Rock River Rug Camp
Our 2024 Teachers
The teachers at Rock River Rug Camp are world class McGown certifieed instructors with a variety of expertise and a wealth of knowledge. Each class will offer the rug hooking student a unique opportunity to bring their creation to life under the support and tuteledge of their chosen teacher.
Our 2024 Teachers
Instruction preferences are on a first come basis! Register early for your choice.
Jeanne Benjamin
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My love for colour began in 3rd grade, when I complained that
my new red shoes clashed with my clothes. After trying many arts/crafts. . .I got “hooked” literally in 1971 and hooked voraciously on all design types.. While starting a
family, I took the Mcgown course and was certified in 1979. Actually I was teaching well before that to intrigued friends. Once the Atha 1 school began, in 1981, I was
enthusiastically “hooked” on all that group creativity. And when I began teaching “out, I hit the road with relish. . .as of now I've taught in 28 states. An open class is always my preference; it encourages knowledge. Dyeing is a big part
of my life, and colour planning is exciting to me even after 50+ years. Currently I own New Earth Designs, my own designs as well as Lib Callaways'. I was honored to be
included in the first group to Celebrations hall of Fame.
Realistic Orientals, and Primitives are my favorites, but choose what you want to work on. Pre-camp communication is key, and I will do advance planning to maximize our class time. Personal instruction is
given in small increments, so I can make rounds quickly. Relax, keep an open mind, and enjoy the creativity!
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Linda Gillen
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Linda Gillen Rugs
Linda has been hooking rugs since 1996 and gained her McGown certification in 2006. Her early work was in finer cuts (#3) and has been recognized for her original design work. Linda has been published in Association of Traditional Rug Hooking Artists (ATHA) magazine and has had rugs printed in Rug Hooking Magazine. You will find some of her rugs in the New Earth Designs catalogue and in the Honey Bee Hive pattern catalgue. She enjoys working with all cuts and all patterns styles-whimsical to realistic. When not playing with wool, she runs a small farm in Wisconsin with her husband, Tom. They have goats, sheep, chickens, gardens and an orchid. It is important that you leave camp with the bbeginnings of a rug you love. Let's make it happen and have fun doing so.
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Mary McGrath
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Mary McGrath Rug Hooking
Mary began rug hooking in 2002 after seeing a primitive rug of a crow and had an unexplainable desire to try creating something similar. After trying it, I fell in love and have not looked back. She has been fortunate to study under many well known instructors, not to mention tutelage from 2011 with Carol Kassera. Mary is in the inaugural class of Celebration Rug Hooking Hall of Fame. She has had (7) rugs featured in Celebragions, and in 2020 her rug "Mitch" was featured on the cover of Celebrations. Mary has a passion for fine cuts and value shading. I believe that anyone can learn how to work with values of wool and translate an image into a rug and I am so looking forward to working with other rug hookers on their learning journey. Mary is also a McGown certified teacher.
Sharon Saknit
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Sharon is a certified McGown teacher and owner of Rose of Sharon Rugs. Sharon's rugs have been featured in Celebrations as well as several other well known rug hooking books. While trained in all cuts and styles, her personal favorite is shading without swatches in a 6 and 8 cut, geometrics, and tessellations. She is known for her unusual color combinations and vibrant palette. In Sharon's class you will learn tips and tricks on technique, dyeing, finishing and anything else that comes up! Sharon has a patient way of pulling things out of you that you didn't even know you had while making it feel easy!
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Sibyl Osicka
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I have two McGown accreditations and have been on the road teaching since 1989. I am known for the fine shading but will teach from a #2 cut to a #9 cut. Any subject; faces, animals, orientals, florals, etc. I like to give class information as a lecture sometime during class time. I will supply road maps (complete directions) with pupil's projects. I wrote Creative Journey into Rug Hooking, Soft is Beautiful 1 and 2. You will find that Sibyl a very busy lady as she shares her talents at various rug schools.