In this “De-ICE-olation” online artist workshop series, Lisa Michelin of North West River, Labrador, offered an introductory lesson on Caribou Hair Tufting open to all Indigenous peoples. This workshop took place at 1:00pm EST on Wednesday, April 29th.

The workshop took place online using Zoom. This workshop, like all De-ICE-olation workshops, was free. This workshop was open to Indigenous peoples only.

Materials: caribou hair; velveteen, muslin, or hide (for a base); artificial or real sinew; scissors; and a glover (square top) needle, to get started. 

To make larger images out of tufting, Lisa advised that you may need such additional materials as embroidery thread, beads, glue gun & glue sticks, double-sided tape, frames, mats, paint brushes, utility knives or other cutting tools, paper or cardboard, masking tape, and a lint roller. 

Lisa Michelin is a multi-talented seamstress and craftsperson from North West River, Labrador, who enjoys creating sealskin mittens and other handmade items, doing beadwork, and working with caribou hair. She first took a Nunatsiavut Government funded course in tufting more than a decade ago, and has been creating beautiful jewelry and three-dimensional artworks (such as floral imagery) in the medium ever since.