We hope you enjoy this collection of photographs of Newfoundland and Labrador mats and the stories of some of the women who made them. They are a connection to the past, a part of a heritage that, like many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, survived incredible odds with creativity and resolve. Hand-hooked mats lost their appeal in Newfoundland shortly after Confederation in 1949. For some, they were a reminder of a past filled with hardship: for others, new opportunities in education and lifestyle left little time for such a tedious hobby. Today, a renewed appreciation for handmade products has helped revive interest in this craft.