Seaside Rug Hooking Company

Our studio space is chock full of finished works, works in progress, supplies, and joy.  This is where we teach most classes. Everything on the website is available for purchase at the studio. We are open to the public most Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 10 til 2. If you are making a special trip to visit us, please call ahead to be sure we will meet you.

We're in Studio 107 in the Mill at Shady Lea (215 Shady Lea Road) in North Kingstown, RI, USA.  The mill and surrounding area is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places as a well-preserved mill district dating from 1820. The Mill continuously housed textile manufacturing until the 1950's.  At that time it was home the King Fastener Company, making staples which are still be found embedded in the floor of the studio.  The mill owner, later sold the staple company and renovated the complex to now house over 40 studios for artists and artisans. Our neighbors restore antique clocks, weave, make glass and ceramics, paint, sculpt, woodwork, make jewelry, carve stone...just an amazing place.

Laura Kenyon and Debra Walland 

We are the Seaside Sisters, yes, biologic sisters, who love the art and craft of traditional rug hooking  and want to share it.

We got started by visiting Jacqueline Hansen, a hooked rug historian, teacher, and designer in Scarborough, Maine. We spent a week in her home studio to take our first rug hooking class.  That was in 2006 and we haven't looked back.   

Laura Kenyon, the "Northern Sister", keeps the place going.  She is a master rug hooker and teacher. She received her teacher certification  from the National Guild of Pearl McGown Rug Hookrafters and is presently their Vice President. She teaches regularly in her home state of Rhode Island, South Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida.  Laura is a two-time finalist in "Celebration of Hand- Hooked Rugs" as well as being published in Rug Hooking Magazine and in Janet Conner's Magnificent Rugs (2019). She is a member of ATHA, Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild, and the McGown Guild.  Currently, her rug "They Danced with Scarves" is touring in "Fairy Tales" exhibit curated by Robin Rennie.

Debra Walland is known as the "Southern Sister" because for the first 15 years of the company she was living in South Carolina. She has recently moved home to Rhode Island. She is still the southern sister. She lives in South Kingstown, and Laura lives in North Kingstown. Her rugs  and articles have been published in both the "ATHA magazine" and "Rug Hooking" magazine.  She also has contributed to Designed by You: Ideas and Inspiration for Rug Hookers by Tamara Pavich (2018), Hooked on Words by Ellen Banker (2018), and Janet Conner's Magnificent Rugs (2019). She is a member of the  American Craft Council, ATHA, and Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild, and McGown Guild. Her rug are contemporary, fresh, and fun.