Ever since her mother taught her to knit at the age of seven, Judith Hotchkiss has always been immersed in some form of fiber art. At one point in her life when she was laid up with a badly broken leg, Judith supported herself by knitting sweaters for retail in galleries. She then turned to machine knitting, and designed and knit sweaters for the wholesale craft market. For about twenty years or more, her passion has been rug hooking and braiding. More recently, Judith has turned to punch rug hooking and punch needle embroidery and is currently most interested in combining punch and traditional rug hooking. She is an Oxford Certified Punch Needle Instructor as well as McGown certified to teach traditional rug hooking. She dyes all her own yarns and wool yardage and occasionally includes her own handspun wool. Judith lives and works in Deer Isle, Maine where she is constantly inspired by the colors and beauty of Downeast Maine.