Classes, workshops and gallery walks was today’s game.  Even our astute Green Mountain team has to stay current and learn new techniques from time to time. 

First up was the Quillie class taught be Annette Shaffer.  What a fun class and very exciting to learn a new technique!  In this class we created either a tree or a wreath by rolling 8.5 wool into little circles and hot gluing them on a base.  Lindsay was very pleased with the way her project turned out and can’t wait for Christmas to display her work of art!  Photos below.

Next up was an all day class with Susan Feller on the work of the McDonald sisters who lived in rural West Virginia during the mid 1900's. Their technique for rug making involved mixed-media, using scraps of fabric or whatever they could find that were sewn on a backing then stuffed to give a three dimensional effect, and their designs were always flowers or elements from the natural world around them. Stephanie also chose flowers for her project and spent the day sewing. She's looking forward to adding some hooking around her design when she gets home.  Photo of Stephanie's project below.

Mariah spent the afternoon and evening in the dye class playing with her dyes! She learned an entirely new method of dyeing and really tried to stretch herself out of her comfort zone. She dyed VERY light wool, incredibly dark wool (almost black!) and she used a ton of green, which is not her favorite color to dye. She has about four yards of wool to play with when she gets home now and couldn't be happier! Pictures of her class, the process, and some of the products below!

Last but certainly not least was a Gallery Walk with Susan Feller looking at some of the Celebration rugs, the Story Rug exhibit and then at the special exhibit of the McDonald Sister’s fabric work.  Amazing to see and understand the rugs more up close and personal through the Gallery Walk process.  Susan spent time with several of the Celebration pieces answering questions as to what it was about that rug that made it worthy of Celebration.  She explained the judges look primarily for three things - Technique, Material usage and Composition.  It was interesting to be aware of those elements and look at rugs from that perspective.  In the Story Rug exhibit we looked at the technique of two rug artists and their rug collections to be able to identify their work.  We also discussed the stories a few of the rugs were telling.  The last section of the walk was spent learning about the McDonald Sisters, two sisters who lived in West Virginia in the mid 1900’s.  They did not create hooked rugs, but created fabric rugs and hangings using the materials at hand.  It was how they used the materials and their compositions that were noteworthy.  Photos below.

Because we took a quillie class today we decided to share this piece from the exhibit with you.  Enjoy!  Tomorrow we will check out the vendors and do some shopping!

"Rainbow Runner"
Mary DeLano