"The Guardians" by Taryn Kail – 14" x 24" 100% Wool Rug
“The Guardians” depicts three Great Pyrenees resting in summer grass as they guard their flock. The sheep and goats represent the breeds whose wool became the yarn and strips used in the piece.
The rug is my tribute to these gentle giants, who blend into their flocks and protect them with devotion, intelligence, stubbornness, and love.
“The Guardians” is especially meaningful because it uses fine materials collected for a special project I was working on for my mother before she passed away.
This wall mounted framed rug will be available at an upcoming auction.
Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue (TGPR) is a trusted 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of GreatPyrenees dogs across Texas.
An Inspiring lunch with an old friend
.jpeg/:/rs=w:400,cg:true,m)
In the summer of 2025, I met a longtime friend for lunch. Among the many things we discussed, she shared her experiences fostering Great Pyrenees dogs and volunteering with TGPR (Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue).
Although I love dogs and knew of the breed, I had not realized how many Great Pyrenees were living as strays in our area. I immediately wanted to help.
I still had a collection of high-quality yarn and wool strips intended for a bench cover my mother had asked me to make. Because she passed away unexpectedly, I never completed it for her. Here was my chance to do something special with it.
I proposed using those materials to create a Great Pyrenees-themed rug for the benefit of TGPR. It felt like a meaningful purpose—and one my mother would have approved of.
Special wool for A special project
.jpeg/:/rs=w:400,cg:true,m)
The big beautiful materials stash that I had began at Sheepwalk Fiber Mill in Bandera, Texas, where I have purchased yarn from Jennifer for several years. Her ranch and mill are a true hidden gem for for fiber artists looking for natural materials of high quality. I also appreciate that Jennifer is also a rug maker and understands what qualities are needed for rug making.
For this project, I chose my favorite Navajo Churro yarn, milled by Sheepwalk Fiber Mill for Dancing Sun Farm in PipeCreek, Texas. Its rugged, varied thickness produces a rippled surface when worked with a FINE Oxford Punch Needle, giving my rugs a naturally textured finish.
To contrast with the shaggy Navajo Churro and represent the "flood" of a Great Pyrenees, I added a thick Angora rabbit yarn from a special run Sheepwalk Fiber Mill produced for Rowdy Ranch in Bastrop, Texas. It's not easy to work with but it's perfect for this project.
wool strips – a traditional Hooking material
I added wool strips for tradition. Rug hooking began in North America in the early 1800s, nearly 50 years before the first patented punch needle. It offered an economical way to make rugs by pulling scrap fabric through burlap or similar foundation cloth. Many "traditional" rug hookers today use wool strips and I wanted that for this rug.
In 1881, Ebenezer Ross of Toledo, Ohio, introduced “The Griffin,” which formed faster, more uniform loops by punching material through the foundation cloth rather than pulling it up. Both methods can use yarn or wool strips, though punch needle artists often favor rug yarn and traditional rug hookers often prefer strips.
The wool strips in “The Guardians” were purchased and cut at Country Gatherings in Bracken Village, San Antonio. The loops were placed with a regular Oxford Punch Needle.
Hello Hank!
When I finished the artwork, I thought that I may be done with these beautiful creatures for a little while and then I heard about Hank and he was soon in my home politely making my life brighter. This artwork literally manifested love into my life.
You may think that a gigantic animal is not exactly training wheels for a new and unexpected foster, but Hank turned out to be the most wonderful addition to my little furry family. He fit right in and stole my heart away. He was with me for almost a month before he found his forever home in northern Texas. I miss him but I know he's enjoying his new home and I'm so glad to have had this loving experience.
Doug's Story
Meet Doug: The coolest dog I know.
Why not another foster? My first experience was so great that I decided to give it another go.
Doug (AKA "Doug Doug", "Hot Doug" and "Doug the Rug") came to me from the New Braunfels area Humane Society. He was out of time at a kill shelter in New Braunfels, TX and I had some space – so I had to go ahead and raise my hand when a call came out for a foster. His handler at the shelter made me promise to give him sausages and I made sure to shower him with beef franks every day that he was with me.
Doug spend the Spring of '26 in my studio, learning more about wool fiber art and rug making than he probably ever wanted to know. Crafters will appreciate how Doug was willing to nap for hours and hours while I worked on projects and class kits. He liked the peace and quiet and he guarded my yarn as if it were still attached to a herd.
Doug was happily adopted by a lovely couple who drove all the way from Iowa to get him. I still miss him but it sure was nice to see him find his forever people. He deserves it.
Lucky and Lucy
"No more fosters for a while... JUST KIDDING give me two."
Doug had just left for Iowa when I made the mistake of reading an email from TGPR pleading for someone to take in a pair of angelic siblings who were found in bad circumstances down in the Valley. I really should wait 24 hours before answering any emails like this but I guess I was in the right state of mind for volunteering. Again. To be honest this photo hypnotized me. Lucy (left) and Lucky (right) were in my home before I could stop myself.
To make a sort of long story short (too late!), Lucy soon went to another amazing foster and was quickly "adopted" by a new group of sibling dogs. Both are living their best life thanks to TGPR.
I adopted Lucky, by the way. He stole my heart.
