[return to workshop listing]

“Gallery Talk” Workshop with Barbara Carroll

Date: Evening - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Class Fee: $25.00 / Members $23.00 Kit Fee: None Location: Founder’s Hall – Exhibit Hall Barbara’s Website: www.woolleyfox.com Description:  Accompanying this very special Featured Exhibit of Barbara Carroll’s work is a unique opportunity to hear the story behind her rugs. Barbara has studied, designed, and hooked primitive rugs for more than 25 years.  See this exhibit through her eyes. Barbara will share what she was thinking back in the beginning when she started rug hooking in 1987 and how she progressed to where she is now. Barbara will share insight about how to buy wool, how to use the wool, and show you how to have a blast with the wool. Also, see how she learned to hook and teach the “old rugs” and the fun of doing that. Barbara will go through the rugs in her exhibit and point out different aspects where she could have done better and what caused a rug to be “spot on.” She has been privileged to have Emma Lou Lais as her beginning teacher and continuing mentor and friend. Barbara will share some of her “wise owl sayings” that have formed some of her teaching skills. She loves teaching and seeing people “get it”, which is probably even more fun for her than hooking. She is excited about rug hooking and sharing this wonderful skill with everyone.  This presentation will take place in the exhibit hall, so that Barbara can refer to individual rugs, discuss interesting details and answer questions. Seating will be provided for all attendees. Level:  No Experience Necessary.  Everyone welcome, no prior rug hooking knowledge or experience required.  Bio:  Barb started hooking in 1987 with her good friend Bobbie True. They traveled to Kansas City once a week to take classes from the legendary Emma Lou Lais. That was surely a great three years.  After a move to Pittsburgh, PA she found many people who liked her style of primitive rug hooking and so the grand adventure began.  As time and wools evolved, the adventure took on the excitement of all textured wools and using cuts # 8 and above. Since her head is a bit on the “wacky side,” the rugs all have a sense of fun and whimsy to them while reflecting the personality of the rug hooker. In addition to her great start with Emma Lou Lais she has taken classes from Jule Marie Smith, Heather Ritchie, Kathy Morton, and other neat teachers along the way.  Barb teaches at The Woolley Fox Rug Camp in Ligonier, PA, Star of Texas in Fredericksburg, mini workshops in her home and some small “MINI mini” classes from time to time. Barb has coauthored two books with Emma Lou - Antique Colours for Primitive Rugs, and American Primitive Hooked Rugs. She has also written The Secrets of Primitive Hooked Rugs and American Folk Art Rug Hooking.  She has written articles for Rug Hooking Magazine and the ATHA newsletter. She wrote the rug hooking section of Warren Kimble American Folk Artist book, the introduction for Hooked Rug Storytelling: The Art of Heather Ritchie book, and has had her work featured in books published in Japan and England.  She was one of four featured teachers in a recent Early American Life Magazine article.            Barb is the proud mother of two wonderful girls, Diane and Robin and the Oma of four wonderful grandchildren, Abby, Nick, Jack, and Molly. Specialties:  Primitive and antique rugs in wide cuts. Barb’s approach to rug hooking is using total textures in the rugs, to create rugs that “push you a bit” and yet still reflect your personality -- and doing it with lots of fun and learning. [return to workshop listing]

• Rug Hooking Week
• Retreats
• Retreat Registration

• Workshops
• Workshop Registration

• Celebration Rugs
• Exhibit
• Rug Registration
• Rug Check-In & Shipping
• Vendors

• Volunteer Opportunities
• Schedule

• Join Our Mailing List