, cousins and husband were all commercial fishermen at one time. My mom, sisters, and I worked at various jobs in the many fish canneries. Local fishermen fished in the waters of the Puget Sound and traveled seasonally to work in Alaska.

I have a deep reverence for salmon. I like the Native American folklore and stories involving salmon and also the role salmon played in my own family's history. Ravens and crows are also one of my favorite design elements, so it was meaningful to combine all these elements and ideas into one rug.

At the time that I designed this rug, all three of my children were in their teen years. I needed my creative outlet to reflect the peace and balance I was seeking for all of us with our hectic schedules during those years. My goal was to create an almost meditative feel. The stately tree with its long embracing branches that protectively encircle the raven. The raven, observing, perhaps even guarding the salmon. The salmon, content and almost looking happy, to be resting in the eddy safely below the roots.

Sanctuary's oval shape measures approx 25" x 32".

It is available in my ETSY shop along with other rug hooking related item.