Her first hook was handmade by her Dad and was a cut off nail inserted into a wooden handle. Her first rug hooking instructor was her Mom when she was just a very young girl. But, it wasn’t until the fall of 1995 when she joined the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador, that Venissa truly became a rug hooker.
Linda Peckford’s beginner class was her first real foray into the world of rug hooking. Venissa followed this with: Theme rugs with Jeanie Field, Colour and Design with Elizabeth Tucker, Creative Stitches with Sue Dunphy, Northern Style Hooking with Hosiery with Joan M. Young, Seascapes with Norma Silverstein, Picture This and Bringing Animals to Life with Jon Ciemiewiecz, Designing Hand Hooked Rugs with Deanne Fitzpatrick, Introduction to Portraits and Hooking Faces with Beverly Neville, Colour using The Ives Colour Wheel with June Young, Basic Dying with Barbie Baker-Dykens, Sculpting a Pin with Diana Dove, Let’s Face It with Michelle Micarelli, Beginner Spinning with Claire B. Tilley, Stumpwork in Hooking with Margie Angel, and Teacher Training with Joan M. Young.
Having met the requirements to become a NL Guild instructor in 2003, Venissa has taught many courses since but her favourite to teach is Colour, Design and Landscapes.
Her work has been exhibited around the province, including at The Rooms and other provincial museums as well as at local exhibits where she has won or placed for her rug hooking works.
Venissa has served our Guild in various capacities, including President. Her classes are filled with valuable rug hooking skills and very much encouragement, especially to the novice rug hooker.
Memberships
- Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador, Teacher Certification, 2003
- The Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Institutes
- Winds and Waves Artisan’s Guild
- The Welcome Mat (on-line)
Awards
- Blue Ribbon award at for “Henry” at The Women’s Institute Provincial Convention