The Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers recently enjoyed a visit from a top Canadian Rug Maker.
Karen Kaiser, of the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild, and her husband Kurt, from Belleville, Ontario, were visiting the Milton-Ulladulla area and while at Narrawilly Karen held two workshops. On design and colour in rugs and the other, dyeing and backgrounds.
(Above) Karen, preparing dye 
pots and
(Right) Karen with Miriam Miller and Jacqui Thomson who organized the workshops in Miriam’s Rug Room at Narrawilly
Both workshops were attended by enthusiastic rugmakers who were pleased to have the opportunity to learn from an international instructor.
Local rugmakers were amazed to hear the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild has over 1,000 members and fascinated to hear about the differences in their rugmaking.
Canadians and Americans tend to use new wool fabric, whereas most Australians use recycled fabrics. While recycled fabrics make rugmaking very inexpensive, it is sometimes a challenge to find just the right colour to create the desired effect.
(Left) Maggie Whyte (Canberra, ACT) and Elke Smith-Hill (NSW) are members of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers and also The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers. (TIGHR) Images of work by both Maggie and Elke are shown on the TIGHR website along with a translation into German by Elke – “Why Join TIGHR“.
Karen, Miriam and Jacqui are also TIGHR members.
(Below)Setting up Karen’s rugs for display at the workshop; note Poppies by Karen on the back wall.
If you are interested in seeing some of the Narrawilly Proggy Ruggers work, they are holding a rug exhibition as part of Milton’s Artfest during the weekend of 27th/28th September, 2014 from 10a.m. to 4p.m.
The Venue: “The Rug Room” 35 Stony Hill Lane, Milton
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