Claire Murray’s hand-hooked rugs tell colorful stories of life by the sea. Murray began making her rugs 20 years ago. Today she owns 17 retail stores and her heirloom rugs are known worldwide.
She’s been credited for rejuvenating the art of hooking rugs ever since she ran classes at her Nantucket Island Inn and still in her business today.
“I fell in love with the art while converting an old Nantucket sea captain’s home to a cozy cottage inn,” says Murray,
a single mom who left New York seeking a seaside lifestyle close to nature.“I learned to hook rugs and began filling my rooms with them. Year after year my guests wanted to purchase them; that gave me the idea for my business,” says Murray.
Later she was inspired to create Our Nation’s Garden, a rug to honor each state’s flower. With the national garden completed, this rug now hangs at the entrance to the Botanic Garden’s Conservatory in Washington D.C.
“People say that looking at my rugs everyday makes them feel good,” says Murray. “And it makes me feel good that I’m creating something positive.”
Photo from Newscom.
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