132 Woolley Fox Lane        Ligonier, PA 15658

Contact us by telephone at (724) 238-3004

or by Email at woolleyfox@verizon.net

or Fax (724) 238-3600

In May, 2011, right before rug camp, we had a wonderful opportunity to meet an extraordinary group of French quilters.  Martine Bronca was one such quilter who so graciously provided the photos from the visit. In an email, Martine wrote:

My friends and I are now back in France and would like to thank you and your daughter for your kind welcome at the Woolley Fox and the time you dedicated to us.  We did really enjoy the dinner, the show and tell with your friends, as well as the evening in the workshop.  We admire so much your work, designs and wools.   It was really an exceptional evening for us.  Here are all of our pictures of this wonderful evening!

Boyertown Pups, 53 x 62, an antique design hooked by Barb Carroll, fall 2010

I really love to hook "nonsense" and this rug is perfect for that. Absolutely whimsy at its best!!!!!!! The dog is hooked using at least 12 different darks. Muddling had become one of my favorite things to do in rug hooking and the body of this dog is perfect for that. The basket is hooked from a marvelous red paisley that my good friend Cynthia Norwood gave to me. And the neat, neat collar is hooked using one wool, a big time fun check.

Don't have the grass and flowers hooked yet under the house, but SOON!!!!!!! Another of my favorite rug hooking things is to use "waggles AKA strips" for small areas. Sooooooooooooo I hunted through my "waggle pile" for the doors and windows. This truly does stretch your imagination. Usually we just "go and cut something after much thought," this is much more spontaneous and fun and will bring more interest to your rugs. Hopefully will be more photos soon. I am having a good time with this rug.

These shapes looked like "blobs" until I got some background around them. Sooooooooooooo now they have more shape and look more fun. I had a blast hooking the animals and again used some of the wools that I had "stashed," and then for the small dogs, just some of the wools from the big dog. Orange is not my favorite color in my house, but I love it in rugs--go figure!!--and so the owls are a "HOOT". And hooray for Purple trees!!!!!!! The most surprising thing I did was hook in a Pink bunny!  And then used the pink in the rainbow too!!!! The old green/beige/taupe backgrounds sort of dull everything down and make it work together. The background is "puddles" of wools and very neat to do. I probably used about 9 or 10 wools in the background.  Wish I had more time to hook!!!!!!!!

December 15   So now here I am with orange, pink, and purple in my rug. And then why not teal and purple birds. Big surprise to me!!!!!! The purple in the right bird is a wonderful purple paisley that Cynthia Norwood gave me.)   The stars are sort of a golden reddish hue with a touch of purple in them - so what else is new!!!!!!! Then as I laid wools down to try and figure out the moons (I love that there are three of them), purple seemed like the perfect thing!!!!!! Actually this is one "wacky rug," soooooooooooooooooooooooo "just have fun with it," I said to myself. It has been interesting to see how this rug has developed. I usually do not try to color plan a rug and then hook it, I watch to see how things are coming together and then continue adding color, softer wools, or whatever seems to come next. And next is always a surprise in this rug!!!!!!

No more hooking until January - that is probably a good thing - I definitely need some time and space to see what is next!!!!!

Wishing everyone the blessings and joys of this wonderful season.

OKAY!!!!!!!!!  So now the center is done!!!!!!!  Unless I make a few small changes that is. I did switch off the pink I used at the top of the rainbow and then hooked some of this same wool as a partial outline on the bunny. Am much happier with that. The "sun AKA circle" at the top right was wonderful fun. Just lots of different strips of reddish/goldish wool plaids that all melt together. I love to do that!!!!!! The backgrounds got "scary" for me. Did not pull anything out though, that was good. Just sort of "felt my way" through the color changes and prayed that it was right. When you are working on a background this large, it is hard to see the "rest of the story" until you pull your rug off of the frame. Hope to start the border tonight.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I am finished!!!!!!!! - HOORAY!!!!!!!

This rug has truly been an adventure.  As always the first part was VERY easy and fun.  The dog was almost a rug on it's own - very warm, friendly and cuddly.  THEN - the house and barn - and yet again easy and fun.  I knew the little dogs needed to be dark - at least in my rug, however when I hooked the bottom left dog I hooked a spot in him that as the rug progressed became too busy and muddled.  You can see that by looking at the finished rug without the border above.  Odd how hooking the spot dark - just melted in and the area became much quieter.  A super neat lesson in (as Emma Lou would say) "less is more".  

Okay - the bunny still bothered me.  I put every color known to man there, and then some others - but - pink was the answer.  I decided to outline the entire bunny with the neat pink plaid I used in the rainbow and for just part of the outline of the bunny before- and hallelujah - that made all of the difference.  "Who says we are smarter than the wool"????

Decided the owls need "'tweaked" - they were okay but not good enough.  So "sharpened them up" and made them "lay better" in the backgrounds. 

As for the background wools - God sort of guided my head on which wools layered where.  I started with the "grass" and then stayed fairly light up past the dog and rainbow until I got to the moons.  I guess I thought I should go a bit deeper.  Maybe it was night!!!!!!! - When I did that - I saw that it kept the bottom of the rug in balance with the top.  What a neat lesson that is - very exciting.  The "clouds" over the stars are a wonderful gray purple that seems to keep a feeling of almost "spooky and playfulness in this area, which also adds to the balance of the rug. 

Honestly - you would think that with the "oddness" of what is going on here that you could almost "get away with anything", but not the case.  I would say this is one of the most complicated and thoughtful rugs I have ever done. 

And now on to the border - and YES - it was very easy to do.  I had decided that the curvy line in the border should be hooked using the background wools - from the very lightest to the medium darks.  I just picked them up randomly and hooked.  Since the rug had so much playfulness in the center - then I saw that the circles should be that way also.  I used lots of the wools from the rug, but also other wools that I just LOVED!!!!!!!!  Then I thought I would hook in some of the neutrals from the background in the circles.  I like the way that they play with the other colors in the border. 

I began hooking the background of the border in a dark "olive drab check".  I started in the upper left hand corner and loved the way it looked, but after I got down part way on the right side - I GOT BORED!!!!!!! - so hunted around for a wool of the same value that would be fun to use for awhile, then another and another.  I did NOT mix the wools - always hooked in patches.  I kept that up all the way around the rug.  As I got around to the bottom left I decided to use the first wool again - and then move off to another wool, ending up with a neat maroon wool for the top left corner.  None of these wools "pull away" from each other, so provide a very interesting border story without it being "jumpy".  Fun to do - just be careful not to have a big "jump" in the wools. 

I honestly love my rug - and it definitely made me leave my comfort zone and hook for the sake of the rug, not "what Barb Carroll likes".  Comes back to the old story - what color goes there - not what color should it be. 

If you have any questions - please let me know and I will be glad to try and answer them.  I once said that "God's hand hooked with Mary Sheppard Burton's as she did her rugs - and I believe he was with me too.  This was an amazing project.

Rosie's Posies, 31 x 50, an antique design hooked by Barb Carroll.

  I honestly have been thinking I should put this on sooner,like a month ago at least!!!!! However - the best laid plans - so here it is now.

I have had such a good time with this rug. Not been in any hurry, and not deciding anything in advance, except!!!! knew I wanted a dark cat, and that I wanted to use these "putty/taupe/beige background wools. Had a fun time with "Rosie" and then with the baskets (they were each hooked with a single stripe that sort of comes up "hit n miss") with the flowers, then when I got to the background around Rosie I sort of let my hook and hands pull the wools for the puddles, shadowing and odd areas. Really think it looks old and worn and what a blast I had with it. Actually exciting to create this raggy/raggie background. 

The bands of color in the area around "Rosie" give you the opportunity to create a very fun and imaginative border. I just sort of began. The first row seemed obvious as I had a neat taupe/red/black plaid and so I began hooking that in. Then turned out to be too busy for the whole area, so I just hooked four rows and then filled in the band with this neat darkish plaid. Sooooooooooooooo then what??????? I love this next wool and as I hooked it in thought "Hooray"!!!!!!! Thought the next wool should be sort of dark to pull in the Rosie Cat, but when it got to "heavy" for me I lightened it up with the previous wool. NOW - and next - one of my new most favorite things to do!!!!!!!! I pulled three wools similar in value - all  checks - and sort of "mushed" them in the next band. This actually creates a NEW wool from three that you have in your stashes. Very fun, very primitive and very creative for you to do. What's next????????? I think I know but we shall see when I start to hook it in.

This is sort of a "raggie/raggy look, very cozy, worn and comfy. As the old  saying goes, "Try it, you'll like it"! Or at least I think you will.

More soon.

  I am so excited!!!!!!!  The wool in the photo is in the last hooked band on the rug.   It is a super neat boucle which is one of "The Reunion Wools".   (One of the wools I bought and spent way to much money on when I went to a 50th High School Reunion.)  The wool is sort of "bumpy and lumpy".   Not easy to hook and and not usually good in places this large.  BUT!!!!!!! It worked!!!!!!! So now just the two last areas to hook and I will be finished.  I have had a GREAT time with this rug. 

Hooray!!!!!!  All finished and boy did I ever have a blast with this rug.  The last two bands are from a wonderful soft old red plaid and the corners are more of "The Reunion Wools".  If you look at the bands carefully you will see that they are not even and have an "oddness" hooked into them now and then.   My mind and hook just "did it"!!!!!!!!  Very much fun and you definitely throw out all of the rules - a great freedom.  Sooooooooooo now I am "hooked" on "mush and raggie/raggy". 

I will be starting another rug in July - Boyertown Pups.  I am very excited about this one too.  Will be fun to hook and for you to read about.

Any questions??????  Just let me know.   Hugs to all!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mister Fox (21 x 36)  (Fall 2008)

  Finally started hooking again. Been a very busy Fall. I absolutely LOVE "hit n miss". So I decided to hook the fox from my "wiggle wools." I honestly am just reaching my hand down in the bag and pulling.   Think that must be how lots of the old rugs were done. I did outline the fox with what I call an "open plaid". This is a plaid which has different "hues" as you hook it. Does not look like an abrupt line - more soft and cozy. I did keep the "hit n miss" straight by following the lines in the monk's cloth. If you are hooking on linen - just draw a straight line by using a "Sharpee" and pulling it along in the grove in the linen weave.  Easy to hook with this guide line.

So not a "thought provoking" rug, but more free and fun. Football today - so hope to hook then.

  Well I have had a good time with this rug.  Hit n Miss has always been fun for me - so I decided to GO FOR IT.  The circles are all going to be odd bits and so is the outline of the star flowers. The corners are neat to hook - quiet and odd!!!!  Maybe the border will be "hit n miss" as well.

  Been watching a lot of football. Steelers, Penn State, Pitt and Navy!!!! And having lots of fun with this rug.  Mostly this is all "wiggles". And we all have lots of them. To spark up the corners the chevrons are a brighter rust stripe. The rest is sort of "muck"!!!!!  I have an idea for the last corner, but want to make sure it will work. Still thinking about "hit n miss" for the border. 

Off to see Bobbie and then to Robin's. No more hooking until December.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

What a fun rug!!!!!  I love the "hit n miss" in the left corner motif.  Expected, but unexpected.  Sort of felt I was being "naughty" with this rug.  As far as I know I missed following any of the rules. Just received   a wonderful stripe wool from England and knew it would be grand in the border. Makes the border look sort of dusty and old. A very cozy rug with lots of "STUFF" going on.

After the freedom of the hit n miss with this rug - I encourage everyone to try this. Just choose one motif in your rug.  Outline it with an "open" plaid, then grab your bag of "wiggle wools" and play. I honestly did just close my eyes and pull a "wiggle" and hook it in. And yes - it is scary!!!! Remember that the "hit n miss" can be in circles, filling in a triangle - maybe a roof on a house. Really any where in the rug that is meant to be fun.

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A new Woolley Fox pattern Santa Fe Crossing, 50 x 77

If you have any questions about any of this - let me know and I will be glad to try to answer you. I went from lots of fun to lots of thinking. Neat experience.

Santa Fe Crossing, 50 x 77, a new Woolley Fox pattern for 2008. Pattern layout adapted from two antique images.

I am so excited about this rug, Santa Fe Crossing. This is really a "Barb Carroll" rug. I have had so much fun choosing the wools and hooking it, I thought maybe some of you would like to follow along as the rug and I journey together. 

I first decided that I would like a "blackish dark" horse. I love all of the dark funny-looking tweeds, so I began my hunt through my stash for WONDERFUL wools that I would love to play with. I chose about 6 or 7 darkish wools and about 6 or 7 lightish wools.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

I hooked the mane first using a neat tweed that has some flecks of color to it. Decided I love that and would keep it only in the mane. 

The eye was next. I hooked the center using a neat red plaid, then one ring of one of my light wools, followed by one ring of a medium wool. The eye now became important without overtaking the horse. Very fun!

Next I started hooking the horse. That was great -- all of the darkish wools became my friends. And that is how I hooked them. Just sat down and played, visiting with "one friend and then another." As I was working on the horse I discovered a GREAT black/brown boucle which of course I had buried long ago, and knew it needed to be part of the horse body. So now my "circle of friends" was complete for the horse, and away I hooked.

I have not decided yet if the light area on the back of the horse is staying. After I get the center finished I will be able to tell. Right now I like it because of some of the abnormalities of the old rugs, and this seems to fit in.

As I worked I figured out that the "lightish" wools would not work well into the body, soooooooo decided to use them for the hooves and the tail. That was absolutely a wonderful adventure into melting them together. All friends and all play so well together. I was sorry when I finished them; hopefully I will get to play with them again in the border. (No, I do not know yet what I am going to do in the border).

Now to decide the top part of the background behind the horse. I threw lots of wools around him and these funny greens just seemed to call to me. I started adding more wools to have a neat mix to play with in the background.

The trees - BIG FUN. I love the plaid, and then of course the berries needed to be red. So far the rug is "talking to me" and telling me what comes next. And then the wonderful soft plaid to fill in behind the branches and berries. 

The tree on the left is hooked with a very neat "spotted" wool. I wanted it to be a touch different from the others. Happy I am with the trees.

Okay - so for a while the rug and Barb were not on the same page! I had a devil of a time trying to get the area under the horse right. Too busy, too bright, too dull and killed the horse! I hooked in and pulled out like a wacky woman. Actually still wasn't sure with this one (my fourth try!) that it would work. There are two wools, and as I get more and more in - I am much happier. I love the way it plays off the reds in the trees. The whole rug is still soft and much warmer. Fun when you get it right!

Okay - I now love both of my backgrounds - this inside border has just made everything play together very well. The dark area is a super neat plaid which has darks, funny reds, and funny greens.  Sort of looks as if this area of the rug wore with foot traffic and light. Fun to do that. I added a stripe on the side of the inside border - a very neat nubby wool which picks up the brown tones and the reds. Should marry everything together perfectly!!!! No more for a while - lots going on here with the rug school.

  HOORAY!!!!!!! The center of the rug is finished - and I had a great time. Going to start on the border while I am watching the Penguins play hockey!!!! I am laying the wools out now. Very excited about this. I think I will have nifty places to play with color.

So!!!!! Not as uncomplicated as I thought it might be!!!!! One of the BIG things is to remember the border is part of the rug. With this wonderful design it is very easy to "wander off" and hook the BORDER - thereby making it "apart" from the rug. Ask me - I did that!!!! I think now that the border and the rug are one. I might change some of the berries in the trees to the "blue purples". I won't make that change until the rug is finished.

The color decisions are as follows: I hooked many reds into the border - I like red, and it plays off the center of the rug. The orange/gold/rust wools also pick up the colors in the trees. As for the two different blue purples - I have no idea!!!! I just kept playing until it seemed right - and yes - I did lots of reverse hooking!!!! The background of the border is the FOURTH wool that I tried!!!!, this one plays with the greens and browns in the background and also has some red in it. Just looked rich and balanced to me. 

There will be places for odd "waggles" of wool. When I get there I will pop in what I need. More to come!!!!

Not much more has been hooked on the border. I have done more REVERSE hooking. Another small change. Should have photos by Friday. Boy am I learning A LOT!!!!

  Okay!!!!  So took the "bright" blue/purple out - after I got more hooked - just did not look right. Now have changed it to a "black" and am much happier. The border seems darker and richer. I am not hooking the corner hearts until I have more underway in the border. Loads to learn about color in this rug.

This is all I am going to get done for now.  No more hooking until August.  Lots of fun family stuff.

Soooooooooooo - I am loving my border colors.  HOORAY!!!  Have put some "waggles" of color in the border.  Have to remember not to do to many.  As Emma Lou says "less is more"!!!! I was thinking of hooking some of the berries in the blue/purple, but as that wool is making it's way around the rug, it is looking very different to me.  Don't think I will need to do that. 

You can hook lots while watching the Olympics.  Fun!!!!

So "wandering around" the border.  I have definitely been learning and learning.  Turns out that the border started looking to "clean" for me.  On the outer edge in the V shaped spaces - I decided to "shift" reds and the fill as I was going around.  This makes the rug look older to me and appears that some places were patched or the reds shifted color over the years.  The hearts came "crashing" together for me when I asked myself the very important question "What color goes there?"   Once you ask yourself that question then it was obvious.  The hearts that came off of the red area in the border are different darks and then the hearts off the black area in the border are red.  Was fun to pull weird wools for the waggles in the hearts. Note the purple paisley in the heart waggles.   Cynthia Norwood is definitely part of my rug!!!!!  Also the light waggle in the lower left heart is from an Irish Immigrant's shawl that was given to me by Dick LaBarge.   This shawl passed through Ellis Island at the turn of the century.  The name of the young woman was Bridget Connors and was purchased from an 85 year old descendent.  Very nice to have in my rug, and a big thank you to both Dick and George. 

The close up on the border shows that I hooked some different wools, but very close to the original wool in the border background.  Again - got to "clean" for me and loved the visual of patched.

I feel good about where this rug is going.  BUT - still lots of places to play and hopefully not "muck up".

HOORAY - THE RUG IS FINISHED!!!!!!    Lots of FUN. Thanks to everyone who "journeyed with me".

Wow!!! What a ride this has been.  The color lessons and learning experience has been wonderful.  I did not make any changes or "fix" anything.  I had thought about adding purple into the berries on the tree, but decided after it was hooked that I really did not need to do that.  The "swirl" of color in the border seems to frame the rug and spread the warmth through out the rug.  Actually sort of magical. 

Some of the important things about this rug:

Kept the center of the rug and the border as one.   Hard to do.

Introduced odd color in odd places.

Learned how color would react when there is so MUCH of it.  The rug is large and the flow of the border needed to be smooth, and not overwhelming.