Class Description:  Students will be working on a fairly large needle punch design and mounting it on a vintage tin box that may be used to hold your favorite craft tools or supplies. Jo has been collecting vintage tin sewing boxes in a variety of colors, so these boxes will make your project even more special and unique - as well as functional! 

You may choose from three charming designs: a primitive style cat, a folk art rooster, or if preferred, the wording “Needfuls”. 

This 2 day workshop is designed for those with basic punch needle experience who are ready to enhance their skills and take on a larger project - with the help of Jo’s tips & techniques. On the 2nd day, the focus will be on mounting your punched piece on the tin box, and learning several other finishing styles and options for future projects. 

Jo’s primitive punchings, mounted on all kinds of wonderful antique, vintage and unique containers, boards, and small furniture, have been popular sellers. Her use of warm colored threads blend nicely with these old pieces and she knows just what design to pair with that special piece. So let Jo take you from tiny punchings to creating heirlooms and treasures!

Teacher will contact students prior to class:  Yes

Level:  Basic – students must have basic needle punch knowledge & experience.     

Supply description:  3” x 6 1/2”  pattern of choice drawn on 14” square weavers cloth, vintage tin sewing box (3” x 6 1/2”),  Valdani & DMC threads to complete project, wool to line box, interfacing for back of project, & glue to mount piece on tin box. 

Bio: Jo Wick is a gal that has always had a creative mind and one who never sits idle. There is always some handiwork in her hands, beginning in her early teens when her mother taught her hand sewing and embroidery. After a counted cross stitch and quilting phase in the 70’s & 80’s, she visited the local shop of Kindred Spirits (Alice Strebel & Sally Korte) and began rug hooking. To this day, rug hooking remains her passion and she has attended workshops, classes and retreats with nationally known teachers. 

In 2014, Jo became fascinated with another hand art, Punch Needle. She was looking for a creative outlet that would be more portable to take with her when traveling. The onset of Valdani floss sparked her interest and she loved the hand-dyed look without the need to separate and blend floss. Jo still uses DMC floss and obtains a hand-dyed look by spraying with walnut stain when finished. She has punched all sizes of patterns, with a runner that is 9” x 19” being her largest project. When she realized her house was overflowing with punch needle projects, she began to collect antique items that she could use as mounting objects for the finished punch needle. After suggestions from friends, she began selling these items at her local rug hooking guild and other craft retreats. Her love for antiques and punch needle are now blended together as her newest punch needle designs are of adaptations of antique hooked rugs. Now punch needle joins her favorite past times of rug hooking, wool appliqué, and natural plant dyeing of wool that she uses in her projects.  

Jo is a member of the Miami Valley Rug Hooking Guild ATHA Chapter 98 and has taught classes in rug hooking and punch needle to her co-members and friends. She looks forward to sharing her punch needle tips and ideas with her class participants.