Amazing Portraits

from Designs in Wools website

We had fun at today's Thursday gathering to look at photos from this site:  Designs in Wools.  It features the work of Elizabeth Stoyko of Maine.  The photo above is from her site and is just one example of many - great inspiration!  She says of her work:  "Everything on my site is already sold, but for about 15 currently in galleries, but I hook every day and fill orders pretty quickly.  I hand sketch and hand dye, so no two are ever identical, but I can try to replicate any pillow which someone likes on my site, or from a photo."

We're using the above photo with Elizabeth's permission - please take a moment to check out her web site - click here!

To see photos from today, and Monday, click here!

Lively Meeting

Today's Monday meeting was a lively affair - great conversation, food and even a bit of rug hooking took place!

Dianne walked us through some of the processes/things to know about the upcoming Annual - there's lots to do in preparation for this wonderful event.

A few points were raised relating to this blog:
- there has been tremendous activity from folks coming to our blog - many of them are coming  from the OHCG Facebook page (Hello!!), and even a few are coming to us from Twitter (Hello to you, too!!)
- you can get notification of new blog posts if you click on the "FOLLOW" button on the right
- if you're a twitter user, check us out at:  @NRHookers

To see the many photos taken, click here (you may have to scroll down a bit if the March 27 photos aren't at the top of the page).

How Woolrich Fabric is Made

Have you ever used Woolrich fabric in your projects?  They make some lovely quality woolens and it's available either as yard goods, or as finished clothing (which we then slice into teensy pieces!).  Here's a video for you that shows the process to make the fabric - from raw fleece to finished product.

Even More Media Coverage

There are 2 articles in the March 16 issue of the Brighton Independent:  one is about Elda McLaren of Brighton - click here to read it.  The other is about the Colborne display of rugs.  Click here to read that one.

First Public Lecture

Today Dianne Algera and Stu Sprague (retired Cobourg art teacher) gave a presentation on The Art and History of Rugs in Canada. There was a great crowd on hand to hear the very informative talk. As well, Rosemary Davis, Joyce Jones and Sheila Simpson were there to demonstrate rug hooking. 

It was a great day, and there will be another talk on April 5.

Radio Interview Recorded

Dianne, Greg and John were interviewed yesterday by local radio station Northumberland 89.7, and they have very kindly supplied us with a copy of the broadcast!

Click here to listen!  (when you get there, click on the ▶︎ to start it up.)

Radio interview & public lecture

Our busy schedule of events continues!

Today (March 20) at 1:30 our very own Dianne Algera, John Major and Greg Gall will be interviewed on local radio station 89.7 FM.  Be sure to tune in!

As well, there will be a public lecture at the Art Gallery of Northumberland on March 22 from 2-4 pm. This will feature Dianne again, along with Stu Sprague.

AGofN Featured in the News

There's a great article in today's Northumberland Today.  It's an interview with the gallery's new director.  In it he speaks about how the exhibit of rugs "sing together"!  Here is the photo from the newspaper article, featuring Rosemary Davis' Garden.

Click here to read the full article.

Fun with Fibre Day

The Art Gallery of Northumberland hosted a Fun with Fibre Day to coincide with March Break.  They invited fibre artists from the area to demonstrate and share their enthusiasm for fibre.  The mediums represented included:

• rug hooking (of course!)
• knitting
• quilting
• spinning
• wet felting & needle felting
• weaving

Also demonstrating was Amy Kung Oliver of Nuevo Norte Alpacas in Colborne.  Click the link to see her website!

There were lots of eager participants - toddlers, children and quite a few adults.  It was great to see everyone there, surrounded by gorgeous rugs.

Here is a selection of random photos:

(And even more photos at the AGofN Facebook page)

A great way to start off novice hookers - with netting instead of burlap or linen!

Spinners wear hand knit socks!

Amy Kung Oliver from Nuevo Norte Alpacas, demonstrating a drum carder.

This is Marcel - a gorgeous felted sheep.

Raw alpaca fleece

Hand made moccasins, too!

Dora brought a quilt she's working on.

Fantastic Rugs

There are indeed some truly wonderful rugs at the Art Gallery exhibit:  Then and Now - Rug Hooking in Canada. If you can't visit in person click on the tab above: AGofN Photos.

Here are some overview photos of the display. 

AGofN Show

...and the show is ON!  I've set up a tab above called AGofN Photos - click on that to see photos from the show....to be added in the coming few days.  The photo below comes courtesy of the Art Gallery of Northumberland.

Opening Reception of THEN and NOW

A post shared by Art Gallery of Northumberland (@artgofn) on Mar 9, 2017 at 4:51pm PST

ORIENTAL WORKSHOP

Monday-Tuesday June 19-20, 2017      $80.00

teacher: Karen Kaiser                                              

location:  526 Moira St. W., Belleville

Learn about:

• history of Oriental Rugs 
• different kinds of Orientals
• how to colour plan, 
• how to choose colours and to use contrast 
• hooking techniques for oriental rugs
• how to organize your wool and hooking 

You can get your patterns on-line at   Honey Beehive Rug Patterns or             
Ingrid Heironimus  at Raggtyme studio – www.rughookinghome.com

If interested, contact me:                                                                                       
Karen Kaiser............613-966-2658............. hooking.kaiser@gmail.com                     (min. 10 people, max.15)