Rug hooking has a long history as a traditional domestic craft, but about twenty women from the Canadian province of New Brunswick have put a new spin on it. They practice rug hooking as a contemporary art form.

They call themselves Les Hookeuses du Bor’de’lo or, wryly, “The Hookers,” and use the age-old rug hooking technique to create unique mats, tapestries, and wall hangings. Their designs range from the realistic to the abstract. Their palette runs the gamut from pale ivory to vibrant blues and crimson. Their choice of such materials as metal is sometimes unorthodox. Like other 21st century artists, they refuse to be confined by past practices.

Call it what you will, a staycation, a mini-vacation, or a day trip, the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton is a delightful spring destination. Although barely an hour out of Boston, the museum is situated on twenty-two acres of woodland lining the shores of Potter’s Pond. The setting offers an irresistible invitation for a country walk. More sedentary nature lovers, however, may enjoy the water views and sculpture garden, dining /al fresco/ on the patio. Either brown-bag it or do take-out from the museum’s new café.

New England’s only museum devoted to contemporary craft currently features two major exhibitions: Craft in America: Expanding Traditions; and Days of Spring: Memories of Intimate Connections.