Rug Hooking Camp

Prairie Harvest Rug Hooking School was so much fun...it seems that when like minded people get together you can literally  feel all that positive energy swirling about. There were all ages and abilities & everyone was more then happy to share their expertise. I met so many wonderful people & learned so much from all of them...it was truly an experience that I will never forget. This was my first year at rug camp & I believe it will not be my last...I will definitely be coming back next year.

Susan(ME) & my instructor Beatrice Grant, she taught us techniques in Traditional Primitive Rug Hooking. Bea was the best instructor, warm,inviting with years of experience to share with us.

 Below is my my friend Heather who took the beginners class. As you can see from that smile...I think she is in rug hooking heaven...

The two photos above are pictures of our Traditional Primitives class, everyone is busy hooking, cutting & color planning. Lots of chin wagging & laughter was had by all.

Above is a photo of the dining hall...we were given fresh veggies from the monk's gardens, as well as the best made from scratch cookies at coffee time & to top it all off ...who could ask for more...but a little Abby school shop with an espresso machine...lattes & rug hooking, what could be more perfect.

Prairie Harvest Rug Hooking School
St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, SK
Dates: September 20 - Sept 25, 2009

Classes:

• Beginners/Find it Finish It - Lynne Howard
• Pictorials - Carolyn Clemens
• Wm Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement - Tanya Graham
• Fine Shading of Flowers - Ann Taylor
• Traditional Primitive - Beatrice Grant
  

Prairie Harvest Rug Hooking School 

A few examples of the hooked rugs that were on display.

 A wide array of hooking styles from fine shading, landscapes, primitives to pictorials. The amount of work & craftsmanship was readily apparent when I studied these rugs, a true inspiration to me.
Photos below.

 

New & Views & Our Trip to Jasper

Maligne Canyon above

It has been a very busy week for me since Dino & I arrived home from our trip to Jasper. It turned out to be the break we both needed; the weather cooperated & most of our days were filled with blue skies and sunshine. Needless to say we didn't want to come home & we kept asking ourselves, why did we ever move away from the mountains...when could we move back....& why, oh why, did we move to the prairies since we are both mountain people at heart? I guess you do things in life to get ahead & moving out of the mountains to the prairies was one of them.
Below is a photo of the Jasper town-site from the top of Whistler Mountain. You can take the tram up to the top & then hike to the summit...B E A U T I F U L...

We packed a lot into our little holiday...filling our time by hiking Maligne Canyon, taking in the hot springs & visiting the numerous waterfalls that are located through out this park. To be honest though it was the smell of the air in this wild place that will be my most treasured memory. You see, there was a freak windstorm a few days before we arrived and there were literally thousands of downed trees all over...which is sad, but Jasper has millions of trees so you didn't really notice them. But the smell of the air from all those broken trees was intoxicating...imagine the scent of your Christmas tree times a hundred combined with Sweet Birch and Juniper Berries & you will know what I am talking about. If only I could bottle that scent & bring it home....D E L E C T I B L E...

Every day we had a cozy fire while we sipped our morning coffee or had a of glass wine after a long day of hiking...pooped out & tired we hit our pillows each night with heavy heads and contented sighs...Z Z Z Z...
From the summit of Mount Whistler you can view alpine valleys & cloud shrouded peaks.

With our little holiday behind us I have been busy doing the write ups that will accompany the pieces I created for Stampington magazine for their publishing consideration. Now I have to sit back & wait...with positive thoughts & hopes that they will be well received. With shaky hands & heart pounding I sent my wee creations to California.
Home for a bit...& packing up again...going to attend my first Traditional Rug Hooking Camp which is taking place at the Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan...will take lots of photos to share with you later.
Last but not least, I am hoping to have a couple of new pieces for the TDIPT October 1st update but am not sure I will have enough time to complete them. I will post photos of them here should I get them done.
Till then, have a mice day!!!

Beautiful Blue Juniper Berries