Rug Braiders International
formerly known as the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
Exhibit Opportunities
Share Your Work!
Grant Application for 1/2 the Cost of Shipping a Braided Rug to an Exhibit --
Up to $100 max
This page gives you some ideas for how to share your lovely braided creations with others.
Yearly Rug Challenges
Every year, Rug Braiders International issues a Rug Challenge around a topic. Braiders from far and wide create wonderful rugs or small pieces centered around these challenges. The rugs (or, if needed, images of the rugs) are displayed at the yearly conference. Here are upcoming challenges:
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2027:
Rug Challenge: Fine Art Inspiration. Monet's Water Lilies? Van Gogh's Starry Night? The Scream by Edvard Munch? Gustav Klimt's The Tree of Life? What about fine art from Asian or other non-European cultures? And what about some women artists??
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A quick caution: if the artist is still living, or the work is under copyright, please obtain written permission to copy or adapt the work. If the work is older than 75 years AND the artist is dead, you are mostly safe...
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2028:
Rug Challenge: Mythical Beasts/Magical Creatures. There's an opportunity to go completely crazy with this challenge! Griffons, Dragons, Fairies, Mermaids, Werewolves, Basilisks, leprechauns....​​
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To view past challenges, click here:
Three fruits made by Debbie Ellis for the "Braided Food" Rug Challenge
Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week
Although the title still retains its origins in Rug Hooking, over the past decade this major event has shifted to displaying fiber-art from many categories, including Braided Rugs.
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An award for Braided Rug: Viewer's Choice is awarded to one person per year.
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WHERE: Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio
WHEN: Yearly; 2026: August 12-15
REGISTRATION: All rugs for display must be registered online by July 26 at noon, EST. Most should register in the Category: "MAIN: Braiding."
RUG DROP OFF/PICK UP: Monday, Aug 10, drop off rugs in person between 1 and 5. Pick up rugs in person Saturday, August 15, after 5 pm. (You can indicate a different person for drop off/pick up).
SHIPPING RUGS: You can ship rugs to and from Sauder via US Mail, UPS, or FedEx. Detailed instructions available below under first link.
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TOO MUCH TO HANDLE or NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ONLINE FORMS: Christine will gather the info and register for you and talk you through shipping options. Just email Christine: 2nd button below.
Exhibiting Locally
RBI Guild Member Carolyn Newcomer surveys crafted items at the PA Farm Show. Her spiral rug is on view.
Most counties, US States, and Canadian Provinces have some form of local fair or farm show that encourages submissions of textiles for display and -- often -- small monetary awards for excellence. Quilts and crocheted items are found in abundance... please share your braided rugs! The more the general public is aware of braided rugs as a beautiful and fine craft, the more friends we'll cultivate in rug braiding! Simply google "farm show near me" or "____County Fair" or "State Fair" to find options.