Bring Your Rugs to Life ... With the Oxford Punch Needle!

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2009 Oxford Teacher Certification Class
Bottom row left to right: Shari Robinson (Hensall, Ontario, Canada), Cheryl Connor (Bridport, Vermont). Second row left to right: Sherry Kelley (Rutland, Vermont in summer and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina in winter), Iris Simpson (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Third row left to right: Ginger Selman (West Newbury, Massachusetts), Elizabeth Millard (Columbus, Nebraska). Fourth row left to right: Sara Judith (Nelson, British Columbia, Canada), Amy Oxford, Jackie Towell (Kent, England in summer and Placida Florida in winter). Back row left to right: Marjorie Duizer (Londesborough, Ontario, Canada), Liz Krist (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada), Pamela Tyndall (Roslindale, Massachusetts).


2008 Oxford Teacher Certification Class
Top Row, left to right: Pat Lissandrello (Limerick, Maine), Amy Oxford, Sheila Petoski Shalifoe (Levering, Michigan), Kathryn Deloria (Petoskey, Michigan), Roseanne Phelps (Harbor Springs, Michigan), Tracey Earhart (Ligonier, Pennsylvania). Bottom row, left to right: Diana Keller (Harbor Springs, Michigan), Pat Lawrence (Braintree, Vermont), Paulette Staats (Braintree, Vermont), Gretchen Kellas (Virginia Beach, Virginia), Adrienne Alm (Charlevoix, Michigan).

Teacher Certification

Punch Needle Rug Hooking Teacher Certification Program 

Class Location: Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts
Ludlow, Vermont
August 16-20, 2010 RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 4-8, 2011

Intermediate/Advanced
Limit: 14 students
Lodging Available.
Please contact Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts for tuition rates and lodging details.

This five-day certification program is designed for anyone who is interested in becoming a punch needle rug hooking instructor. There are very few punch needle teachers in the United States or abroad, and this is an excellent opportunity to get a good start in an exciting field. Amy Oxford, veteran rug hooking teacher, author, and inventor of the Oxford Punch Needles will cover all the topics necessary to give you the skills and confidence needed to be a successful rug hooking teacher. You will go home with a personal teaching plan to help you get started, learn where to teach, where to get supplies, how to write course descriptions, lesson plans, supply lists, contracts, and much more. Learn potential problems, pitfalls, and “tricks of the trade,” both for doing the craft itself, and passing it on. Students will have the chance to practice new teaching skills by giving each other private lessons and most importantly, will learn how to be the very best rug hookers that they can be so their students can learn by example. Many different techniques will be taught including the use of the Oxford "Fine Work" Punch Needle, shading, novelty yarns, strips of wool and cotton homespun fabric, yarn blending, basic traditional rug hooking, 3-dimensional rug hooking, and sculpting. 

Students will begin a sampler in class that will illustrate these techniques and serve as an excellent teaching aid. Participants will be allowed to complete their sampler at home. Additional homework includes designing and punching a 2' x 3' rug. The deadline for completing these projects is December 31, 2010. Participants who successfully complete this course will be made Certified Oxford Instructors and will be provided with ongoing support and the benefits that come from being accredited by a respected pioneer in the field. 

Prerequisite: students need to have completed one beginning and one intermediate class with Amy, or may enroll with permission of the instructor. No former teaching experience required. Please note that this is a demanding and intensive program where much is given but much is also required. 

To register for the class, or for more information about Fletcher Farm School, please visit www.fletcherfarm.com, or call (802) 228-8770. If you have any questions about the program please contact Amy directly at amy@amyoxford.com.

I feel quite confident that I can now teach the Oxford Punch Needle method, carry out my business plan, etc.

-Graduate of the Oxford teacher’s certification program

Benefits of Being a Certified Oxford Instructor

1. Instructors will receive ongoing support in all aspects of their rug hooking, teaching, and professional development.
2. Instructors will receive 50% off all Oxford Punch Needles, with no minimum order required.
3. Instructors will be listed on The Oxford Company website (if they choose).
4. Instructors will be invited to an annual teacher’s reunion to share experiences and learn new techniques.
5. Instructors will be offered the opportunity to teach during our annual event, “National Punch Needle Rug Hooking Day.” 

Certified Oxford Instructors:
The following is a partial listing of instructors. Please contact us to find out if there is an instructor near you.

Barbara Benner's Red Clover Rugs studio

Barbara Benner

Barbara Benner
Red Clover Rugs
Cheshire, Oregon
Phone: (541) 998-1347
E-mail: barbararcr@msn.com
Website: www.red-clover-rugs.com

I offer punch needle and traditional rug hooking classes, hand dyed wool, supplies, kits, patterns and special/custom order rugs.

Ann Densmore
Wilmington, Delaware
Phone: (302) 234-1993
E-mail: adensmore1@verizon.net
Classes available by appointment

Marjorie Duizer

Marjorie Duizer
Londesborough, Ontario, Canada
Phone: (519) 523-4846
E-mail: duizer@tcc.on.ca

Duizer Family Est. 1964.
Designed and made by Marjorie Duizer.
This piece incorporates both punching with yarn
and hooking with a rug hook and strips of fabric.

I teach punch needle and traditional rug hooking either in my own home or will happily travel to "you." I love the idea of "painting" with yarn or wool. Supplies are available.

Tracey Earhart

“Anniversary Bears”
designed and hooked by Tracey Earhart

Tracey Earhart
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
Phone: 724-668-7017
E-mail: halfmoonhollow@gmail.com
Ongoing monthly class schedule can be seen at:
www.kathys-kreations.com/newsletter

I love to do punch needle rug hooking and thoroughly enjoy sharing the technique with others.  I will happily teach groups or private lessons and I offer one day or weekend workshops. I also offer ‘Rug Parties’ for weddings, anniversaries, and special occasions and ‘use up your stash’ rug parties. I’m willing to travel. I will also accommodate your group and set up classes or workshops for you in historic and beautiful Ligonier, PA. Children's classes or day camps are most welcomed. Have an idea for a class? Ask me!

Ellen Foltz
Asheville, North Carolina
Phone: (828) 231 2061
E-mail: mizellie@charter.net

My Good Friend Nancy.
Designed and punched
by Maddy Fraioli.

Maddy Fraioli
Rosehill Design Studio
Roseville, Ohio
Phone: (740) 697 0027
E-mail: mfraioli@columbus.rr.com

Classes available by appointment. Maddy Fraioli lives and works in her farm studio in Roseville Ohio. She received her Oxford certification 25 years after first meeting Amy and being introduced to the marvelous Oxford Punch Needle tool. She is also a McGown Certified traditional rug hooker and teaches classes in both of these treasured textile traditions.

Maddy says:

I have had my wooden 'Knitting Nancy' since I was a child and I have to give her credit for all of my textile aspirations. 'Knitting Nancy' is a tool to make knit cording and was made in Germany. Newer versions are known as 'Strick Susel' or 'Strick Hannah.' ('Strick' means 'knitting' in Germanic languages.) I have honored her by hooking a version of her, and I have it hanging in my studio. The rug is bound with knit cording. Cording is coming out of the bottom of her and she is holding it in her hands (which are knit to wrap around it) and it turns into a flower.

Dragonfly Purse front (left)
and reverse (right)

Layne Herschel

Layne Herschel’s rugs

Layne Herschel
Chester, Vermont
Phone: (802) 886-2643
E-mail: layne45@hotmail.com

Sara Judith
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Phone: (250) 352-5218
E-mail: sjudith@telus.net

Grand Canyon Dory by Sara Judith

Sara has a lifelong love of colour, texture and fiber. After many years of weaving and spinning she discovered hooking. Since then, she has attended over 40 workshops across North America, and become a teacher accredited both by McGown and Amy Oxford. Her piece Osprey with Kokanee was a winner in the book Celebrations XVIII, and combines both punch and traditional hooking. This combination of hooking styles is her current area of exploration. She loves to share her knowledge and skills with others in any format- workshops, demonstrations, lessons and hands-on help. She is available to travel throughout the US and Canada.

Paisley by Liz Krist. Note that the paisley
shapes were punched with yarn and the
background was traditionally hooked
with fabric strips.

Liz Krist
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Phone: (519) 743-9374
E-Mail: liz@sympatico.ca
Classes by Appointment

Louise Kulp

Louise Kulp
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Phone: (717) 823-0206
E-mail: edenvillagerugs@comcast.net
Workshops and private lessons are available. Please call Louise for details.

“What Are You Making?”
Designed and hooked by Louise Kulp

Louise Kulp has been “making things” since childhood and holds degrees in Painting and Art Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  In 2006 she took Amy Oxford’s Punch Needle Rug Hooking Teacher Certification Program and has been teaching ever since with a passion for passing the craft on to students of all ages.  Louise is on the faculty of Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts in Vermont.  Her work has been included in the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild’s annual exhibition and appears in the book, Hooked Rugs Today IV:  Expect the Unexpected.  Louise designs patterns and sells kits and supplies under the name Eden Village Rugs.

Linda Lague
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Phone: (508) 278-6974
E-mail: llague@yahoo.com
I offer private and group lessons.

“Anna’s Flowers” designed
and hooked by Pat Lawrence

Pat Lawrence
Braintree, Vermont
Phone: (802) 728-4220
E-mail: dowlaw@hotmail.com

“Hollyhocks” designed
& hooked by Pat Lissandrello

Pat Lissandrello

I converted from quilting to punch needle rug hooking in 2003 and never looked back. Since completing the Oxford Certification Program I have started Holy Hill Hooking which gives me the opportunity to share my love of this wonderful fiber art with the world!

Virginia Meyer
Lowell, Massachusetts
Phone: (978) 937-5459
E-mail: virgmeyer@hotmail.com

The rug I'm working on here is a
map of my family’s favorite golf course.

Hot Air by Elizabeth Millard

Elizabeth Millard
Columbus, Nebraska
Phone: (402) 564-9895
E-mail: bmillard@megavision.com
Classes by Appointment

I have always loved working with fibers, and punch needle rug hooking is my favorite way to use them.  The rug’s design can be as creative and unique as I want it to be, and the process is very meditative. To top this all off, the final result is useful and appreciated! I enjoy sharing this craft with others.

“The Rocking Horse”
designed and hooked
by Peggy Mineau

Peggy Mineau

Little Suamico, Wisconsin (Green Bay area) 
Phone: (920) 826-2880
E-mail: meno@new.rr.com

Website: www.menotriggergrip.com
Please visit my website to learn more.

Elizabeth Morgan
Wallingford, Vermont
Phone: 802 446-2230
Email: emorgan619@aol.com

I will teach classes if there is an interest.

Betty Sue Orrell-Arnold
Orlando Florida
Phone: (407) 354-1075
E-mail: savvy@cfl.rr.com

Basset Hounds. Punched by Betty Sue
Orrell-Arnold with a #8 Oxford Punch Needle
and wool rug yarn. 23" x 36".
Betty Sue says, "These adorable basset hounds
are a copy of an antique rug and punched
with love in every stitch. The rug was made
from a kit which came from McAdoo Rugs."

Betty Sue Orrell-Arnold is a Certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor. She studied the art of punch needle rug hooking with Amy Oxford, the inventor of the Oxford Punch Needle.

Her work has been displayed in the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild's exhibit at Shelburne Museum in Vermont and she won first place in the rug hooking category at the 2009 Columbia County Fair in Chatham, New York. She has taught individual and group classes in Orlando, Florida, and in Winston-Salem, Brasstown, and Maggie Valley North Carolina. Betty Sue offers classes in her home or will travel to your desired location anywhere in the USA including North Carolina, New York and New England.

Joanna sitting on her front porch
with a rug she made from
her daughter's childhood drawings.

Joanna Palmer
Posy Pot Rug Hooking Studio
Melrose, Massachusetts
Phone: (781) 665-8084
E-mail: giovannaone@comcast.net

Rug hooking lessons are held every weekday except Sunday, anytime between 1:00PM and 5:00PM by appointment.  If necessary, Saturday classes can be arranged.

 

 

 

Shari Robinson

Shari Robinson
The Rug Line
Hensall Ontario
Phone: (519) 263-2825
Email: sharrob@tcc.on.ca

Punch lessons, supplies and a good selection of Halcyon yarn.

Paulette Staats

Paulette Staats
Braintree, Vermont
Phone: (802) 728-4771
E-mail: pshriver@sover.net

“Watching the Fox at Button Bay”
designed and hooked by Paulette Staats

In 2003 I began Paulette's Punchettes which meets regularly in the Central Vermont area.  We are a group of fiber artists who get together to share and support each other in whatever creative endeavor we are involved in. Although most of us punch we also love to learn about and do other fiber arts like knitting, sewing and felting. Contact me for more information.

Russian Memories I By Pamella Tyndall

Pamela Tyndall
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Phone: (617) 323-5897
E-mail: ptyndall@verizon.net
Classes by Appointment

Hi! My name is Pamela Tyndall and I make punch needle rugs and thread paintings. My palette is made of colorful fibers as big as thick wool rug yarn and as small as a fine silk thread. If you are interested in learning punch needle rug making I am a certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor. I can teach you about the history of punch needle rugs, the needles, designing, punching and finishing a rug. Come learn this beautiful and functional craft. Please call or e-mail me.

Holly Tracey

Holly Tracey
East Aurora, New York
Phone: (716) 560-1718
E-mail: drjjt@prodigy.net

Painting with yarn with all the beautiful colors to choose from has been so much fun. This outlet for creativity never stops!

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