Elora Centre for the Arts

PLAYFUL PUNCH NEEDLE CHARACTER! WITH ALISA McRONALD
2026-10-24 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
Summon a soft, squishy sidekick from the depths of your creative cauldron—let’s BREW UP A PAL with ALISA McRONALD! Let the colours swirl and the characters emerge with internationally exhibited textile artist Alisa McRonald!

This Brew Up a Pal workshop will begin with playful, abstract watercolour techniques to conjure up mysterious faces and whimsical beings from the page. Through guided prompts and intuitive mark-making, you’ll invite unexpected personalities to surface—some sweet, some strange, all uniquely yours.
From your cast of painted characters, you’ll choose one special face to bring into the third dimension using hand punch needle techniques. With vibrant yarns, tactile textures, and plenty of creative freedom, you’ll poke your new pal into life—one loop at a time!
This workshop is a joyful mashup of colour magic, character design, and soft sculpture. No drawing or punch needle experience needed—just curiosity and a love for creatures who live in the margins of imagination.

Please note, there is a $20 kit fee payable in cash to Alisa at the start of class.
All materials are provided in the kit fee; punch needle, yarn, hoop and burlap.

WEAVING A CANADIAN LANDSCAPE WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
2026-10-25 10:00 - 16:00
TAPESTRY WEAVING WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
Discover the quiet joy of tapestry weaving with fibre artist Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden and create your own hand-woven Canadian landscape. This workshop welcomes both beginners and experienced weavers into a relaxed, creative space that celebrate the land, sky, and beauty of our home-Canada.

Bring a favourite photo or choose one provided. Together, we’ll transform your image into a simple line‑drawn cartoon to sit behind the warp—an intuitive guide as you weave. From there, you’ll learn approachable techniques that bring natural textures to life!
Techniques such as soumack, rya knots, and blended yarns will help you create depth, movement, and atmosphere.
A welcoming space for both new and experienced weavers to explore the beauty of place through fibre. By the end of class, you’ll have a woven landscape that feels personal—rooted in place, memory, and the colours of home.
Whether you’re picking up a tapestry needle for the first time or expanding your skills, this workshop offers a welcoming space to explore the beauty of fibre and the Canadian landscape!

Please note, there is a $25 kit fee payable in cash to Dianne at the start of class.
All materials are included in the kit fee: a tapestry loom, an assortment of beautiful yarns, and weaving needles—all yours to keep.
