Colour, texture, joy and self-compassion are the key features of Meryl Cook’s beautifully crafted hooked mats, her books about her journey from homeopath to artist and journal writer, and her journal writing practice. Meryl is the author of One Loop at a Time, a story of rughooking, healing and creativity (2016) and One Loop at a Time, The Creativity Workbook (2017). Other publications include: the “Journaling and the Reinvention of the Self One Loop at a Time” chapter in Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists and Clients 1st Edition, edited by Lynda Monk and Eric Maisel (published by Routledge, 2021) and the “Journaling and Design Inspiration” chapter in The Great Book of Journaling, edited by Lynda Monk and Eric Maisel (Mango Publishing, 2022). 

What makes Meryl’s process unique is the ties between her writing and design. This introspective process includes writing on the linen around the design highlighting the inspiration for each mat, selecting colours based on Chakra colour theory, and using techniques that follow the healing energy to produce an intuitive, abstract design. Each mat represents the next step in her life journey. 

Since 2016, Meryl has spoken and taught creativity workshops across Canada and in the U.S. A juried member of Craft Nova Scotia, her artwork has appeared in galleries from Nova Scotia to Ohio. She is a member of ART1274 Hollis Gallery in Halifax. What began as a way of holding space for herself following breast cancer treatment has become a career as an artist, and as a corporate team facilitator focusing on well-being and engagement. www.merylcook.ca