Laura MacKenzie
February 19, 2022
Zoom meetings:
10:00-11:00am: Introduction to the art form, and meet-and-greet with instructor and other registrants
4:30-5:30pm: Ask questions, show-and-share with other workshop registrants
Sewing experience recommended
Course Fee: $35 ($25 if you register by Feb 9! Use code at checkout: EARLYBIRD)
Materials Fee: $12
Class Capacity: 10
About the Instructor
Inuit artist Laura MacKenzie was born and raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She is married to Richard MacKenzie and is raising their two young adults in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Like many Inuit women, Laura was encouraged to sew at a very young age, and has continued to hand sew mittens, hats, and socks for her family. Her hand sewing has always been a way to keep her family warm up north as the store-bought material was not warm enough for the sub-zero temperatures. The mitten making is her artistic therapeutic outlet.
Her late grandmother Salomie Kalaserk taught Laura the art of hand sewing mittens. Many people in the arctic have her grandmother’s hand sewn mittens. Laura and her late grandmother have been changing the style of mitten making to modernize the way mittens are made. In the present, sealskin and caribou mittens are made for the cold Nunavut climate and through experimentation making mittens have change to fit the environment. Currently Laura has discovered the repurposing of faux fur and making mittens to meet the current southern context of materials and styles. Laura MacKenzie understands her roots and will always use her raw material for making warm mittens but chooses to use the faux fur in the south as this is what is the current need and wants.
“Inuit for many years have depended on natural seal skin and Caribou hide to produce warm mittens. The harsh temperatures in Nunavut required the seamstress to use only animal material. ”
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Parrsboro Creative and Laura MacKenzie are teaming up to bring you a fun mid-winter creative pursuit: Mitten-Making!
“Seamstresses in the Arctic were very familiar with the different properties of animal skins and when and how to use them. These mittens are made of thick caribou hide, and are based on a pattern common to all Inuit groups. […]
Caribou leg skin is preferred for winter mitts since it is long lasting. For tasks in warm weather and wet conditions, sealskin mitts are worn. Long bearskin mitts are favoured when working with snow, especially when building an iglu or when icing sled runners in springtime because, as with sealskin, the hair does not shed when damp.” (from McCord Museum)
Now with communities and living in modern homes the use of man made material is used as a substitute for wearing in the community. The use of sealskin and caribou are still used today, but mainly for harvesting and hunting purposes outside the community.
MATERIALS
A materials kit will be available for pickup on February 17 at Parrsboro Creative for $12 (please bring cash). These fees will be passed on to the instructor.
Provided with $12 fee:
Pre-cut material (faux fur)
High-quality thread
Instruction sheet
Required, but not provided:
Needle kit
Scissors
(recommended) thimble
LOCATION
This workshop will be held virtually due to COVID-19. Each registrant will be emailed a Zoom link prior to February 19 so they can meet their instructor and other course registrants, ask questions, and learn more about Inuit culture and sealskin fashion.
COVID- 19 Notice
We will be following the latest guidelines for social distancing and gathering restrictions as recommended by the province of Nova Scotia. Should this workshop be cancelled due to sudden changes in guidelines, we will refund participants the full amount of the workshop - guaranteed! Thanks for supporting local, cultural events at Parrsboro Creative!
To register, please add the product below to your cart and click on the cart icon to checkout with your payment!
Cancellation PolicyIf for any reason the participant wishes to cancel within two weeks prior to the commencement of the course, the full fee (minus the materials fee and a 10% service fee) will be refunded. Please note that there will be no refunds if the participant cancels within two weeks of the commencement of the course.