When Lucille Festa retired in 1998 and left the corporate world, her love of all things Americana started her on an entirely new adventure.
Lucille Festa grew up along the Hudson River Valley and had always been interested in primitive antiques and painted pieces. But it was when Lucille was studying women’s history in America that hand-hooked rugs drew her in. “Throughout my life I was looking for something, and in rug hooking I found it,” Lucille says. “I can remember my first project was the Shaker Tree of Life, a classic early American pattern.”
It wasn’t long before this passion had her designing patterns and starting her own business. “My designs are primitive and primarily for a country house,” she shares. But, she adds that some of her rug designs have been displayed in contemporary homes, creating an interesting juxtaposition of styles.
When the family moved to Lollipop Farm in Vermont, Lucille opened a rug-hooking studio and shop. In the picturesque studio on the property Lucille offers workshops throughout the year. She explains her goal is to “expand your knowledge on what makes a rug a true primitive and to create an instant antique rug. These classes focus on ideas gleaned from American classical rugs, American folk art, and American history—all of which are incorporated into my original designs.”
Not only does she teach locally, but Lucille also travels and gives workshops. She has taught classes around the country from California to Maine. She has exhibited at the American Museum of Folk Art in New York where her pieces are sold in the gift shop. With all this behind her, what does Lucille hope for the future? She explains her goal is to reach out to the community and educate people about the craft, even writing a book on the history of rug hooking.
Recently Lucille’s 4-year-old granddaughter, Emma, pulled her first hoop, and Lucille happily claims she has a rug hooker in the making. So it looks like fulfilling her hopes for the future has already begun.