Making floor mats
Saturday, February 22, 2025 10:00 am - 4:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Traditional Pattern Making Workshop

Margruite birdseye

Drop by the Grebel Gallery between now and February to see artist Margruite Krahn's exhibit that restores and re-imagines hand painted Mennonite house barn floor patterns from the turn of the 20th century. Her work engages with the contrast of home as a sanctuary and a place that holds conflict, alongside changing traditions and practices of beauty.

Join artist Margruite Krahn on Saturday February 22nd for a hands-on traditional printmaking workshop inspired by the techniques Mennonite women used to paint their floors around the 1870s-1910s. Enjoy crafting in the beautiful historical setting of Brubacher House, an 1850s Pennsylvania German farmhouse at the University of Waterloo.

Create your own design using traditional methods and colours on pre-primed paper or canvas placemats, or a canvas floor cloth. All ages welcome!

When registering please indicate clearly your option as the mats and floor cloths all require significant preparation. Fees include all material and instructor time. 

Option 1:  Paper Mat (12”x18”) 

The paper mat is card stock weight, double sided primed and painted and can be used as a placemat or wall hanging.  

  • One paper placemat   $50 
  • Two paper placemats $75 

Option 2: Two Canvas Placemats (12”x18”)   

Cotton duck is a heavy canvas. The canvas is primed only, and edges stitched ready for painting and design. 

  • Two canvas placemats $150 

Option 3: Canvas Floor Cloth (2’x3’) 

  • Same cotton duck material as option 2.  $200 

Payment can be made by e-transfer to margruitekrahn@gmail.com or in cash by February 22nd.