Instructor: Simone Vojvodin, Ontario

In this exciting class you will learn to create amazing 3-dimensional sculpted animals with the Oxford punch needles and yarn! We will cover topics such as types of relief in art, special punching techniques, creating realism or whimsy, shading tricks,  bringing your animal to ‘life’, sculpting, colour choices and more!

Familiarity with the basics of using a punch needle (either through a beginner class or self-taught) is a prerequisite for this class. Traditional hookers who would like to learn about creating sculpted animals with yarn are welcome.

Tools Required: Oxford Punch Needle- #8 Fine or #8 Regular, Frame (gripper frame or carpet tack frame), small sharp, fine pointed scissors, optional bent handle scissors. Tools can be purchased from the teacher ahead of class if needed.

Material fees will vary depending on the pattern or kit being chosen

‘A Few Grey Hares’ – designed, punch hooked and photographed by Simone Vojvodin

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Pam Bartlett, New Hampshire

We are all crackers over our pets and loved creatures, no matter how cute, cuddly or slippery they may be. Bringing creatures to life in rug hooking is a fun and creative experience. Pam is known for helping her students see the small things that bring life to animals, by using multiple cuts of wool and mixed media such as silk, satin, yarns and fleece, to help add yet another element of interest, realism and artistic interpretation.

Students will learn to use textures, swatches, spot-dyed and dip-dyed wools to create the detail in colour and value found in  animals. Whether you are hooking fur, feathers, fins or fleece, Pam will help you develop the confidence to try new ideas and techniques to add realistic or impressionistic details to your work.

Students are encouraged to work with either their own design, a commercial design or one she has designed for you. She will  encourage students to step out of their comfort zone as much as they are comfortable.

This class is best suited for students with some knowledge of shading or intermediate rug hooking skills, but all are welcome as Pam teaches all levels and styles of rug hooking. Advance planning will ensure that you have everything you need to bring your animal to life.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Michele Micarelli, Connecticut

Gustav Klimt, a renowned artist who has influenced so many people in every genre, will now continue to influence fibre art in the classroom of Michele Micarelli.

Michele has developed many patterns and will also custom design for you. Students are encouraged to develop their own designs if they wish. She will be in touch with everyone prior to class to help with designing and colour planning. Both Michele and Klimt love strong bright colour.

Lots of supplies including mixed media metallics, silks, ribbons, yarns and velvet will be available in the class room to enhance your work.

Klimt Power Point presentation and discussions will provide a fun and educational experience.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Sheila Stewart, British Columbia

Explosions of Colour! That is how I describe the art of Marion Rose, a Canadian artist. Whether it is animals, birds, or  landscapes, it is her unique colour sense that sets her apart from other artists. Texture, rich colour and generous paint are her signature.

She describes it as “like a dance before the canvas and the surface comes alive”. Marion Rose was originally from the prairies and moved to the west coast in her 30’s. Her work was influenced by Tom Thomson and other masters. In her short life (she passed away in 2011), she painted over 1,000 masterpieces.

In this workshop, we will learn about the joy of bright colours and using them effectively to bring our rugs alive. The focus will be on helping students move out of their comfort zone into the world of bold and vivid colours both in the elements of the design and the background. We will use mostly spot-dyed and strip-dyed fabric (available from the instructor) to get this painterly effect. Time will also be given to exploring new dye methods that allow the colours to blend together in the way an artist does with watercolour and acrylic paints. Copyright permission has been granted to the students of this workshop who must choose a design from several available which are not to be copied or shared. All designs will be on linen ($75.00).

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Joan Kays, Prince Edward Island

Have you been tempted to learn how to rug hook the traditional way? Many years ago, I too learned how to hook the way my grandmother did, and I have been hooking and creating ever since!

For the Beginner class I designed a small 14″ square (35.5 cm) project called ‘Folksy Floral’ to complete using woolen fabric cut into strips. While following my pattern, students will become comfortable pulling up loops and practicing the skills needed to hook curves, lines, corners, motifs, and fill-in backgrounds. Students will benefit from both individual and class instruction, and enjoy creative exercises with their classmates.

My class will be introduced to basic design principles and learn how to transfer a pattern. They will become acquainted with colour planning and take part in some simple dye techniques with recycled wool without using actual dyes. Students will learn the classic approach to finishing Folksy Floral with a corded, whipped edge using wool yarn. This widely used technique is essential to finishing traditionally hooked rugs.

Please bring to class a small pair of sharp scissors, a medium-sized hook, a suitable frame for hooking, and $120.00 to purchase my Folksy Floral Kit (created solely for this class). The kit contains the pattern hand-drawn on linen and the dyed wool needed to hook the project as shown. The kit also includes the cotton cord, wool yarn and binding tape needed for finishing. I will be in touch following registration with more information.

Number of Students

12

Instructor: Robin Whitford, Ontario

Are you one of those people who is often looking up and admiring the sky and clouds? I am! In this workshop we will go step-by-step in creating an original design from photographs of skies and clouds and hook it with a variety of wools, yarns, and fun fibres!

I will also share all my tips to help you connect with your inner artist (even if you don’t think you have one!). This workshop will include a variety of doodling and sketching exercises designed to help increase your artistic intuition, observation skills and personal artistic expression. No drawing skills needed!

This class is about the design process, colour selection and hooking with various materials. All experience levels are welcome, (‘how to hook’ will not be taught). A kit is not included or mandatory, students are welcome to use their own photos and materials. But for those that would like a kit, they will be available.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Jane Bridgeman, Ontario

Immerse yourself in the colourful world of kilim carpets design and hook your own kilim. After an introduction to the history, geography and diversity of kilim carpets, workshop participants are encouraged to design their own original kilim in class using templates provided. If preferred, participants are welcome to purchase a commercial kilim pattern for this workshop (such as Honey Bee Hive Turkish Kilim #1405, Grand Kilim #1412, Qashqai Kilim #1361). Dyed Wool in traditional kilim colours will be available to purchase, and participants are welcome to bring wool from their stash.

Design aspects unique to kilims, colour planning, dyeing and hooking techniques that are necessary to mimic slitweave kilims will be covered. Finishing techniques specific to kilims will be taught, including the embroidered kilim finish, and how to create a variety of different fringes on both linen or rug warp foundation.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Dwight Gallagher, Nova Scotia

Do you know of a favourite landscape/scene that would make the perfect rug pattern? Create a pattern of this favourite place from a photo or choose a prepared commercial pattern. This will be the perfect opportunity to get together to hook that rug!

As with any landscape class, we will cover hooking elements such as foreground, trees, rocks, water and sky/clouds. We will discuss perspective and dimension in your landscape mat with the use of colours, using various hooking materials, positioning of shadows and three-value shading. My main aim is to show you ways to make your finished mat “pop” and take on a realistic look. To do this you may have to…..break a few of those traditional hooking rules OR step outside that comfort box, but don’t let this scare you off! It is also important to me that you have fun doing it!

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Doug Rankin, Nova Scotia

Maud Lewis has been portrayed as a folk artist. She is more than that. Her skills in the use of colours and the employment of perspective in her paintings are those of a true artist.

In class you will have a copy of your choice of the painting by Maud and a variety of dyed wools suitable for depicting the painting. Maud never put a border on her painting but there will be suggestions on borders relating to how you choose to display the finished piece.

The original pieces are quite small, generally 8″ x 10″. We made the patterns larger in part so to be able to hook details. Most are done in #3 or 4 cuts. There are some made for larger cuts asked for by customers. I hooked one in an 8 cut! More information available following registration.

The example here is called ‘2 Deer in Winter’. Interesting note: Maud never assigned a title to any of her paintings. We have named them for our convenience!

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Linda Marchbank, Prince Edward Island

This course will give students an opportunity to meet Elaine Harrison – an introduction to the life and legacy of the beloved PEI artist. Widely recognized, her work has been the subject of major exhibitions and has become a treasured part of private and public collections across Canada. Living a simple life, with the inspiration of the Group of Seven, her paintings evoke special maritime memories – waves and cliffs, iconic buildings, garden flowers, wharf side scenes, children at play. Her imaginative, dynamic images are a rug hooker’s dream!

Designed for students with intermediate and advanced experience and skills, the course will concentrate on techniques to successfully adapt paintings into hooked treasures. Twelve images will be offered for student selection. Patterns will be available from the instructor, as well as a copyright authorization certificate. Classroom wool supplies will be available in appropriate palates for colour planning support.

Hope you will join me to meet Elaine!

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Tatiana Knodel, Ontario

This workshop is for those interested in creating the perfect purse to match a blouse or dress. The purse can add a dash of colour to bring out a woman’s outfit. The students will send a photograph of the outfit for which they would like to make the matching purse. Tatiana will create the pattern for the bag. The kit includes the pattern drawn on linen, #3 – cut hand-dyed wool for design, hand-dyed or wool off the bolt for the background which can be cut in #3 – #5; yarn, or velvet depending on the fabric, lining with sewn pocket, snaps, the yarn for whipping, the leader handles (optional), and instructions on how to finish the purse. Students do not need to use a sewing machine to put the purse together

Students will add creative techniques to their fibre art toolbox. Techniques will include #3 Cut Snips, Waldoboro sculpting, over hooking, and more. The design of the purse will not only incorporate several techniques but also a variety of fibre, wool, and yarn. Tatiana will show students how and where to best use these fibres for maximum impact.

Students need basic hooking equipment: frame, cutter, scissors and a hook. The size of the pattern is 9″ x 18″, and the size of the finished bag is 6″ x 9″. The price of the kit is – $90, and the leather handles are $25 more.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Carol Shewan, Ontario

Do you struggle with colour planning or find colour theory intimidating? In this 5-day workshop you will immerse yourself in colour and we will untangle all that theory taking your colour confidence to the next level.

The class starts with the colour wheel and basic theory, students will be hooking a small 5×5 pattern for each concept. There is a total of 8 patterns and there will be lots of time to practice the colour planning and hooking them. Using a colour wheel, we will explore many different colour harmonies that will give you a great starting point when planning any future project.

The importance of planning your background and experiments to understand why, are part of the practice. The interaction of colour, the importance of  several design principles and how they relate to colour will all be discussed and practised.

The theory is presented with visual aids, slide presentations and demonstrations. Colour pencils are a requirement for the class and you can bring a selection of wool from your stash to work with. A list of suggested colours will be sent upon registration and wool can be purchased from the instructor as needed.

Kit fee $135 plus tax, includes the patterns on linen and 24 x 1/32nd of a yard of the starting colours for the 2 colour wheels and a Dritz Colour Wheel.

Number of Students

15

Instructor: Mary Grant, New Brunswick

Do you see yourself as a rug hooking teacher? Do you make presentations to beginners, other rug hookers or to the general public? This course will help you in any one of these situations. If you would like to become a Rug Hooking Teacher with the RHGNS Teachers Branch, this is a required course for certification.

Subjects covered in the course are: Code of Ethics, Copyright Law, Create a Resume, Preparing a Course Outline and Lesson Plan, Problem Solving in Classroom Situations, Teaching Techniques as they apply to teaching Rug Hooking, and the Use of Visual Aids.

Class discussions will focus on various topics relating to the classroom. Participants will make short presentations on selected topics to their fellow classmates. Join our Teacher Training Course for a week of supportive learning at Rug School 2023.

Number of Students

10

This class is best suited for the rug hooker who wishes to experience the comaraderie of rug school without taking a formal class.

Participants will pass the time in very pleasant, often lively conversation with like-minded rug hookers, all the while hooking their favourite projects.  There is much give and take in this room and sharing of ideas!  Having fun is the order of the day!