Hot response to tartan rugs

(original article from http://north-west-news.whereilive.com.au)

 NEVER in a lifetime would Rob McCartney have imagined himself engrossed in the art of rug making.
But now, the McDowall resident, 56, has teamed up with his sister Catriona to create a tartan rugs website, in honour of the Scottish pattern.
Growing up surrounded by tartan patterns, the dynamic duo first discovered their talent in the early 90s, but it wasn’t until 1999 that their work became widely recognised after appearing in a book for Women’s Weekly.
``Women’s Weekly picked up our unique designs and sold more than 50,000 copies,’’ Mr McCartney said.
``This was when we discovered that there are so many people out there interested in learning more about making crotchet tartan rugs and learning about their family tartan,’’ he said.
And after launching their website www.crmtartan rugs.com, the McCartney’s said they had been contacted from people as far as Canada, America and New Zealand.
``We have improved and further developed our tartan patterns and now have about 1400,’’ he said.
The pair have also developed a CD containing 150 tartan patterns and said they were in the process of producing another CD for Irish, Welsh and Isle of Man Tartans.
Mr McCartney said his next mission was to finish a book called What is Your Tartan to educate people about their Scottish heritage.

Battleground: War Rugs from Afghanistan

(original article from http://abclocal.go.com)

 

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - May 12, 2011 (WPVI) -- For centuries, returning veterans have brought home works of art from the countries where they served.

With Afghanistan being one of the world's hot spots right now, a great deal of Afghan art is making its way to America.
Rug-making is more than an art form there; it's almost like a newspaper or a history book.
The people memorialize events by weaving images and stories into rugs. You can see a fascinating collection of them right now at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.


 The rugs on display were collected by the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto, many acquired from soldiers who for one reason or another didn't want to own them anymore.
The rugs bear the color and fine craftsmanship you expect in oriental rugs. But they also bear stark images of the war Afghans experience as part of everyday life. So you'll see caricatures of political leaders presented as the common people see them, sometimes as strong heads of state, others as puppets of invading Russians. Many show rifles, or bombs, or war planes.
The rugs are an artistic reminder of the violence which is part of the Afghan landscape. "Battleground: War Rugs from Afghanistan" is at the University Museum through July 31st. It's free with your regular admission. After that, it moves on. So far, this is the only American exhibition scheduled.
For more information, you may phone the museum at 215-898-4000, or go online to http://www.penn.museum. Group tours are available.

(Copyright ©2011 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)