New England Braids – Classes October 18-20, 2013

Please join us as New England Braids celebrates its 6th year of rug braiding classes with a 3 day event on October 18, 19, and 20, 2013. St. Basils Conference Center in Methuen, MA is the venue for this eagerly anticipated event each year. Classes run all weekend but many come just for the camaraderie of being with other rug braiders and to exchange ideas. This weekend of workshops is open to all levels, including those who have never tried rug braiding.

Not your grandmother’s braided rug anymore. Learn how to braid a rug with a pattern in it. Experience making a braided basket! Learn how to start and end a braided rug using different methods. Many classes including beginners. Many new techniques and creative color patterns are available to the students at this weekend.

This is the 6th year this event is being held to promote and preserve the art of Rug Braiding, bringing together those interested in learning to braid, as well as enhancing the knowledge of those already familiar with this historic craft.

This event is one of the best attended in the country. Last year 50 people from 9 different states enjoyed this beautiful weekend on the serene campus of St. Basils. Delicious meals, comfortable sleeping quarters and class rooms are all under one roof. Currently, it is the largest gathering of Rug Braiders in the country.

New England Braids teaches the basic techniques in making a traditional braided rug from planning to completion. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process of making a braided rug from strips of wool fabric. Learn about types of materials, tools, and how to figure quantity of materials needed.

New England Braids at Methuen, MA will be held at St. Basil’s Conference Center, 30 East Street, Methuen, Massachusetts 01844, October 18-20, 2013. This weekend is open to all levels of rug braiding abilities, including those with no experience. A fee of $250 includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 meals, 3 days of Rug Braiding classes (no materials included). You can save $25 by sending your check prior to July 31, simply send your check for $225. As of August 1st the price of $250 will apply.

For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

Click for a slideshow of New England Braids 2012

April in Alfred 2013 – A Rug Braiding Retreat

Notre Dame Spiritual Center, Alfred, ME

New: Photos from this year’s Rug Braiding Retreat:

https://picasaweb.google.com/carolbraids/AprilInAlfred2013?authuser=0&feat=directlink

 

 

Create a family heirloom and enjoy the calm surroundings of a former Shaker Village in spring! April in Alfred is a special rug braiding retreat to be held at Notre Dame Spiritual Center from Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14, 2013.

Join us for our 5th annual quiet, relaxing weekend at a former Shaker Village (which has its own bakery on site). Bring your braiding project to work on or start a new one. Pam Rowan and Bobbi Mahler, our expert rug braiding teachers, will be on hand to help you.  Loretta Zvarick will have wool and rug braiding supplies to sell again this year. Barbara Carlson will be opening the Shaker Museum for us, which is just a short walk down the road. And Pam Rowan will offer a “field trip” to her shop in Berwick, Me.

A fee of $225 Includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 delicious home cooked meals starting Friday evening and ending Sunday noon, plus help with your project.

Again, this year we will be in the “Big House” which means that we will have a very large main room to braid in. AND the building has room for up to 50 people.

***Your place is secured by receipt of a $25 non-refundable check***
The remaining $200 is due by March 30^th.

Cancellation fee is $25. For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

April 12-14, 2013
Fee: $225. Cancellation fee: $25
Extra Night: $35
Arrival time: noon on Friday (no lunch included Friday)
Departure time: 3-4 pm Sunday

Contact:
Carol Broadbent
38 Dewey Street
Rochester NH 03867-1205
603-332-9038
carolbraids@gmail.com

Please feel free to email me with questions!

Rug Braiding Weekends Announced for 2013

Be sure to put our rug braiding weekends on your calendar for 2013.

April in Alfred: A Rug Braiding Retreat in Alfred, ME will be held April 12,13,14, 2013

New England Braids in Methuen, MA will be held October 18, 19, 20, 2013

For more information please contact:
Carol Broadbent
carolbraids@gmail.com
603-332-9038

Click for a slideshow of New England Braids 2012

New England Braids – Classes October 19-21, 2012

Please join us as New England Braids celebrates its 5th year of rug braiding classes with a 3 day event on October 19, 20 ,and 21, 2012.  St. Basils Conference Center in Methuen, MA is the venue for this eagerly anticipated event each year. Classes run all weekend but many come just for the camaraderie of being with other rug braiders and to exchange ideas. This weekend of workshops is open to all levels, including those who have never tried rug braiding.

Many bring their braided rugs to display for everyone to see. This year we encourage participants to bring Christmas articles that they have braided throughout the year to share.

Although a braid seems like such a simple thing at first, the braided rug design options are endless — fabrics, textures, colors, patterns, rug shapes, number of braiding strands, and more. New England Braids’ weekend of classes offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in a traditional art, meet new people, relax, and improve skills. Attendees who are new to the craft usually start by making a small oval mat and then graduate to a larger project. Experienced braiders may choose to master advanced projects such as special shapes and corners. Everyone benefits from observing the skills of others as they learn the craft.

This event is one of the best attended in the country. Last year 65 people from 15 different states enjoyed this beautiful weekend on the serene campus of St. Basils. Delicious meals, comfortable sleeping quarters and class rooms are all under one roof. Currently, it is the largest gathering of Rug Braiders in the country.

New England Braids teaches the basic techniques in making a traditional braided rug from planning to completion. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process of making a braided rug from strips of wool fabric. Learn about types of materials, tools, and how to figure quantity of materials needed. This year’s retreat will include the following classes: Beginners, Butting Your Rug, Braiding with Denim, Butted Rectangle Rug, Spiral Rug, Braided Velvet Ornaments, Hooking a Shape, and Braided Turtles.

New England Braids at Methuen, MA will be held at St. Basil’s Conference Center, 30 East Street, Methuen, Massachusetts 01844, October 19-21, 2012. This weekend is open to all levels of rug braiding abilities, including those with no experience. A fee of $250 includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 meals, 3 days of Rug Braiding classes. For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

Click for a slideshow of New England Braids 2011

April in Alfred 2012 – A Rug Braiding Retreat

Notre Dame Spiritual Center, Alfred, ME

Create a family heirloom and enjoy the calm surroundings of a former Shaker Village in spring! April* in Alfred is a special rug braiding retreat to be held at Notre Dame Spiritual Center from Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2012. This 4th annual retreat of quiet relaxation gives you the option to work on a current braiding project or start a new one. Pam Rowan and Bobbi Mahler, local rug braiding teachers, will be available to guide you. Loretta Zvarick will have wool and rug braiding supplies for sale.

*Though the date of the event is really in March, I’m keeping  the name “April in Alfred”  hoping that I can secure a date in April for future rug braiding retreats!

Although a braid seems like such a simple thing at first, the braided rug design options are endless — fabrics, textures, colors, patterns, rug shapes, number of braiding strands, and more. The April In Alfred Retreat offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in a traditional art, meet new people, relax, and improve skills. Everyone benefits from observing the skills of others as they learn the craft.

April In Alfred will be held in Alfred, ME at Notre Dame Spiritual Center, 133 Shaker Hill Road, March 23-25, 2012. Limited to 50 people. A fee of $200* includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 delicious home cooked meals starting Friday evening and ending Sunday noon, 3 days of Rug Braiding, plus help with your project.

This year we will be in the “Big House” which means that we will have a very large main room to braid in AND the building has room for up to 50 people. Sunday of the retreat is “Maple Sugar Sunday”. They will be sugaring off across the street from where we stay. And the Shaker Museum will be open that day as well.

*Your place is secured by receipt of your $200 check. Cancellation fee is $25. For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

Fee: $200. Cancellation fee: $25
Extra Night: $35
Arrival time: noon on Friday
Departure time: 3-4 pm Sunday

Contact:
Carol Broadbent
38 Dewey Street
Rochester NH 03867-1205
603-332-9038
carolbraids@gmail.com

Please feel free to email me with questions!

NE Braids in October in Methuen was a Success

Thank you to all who attended NE Braids in Methuen, MA in October 2011. There were 65 braiders attending from 15 states, we believe the largest group of rug braiders assembled to date.

New England Braids – Classes October 21-23, 2011

Create a family heirloom! New England Braids is excited to announce a special weekend of rug braiding to be held at St. Basil’s Conference Center from Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 23, 2011. This weekend of workshops is open to all levels, including those who have never tried rug braiding.

Although a braid seems like such a simple thing at first, the braided rug design options are endless — fabrics, textures, colors, patterns, rug shapes, number of braiding strands, and more. New England Braids’ weekend of classes offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in a traditional art, meet new people, relax, and improve skills. Attendees who are new to the craft usually start by making a small oval mat and then graduate to a larger project. Experienced braiders may choose to master advanced projects such as special shapes and corners. Everyone benefits from observing the skills of others as they learn the craft.

New England Braids is a 3 day weekend devoted to promoting Rug Braiding and teaching the many techniques involved in this historic craft. In 2010 we were privileged to have Delsie Hoyt of Kingdom Moon Rugs in Vermont as our guest speaker. In Fall 2011 we will have Delsie back again, but this year she will be a teacher! Delsie braids beautiful scenery into her rugs. They are considered family heirlooms and are all “one of a kind”.

In fall of 2010, New England Braids had 15 states represented by 60 women that attended. It was a beautiful weekend with lots of fun and camaraderie. St Basil’s is a wonderful facility with everything under one roof. The beautiful campus is very conducive to taking a long walk to stretch one’s legs between classes. And the time of year is perfect. Currently, it is the largest gathering of Rug Braiders in the country.

New England Braids teaches the basic techniques in making a traditional braided rug from planning to completion. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process of making a braided rug from strips of wool fabric. Learn about types of materials, tools, and how to figure quantity of materials needed. Our classes included multi-strand braiding, butting the rug, designs in your rug, beginners classes, braided baskets, using different materials to braid, and hooking a piece and then adding a braid around it.

New England Braids at Methuen, MA will be held at St. Basil’s Conference Center, 30 East Street, Methuen, Massachusetts, October 21-23, 2011. This weekend is open to all levels of rug braiding abilities, including those with no experience. A fee of $225 includes: 2 nights lodging, dorm style, 6 meals, 3 days of Rug Braiding classes. For more information please call Carol Broadbent at 603-332-9038 or email carolbraids@gmail.com.

Click here for a slideshow of New England Braids 2008.