AGN Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 23^rd, 2017

The following has been arranged for the upcoming hooked rug exhibit: “Then and Now – Rug Hooking in Canada – A Canada 150 Exhibition”

Art Gallery of Northumberland

Main Exhibit

OPENING RECEPTION Thursday March 9^th 7pm

Show runs through to March 9th 2017 to April 30th, 2017

Featured Artist: Joyce Jones 

Organizers: Northumberland Rug Hookers; Art Gallery of Northumberland

Then and Now- Rug Hooking in Canada- A Canada 150 Exhibition will display contemporary and vintage hooked rugs at the AGN. It will include an interactive rug hooking station in the main gallery that invites the public to explore this Canadian heritage craft. This show at the AGN coincides with the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild's Annual Conference held at the Cobourg Community Centre April 28th-30th. Items (vintage and modern) have been collected from artists throughout Ontario and the Hooked Rug Museum of North America (located in Nova Scotia)  it includes Grenfell rugs (Nfld), Tremblay rugs (Quebec), and vintage rugs (Nova Scotia).

There will be two public lecture programs at the AGN on March 22 and April 5 at 2pm, “The Art and History of Hooked Rugs in Canada”.

MARCH BREAK EVENT: Join us for "Fun with Fibre" a FREE art fair just for kids! Drop in with your family anytime on March 15th from 12-4pm and meet local weavers, rug hookers, spinners, knitters and felters. Try out something new!

There are several Satellite Exhibitions throughout Northumberland that will also celebrate the Canadian heritage craft of rug hooking:

Brighton Satellite Exhibition

Location: Brighton Public Library

Date: March 13–31, 2017

Featured Artist: Elda McLaren (aged 102 and still hooking; rug hooker for many, many decades!)

Organizers: Brighton Rug Hookers; Brighton Public Library

Details – rug hooking items being hung on walls; rug hooking station being set up in Children’s library; demonstrations being held; local media is informed; an interview has been set up with local newspaper and Elda; poster has been made up advertising the event and includes mention of the main exhibit at the AGN; AGN poster and handouts have been provided

Campbellford Satellite Exhibition 

Location: Campbellford Public Library

Date: March 28-April 30, 2017

Organizers: Campbellford Rug Hookers, Campbellford Public Library, Spirit of the Hills

Colborne Satellite Exhibition

Location: Colborne Art Gallery, Heritage Room

Date: March 9-April 30, 2017

Organizers: Heritage Hands Rug Hookers; Heritage Committee/Colborne Art Gallery

Opening Reception: Friday, March 10, 7:30pm

Port Hope Satellite Exhibition

Location: Port Hope Public Library

Date: March 2-April 18

Organizers: Northumberland Rug Hookers, Port Hope Public Library

Creativity transforms, connects and empowers

I found this item on a knitting blog I follow, but I think it applies equally to rug hookers. While the article is geared towards getting children to be creative, it makes several points that are pertinent to us.  One item in particular resonated with me:

Making connects the hand, eye and brain in a very special way. It’s empowering for both maker and viewer. The act of making is optimistic; it’s an act of faith. People of all ages feel better for doing it. 

Making can also be very social – conversations can meander while hands are kept busy. But it can also be very personal and give confidence to [people] who listen to their own internal monologue that takes place as they make in solitude.

You can read the full article here.

Then and Now - Rug Hooking in Canada

The Northumberland Rug Hookers are partnering with the Art Gallery of Northumberland to organize an exhibit of rugs. The dates have been established – March 9-April 30 – which is earlier than expected so we are beginning immediately to collect rugs and need your help. We require all types of rugs/hooked items to show the wide scope of traditional rug hooking (primitive, fine shaded, sculptured, Oriental, stained glass, pictorial, cushions, vests, purses, hats, stools, vintage rugs, whatever). We are striving to have all rugs collected by mid February. 

Since this will be a “curated” display, not all rugs will be accepted in the end as the curator will need to balance the display through factors such as size, colour, subject matter, design, space, etc. We are also in the process of sourcing some rugs beyond Northumberland to give added interest and entice rug hookers attending the Annual to visit the display and the downtown Cobourg area. Please deliver a maximum of two rugs you wish to be considered, to the regular Thursday hooking room at Halcyon Place in Cobourg, or bring to the January 30^th  monthly meeting. Joan Tooke, Curator of the exhibit, will be our guest speaker at the meeting and will be able to provide you with more information. Here's a link to an Information sheet to be filled out and attached to each rug. The “inspiration” part of the form refers to a story you may wish noted for the rug – as you know, it’s often about the “story! Following are some details and more will be forthcoming:

TITLE of Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Northumberland: “Then and Now – Rug Hooking in Canada – A Canada 150 Exhibition of Rugs”

DATE: March 9-April 30, 2017

LOCATION: Art Gallery of Northumberland, Victoria Hall, Cobourg

CURATOR: Joan Tooke

ORGANIZERS: Dianne Algera, Iris Vermeulen

PROGRAM to include: display of current and vintage rugs; satellite rug displays throughout the County of Northumberland in Colborne (Art Gallery), Brighton (Library), and Campbellford (Library) – all to be confirmed; interactive activities with a rug hooking station in the Gallery; invitations for short workshops to local high school students enrolled in the arts program and Grade three students taking Pioneer Studies – to be arranged; docent tours/lectures on two Wednesdays during the exhibit – to be confirmed; March Break program for students to be organized by the Assistant Director.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The rugs we are collecting for the Gallery are to be “older” rugs and are separate from those that will be displayed at the Cobourg Community Centre for the Annual Conference.

Printing on Foundation Fabric

Have you ever been faced with wanting to transfer a design to your foundation fabric (linen, burlap, etc), but didn't have the means to do so?  Many of the folks in our group are talented artists and can easily draw their pattern with a sharpie or crayon, but there are some of us who can't draw at all!  Lots of you use Red Dot for this kind of thing, but what if you don't have any?  or want an alternative method?

Did you know you can use your printer at home?  I found instructions on-line, and voilà, it works! You just need to know how to use word processing software (like MS Word or Pages for Mac).

In a nutshell, here's what I did:

- I found a design online that i liked, and it was free to use - no copyright to contend with.
- I pasted the image into a document in my word processing software and played around with the size to fit the page.
- I cut out a piece of freezer paper (bought at Foodland in Cobourg) to 8 1/2 x 11.
- I cut out a piece of foundation fabric (linen in my case) to be equal to or slightly smaller than the freezer paper (and stitched around the edges to stop fraying).
- I laid the shiny side of the freezer paper down on to the linen, and ironed it with medium heat - now the 2 pieces are fused together.
- I popped the freezer paper/linen into my printer with the linen on the bottom.
- I hit print - and out it came!

 Note that it will only work for designs that are no larger than whatever size paper your printer will take.  In most cases this is either 8 1/2 x 11, or 8 1/2 x 14 paper - so using this technique to produce a room-sized rug isn't possible.

This method isn't for everyone or every project - but it's worthwhile to have in your arsenal of tricks.

(Happy New Year, btw!)

STAY TUNED................

Did you receive your OHCG Winter Newsletter? In it is the registration form needed to attend the Annual Conference April 28th-30 which is going to be held in Cobourg at the Best Western with workshops at the Cobourg Community Centre (CCC) .

If you don't have a membership you still have time to get one just go to the "links we like" under Ontario Hooking Guild  on this page. You need a membership to attend the conference.

We will be having an AMAZING display, which will be open to the public on Sunday April 30th so spread the word to all your friends!

Don't miss out!!!

More info to following in the coming months as we prepare to be "Ambassadors of the Conference" and to showcase our beautiful town!

Merry Christmas!

Here are some photos of the latest/greatest hooked masterpieces from our group, along with a few more from the potluck:

Sheila Simpson's Santa Ornaments

Anne Murray's Pillow

Greg Gall's Rug

Christine Van Hees Leaf Rug, almost done

Reindeer Sighting....

❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎

May this holiday season sparkle and shine, may all of your wishes and dreams come true, and may you feel this happiness all year round!  

❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎❄︎

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

YUM!! did we ever have a great Christmas lunch and being "snowed in" we could really capitalize on seconds and that includes dessert of course.  The soup was amazing and just what we needed on a blizzardly day!

Thanks everyone for all the tasty treats and all the visiting we did!
We ARE a great bunch of people!!! FRIENDS!!!!!
Check out the recipe section and we will update them with recipes as we get them!

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

                                                             Dorthea's first rug

Recognize this lady?

Recognize this lady?

Here is a photo of our own dear Fran Patton. She is receiving a  Distinguished Service Award from Hamilton Township for her many volunteer hours and community good deeds!

We are so proud of her!

Christmas Cheer from Lang

It was great to hear from the folks at Lang Pioneer Village today:

Hello Dianne and Rug Hookers from the Northumberland Rug Hooking Guild, I am writing on behalf of the staff and volunteers of Lang Pioneer Village Museum and the County of Peterborough to thank you for your participation in events at Lang Pioneer Village Museum this year. Lang Pioneer Village wouldn’t be the vibrant living history museum that it is without the involvement of community partners like the Northumberland Rug Hookers. We know that the summer is a busy time for everyone and we wanted to let you know that we appreciate that you have chosen to spend time with us, sharing your skills and wonderful hooked rugs with visitors to the Village. Next year is our 50^th Anniversary Season!  We look forward to inviting you to participate in our celebratory events and activities in 2017. Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year to each of you! Laurie Siblock
Assistant ManagerLang Pioneer Village Museum,County of Peterborough

Christmas Lunch Survival!

Today at rug hooking as usual our minds automatically went  to food, well mine did, anyway it was suggested by Lois-Anne that she had a way to "get through" all these Christmas lunches we are attending.

I was telling the ladies that next week at our pot luck we better wear elasticized

 pants in order to enjoy a little bit of everything that everyone is bringing but there was another suggestion.

In my opionion this is shear genius.................................it's as simple as an elastic band!  As you are enjoying your food and those pants are getting a little tight, just simply go into the washroom undo the top button, put the elastic through the buttonhole and reattached it to the button and PRESTO! you can have a little more food!!!!!! hahahhaa!  I was worried what happens the next morning but............that's another story!.....guess that involves going to the gym?

Merry Christmas everyone, may you enjoy good health, happiness and a sense of peace that takes you throughout the year!

bon appetit!

Blog Basics

Hello, and welcome!

There have been some questions lately about the blog, so we're here to let you know:

- what blogs are

- how you can use our blog and website, and

- what information is available to you.

The Northumberland Rug Hooking group has established a website to celebrate our rug hooking and camaraderie and to communicate about upcoming events.It supplements information provided via email, and via regular meetings.  As well, it's a way for other folks to learn about the group, and maybe even to join us.

The address for the website is:  northumberlandrughookers.blogspot.ca.   To get to it, you can type (or copy) that into the address bar at the top of the screen.  If you think you might come back here (and we hope you will!) you can add that address to your browser's "favourites" (see Jennifer if you're not sure how to do that).

One of the features of this website is something called a blog (short for weblog).   It allows us to publish short articles  (called "posts") about things that are happening within the group, or about anything at all.  Each article appears in chronological order, with the most recent one appearing first.  

Whenever you go to northumberlandrughookers.blogspot.ca you will always be presented with the most recent blog post.  You can scroll down the page to read older posts.

Another term you might hear about in relation to a blog is blogging:  blogging is simply a verb meaning to add content to a blog (aka write an article and post it to the internet).

Similarly, a blogger is a person who adds content to a blog (aka writes an article....etc).

More and more organizations and even individuals are using websites and blogs today to feature their activities and thoughts.  Examples of bloggers you already know include 
- Loretta Moore, 
- Karen Kaiser, 
- Carol Shewan and 
- Martina Lessar.  
They write about what they've been doing, or what they're thinking, or about new things/events coming up.  Their websites contain both a blog and other pages with photos or items for sale, etc.

You'll want to check our own blog periodically for any updated posts, or for new information.  It really is a great showcase for our work, as well as a powerful source of learning.

....but wait....there's more!!.....

On the right hand side of the page (scroll up a bit to see it) there is an area called Links We Like. Here's an example of it->  

You can click on any of the items listed, and be automagically taken to the websites for these individuals or organizations.  You'll see some of your favourite vendors on the list, along with other notable rug hooking institutions.

....and that's not all there is....


Just underneath the lovely photo of a rug hooked by our own Dianne Algera are several other links. 



Clicking on any of them will bring you to another page of information.  See below for an explanation of each item.

Home will always bring you back to the page containing the latest blog post.

Upcoming Events is where you can get information on shows and hook-ins and all that good stuff.

New Members is a page specifically for folks who may not know much about us - it tells them where/when we meet and who to contact for further information.

Photo Gallery is a page you're sure to visit a lot!  It's where we post photos from our meetings, hook-ins, etc.

Recipes is another popular page.  Any time you come across a recipe or taste something yummy at our (many) pot lucks, let us know and we'll get it added for all to enjoy.  It's been updated to include some recipes from this year's Xmas potluck.

OHCG Annual Conference 2016 contains photos from last year's annual.  Perhaps we'll replace this with photos from the 2017 gala event??

Techniques & Tips contains information we've gleaned from recent meetings, or from other blogs and rug hooking websites.  Check back often for updates.

We encourage you to click on any of the links on this website to see where it will take you!  You can't break anything - so please feel free to click away.

OK?  I hope this answers some of your questions and clarifies things a bit better for you.  If you're still unsure about anything, feel free to ask Jennifer for a one-on-one session to learn more about the website and the blog.