N&B

Fête nationale  celebrations in Centennial Park June 24, 2024 The weather added a dramatic touch to the City of Beaconsfield’s Fête nationale celebrations in Centennial Park transforming the mood from chilly to cheerful as the sun broke open the clouds and marked the end to a rainy weekend. A live band set the afternoon’s rhythm against a backdrop of Fleurs-de-Lis flags, surrounded by food trucks and a variety of activities for children. BHCG volunteers and MP Francis  Scarpaleggia . Photo courtesy of Elizabeth and Hugh. Live Band. Steam punk entertainer. Isabelle, Jacques, Elizabeth and her husband Hugh, Debbie, Karen, Harold, Denise, Janet, and Emmy generously volunteered their time to enjoy the day with the public. At our booth we made a fine display of our rugs attracting a steady flow of visitors keen on learning about our craft. Numerous people of all ages tried pulling some loops, even Lac St Louis’ Member of Parliament Francis Scarpaleggia.   Four people signed up, interest

BHCG’s Annual Picnic  By Dawna Matthew June 8, 2024 Our picnic was a great success again this year! We had over 60 attendees along with some helpful partners who gave a hand with the set up and take down. It was wonderful to see so many friends from neighbouring groups and inspiring to see their projects during Show and Tell. We had guests from North Hero Fiber Bees, Martintown’s Wild and Woollys, the Brome County Rug Hookers, the Ormstown group, Ottawa’s Old Forge, Track 2 and St Henri along with our own BHCG members. What a great turnout. The welcoming grounds of Centennial Hall. Our lovely greeters!    Some Martintown friends amongst the many who enjoyed this annual gathering.  We were nervous about the weather, but the rain held off and everyone was fine under pop-up tents kindly supplied by several members. We had door prizes, a paper bag auction and of course, our vendors, who offered a variety of items to tempt any rug hooker. Judith had her beautiful hand-dyed wool, Ti, her g

Annual General Meeting 2024    Our AGM was held May 6 with in-person attendance plus a few proxy votes reaching 67 % of our membership. The president’s report covered the year’s events which included our April 29th, 2023 Rug Exhibition, the presentation of our Centennial Tile rug to Mayor Bourelle and the City of Beaconsfield, our participation in the City’s annual St. Jean Baptiste Day celebration (in the Recreation Centre due to rain) and the September Artisans’ Fair. Our Outdoor Poster Exhibit created by the City was officially opened on July 22nd in Centennial Park and stayed up until the fall. In September Dawna started Beginners’ classes of 6 students who all became new members. In early January M. organized a 3-day workshop called “Tiny Treasures” given by Sara Judith. Throughout the year, we enjoyed many events: our annual picnic, paper bag auctions, Sell or Swap, International Rug Hooking Day, and numerous themed hook-ins. There was never a dull moment! The Treasurer’s an

OHCG Annual 2024       “Onwards and Upwards” April 19 – 21, 2024 London, ONTARIO By Emmy Maten 2024 OHCG Conference and AGM - Onwards and Upwards Logo.  Image Source: OHCG Website. It has been our guild’s tradition for several of our members to make a trip to the OHCG annual conference each year, members’ cars loaded down with rugs for our substantial Beaconsfield Branch Displays of the past. Then came COVID, and 3 consecutive annuals were virtual. This year marked the first return to an in-person conference, and my own first time attending such an event. Our guild didn’t provide a branch display this year, however the number of rugs on display at the conference was amazing, easily 150 rugs to see! And not only rugs, but also rug upholstered chairs and stools, cushions, and 3-dimensional art such as a huge ram head with horns! It was most inspiring. There was a fine selection of workshops to choose from plus many vendors’ booths to visit. Our own Ti wore both hats – teaching and sellin

 April 15, 2024    Visit to the Musée des Métiers d’art du Québec Reserve collection (storage facility)    This past Monday, our guild met at the Bibliothèque du Boisé Library in Ville St Laurent to view the Musée des Métiers d’art du Québec Reserve collection, stored in the temperature and air-controlled basement. We are greeted in the library lobby by Murielle Gagnon and Laura Delaunay. Many thanks to Gaétan Berthiaume for making this unique visit possible for our guild members. Mme. Murielle Gagnon, general director, and curator of MUMAQ, and Laura Delaunay, manager of the archives, greeted us and toured us in small groups throughout the collection of some 15,000 artifacts. Murielle gives details of the many artifacts. Laura is opening one of the many storage doors. It was an artisan adventure into the past! We saw beautifully carved antique furniture, spinning wheels, glass work, pottery, metal work, tools of the trades, paintings, theatrical costumes, and our very favourite: hook

Featured Rugs Gallery       In this Gallery, you can tour a selection of rugs from our last Exhibition, held in April 2023 at Centennial Hall. Explore our Blog to see the rugs showcased in the past. Refletions In December 2018, our guild held a Self-Portrait Challenge. Our finished pieces were displayed the following month in a “Who’s that Hooker” contest and members had to guess who is who. Several of these portraits were shown in last year’s rug exhibition. Follow the link :   Hook a Self-portrait !    Self-portrait. Original. Barbara Silver. Detail. Barbara Silver Self-portrait Original 2019 Hooked on linen Wool cuts #3, #4, and #6 Tapestry yarn Gold yarn behind letters 11.5” x 9” without frame Framed The butternut wood frame was custom made by Henry Peeters, Apple Hill, Ontario. A Good Hair Day!. Original. Carolyn Mungall. Detail. Carolyn Mungall A Good Hair Day! Original 2018 Hooked on linen with hand-dyed wool and Wensleydale fleece Cut #6  13” x 11” Finished with binding techniq