In the 1920s and 1930s, on the Maine coast and remote islands, fishermen's wives were isolated, undereducated, and poor; however, one woman encouraged them to become in tune with their personal vision of beauty. Through the medium of rug hooking, they found joy and fulfillment by creating originally designed rugs inspired by nature. This book tells their story and the story of Mrs. Alice M. Peasley, the courageous and dedicated woman who inspired fishermen's wives first to hook rugs to supplement their families' meager incomes and then to be imaginative and creative. These rugs are now prized examples of folk art.