What an endeavor!
Sanibel Historical Village volunteer Barbara Broadhurst recently donated a hand-hooked rug to the village for display. The rug, measuring approximately 4-feet-6-inches by seven-feet, represents more than 500 hours of labor and $1,000 in material. It depicts the village’s buildings with complete accuracy, with the buildings’ names hooked in the border.
The village rug was on Broadhurst’s mind for a couple of years; she has been a docent since 2009. “I just hadn’t quite figured out how to do it,” she said.
Broadhurst collected photographs of each building from gift cards in the museum store and then took more photographs from different angles. She first drew each house onto brown paper to get the dimensions the way she wanted them. “Then I actually cut them out and pinned them to the linen backing in the order I wanted. After that, I drew them again by hand onto the linen using a marker. It progressed from there,” Broadhurst explained.
Broadhurst hooks only with wool yardage, and a lot of it is recycled wool from wool clothing found at dress stores, for example. Some of the wool is just off the bolt and then dyed.
The rug is hanging in the video room in Shore Haven, where it is also a teaching tool, with trainers and tour guides using it to illustrate the different buildings. “We are thrilled and proud to have this work of art on display,” said Emilie Alfino, museum executive director. “It is beautiful and unique and an example of someone’s love for the village.”
Broadhurst, who began hooking rugs in 1998, said once she makes a project for someone, she is happy to give it away. Next up, a pillow of her daughter’s new puppy!
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS). Docent-guided tours are available at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at no extra charge, based upon docent availability. There is handicap access to all buildings except one. For information, call 1-239-472-4648 during business hours or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.
