BIO:
Jenny Smallridge was intrigued by Ali Strebel’s booth at Yellow Springs Wool Festival, about 20 years ago. Jenny bought supplies, drew up a pumpkin pattern, and hooked every night until it was done. She learned how to finish it from a book by Pat Cross. After the pumpkin, she designed rugs with a steer head, sunflower and rooster.
She didn't pick up hooking again until about 5 years ago, when she took a class from Ali Strebel. Jenny’s passion was reignited and she hasn’t laid down her hook since. During that class, she also learned about the Miami Valley Rug Hooking Guild and became a member. The group was very welcoming, and she enjoyed seeing the gorgeous rugs that the members created. So, she started her journey to make beautiful rugs by spending the last few years taking in as much information about rug hooking as she could absorb.
Jenny enjoys mixing rustic, country and primitive styles all into one project. She hooks in wide cuts 8.5 and up, to hand-torn, but has also hooked in a 3 cut.
In 2020, Jenny started a business called The Wooly Horse, which offers her patterns for both hooking and punch needle. The Wooly Horse shop and online business have become an all-consuming passion. She loves every step of the process, starting with design, followed by color planning and punching or hooking, with the end result – a piece of fiber art with a personality of its own. Beside teaching at her shop, Jenny also travels to teach & vend at other fiber art events.