Rug Braiders International
formerly known as the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild's
2025 Conference
April 24-27, 2025
Stella Niagara Center for Renewal
Lewiston, NY -- near Niagara Falls!
Stella Niagara Center for Renewal & Conference Center
4421 Lower River Rd, Lewiston, NY 14092
The Center of Renewal is located on the grounds of Stella Niagara, two miles north of the Village of Lewiston, New York and only ten miles north of majestic Niagara Falls, an easy drive on the Niagara Scenic Parkway.
More information:
Transportation
Near Niagara Falls and the Canadian border, Stella Niagara is 34 miles and a 45 minute drive from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF). We will make every effort to pick people up from the airport once flight schedules are made available.
Classes for Beginners: Continuous Round
Complete beginners to Rug Braiding can purchase a fabric kit and take a 3-session class with teacher Mary Hibbard on braiding a chair pad.
Confident Beginner to Intermediate Classes
The next level of class is from a confident beginner to intermediate. Classes include: Making Waves Chair Pad, Braiding with Denim, Braided Heart over Wire, Pincushion Jars, and a 2-Braid Spiral Tote.
Intermediate to Advanced Classes
More experienced braiders can take classes including Zigzag Chair Pad, Turkey Basket, and Rita's Star Basket II.
How Do I Register? And When?
Registration will open online around February 1. All VF Guild Officers, Teachers at the conference, Assistant Teachers, and Volunteers for services at the conference will get to register a day before other VF Guild Members, and Members will get to register a day before non-members.
Closer to the time of registration, a video will be posted to guide you through the process!
Meals
More information about meals, and which diets will be accommodated, coming soon.
Accommodations
There are many single and a few double rooms; a few single rooms have their own bathroom but most have a shared bathroom down the hall. Prices vary depending on room.
Scholarships
One of the active committees of the VF Guild is the Fundraising/Scholarship Committee, which financially supports students wishing to learn Rug Braiding. Partial scholarships will be available; check back mid-January for the application, here.
Cost of Conference
More info about costs coming soon. A rough approximation is $495 for lodging and all meals for April 24-26. Classes are extra; rooms with private baths are extra.