The owner, Leonore Tisso, was taught to hook by her mother in 1970 but became a serious, full-time rug hooker around 1998.  As a frustrated painter (without talent), Mrs. Tisso found that rug hooking is a satisfying way to express herself through color and design.  She got hooked!!

Rug hooking became an all-consuming art for Mrs. Tisso and she soon found out there were many others like her.  To help bring the art back to its hay-day in popularity, Mrs. Tisso began offering classes in primitive and traditional methods of hooking at the local community college.  The classes proved to be popular and many new rug hooking enthusiasts were born.  In 2005, Mrs. Tisso officially "retired" from her career in geology and opened Early American Rug Hooking.

Along with some of her pupils, Mrs. Tisso founded and is a member of a rug hooking group consisting of local "hookers."  The group meets when it can to share advice and current projects.

Helping Mrs. Tisso is her father, Ed Buckley.  Early in 2004, Mrs. Tisso taught her father how to hook (he was 80 years young at the time).  Shortly afterward, it was discovered that Mr. Buckley had suffered two strokes.  As an avid wood worker all of his life, he was advised to avoid use of some of his power tools (due to the strokes).  Rug hooking became his favorite past time and excellent therapy for him.  Since then, Mr. Buckley has been given the "all clear" to continue with his wood working.  However, after an accident with the table saw, Mr. Buckley has given up the wood working.

In keeping with Mr. Buckley's skill in wood working and prior to the accident, he made hand-turned hook handles for sale on this web site.  These hooks come in a variety of wood types and hook sizes.  

Both Mrs. Tisso's and Mr. Buckley's rugs can be seen in our photo gallery.

In the near future, we hope to bring tips and advice to other rug hookers, including uniques dye recipes.  Until we have that page developed and available for viewing, please feel free to contact us with any rug hooking questions you may have.  If we don't have the answer, we will assist in finding the right resources.