Show & Tell / April-June 2026
Show and Tell – Rug Exhibition 2025
Focus on Isabelle and Jacques
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| Isabelle and Jacques selling at the Hudson Christmas Fair in 2019 |
Isabelle is an artisan with a creative eye for beauty and texture. Jacques is a skilled cabinet maker focused on precision, structure, and thoughtful use of space. Together, they blend artistry and craftsmanship to create delightful, original, and functional designs.
Many months before our October 2025 50th Anniversary Rug Exhibition, Isabelle and Jacques began planning the exhibition set-up, taking measurements, and making floor plans of each exhibition room and calculating how to set up the display grids and tables in the most efficient and pleasing way possible. When it finally came to showtime, the result was impressive and professional. Their outstanding contribution deserves to be applauded!
Their Interest in Rug Hooking
Many years ago, Isabelle and Jacques came across an old, hooked rug at an antique market. It depicted the Bluenose, and they were struck by how beautiful and practical it was. That moment sparked their interest in learning the craft.
Getting Started
During a road trip to Vermont in 2009, by chance they discovered the Green Mountain Rug Hooking store. They left with backing, a book, two hooks, and information about a rug hooking guild in Beaconsfield! As soon as they got home, they began hooking, cutting wool fabric by hand from whatever pieces they could find.
In the fall of 2010, they joined the Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild. Isabelle’s first rug was Grandfather’s Fox, and Jacques’ was The Red House. (Please see the links below.)
How Their Work Evolved
Over the years, Jacques began making equipment such as hooking frames to meet their own needs and eventually started making pieces for rug hooking friends as well.
They have always hooked their own designs, and over time, growing demand led Isabelle to begin creating patterns for other rug hookers. Today, she sells her designs, and Jacques, his finely tooled hooking frames and equipment. Together, they vend at many rug hooking events.
They have always hooked their own designs, and over time, growing demand led Isabelle to begin creating patterns for other rug hookers. Today, she sells her designs, and Jacques, his finely tooled hooking frames and equipment. Together, they vend at many rug hooking events.
Some of their rugs shown at the 2025 Exhibition
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| Isabelle's Yellow House |
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| Clockwise: Isabelle's Pouponne, The House of his Childhood, and Ad Lib, at the 2025 exhibition |
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| Some of Jacques' rugs depicting Québecois life in the past at the 2025 exhibition. Top: Le Driver (The Logger) Middle: Castor (Beaver) and l'Ours (The Bear). Outer edges: First five of the series Les Anciens (The Old Timers). |
The following 8 rugs are making a Show and Tell début.
Isabelle Rollin
12’ x 11.75”
2023
Original
Hooked with cuts #4, 5, 6, and 8 of new wool on Monks’ cloth
Finished with wool fabric folded over the edge
Hooked with cuts #4, 5, 6, and 8 of new wool on Monks’ cloth
Finished with wool fabric folded over the edge
"In a series of my hand-painted wooden ornaments, this design flowed naturally from my heart and my hand. We all know someone, somewhere whom this could be. I myself have fond memories of growing up on a farm."
Hollyhocks and Home
18” x 20”
2020
Original
Hooked with cuts #3 and 4 of new wool on Verel
Framed
"I designed a series of houses and barns of Quebec, and this one is “Une maison canadienne” surrounded by hollyhocks."
2020
Original
Hooked with cuts #3 and 4 of new wool on Verel
Framed
"I designed a series of houses and barns of Quebec, and this one is “Une maison canadienne” surrounded by hollyhocks."
Biggest Fan
13” x 13”
2025
Original
Hooked with #10 cut new and recycled wool on linen
Framed
2025
Original
Hooked with #10 cut new and recycled wool on linen
Framed
"This little hockey fan is one of the characters in my “Watching the Game” rug."
Belle by the Sea with Lighthouse
14 “ diameter
2022
Original
Punched with #10 Oxford punch needle using thick yarn and 2 strands of thinner yarn on Monks’ cloth
Whipped edging
2022
Original
Punched with #10 Oxford punch needle using thick yarn and 2 strands of thinner yarn on Monks’ cloth
Whipped edging
"I made a series of “Belle” chair pad designs. This one is Belle by the sea with a lighthouse. I am trying non-conventional colours and trying out punch hooking."
Jacques Lepage
15.5” x 26”
2020
Designed by Isabelle Rollin and Jacques Lepage
Hooked with #4, 5, and 6 cuts of recycled wool on linen
Whipped edging
"This is the fourth in a series named Les Anciens (The Old Timers) the first of which was inspired by a wooden carving of the same scene that has been in my family for as long as I remember. This is a very typical Quebec scene."
Les Anciens no 5 : Jour de tarte aux pommes (The Old Timers #5: Apple Pie Day)
15” x 25”
2023
Designed by Isabelle Rollin and Jacques Lepage
Hooked with #4, 5, and 6 cuts of recycled wool on linen
Whipped edging
15” x 25”
2023
Designed by Isabelle Rollin and Jacques Lepage
Hooked with #4, 5, and 6 cuts of recycled wool on linen
Whipped edging
This is the fifth in a series of The Old Timers. (See the link below for Rugs 1, 2, and 3 of this series shown in 2020.)
Sheep (Mouton)
23” x 33”
2024
Sheep designed by Isabelle Rollin, background designed by Jacques Lepage
Hooked with #8 and 9 cuts of recycled wool on linen
Finished with binding
23” x 33”
2024
Sheep designed by Isabelle Rollin, background designed by Jacques Lepage
Hooked with #8 and 9 cuts of recycled wool on linen
Finished with binding
"The sheep was an ornament hand painted on a slice of wood by Isabelle. I chose it as a drawing for my rug because I loved the shape. The background was an adventure to hook, making up a country scene. This has become a rug pattern."
L'Ours (The Bear)
22.5” x 33”
2014
Original
Hooked with cuts # 6 and8 of recycled wool on rug warp
Finished with a piece of wool material hand sewn on the edges of the rug warp; the outside edge was then whipped.
"My 7th project. I had a bear in mind for a while and just had to do it so that I could move onto another project. I used plaids in the background to get different effects."
To see more of Isabelle’s and Jacques’ work, please use the following links:
Show & Tell / January-March 2013 Isabelle's first rug, Grandfather's Fox
Show & Tell / April-June 2014 Jacques' first rug, The Red House, and Isabelle's The Rooster and the Hen
MONTREAL GAZETTE / Video A short must-see video from 2015 featuring Isabelle and The Yellow House story, Jacques and his rug The Bear, plus members, some who have passed, and Lois, our Guild Founder
Show & Tell / October-December 2018 Isabelle's All together - Covered Bridge
Special Show & Tell / It's a Tie 2019 Isabelle's Grandfather's Fox, Jacques' Le Draveur, and Lumberjack's Snowshoes
Show & Tell / Memories 1 2020 Jacques' first 3 Les Anciens/The Old Timers, and Tool Box; Isabelle's Mommy's Button Box, and House of his Childhood
Show & Tell / New Year's resolutions 2 2022 Isabelle's Home Sweet Home
Show & Tell / January-March 2024 Isabelle's Watching the Game, Jacques' Winter Barn (formerly titled Les Éboulements)
Show & Tell / January-March 2025 Isabelle's Ad Lib
Show & Tell / April-June 2025 Isabelle's Me, Field Mouse
