About Judy
"One of a Kind Design"

I am a life long resident of New England.  I was born in Claremont, NH and grew up just across the Connecticut River, in the beautiful little town of Ascutney, Vermont.  My Dad passed away when I was a teenager and my Mom was an elementary school teacher so we moved to New Hampshire permanently where she taught.  I obtained an Associates Degree from Concord Commercial College and worked in the State House in Concord for many years.  I needed a hobby, before I met my husband!!  So I decided I would try rug braiding and see if I liked it; there was a wool shop just up the road from where my mother and I lived.  Can you imagine that proprietor’s face when a 19 year old walked in, looked around at the wool and announced she wanted to learn to braid and make a 9’ x 12’ rug for her first one!!!  I did it though and braided a second 9’x 12’ right after the first!  The first one was red, navy and brown; the second rug was all in pastels….I started toting them to the State fairs and to the disbelief of many older women working there…I proved I made them and received a scrapbook of blue ribbons over several years………the rest is history, so they say!!!

    
So when I met Gary and we fell in love and were married, I already had two 9’ x 12’ rugs to compliment our 200 year old Cape Cod home!  I started creating scatter rugs and was honored to be accepted into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen (a 12 person jury presided).  I sold rugs through the League in Hanover, Exeter and Concord, New Hampshire.  I also took special orders.  Then in 1976 I was thrilled to be able to open my own shop near our home in Chichester, NH called "Judy's Rug & Wool Shop." I also taught rug braiding classes out of my shop -- over 140 people! Was honored to be asked to teach several sessions under the Adult Education segment at the local high school, Pembroke Academy and Laconia Vocational Tech College. From 1976-1983, I owned and operated the store -- then we decided to move to Maine! We had been living on one acre (we needed more space for gardening) and there was a lot of traffic on this main road also, so we decided our dream was to purchase 40 acres in Central Maine and design and build our own home.  Off we went!  We did enjoy it so much, but as our two beautiful daughters finished high school and graduated from college, our house was way too big and we decided to move to the Portland area. We have been in Maine for 21 years now.  We have two great sons-in-law and four precious grandchildren, ages 9,6,5 and 3!  Two boys and two girls!  One family is here in the Portland, Maine area, the other just south of Boston, Massachusetts. 

I’m an avid pie maker and baker in general, so will also share recipes with you!  Gary is a great soup maker and we’ll offer his expertise from time to time.  Maybe you’ll find some new ones, we’re always looking for those, aren’t we?!

Judy's Braided Rugs
judy@judysbraidedrugs.com
362 North Raymond Road
Poland, ME 04274
(207) 998-4276