Upcycle & Design - The Art of Handcrafted Rag Rug Making

Timeless Craftsmanship: The Art of Handcrafted Rugs

please book into these free workshops which are a part of Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre's Family Fun Day on Saturday 18 Jan 2025 (see below for details)

Hand-braided, crocheted, and hooked rugs have been cherished for centuries, dating back to Medieval times. Originally crafted as practical and economical solutions for warmth, these rugs also brought a touch of simple, classical elegance to homes.

Surviving examples of early rugs are now highly sought-after works of art, prized for their rarity and historical significance. Since most were used on floors, they often wore out quickly, adding to their scarcity. Crafted from a variety of materials—fabrics, wools, toiles, linen, and more—these rugs reflect the resourcefulness of their makers.

During challenging times, such as the Great Depression, this craft was seen as a thrifty necessity. People repurposed worn-out clothes, blankets, and sheets to create floor rugs, quilts, and other household items, imbuing their homes with a rustic, handmade charm.

While there are many techniques for making rugs, the process is accessible to everyone. If you can plait, you can make a rug! Crocheted and hooked rugs are particularly easy to learn, offering an enjoyable way to create functional and beautiful pieces.

Embrace this timeless tradition and bring warmth, creativity, and sustainability into your home.

🌟 Free Family Fun Day! 🌟

Looking for something fun, free, and family-friendly these school holidays? Join us at the Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre for a day packed with exciting activities for the whole family and nature-filled adventures!

When: Saturday, 18 January 2025

Time: 10am-4pm
Where: Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre, Corner Campus Drive and Science Road, Richmond, NSW (entry via Vines Drive, Richmond)

What to Expect: 

• Nature play and ecology-based fun activities for kids to enjoy
• Art workshop with Indigenous contemporary artist Jess Munro
• Craft stations - check out the 11Rs section (including rag rug making, sign post building, deep watering systems)
• Interactive workshops / Demonstrations / Guest speakers
• Delicious refreshments / Sausage Sizzle for gold coin donation
• Explore the site with our resident entomologists & soil enthusiasts
• Learn about honey bees and native bees with Mike Allerton from Hawkesbury Beekeepers
• Check out MOCZA display of modern and fossil reproductions and finger casting for kids
• Face painting
• Community stalls
• Build a pond with Bluey in the Bush, Matthew Vella (Hawkesbury Herpetological Society)
• Educational walking tour of our native pollinator garden and indigenous edible food forest 
  
• How to plant your fruit trees the Ellen White Method 
  
• Adopt a Plant stall - where you get to purchase a plant, donate it for everyone to enjoy OR take it home
  
  
• Prizes / Giveaways / Guessing games
• Enter the Competitions
• Much much more

This free event is part of our commitment to sustainable living, community connection and fun for everyone. Don’t miss out on this school holiday highlight!

Keep updated:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hawkesburyearthcarecentre/

For updates on Programme - right click on link below:

Updated_Event_Timetable_Template.xlsx

ENTER OUR COMPETITIONS - prizes for the winner and runner-up:

Competition #01 - My 10 best gardening hacks - These can be displayed on a sheet of cardboard OR created and displayed at Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre.

Competition #02 - My favourite 11R’s (Rethink. Reduce. Reuse. Refuse. Repair. Recycle. Remanufacture. Regift. Repurpose. Refurbish. Recover. Rot). These can be displayed on a sheet of cardboard OR created and displayed at Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre.

These principles work together to foster a culture of sustainability and encourage all of us to adopt eco-friendly practices.

Workshop Bookings:

Some workshops whilst free have limited capacity. Please feel free to book into these separately so you don’t miss out. Check out our facebook page for ongoing updated information and check out further Humanatix ticketing for individual workshops.


🎟 Book your FREE tickets now on Humanitix

Remember to register upon arrival to be in the grand prize draw

📣 Spread the word and tag your friends! Let’s make this day unforgettable.

Sincere thanks to Regional Centre Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development - Greater Western Sydney, for their generosity in funding this Family Fun Day at Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre

https://events.humanitix.com/family-fun-day-k4gu778b