Historic Sauder Village

Retreat Instructors & Class Descriptions

Once again we welcome very accomplished and highly respected rug hooking instructors for the 2010 Retreat. Enjoy four days of rug hooking study with a select instructor. You will work with your teacher in advance to prepare for class and plan your project. See the following for information on each teacher. Register early, as these classes fill quickly!

Instructors for this year’s Annual Rug Hooking Retreat include...

Gene Shepherd - Anaheim, CA
Email: gene@geneshepherd.com - Website: www.geneshepherd.com

"Attending to the Details"
Tuesday – Friday, August 17 – 20, 2010, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Heritage Inn - Homestead Room A
Min 10 / Max 15

In this retreat, you can focus on one or a combination of the three details that Gene relies on most when making his own unique hooked rugs: basic technique, use of specialty dyed wools, and realistic prodded flowers and 3-D embellishments.

Known for his ability to communicate technical information and rug hooking “short cuts” in simple terms, Gene will help you improve the technical details of your projects. His approach in this area is relaxed, as he knows your technical goals are unique. To that end, he works to create an environment where you can choose your own level of concentration and focus.

Many of Gene’s rugs “pop” due to the inclusion of intricately detailed, realistic prodded and 3-D embellishments. Although he has already defined the prodded steps to many flowers and plants, collaborate with Gene and he will help you create the details. Or if the steps to making his Peace Tea Rose seem daunting as you look at the printed instructions, take this class and let him give you a personal lesson!

While Gene always enjoys collaborating with students to interpret one of his original designs, you may bring any pattern suitable for cuts 6 -10. Prior to class, he is available to consult with you about your project, as well as determine or develop the special dye techniques that suit the particular needs and color preferences of your chosen pattern. Gene will also bring a large variety of hand-dyed wool to class. If you supply your own wool, he will help you utilize it to the maximum.

Described as a “self taught artist who hooks by ear,” Gene does commission work, designs, dyes, develops tools, teaches and writes about rug hooking. His work has been featured in Rug Hooking Magazine, ATHA Newsletter and Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs, XII, XIV & XV. As an author, editor, artist or producer his work include: The Rug Hooker’s Bible, Rug Hooking at Home DVD series, Prodded Hooking for a Three-Dimensional Effect book/DVD set, instructional downloads and tutorials on his web site. Gene has been director of the Cambria Pines Rug Camp, Cambria, California, since 2000. He teaches regularly in Southern California and, on a limited basis as his schedule as Senior Pastor of Anaheim First Christian Church will permit, at camps and workshops in the United States and overseas. He lives in Anaheim, California, with his wife Marsha and daughter Ann.

Jane Halliwell Green - Edgewater, MD
Email: jane@janehalliwell.com - Website: www.rugandwool.com

"Hooking a Pictorial Rug is… Like Reading a Good Book and Feeling Sorry it Has to End!"
Tuesday – Friday, August 17 – 20, 2010, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Heritage Inn - Homestead Room B
Min 10 / Max 15

In this retreat, Jane will provide you with in-depth instruction on all the elements involved in creating a pictorial rug: skies, water, cottage gardens, mountains, snow, and buildings to name only a few! She is the teacher behind innovative techniques—such as pixelating, shagging, baby proddy and walking the line—which are used to add texture to pictorial wall hangings. Jane will share her love for this unique rug style by teaching and demonstrating all of these creative techniques during the retreat.

You may choose either a fine or wide cut pictorial for the class, and if you need assistance choosing or drawing a design, Jane will help you. A pictorial rug is fascinating -- with so many intricacies, you could never be bored hooking one!

Jane Halliwell Green’s interest in art began as a little girl watching her Irish grandmother hook rugs. A graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, she has taught watercolor and drawing and she is a well-known textile designer and teacher. A certified McGown rug hooking instructor since 1994 and a rug hooker since 1961; she is known for her fine cut pictorial rugs, fine and wide cut floral tapestries, and her fabulous color planning system. She is often associated with hand-ripped floral wall hangings called “Close-Ups.” She has taught throughout the U.S. and Canada and her work has been in numerous juried shows. "The Jack of Hearts" was part of "The Art of Playing Cards" traveling exhibition. Jane was the first rug designer invited to teach at the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C. and she was affiliated with this institution for over six years. Jane authored numerous articles for Rug Hooking Magazine as well as two books on creating pictures in fiber, The Pictorial Rug (2000) which quickly sold out and Pictorial Hooked Rugs which was just released in October, 2009. She also appeared on HGTV’s, Carol DuVall Show in 2000.

Helen Jeffrey - Ozark, MO

"Braided Borders on Hooked Rugs"
Tuesday – Friday, August 17 – 20, 2010, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Heritage Inn - Gathering Room A
Min 10 / Max 15

Braiding is a wonderful way to finish and frame your hooked rugs, chair mats, table runners, bench mats, stair treads and gifts. In this retreat you will learn braiding, butting (joining the ends of the braids) and lacing (attaching braid). If you have preconceptions that this technique is complicated or requires too many tools and equipment, Helen’s technique is simple, inexpensive and it eliminates tools and equipment.

This retreat will feature not one, but three braiding projects! The retreat itinerary is as follows: Days 1-2: Learn and practice braiding and then lace the braiding to your mat. Supplies will be furnished by Helen. Students should bring a 10”x18” hooked mat to class (simple, borderless design of your choosing on linen, burlap or monks cloth, fine cut or primitive, hooked prior to class but do not cut away excess foundation or bind it). Day 3: Hook or penny rug a small 9”x9” heart pattern during class then add the braided border. The heart shape is good practice for corners and butting. (Helen’s kits are $20, and include all supplies.) Day 4: Make a small 10”x14” oval braided mat, which teaches you everything you need to know to make a large braided rug and how to add multiple rows of braiding to a hooked piece. (Helen’s kits are $18, and includes cut and measured fabric and lacing thread).

Helen will contact you in advance with specific directions and supplies that you will need to bring to class and what to complete prior to class. She will also answer any questions you may have. You will need to bring your own basic hooking supplies: a frame, hook and scissors.

In 1940, Helen was taught rug braiding by her grandmother. With World War II, a military husband, college, and small children, the braiding was postponed until she moved to the Kansas City area in the 1950’s. With Alice Beatty’s book in hand and a determination to learn rug hooking, Helen launched out on her own. Inspired by the early Shaker rugs, she began combining hooking with braiding. Her work can be seen in Amy Oxford’s 2005 “Hooked Rugs Today.” Many of Helen’s rugs are scattered across the country as she has exhibited and sold at the Arkansas Arts & Crafts Festival at War Eagle for thirty-one years. She studied weaving at the Wichita Art Association, focusing on the antique coverlet weaves, color and fiber structure. After moving to St. Louis in the 1970s, Helen taught braiding and hooking while participating in the Cultural Heritage Program, sponsored by the University of Missouri, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Missouri Arts Council. She also taught continuing education classes at a St. Louis College. Since moving to the Ozarks twenty years ago, she has taught many workshops. The emphasis of her classes is to encourage her students to carry on the traditions of pioneer women who had few resources, expanding upon what they passed on, and exploring ways to combine color, fabric and techniques with the today’s resources.

Bea Brock - Kerrville, TX
Email: beabrockdesigns@gmail.com - Website: www.hillcountry-rugworks.com

"Creating a Glow in Your Rugs"
Tuesday – Friday, August 17 – 20, 2010, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Heritage Inn - Gathering Room B
Min 10 / Max 15

Step into the “LIGHT”—the light and glowing color of Bea Brock's whimsical styled rugs, that is. Using predominately wide cut (6, 7, and 8) and occasionally 5 cut, this class is for those who want to move in the direction of truer jewel tone colors and learn to create a glow or “hum” to their rugs by use of value and complimentary color. Stepping away from simple outline and solid filling in, we will explore the use of several tones in one area to read as one color all the while creating close up interest in our composition. An overview of composition, balance and color use will also be discussed.

When deciding on a new project, color is one of the first decisions to be made. Frequently we have two or three colors in mind but the scope of complexity soon enters in when we begin and have to decide how and where to use those colors. Design and color are Bea’s passions, followed closely by her love for conveying these passions to her students.

You will choose your project in advance and work collaboratively with Bea. Bea offers custom design kits; however, any designer pattern, original pattern or works in progress are also welcomed.

Bea Brock began hooking in 1996 after life long experiences with fibers, textiles, and art. Her educational pursuits led her to the Art Institute of Chicago where she graduated with an emphasis in painting and drawing. Professional experiences include graphic design and illustration. After learning to hook, she immediately began designing her own patterns. Invited by Jane King to pursue her McGown Certification, she completed requirements in 1999. Some of her earliest patterns were distributed with Primco/House of Price, among them “Birds and Berries” which was featured in Celebration XIII. Her pattern design “Barn Symbol Galaxy,” (hooked by Madonna Shelly), graced the cover of Celebration XVIII. Bea has written for Rug Hooking Magazine and The Wool Street Journal. She has also written and published a dye book with accompanying swatches called “Gemstone Colors.” In 2008 she launched her website, where she markets her patterns for rug hooking, wool appliqué, and needle punch.