Meet Ted Stickles

This is the first of a series of posts that I will write to introduce my readers to fellow rug hookers, wool quilters, wool applique enthusiasts, and other wool artists of all kinds, who are clients of Ram in the Thicket.

May I start out by saying that I love my particular clientele. Of all the businesses I could have chosen, mine is populated with clients who are generally older, wiser, congenial and just a joy to deal with. No spoiled, whiny, demanding brats among them! Many love to chit-chat (as I do, obviously) and I enjoy them thoroughly. So it seems only natural to introduce them to you, especially when I see the beautiful work they do.

So it is with pleasure that I introduce Ted Stickles, who became a client within my first year of business (brave soul). Ted is originally from San Mateo California, which is just south of San Francisco, and he lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He went to Indiana University on a swimming scholarship where he broke and held several American and World Records for three years in the individual medley. While in high school he had also set a record for swimming across (under) the Golden Gate Bridge. He started at Louisiana State University in 1972 as a swimming coach, and he coached for eight years. For his last 25 years there, he was the Event Management Director, running all athletic events in all sports -- about 140 to 150 a year. He retired in 2003 but has continued to help out at LSU, running football and baseball events.

I even came across an entry for Ted in Wikipedia! A celebrity in our midst.

His daughter, Loree, got him started hooking rugs. She couldn't talk him into it, so she gave him the makings of a small rug for Christmas one year and, of course, he had to at least try it. Since then, he has made 75-100 pieces -- many small ones, just to hang on walls; and some for different seasons to hang up. He doesn't have enough room for them all, so he duplicates some designs and gives them away, which he enjoys. Many of those are about 18" X 18" and he finishes them for hanging on a wall. Most designs are from some kind of pattern, and he designs some through inspiration from other images, generally using burlap, and a number 3 or 4 cut. Ted will say that he doesn't consider what he does 'fancy', he just enjoys doing it.

Ted finds it hard to just sit; so he hooks and reads (about 125 books a year), does some yard work, works a bit at LSU, and he especially enjoys taking care of his grandkids. It all keeps him busy.

So enjoy the gallery below, and give us your comments!

As of July 2011, here is the latest from Ted. I really enjoy his simple straightforward style, and how he creates rugs with meaning for others, often giving them as gifts. A rug truly is a labor of love. Could you ever be repaid 'hourly' for all the time you would put into a rug? Never. When giving them away, you receive payment in the form of gratitude and a closer relationship.

Ted has made two of these, and donated one for a fundraiser to his high school alma mater, whose mascot is the Knights.





Circle is made of Mardi Gras colors.