News/Blog

Rug Hooking Retreat at the Oak Island Resort,  Nova Scotia Hooking Workshop - Rug designed and hooked by Jane Steele . There’s something special about spending a few days with people who completely understand why you can never have too much wool! Our rug hooking retreat at Oak Island Resort brought together wonderful teachers, new ideas, old and new friends, plenty of laughter and, naturally, lots of fibre. Claire and I spent our class time with the talented Jane Steele of River House Rug Hooking, while Dawna and Mary joined Dwight Gallagher’s Landscape class.  Another rug by Jane Steele Second Hooking Workshop - Rug designed and hooked by Dwight Gallagher I loved Jane’s use of repurposed men’s jackets, plaids and herringbones, brought to life with unexpected punches of colour. It was a wonderful reminder to see familiar fabrics differently: a jacket might become a landscape, a shadow or simply that perfect piece of wool you didn’t know you needed.   The retreat...

It is an honour to serve as a newly appointed co-president of the Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild. Although I am a newcomer to the craft, I am a practicing artist with my BFA in Art History and Studio Art from Concordia University, with a particular focus on Fibre Arts. Fibre arts have always held a special place in my family.  Quilting, needlework, and other creative traditions have been passed down through generations, along with a deep appreciation for making something beautiful and useful by hand.  I am also proud to trace my roots back to Loyalist settlers in New England and the Maritimes, who brought with them a resourcefulness, and determination to create new lives with what they had. Including a wonderful tradition of rug hooking. I am eager to learn more about this art form, to understand its techniques and traditions, and to incorporate new skills into my own creative repertoire. I look forward to learning from each of you, sharing in our collective knowledge, an...