MEXICO – Tina Payton’s canvas is covered with wool. The strips in muted tones of brown, green and red she hooks into Colonial primitive style rugs of her own designs.

Payton took up the craft less than 10 years ago, and her talents have been recognized by two national magazines: Early American Life Christmas and the upcoming February issue of Create and Decorate.

Her friend Judy Lyons Croteau, who started hooking rugs with Payton, said she knew Payton’s snowman piece, named Marshmallow, belonged on the cover of Create and Decorate.

“She finally sent it in,” Croteau said.

It’s quite an honor for Payton, a Tri-County Mental Health team leader, who has made a name for herself in advancing the primitive art form.

“I’ve always done something, art lessons, my mother knit and sewed,” she said. “I always have my hands busy. I like rug hooking because I can put it down, and pick it up without counting,” she said.

She has given creations to family and friends, and now, she teaches the art as well as operating her own business, Payton Primitives.

Her colorful catalog shows rug patterns of flowers and farm animals, angels and flags, birds and pets, pumpkins and stars, all done in Colonial primitive style. The colors are muted and rich, like those seen in homes of centuries ago.

Refining the art of creating primitive designs fits right in with her love and appreciation of antiques and old homes.

She lives in a house built by her grandfather in 1937. Decorating it are not only her creations, but replicas of wooden roosters and sheep, a painting of a Federal-style home and other touches of history.

Although she occasionally likes to create something whimsical, such as Marshmallow the snowman, she is more comfortable with classic designs like the antique floral 21- by 47-inch rug she is working on. Deep, rich greens, burgundy and other muted colors reflect the shapes of flowers of the imagination.

She also creates patterns on primitive linen with ideas suggested by a customer or friend. One is called American Dream. It started because someone wanted a rug with a sheep on it. From there, the design grew to include chickens, a barn and a flag.

Two very special creations are in memory of people she loved. Nancy’s Flight, one of her most popular designs, was created in memory of a dear friend who died of cancer. Another, shaped like a tombstone and decorated with birth and death dates, and angel wings, is in memory of her mother.

Although she still creates rugs for customers, it is only by commission. The vast majority of her business is her patterns. She also designs patterns for penny rugs, dolls, and needle punch, another Colonial craft.

Besides rug hooking, Croteau also dyes the wool that Payton cuts into strips, which are then hooked into the linen.

“We’re a team,” Payton said.

A small rug wall-hanging such as Marshmallow might take 10 hours to create.

Payton teaches classes in rug hooking at least once or twice a year at the Mexico Town Hall. She hopes she’ll be able to devote more time to creating patterns, developing her business, and teaching classes once she retires.

“I enjoy creating things. Hooking rugs is soothing, like meditation,” she said. “It’s very rewarding. There’s something about creating something yourself.”