Artist Spotlight: Edwina Prinster, Fiber

Photos and story by Kim Carr

 

It came as no surprise. When I sat down with Edwina Prinster, she told me her start in the world of art was as a fashion model…. tall, poised, strikingly good looks. It’s not hard to imagine her days on the runway at Famous Barr and Niemen Marcus. Once she even starred in a Pevely Dairy commercial. Growing up in Dexter, MO, Edwina admits she always had a love of fashion and fabric. She loved wearing beautiful clothes, modeling came natural and it was something she enjoyed. Though not surprised about Edwina’s modeling career, I was momentarily at a loss for words when I asked her about her current art form that she has mastered over the last 20 years. Edwina simply stated that she “met an old lady that was a hooker”, and that’s how she got started. After I had a little chuckle from her comment, Edwina went on to explain to me how she has been hooking rugs for over twenty years now. After meeting this accomplished “hooker”, she attended a national hooking show in which this lady displayed her rugs, pillows and other projects. Edwina was enthralled by the designs, fabrics and beauty of the work; she was hooked. For the next 4 or 5 years she took classes to learn as much as she could.

Edwina married young, had three children – two boys and a girl that she and her husband raised in St. Louis. She always enjoyed keeping her hands busy, so while the kids where young Edwina would crotchet and do needle point. With a strong attraction to colors, fiber and the endless possibilities in the world of hooking, Edwina became a certified instructor by attending classes out on the east coast. Her style is what she calls ‘finehooking’ which means she utilizes a smaller, thinner strip of wool in her work. In her basement studio, you will find shelves of instruction books, dyes, material and patterns. Edwina hand dyes her material specifically for each project that she is currently working on. The colors that she mixes are very precise but she also enjoys experimenting, creating new colors.  She works in her studio almost every day. Currently she is hooking an old fashioned bedcover for her granddaughter’s Master’s graduation in May. There are several pieces which hang on the walls in Edwina’s studio. It is not uncommon for a piece to take more than a year to complete. Edwina stated that she must have a personal connection to each piece she creates.  She will not start a new project unless she is invested in it. There was a gap in time that she was without a project. One day while watching a program, she saw elephants on a refuge in Africa that mourned the loss of their human caretaker. The tug on the heartstrings translated to expressing her emotions and amazement of the wonderful creatures into a hooked piece. She also found a lovely gorilla pattern that spoke to her… and a zebra. The intelligence that these animals possess and their connection to one another has inspired Edwina to hook these pieces in hopes of raising awareness of how man must protect these species and all creatures that roam our planet.

As a hooker, Edwina will search out patterns that reflect the project at hand. Once after a very trying vacation, Edwina freestyled a design which she created in her mind as she worked. She and her husband had climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine. With 90 degree days, 70 pound packs, sleeping on boards and truly roughing it, Edwina was tested both mentally and physically. Upon returning home, Edwina hooked a small wall hanging of mountains and ocean. Edwina laughed out loud when she told me it’s the only piece she has ever created out of pain.

Over the years, Edwina has only agreed to sell one of her pieces. The time and detail in her work can make it cost prohibitive. She does, however, do commission work. For those interested in learning the art of hooking, Edwina does teach classes. You can contact her about availability.

She shared a wonderful story with me about a lady who brought her a beautiful piece that had been started by another person who passed. She sought Edwina out to see if she would take on the challenge of completing the piece. She worked tirelessly to hand dye the wool to match the original and was meticulous in her work. Upon completion, when the piece was being admired by the owner, the biggest compliment came when the lady could not tell which end Edwina had completed and which was the original.

Edwina also takes great pride in the volunteer work she has done with the girls at Girls Town. She taught for several years working on a variety of projects including book bags. She also loves to demonstrate at different events and shows. In her down time, she enjoys reading anything that is well written. She has a great appreciation for beautiful words and the language they create. Since moving out to the country, Edwina has also taken up quilting in an effort to meet folks around her area. She finds herself challenged by the craft of quilting and stated that, “Rug hooking is forgiving, quilting is not.”

Her work has been in numerous displays and exhibitions including the museum window in Fulton and most recently the Peckham & Wright Architects, Inc. window display in Columbia, MO featuring the works of Best of Missouri Hands artists. When asked about the Best of Missouri Hands, Edwina stated that she joined as a way to help promote rug hooking. She believes there is an artist inside every human being and it’s essential to express yourself in your art form. After 20+ years, Edwina admits she is still enchanted with the art of rug hooking.

Past article in Vox Magazine:

http://www.voxmagazine.com/stories/2010/06/24/auxvasse-artisan-teaches-rug-hooking-class-missour/

Please visit Edwina’s BOMH page at:

http://www.bestofmissourihands.org/artisans/fiber-textiles/edwinaprinster/