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9/21/15 - NEW this year! We have a fantastic new event called "Shepherds Talk Fiber" - a scheduled list of talks about breeds focusing on their fiber. Our presenters have been asked to provide a 5 min intro of their breed, highlighting its fiber & Breed Association information. What is the breed standard for the showcased breed, color, micron, special characteristics, historical and/or current uses?
Any special care and handling of the sheep to produce great fiber (Breeding choices, nutrition, stress, coating, controlling vegetable matter, effects of lambing or age)
15 Minute Presentation or Demo
This can be spinning and talking about various ways to spin the breed for different results, OR
Recommendations on how to have it commercially prepared (what spin or ply or weight of yarn best highlight your breed’s characteristics etc.)
OR
Talk and/or demonstrate felting, or weaving or any other ‘best use’ for the breed’s fiber and what makes it special,
OR
You might see them could skirt a fleece, or do just about anything they want to get you excited about their breed’s fiber (why they love it?)
5 Min Question and answer.
Show up on time to learn about breeds that would work for your new flock (hint hint), or types of fiber you may never have worked with before. Enjoy! Add the talks to your Sched so you get reminders and can plan your festival experience.

Our 2015 Schedule is evolving. Please check back to see additions and create a Sched account to start your own custom festival schedule and plan your time wisely. Share events with friends and family via Facebook and Twitter to rally them to plan the day together. Accommodations around the Hudson Valley are booking up, so if you haven’t done it, get on that ASAP. This is just the schedule - see our official website www.sheepandwool.com to volunteer and see more pics.
avatar for Maureen Rugar

Maureen Rugar

I first learned of Rug Hooking while dating my husband in 1977. His grandmother, Gertrude Schaller, thought that I should learn how to be a hooker if I was going to enter the family. Quite honestly the project she gave me did not exactly cause me to want to learn- it was a very boring “broken glass” design. I did love the work she did, all the wonderful finely shaded flower rugs, as I was a floral designer and was drawn to the amazing colors. Finally she relented and gave me a pansy design and I was HOOKED! It spurred me on to take as many classes as possible taught by some of the finest teachers around and attend as many rug camps as possible (while working and having a family). In 1983 I began teaching rug hooking once a month to enthusiastic students in my studio in LaGrangeville, NY. Classes are now held four times a month teaching finely shaded as well as primitive hooking. Three to five day workshops have also been held for beginners as well as experienced students in everything from hand torn primitive hooking, finely shaded oriental designs to dyeing wool. Loving the art of rug hooking , I also owned a rug hooking design company, New Earth Designs, which is now owned by Jeanne Benjamin of Brookfield, MA. I am currently president of the Dutchess County Rug Hookers Guild, having served as president once before in 1989.

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