IN THE STUDIO ONLINE was created by a group of five artists during the first “dark days” of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Spearheaded by Karen Miller of Ontario, it was an attempt to bring audiences into the studios and work spaces of fiber artists throughout Canada and the US using the “new” technology of Zoom. Initially, Karen interviewed an artist weekly so that they could tell their stories and show their artwork. Q&A was an important part of the series as we all got to know one another from afar despite being hunkered down in our private spaces.
By late summer of that year, we realized that folks were chaffing under our communal house arrest and were missing the comradery of rug hooking as well as workshops in which we could learn from teachers and each other. We decided to do something about that, and a new type of fiber arts school was born: Workshop Week.
The first WW, running in late October, 2020, consisted of five classes. We each taught one.
- Karen Miller,
- Susan Feller,
- Meryl Cook,
- Beth Miller, and
- Me, Laura Salamy of High on Hooking.
That first WW proved popular enough that we went on to WW2 in the winter of 2021. We ran WW3-6. Beginning in 2023, with WW6, we moved from a twice/year school to a larger, more encompassing, annual school in February.
While rug hooking remains a focus in each WW, other fiber, textile, and ancillary arts have been added as a natural progression. Examples include journaling, stitching/mending, and painting. We now feature guest teachers with new and exciting specialties every time we run.
What we’ve realized the past years is that, although we’re back to in-person learning, Zoom workshops and lectures aren’t going away. They’re a boon for the price conscious and those who can’t travel. They allow us to access teachers we might never have been able to meet otherwise. To that effect, WWs have had students from Alaska to Europe.
Find our Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/inthestudioonline/
Find our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/IntheStudioOnline/
WORKSHOP WEEK 2025
February 6-16, 2025
If you’re an instructor who thinks you might want to teach with us in 2025, we’re extremely interested in hearing what you have to offer. See our CALL FOR ENTRY below. Contact Laura@highonhooking.com with questions and ideas.
FYI: Last year’s line-up.
IN THE STUDIO ONLINE WORKSHOP WEEK 2024
February 8-18, 2024
Public registration opens up on Saturday, December 16, for In the Studio Online’s Workshop Week 2024. Instructors and teachers are listed below as is the catalog. Class-specific questions should be directed to individual teachers. General questions should be sent to Laura@highonhooking.com. We look forward to this February’s experience.
