The Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
Calendar for 9/2023 - 6/2024:
See Info at Bottom of Page for Braid Conferences
& Rug Challenges
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September, 2023
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7 Thursday, Sept 7, 2023 @ 7 pm EST: Program Committee Meeting. Help plan out the year's monthly events and technique demonstrations. Work on a scheduling contract form.
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9 Saturday, Sept 9, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: Organizational Guild Meeting. Review the budget and vote on it, hear about upcoming events and classes, plan out the coming year. Demo: Braiding Stands and variations with Christine Manges.
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10 Sunday, Sept 10, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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14 Thursday, Sept 14, 2023 @ 7 pm EST: Education Committee Meeting. Plan out the coming year's courses and educational events for all levels of rug braiders. Your input is welcome!
24 Sunday, Sept 24, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
30 Saturday, Sept 30, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Jenn Kiarsis on Starting a Braiding Guild. Hear about her work on the Baystate Braiders Guild and get some suggestions for finding a location and gathering braiders. She will touch briefly on the pros and cons of turning the guild into a non-profit organization.
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October, 2023
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7 Saturday, Oct 7, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: Cathy Winship shows us how to work with different weights of wool in the same braid.
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8 Sunday, Oct 8, 2023 @ 3 pm EST: Welcome New Members Meeting. Meet other new members, meet some of the officers and committee chairs, hear about the guild's history, and tour the website so you know where to find information. Sponsored by Membership Co-Chairs, Marlene Breitenbach and Mary Ragno.
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8 Sunday, Oct 8, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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13 -15 Friday - Sunday, 2023: Methuen Braid In or "New England Braids." While not a VF Guild-sponsored event, this braid conference is an important one -- wonderful classes and an amazing Show and Tell. Just plain fun! More info: Carolbraids@gmail.com
21 Saturday, Oct 21, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: "Braids with Benefits," with Kris McDermet and Christine Manges. Explore the beauty of joining braids with other crafts: rug hooking, rug punching, felting, wool applique, quilling, and braid embellishments.
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22 Sunday, Oct 22, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
November, 2023
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5 Sunday, Nov 5, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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11 Saturday, Nov 11, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: Rose Robertson-Smith shows us how to deconstruct wool garments.
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18 Saturday, Nov 18, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Braided Wreath with Wool Flowers: Peggyann Watts and Christine Manges. Come with a wire wreath and braids, and a lot of scraps of red and green wool for flowers. Supply list coming!
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19 Sunday, Nov 19, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
December, 2023
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3 Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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9 Saturday, Dec 9, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: Pam Jones shows us how to plait -- not braid -- rugs and the differences in technique and appearance.
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16 Saturday, Dec 16, 2023 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: It's a Braided Holiday. Bring your holiday items to share in a grand Show and Tell of things to make for yourself and others at holiday times.
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17 Sunday, Dec 17, 2023 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
January, 2024
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13 Saturday, Jan 13, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: Lucinda Harrison-Cox shows us how to braid with ties!
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14 Sunday, Jan 14, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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20 Saturday, Jan 20, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Yvonne Iten-Scott: Certificate in Fibre Art. Yvonne will share her experiences and creations from her advanced studies in fiber art.
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28 Sunday, Jan 28, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
February, 2024
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8 - 11 Feb 8-11, 2024, in Kennebunk ME Franciscan Braid Conference: While not a VF Guild sponsored event, this is a great rug braiding conference in Maine. Contact Pam Rowan: braidarug@gmail.com ***limited number can attend***
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10 Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: TBA
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11 Sunday, Feb 11, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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17 or 24 Saturday, Feb 17 or 24, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Mary Ragno: Mrs. Nutting's Rugs. Mary has researched the beautiful braided rugs shown in early 20th century photographer Wallace Nutting's tinted pictures.
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25 Sunday, Feb 25, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
March, 2024
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9 Saturday, Mar 9, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: Pam Rowan: Pricing Your Braids for Sale or Donation
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10 Sunday, Mar 10, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
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16 or 23 Saturday, Mar 16 or 23, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Camp Wool -- An exciting shop in Hollis Center, Maine, focused on making wonderful things out of wool! Rug hooking, rug punching, penny rugs, wool applique, and also antiques and braid supplies.
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24 Sunday, Mar 24, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
April, 2024
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7 Sunday, Apr 7, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
13 Saturday, Apr 13, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: TBA
20 Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: Barbara Fisher: Master Braider. Barbara Fisher's daughter, Janet Fitzgerald, and Sandy Luckury, the rug braiding instructor at Dorr Mill Store, will present a program sharing Barbara Fisher's artistry and lasting influence on the craft of rug braiding.
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21 Sunday, Apr 21, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
May, 2024
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5 Sunday, May 5, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
11 Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: TBA
18 or 25 Saturday, May 18 or 25, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: TBA
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19 Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
June, 2024
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2 Sunday, Jun 2, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
8 Saturday, Jun 8, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: VF Guild Meeting. Hear about our upcoming events and classes. Demo: TBA
15 Saturday, Jun 15, 2024 @ 1 pm EST: Special Event: TBA
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23 Sunday, Jun 23, 2024 @ 4 pm EST: Braid Help. With left opening and right opening teachers (and often a left-handed teacher) in attendance, ask your questions and get help with your rugs. Or, just come to share what you're working on and hang out with other braiders! One hour.
Upcoming Braid Conference Dates:
2023: New England Braids: October 13-15, 2023, in Methuen MA. More info:
Contact Carol Broadbent: carolbraids@gmail.com
2024: Pam Rowan's Franciscan Retreat: Feb 8-11, 2024, in Kennebunk ME
Contact Pam Rowan: braidarug@gmail.com ***limited number can attend
2024: VF -- June 20-22 (Th-Sat) 2024 in Story, Wyoming
Rug Challenge: Braided Water (Oceans, Rivers, Waves,
Whirlpools....Rain...Undersea life...)
2025: VF -- May 1-4 Rug Challenge: Mixed Media (Braiding with
different fabrics or materials, incorporating different fiber techniques...)
2026: VF -- April 9-12?? Rug Challenge: TBD
2027: VF -- April 8-11 Rug Challenge: TBD
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