ISSN 2207-001X
Teaching rug hooking from afar!
A rughooking instructor in Australia, a student in Holland – how does that work?
By using a Skype connection on computers.
The current Guild members’ newsletter contains an article by Judi Tompkins, Communications Chair, who was contacted via her personal blog by a woman in Holland with “how- to” questions about rugmaking.
After a few emails back and forth, it didn’t take long for a friendship to bloom. Thea, in Holland, a potter with a good eye for colour and design, was enthusiastic about her new-found craft. Finding it cumbersome to explain about tools and stitches in emails, Judi suggested they “hook up” through Skype.
Thea worked first on an embroidery hoop and then ………. after seeing the different frames Judi was using, and with the help of Miriam Miller’s book, included in an exchange package sent by Judi (no fees were involved for these online workshops, however a friendly barter took place) Thea‘s husband built her a frame.
Thea began to hook up a storm and has made pillow covers and floor rugs with the new floor frame – here are a couple of examples.
Judi and I have frequent Skype conversations in order to keep this website up and running, during which, we have impromptu rughooking Show-n-Tell to discuss our current projects.
In Milton, New South Wales, on rug days, members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers often talk on Skype to rughooking friends in the USA and Canada who have visited their group or who they have met while attending Triennial TIGHR Conferences. The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers is hosted by a different country for a three year term, culminating in a Conference to handover the reigns to the incoming Board of the next Host Country . Strathalbyn, South Australia was the Conference location in 2012, with a good turn-out from overseas rugmakers.
Judi and I would like to encourage Guild members, especially those isolated solo rugmakers to give these “virtual rughooking sessions” a try. If you have a laptop or computer, Judi has volunteered to help you set up a Skype connection – her email is judi.tompkins@bigpond.com so,
Take advantage of what your Guild membership has to offer,
Happy Rugmaking from
Jo Franco, Editor/Membership Chair and
Judi Tompkins, Communications Chair
