Rug Repair Training – You interested?

Hello Rug Chick readers!

I’ve been getting a few questions about rug repair, and my mother Kate and I recently spoke at the San Diego Weavers Guild meeting speaking specifically to rug repairs and our philosophies on them.

Here’s a simple little rug repair of field wear. Not reweaving, but selective embroidery stitching (to protect the original foundation fibers) and a little dye work to blend it in.

Field wear in an older Hamadan rug.

Field wear in an older Hamadan rug.

Tada! The Hamadan gets a facelift!

Tada! The Hamadan gets a facelift!

Several years ago we had a few sold-out hands-on rug repair clinics to train the basics of rug maintenance and specialty repairs. Not reweaving and reknotting rugs, but the most requested repairs: ends, sides, and field wear work (including patches).

After our presentation at this workshop we wondered – is it time to have some more Rug Repair Workshops?

So – if you are interested, let me know by posting down below in the COMMENTS. If there is enough interest then we will work together a curriculum, set some dates at our rug facility in San Diego, and let you know how to register.

Enjoy your weekend!

- Lisa

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Rug Market Takes Off – WSJ Article

Take a look at this COOL rug article on the rising collectible market for antique rugs.

Rug Market Takes Off

Antique Persian rug sold at Christie's

Antique Persian rug sold at Christie's

Fascinating read! :-)

- Lisa

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LIVE Rug Workshop with the Rug Chick!

Okay all you Professional Cleaners out there… if you want to learn from ME, here’s your chance!

Fringe cleaning shot

August 6-7 in Las Vegas at the Piranha Marketing Specialty Cleaning & Restoration Symposium. There are about a dozen seats left, so call 480-858-0008 and ask for Victoria. She will give you the details.

Jump on it, we are going to sell out… I didn’t even have to mail out a promotion to get this one sold, which is very flattering. :-)

Here’s what’s really COOL about this event. I am team training with the one and only Jim Pemberton, who is the “guru” of fine fabric upholstery.  So you will learn how to handle investment rugs, as well as investment upholstery.

I don’t travel to teach very often with all of the other work on my plate… so when I do it, I do it BIG.  And Jim has never taught out in the “west” – so this will be a big deal for attendees, getting training from instructors who have actually run successful cleaning operations, and not just read about them in a book somewhere.

Plus, we are controversial… and a lot of FUN! Why have a business if you can’t have fun at it…?

Everyone coming to this workshop is going to be overwhelmed by the amount that they walk away KNOWING, not just hearing. We do not teach from a book, we teach from experience, and to make sure you know not only what to do but why.

Hope a few of my Rug Chick readers get in before it closes - I’d love to meet you in person!

- Lisa

P.S. The workshop is worth 2 IICRC continuing education credits, in case you need them.

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The care and feeding of Karastan rugs.

Karastan has always been known as a provider of high-quality machine woven wool rugs that replicate many classic Persian oriental rug designs.

Woven in America, made of high quality materials and construction. I’ve seen Karastans from the 1930′s still in very good condition.  In fact, we had an older one come through our shop a few weeks ago, and it had an interesting – and outdated – care tag on the back.  Right here:

Karastan rug care tag - be careful!

Karastan rug care tag - be careful!

Here’s a blog I wrote over on our San Diego Rug Cleaning Company rug repair blog - with a point by point blow of the tag in question.

As Karastan has begun importing product from China, you can no longer say that it represents high quality in machine made product. For some unknown reason they have decided to create some blended rugs with wool and viscose, and as all frequent readers of The Rug Chick blog know – viscose is the worst rug fiber to ever choose for your home.

When you read the label description, let me know, was there anything in it that you were also surprised to see in print as “recommended instructions”? Am I the only one surprised?

- Lisa

P.S.  Heads up – rug cleaning workshop upcoming on August 6-7 - get your seat before it SELLS OUT!

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