Laurie has been doing some sort of handwork since her Mother handed her a needle and thread at age 5. While still in school and with limited resources, she began designing and hooking rugs in 1970 after seeing an article in Early American Life magazine.

Known for her keen sense of color and whimsical, folk art designs, Laurie has been teaching rug hooking and various fiber arts around the Twin Cities for over 30 years. Laurie’s classes are casual, warm and as colorful as the materials she works with. Packed with tips and tricks even the most experienced students will find useful, she helps each student develop their skills and find their own style.

2022 marked the 35th anniversary of L. J. Fibers, her fiber arts business that became The Wooly Red Rug in 2002 when Laurie opened the doors of her studio to the public. Her museum quality hooked rugs, wool applique, stitched and needle punched pieces are part of private collections across the country and have earned her recognition as one of America‚Äôs top traditional craftsmen by Early American Life magazine‚ where her passion began.

Laurie has been featured in many publications including ATHA’s Art of Rug Hooking, Rug Hooking Magazine, Wool Works, Punch Needle & Primitive Stitcher and The Wool Street Journal. She is currently a Faculty Artist/Instructor at Minnetonka Center for the Arts and has taught at both From Our Hands Creative and Sauder Village Rug Week in Ohio, and many other regional rug camps.

Specialties: color planning; dyeing, especially with sustainable natural plant dyes; rug hooking; punch needle; wool applique and embroidery

Instructor Website

Workshops

Rug Hooking Retreat: Folk Art Rug Hooking