Kaaren Batten

Designing a rug reminds me of playing with paper dolls as a kid. I would use a wooden figure to plan the doll’s movement and then dress the figure, gradually adding background, middle and foreground to complete the composition. Strips of wool are woven into the burlap and gradually the story is painted with wonderful colour. It is an old art form born of necessity to block the drafts that has become art for the floor.