Penny Rug Workshop with Exhibition Artist - Liz Alpert Fay
Penny Rug Workshop with Exhibition Artist - Liz Alpert Fay
Thursday, August 20, 2026
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Class Fee: $70 WMQFA Member / $75 Non Member
Class Description:
Explore the endless possibilities of playing with color and design while creating a one-of-a-kind
decorative and fragrant balsam pillow. The technique involves cutting simple shapes from felted
wool and stitching them to a dark wool background with a decorative blanket stitch. We will use
this traditional stitching technique as well as beads and buttons to further enhance the designs.
Topics covered will include: stencil making, the use of different textures, patterns and wools, and
the addition of other embellishments. The history of penny rugs will be discussed and examples
of both contemporary and traditional pieces will be shown.
Recommended skill level for participants: no experience necessary
Age level of participants: 18 and up
Kit Fee: $25, a kit is required for the class.
Kit includes:
Template plastic, freezer paper, plastic bag
Needles
Sewing thread
Sewn pouches for balsam
Balsam
Wool rectangles for stitching- 1 black- 1 colored
Wool to cut-for class to share (compliments of Betty Oberstar)
SUPPLY LIST:
Good quality fabric scissors (Large and small if you have them. Small if you have to choose)
White chalk pencil or white colored pencil
#2 pencil
Ballpoint pen
Extra fine sharpie marker (black)
Small box of Quilters straight pins (they have large colored heads).
4 skeins of #5 Pearl Cotton thread - (choose a variety of colors- don’t coordinate!)
Optional: Beads, buttons, and other embellishments you have on hand.
About the Artist:
Liz Alpert Fay began her studies at Philadelphia College of Art in 1976, and then received a BAA in Textile Design from The Program in Artisanry at Boston University in 1981.
For seventeen years she created art quilts, exhibiting nationally, and in Japan. The artist exhibited in such shows as Quilt National and at the American Craft Museum in New York. Liz's quilts can be found in both private and corporate collections, as well as in many publications including The Art Quilt by Robert Shaw.
In 1998 Liz became intrigued with the technique of traditional rug hooking and began creating colorful hand hooked artworks of her own design. Always striving to achieve innovation in this medium, her studio practice has expanded to include large- scale contemporary hooked artworks as well as installations. These award- winning works have been have been selected for many juried shows, invitational museum exhibitions, and are included in many collections.
In 2006 the artist began experimenting with found objects gathered in her studio as inspiration. These new works evolved into an interest in working three dimensionally, and to a continued exploration of mixed media sculpture.
From 2008- 2014 Liz founded and acted as Co-chair and Artistic Director of the Newtown Hooked Art Shows. Here she actively promoted innovation in the hooked art of contemporary artists by producing an annual juried show, and
securing additional exhibitions throughout the year.
Early in her career the artist also earned the title of Master Teaching Artist through the State of Connecticut, and continues to give classes in the textile arts. Present workshops take students on nature walks to discover inspiration for their own work, as well as providing instruction on designing contemporary textiles.
At this time, the artist is creating large- scale hooked art, and mixed media sculpture. She is presently completing a series of sixteen hand hooked portraits titled Ordinary/ Extraordinary Women and is seeking venues to exhibit this work.
