A local fibre artist is hoping to hook more people on creating textile wall hangings.
Instructor Fern Fournier, who has been working with textiles for the past 40 years, is starting up his rug hooking workshops again this month at Powell River Community Resource Centre (CRC) on Joyce Avenue. “Winter is the right time to work with wool,” Fournier said. “I think it’s really awesome to see what can happen from a few balls of wool.”
The long-time CRC volunteer started the Wednesday afternoon gathering November 2013 with the aim of passing on his passion for wool. It was supposed to run for three months, but after their time was up many of the 12 students continued to return to work on more projects, said Fournier.
Each student was asked to create at least a one-foot by one-foot woven frame for the project but several students were prolific.
“I couldn’t be happier than with this,” he said, looking up at the colourful rug hanging near the back of the CRC.
The piece is made up of 32 connected student panels in a variety of colours and designs including ones inspired from nature and geometric patterns.
Fournier describes his new sessions as being “more fluid.” It will be a workshop more than a formatted class, he explained. Students, many of whom already understand the basics, will be able to drop in and get straight to work. The veteran instructor plans to continue to supply the materials necessary for the project.
“I learned a lot from the first one, and I’d like to make it more for them than me—see what they can explore,” he added.
And he is not worried about running out of wool. Starting out as a fibre artist he was given about half a ton of wool from a family friend who owned a wool shop in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, he explained.
Irene Ross had just moved to Powell River last spring when she heard about rug hooking at the centre. She didn’t have any experience working with wool prior to attending the class, but since then completed not only a two-foot square cushion but also a few other larger projects. “She’s got style and she’s really exploring a lot,” said Fournier.
And he could not be more pleased with her progress.
“It is exquisite,” he said.
Ross has a background in graphic arts and saw it as an opportunity to try something different.
“It was the kind of thing I was interested in and I’d always wanted to learn how to hook rugs,” she said. She also thought it would be a good way to meet people and do something that she would enjoy. “It’s been lots of fun.”
Ross has made a headboard cover for her bed and now she is working on a large traditional Norwegian Christmas tree skirt.
“Anybody who enjoys working with their hands will like this,” said Ross. “It’s easy to learn and easy to take with you.”
Maryann Carr, another CRC volunteer, attended Fournier’s classes and said that the project has inspired her.
“Everyone learns from one another,” she said, adding that the process itself was fairly easy to understand and did not take her long to pick up.
Carr said she has been interested in art projects throughout her life and has worked with beads and painting, but after the first few rug hooking classes with Fournier, it was she who became hooked as well.
“I’d love to make a bigger one for my living room wall,” Carr added.
Fournier’s rug hooking workshops run Wednesday afternoons 1 to 4 pm, except holidays. They began November 26, but people can join at any time.
