Phyllis Lawrence creates stunning works of art using strips of fabric; a few other materials appear in her work, too, like beach stones and feathers. It boggles the mind to consider that such masterpieces can be trod upon, but walking on Lawrence’s hooked rugs is about the last thing you’ll want to do if you head to the Wendell Free Library during December to see a collection of her work. The exhibit, “Finding a Path,” features 20 pieces that reflect Lawrence’s love of nature. A reception and rug hooking demonstration is slated for Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Those able to attend the reception, or head to Wendell while the exhibit is up, may may find it hard to keep their hands off the artwork. Lawrence doesn’t mind: “Go ahead and touch them,” she said during a recent visit. “It’s OK.” Her work is a feast for gentle fingertips as much as for appreciative eyes. Even just hearing the titles of Lawrence’s pieces can evoke peaceful wonder: Kayaking on Leverett Pond, Great Blue Heron, Reflection Amid Water Lilies, Spring from Under Tree Roots.

Lawrence’s work is often inspired by time spent in Maine. “My grandparents’ place on Mount Desert Island has always been magical for me,” she said. Wendell is another favorite place; Lawrence feels fortunate to live there. She and her husband, Jim Slavas, began homesteading over 50 years ago in a spot where three towns converge: Wendell, Leverett, and Shutesbury. Their longtime home and a magical Maine location came together in a beautifully surreal work, “Have Bubble, Will Travel,” in which Lawrence depicts the home she and her husband built floating in a bubble over a seascape.

Lawrence and Slavas lived for decades without electricity or running water. Their family raised sheep, and Lawrence used the wool in weaving projects. Weaving and rug hooking represent two of Lawrence’s many creative endeavors. “I got excited about art in high school,” she said. Having grown up in Longmeadow, she studied ceramics at Boston University and UMass, but later was drawn into fiber arts by a friend who worked in Old Deerfield.

The account of how Lawrence and Slavas began raising sheep sounds like the makings of an hilarious ballad or amusing short story: “Jim went hitchhiking in Vermont and got two sheep.” The image of a young man obtaining sheep while bumming rides certainly raises questions; perhaps in another column, we’ll explore how Slavas managed to get his next ride after acquiring woolly companions. It would also be interesting to hear about his long timber framing career.

Lawrence began hooking rugs in 2011 after retiring from teaching preschool and kindergarten at the Swift River School in New Salem. “I learned [the craft] from other retired teachers,” she said. “Rug hooking came over to the Canadian provinces from the British Isles and worked its way down to this country,” she noted, and then explained the basics. “You start with a foundation fabric. Originally, people used burlap, because it was available. Today, most people use linen or cotton, which hold up better. Hooking rugs is a very simple process.”

Some artisans hook using yarn, but Lawrence uses more traditional strips of wool. “Sometimes I use other materials, like silk homespun,” she said. “People use all kinds of different [materials].” Fabric can be loaded into geared cutters, resulting in strips, “but some people still take apart clothing and use recycled wool.” Lawrence holds a strip underneath the foundation fabric, which is stretched in a frame. She puts her hook down through the fabric, catches a loop, and pulls it up. “Loop by loop … eventually it fills in and gets tight.”

Lawrence adds felted wool to some pieces, resulting in deeper complexities. Her work often begins with a photograph or original drawing. One stunning piece was inspired by a photo Lawrence took of a son and daughter-in-law, two grandkids, and Slavas: it depicts her loved ones reflected in a tide pool in Acadia National Park. The details are striking, and it’s hard to fathom that such a gorgeous scene was recreated using strips of looped fabric. “That one took me many months,” she said.

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The Lawrence-Slavas offspring apparently benefited from growing up in an atmosphere of simplicity and creativity. Noah is a mechanical engineer who makes sampling equipment for carbon absorption in the ocean. “He’s involved in many climate-related projects,” said his mom. “He helped design a remote-control vehicle that acquires data from the ocean more easily than a big ship dropping buoys.” Noah’s younger brother, Seth, owns and operates Wright Builders, regionally and nationally known for excellence. Noah and Seth each have two children, and images of them and other family members appear in several hooked rugs.

Speaking of Lawrence’s relatives, the impetus for this column came from Nancy Hazard, known throughout New England and beyond for her work in environmental conservation and sustainable energy. Hazard is Lawrence’s first cousin, and the two have shared many adventures, including nature explorations and a cabin-building project in Shelburne over 50 years ago. “We bought land on Shingle Hill, felled trees, hauled them up a mountain using a workhorse, and over the course of two summers built a totally impractical cabin that has since collapsed,” said Lawrence. “But we loved that place and camped up there for years.”

In addition to the Dec. 8 reception, visitors can enjoy “Finding a Path” and the beautiful Wendell Free Library on Tuesdays from 2 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Eveline MacDougall is the author of “Fiery Hope.” To contact: eveline@amandlachorus.org.