Last day of the 8th Triennial. Excellent coordination by board, wonderful friendships formed by 182 members, more workshops, lecture about Emily Carr the rughooker/treasured artist, fibre demonstrations.
The Gala Dinner with featured speaker Robert Bateman whose message was “be authentic to yourself.. break the stereotype” and the Founder’s Cup was awarded to Susan Feller.
The triennial continues with more workshops, a panel discussion “Approaching a Design”, luncheon speaker Vancouver textile artist Michelle Sirois-Silver, General Meeting, evening lecture “Colour” by Gene Shepherd, rug exhibit take down.
Acceptance of new board headed by Heather Ritchie, based in the United Kingdom. The theme for 2016-2018 is “Returning to our Roots”.
Afternoon wanderings, dine out, develop friendships and plan for Day 4.
Breakfast for all was delightful, off we went to workshops, excursions including a private viewing of select Emily Carr rugs and twined pieces and the Robert Bateman Gallery , panel discussions (videoed for our archives), lunch together and more of the same variety of fibre/art experiences for the afternoon.
The rug display opened in the early evening to members and invited guests in the region including Jan Ross from the Emily Carr House, dinner was on our own with new friends.
This day ended with a presentation by Sylvia Olsen: the Coast Salish Legacy including knitted sweaters and historical images as she wove the story of handwork supporting families.
180 of the nearly 300 members have converged in Victoria, BC. Sunny weather, beautiful Inn at Laurel Point, colorful welcoming committee and instant friendships abound.
Our Meet and Greet included the exchange of friendship mats resulting in new friendships. The rug display includes the mats, special theme Emily Carr and her influence and a wide variety of techniques, sizes and designs.
Monday will be filled with workshops, panels, guided museum tours, meals and friends.
Follow along on the Facebook page TIGHR the International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers and/or sign up on the right side here for more posts from the event.
In recognition of CANADA DAY –July 1, 2015 — the TIGHR Board members send greetings to our global membership and all exploring rugmaking techniques.
Historical note: 2015 is the 50th anniversary for the Canadian flag design.
On March 2, 1945 Emily Carr died. Vancouver author, artist (fine and craft including rug hooking and pottery) she was born in Victoria, BC, the site of our Triennial in October. Her birth house is a heritage site at EmilyCarr.com.
During the Triennial we will celebrate Carr’s modernist style with hooked works inspired by her paintings and subjects of First Nations’ lifestyle, spiritual nature landscapes featuring the forests and lonely trees of the region in a members’ exhibit with details at Theme Exhibits.
Some pieces worked by members are:
Registration begins this Thursday, January 8, 2015 for the 8th Triennial of TIGHR to be held in Victoria, BC October 4-7. The Triennial will be upon us before you know it. Excited? Looking forward to face-to-face meeting with your online friends? Register beginning January 8.
Visit 2015 Victoria, BC the Triennial main page for links to panel and workshop descriptions, 8th Triennial Registration Form and a full schedule of events to prepare your paperwork.
For those who can write a check in Canadian dollars or acquire a bank draft in Canadian funds complete the registration form and submit your payment and form with a postmark beginning JANUARY 8.
IF you will be paying using the online options of a Credit Card or PayPal account the payment process opens on January 30. BUT you are encouraged to still fill out the form with your choices of workshops (up to three), and any of the panels and/or excursions you are interested in and MAIL IT IN beginning January 8 also. Circle the $400 member’s fee (and guest fee if applicable) and indicate on your form you will be paying online as of January 30.
The postmarks will be used to prioritize assignments of workshops. You will be emailed when your form is received.
Questions, email the Registrar, Sheila Mitchell at tighr.victoria@gmail.com
It is countdown time this week anticipating December 4 and International Hook-In Day. We have listed many plans on our special Calendar page Dec 4 Hook-In and you can read about some of the events in the November 22 blog entry at www.RugHookingMagazine.com/blog
As noted on the blog, there is a way you can participate in promoting an event. People are encouraged to post directly to Rug Hooking Magazine’s Facebook page on Dec 4 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rug-Hooking-Magazine/276410345770221
The page will be monitored by staff. Approvals of posts throughout the 24 hour period from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom then across the Atlantic to the Canadian provinces and United States will appear chronologically.
If you are not near a fibre friend to talk face-to-face, call them, Skype, or sit-down and write a note. The world is looking forward to the many creative mats, rugs, artwork, jewelry, purses, clothing, and objects we create with our craft traditions.
Twenty years ago on December 4, 1994 the formation of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers (TIGHR) was proclaimed in England. In celebration of this anniversary and to further our mission statement “come together in friendship to share ideas, and to explore the different techniques of the art of rugmaking using a variety of fibres” we have declared DECEMBER 4, 2014 as the International Hook-In Day.
Let’s spread the word to fellow rugmakers and plan a local event to publicize our traditions in the 21st Century. Comment below on your plans. Create a display at a local library and demonstrate at a community center. Take your project to work for lunch break, bring a mat to be whipped while watching your child play a game after school, go out to tea with a friend and talk about a new project.
Rug Hooking Magazine will be featuring this event during November on their blog and on Facebook December 4. We are looking for people to post images from Sydney, Australia across that continent to Perth on to Tokyo, Japan to the United Kingdom and Spain then across the Atlantic to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, the Eastern United States all the way to California and Victoria, British Columbia the site of our 8th Triennial October 4, 2015.
Comment below if you are willing to upload an image on December 4 or before.
September brings changes in family routines. The rughooking community is gearing up too with exhibits, celebrations, shows, and gatherings around the world. Check out our Calendar on TIGHR.NET
Australia will be entering Spring on September 5 celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Narrawilly Proggy Rugmakers with a tea and reunion at the Rug Room in Milton, NSW.
The Strathalbyn RugHooking EXPO October 11-12 will be the third time workshops and exhibits fill the town in South Australia.
The United Kingdom can be a destination all Fall with the Knitting and Stitching Shows popping up around the Kingdom. The largest is October 8-12 in Alexandra Palace, London where Jenni Stuart-Anderson will demonstrate rag rugging, recycling into mats.
Wool Festivals are in a variety of communities in Great Britian, Cilla Cameron can be found at a few and co-coordinating the Reeth Retreat with Heather Ritchie in the Yorkshires mid September.
In the United States October 15- 18 Hooked in the Mountains, Essex Junction Fairgrounds, Vermont exhibits hundreds of hooked art pieces, special features of Rachelle LeBlanc and Peg Irish’s work
October 25- November 29 Hooked Art 2014 at The Gallery, UConn, Stamford, CT will be the largest collection of contemporary hooked art curated by Liz Alpert Fay and sponsored by Newtown Hooked Art Shows 
October 24-30 24th Annual Rug Hooking Exhibit, Chinzanso Hotel, Tokyo, Japan coordinated by Fumiyo Hachisuka
Culminating the excitement is December 4 The International Hook-In Day celebrating TIGHR’s 20th Anniversary. Call up a fellow fiber friend and go out for lunch, tea or a chat with your rughooking. Demonstrate at a local library or community center. Set up an exhibit of hooked work in a gallery. Promote rug making around the world. Use our site for background information and links. TIGHR.NET
It is not too early to make financial and calendar plans for the 8th Tri-Ennial of The International Guild of Handhooking Rugmakers to be held October 4-7, 2015 in Victoria, BC Canada.
Rug hooking Canadians in all provinces hold exhibits, guild meetings, and workshops search Canadian Rug Hooking.