If you’re a rug hooker looking who’s looking for some summer fun, I have just the event for you! This August, our very own certified McGown Rug Hooking instructor, Suzie Jankowski will be at The Gathering hosting a rug hooking workshop you don’t want to miss! Come enjoy learning the tricks of this traditional trade from one of the best teachers around, during this two-day rug hooking get-away.

Designed by Suzie herself, the rug project for her class is an original piece that she calls, “Wild Door County.” The idea for this 20″ x 20″ beauty is the result of attending a three-day workshop on “dip dyed” wools. She found the process to be fascinating and magical, and loved the way the colors change as you gradually pull the loops. Years later, while digging into her scrap stash, she happened to come across a piece of wool she had left over from that particular workshop and was immediately inspired by it.

Her mind went straight to Door County, Wisconsin where her family roots are set, and many fond memories were made throughout the years. She thought of the Trillium flower (a prominent wildflower in Wisconsin from spring until early summer) and there it was – the very inspiration she needed for her next project. Almost immediately, Suzie stated sketching a Trillium and was on her way to creating a full pattern. Although Trilliums are beautiful by themselves, she felt the design also needed to show more of the natural environment they’re found in so she included Lady Slippers, a Jack-in the-Pulpit, and the glorious green ferns WI natives know so well. Great work Suzie… It’s truly a beautiful piece! If you’d like to see more of Suzie’s work and learn what she’s all about, you can hear her explain it all by clicking the STITCH button at the end of this post (start video at 40:45 to skip directly to her portion of the show)!

This event takes place at The Gathering August 26th -28th, 2024. If you’d like to join Suzie for her summer Rug Hooking workshop, please call 920-778-8031 to sign up! You can also email The Gathering at thegathering@primitivegatherings.us. Class fees and what to bring are listed on the flier above! Both lodging and daily students are welcome (call for lodging rates).

And just like that, it’s time to blow this popsicle stand! It’s been a hot and beautiful sunny day so far and the forecast for the weekend looks the same – at least through tomorrow, anyway. By Sunday it’s going to be the kind of hot and humid that promises a storm by the end of the day no matter what, so I better get out and enjoy it now! Before I run off into the sunset, however, I need to give some goodies away. A huge thank you and congratulations goes out to Diana D. and Sharon M.! They will both be getting a little love from Heidi’s prize vault for their recent comments here on the blog over the last couple of weeks (if you think this is you, please check your email for a prize confirmation letter)! Have you won yet??? It’s super easy to do… Leave me a comment and you could be next!!! Have a great weekend and I’ll see you in the comments on Monday during CommentSold, which will air at 10:00 a.m. CST. See you there! ~Lisa