Liz Marino: Class of 2018
Name: Elizabeth (Liz) Marino
Location: South Egremont, Massachusetts
Tell us a bit about yourself. What are some of your interests and hobbies?
I teach rug hooking at my studio and founded and run a Therapy Dog organization: Canine Link Therapy Dogs.
How did you get introduced to rug hooking?
My best friend saw a rug hooking show/display at our local organic market and told me we had to do this for ourselves.
What was your first project?
My first project was a sunflower pillow, fine cut and poorly shaded! But I have it in my studio to remind me of my beginnings, and I love the piece.
Is there one rug that stands out as being particularly memorable?
I would have to say that Martellotti Family Picnic Circa 1928.
Is there a particular style of rugs that you're most interested in hooking?
My favorite style is translating photographs into hooked pieces.
What's your favorite part about hooking a rug?
I love the process, making the decisions about drawing the design, coming up with my color choices, and then editing what I have hooked to make the piece really give the effect I am looking for.
What's a piece of advice you'd give to a new rug hooker?
To hang your piece where you can see it first thing in the morning with a critical eye. Then to trust when you are uncomfortable with a motif, know you are right, and that it does need to be tweaked.
What do you love most about Celebration?
I love seeing the incredible work that is being done. I have all of the Celebrations from the first issue, and it is something to go through them and see the differences in the work that is being done over the years.
Table of Contents
Coco Llama, Celebration XI
"Coco Llama is a portrait of our herd matriarch CoCo. As a breeder of animals, one always maintain a vision of what your are moving towards in your breeding program, and CoCo embodied everything we..." Read more.
Deere & Co., 200 Years of Progress, Celebration XVI
"I hooked this rug for my family and my husband. This is the second rug I hooked using an image as my guide. I worked with Nancy MacLennan on this piece and..." Read more.
Fraktur Chair, Celebration XXII
"I created this pattern for my daughter Molly while she was pregnant with her son Lleroy. It held in the pattern how I feel about motherhood and the joining of two people in love. The Fraktur design concepts are..." Read more.
Martellotti Family Picnic Circa 1928, Celebration XXIV
"This photograph was taken in Brooklyn, NY, in 1928. It is of my husband’s family who immigrated from Sicily to NY. My husband’s grandfather Giovanni (Papa), his Uncles Louis (who hated swimming and was shy about..." Read more.
The Lovers, Celebration 26
"As part of the Tarot Exhibition, I choose The Lovers to hook. My vision was to create a piece that was very organic as they represent all aspects of love, and it is also deeply connected to the Tree of Life. It represents..." Read more.
The Blessed Virgin, Celebration 28
"One of my dear friends, and a rug hooking student, found that she had contracted a serious illness. For my friend, her faith is a large part..." Read more.
This Land was Meant for You and Me, Celebration 29
"This Land was Meant for You and Me, a portrait of Woody Guthrie, represents the power that made America great. I feel strongly that we must be a country of inclusion, one that makes room for all peoples and stands up for the rights of..." Read more.