Arounna Khounnoraj

Arounna Khounnoraj is a Canadian multi-disciplinary artist, teacher and author.

Arounna Khounnoraj
Born	Laos
Nationality	Canadian
Education	Ontario College of Art Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University of Waterloo
Spouse	John Booth
Website	www.bookhou.com

Khounnoraj immigrated with her family to Canada from Laos as a child.^[1] studied at the Ontario College of Art and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo.^[2][3]

Khounnoraj operates Bookhou, a Toronto-based business, with her husband John Booth.^[1][4] Launched as a studio in 2002, the couple opened a storefront in 2008 and operate as an online retailer.^[5] Specializing in home decor and accessories, the couple produce and sell items such as bags, furniture, artwork and ceramics.^[6][7] The name of the store is a portmanteau of the couple's surnames.^[3] It operates out of a building owned by the couple where they live with their two children.^[8]

Khounnoraj is credited with generating a renewed interest in punch needle embroidery after a video she posted utilizing the technique went viral.^[9][10] She has since run several work shops and published a book about the topic titled Punch Needle: Master the Art of Punch Needling Accessories for You and Your Home (2019).^[9] Her second book Visible Mending: A Modern Guide to Darning, Stitching and Patching the Clothes You Love was released in 2020. She's has since published several additional books focused on mending and embroidery.^[11]

Bibliography

2019 - Punch Needle: Master the Art of Punch Needling Accessories for You and Your Home^[12][13] ISBN 9781787132788

2020 - Visible Mending: A Modern Guide to Darning, Stitching and Patching the Clothes You Love^[11][14][15] ISBN 9781787136090

2022 - Embroidery: A Modern Guide to Botanical Embroidery^[13][16] ISBN 9781787138315

2023 - Winter Celebrations: A Modern Guide to a Handmade Christmas^[17][18] ISBN 9781837830664

2023 - Contemporary Patchwork: Techniques in Colour, Surface Design & Sewing^[18][19] ISBN 9781644033753

See also

• List of University of Waterloo people

References

1. "Arounna Khounnoraj talks making crafts in an immigrant family, and the importance of loving process". HelloGiggles. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
2. "About Us". bookhou. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
3. Korducki, Kelli (26 July 2012). "Locally Made: The Art and Design of Bookhou". Torontoist. Photos by Corbin Smith. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
4. Vadino, Diane (August 2011). "Toronto". Lucky. 11 (8): 42. ISSN 1531-4294 – via EBSCOhost.
5. Fleet, Sine (9 September 2019). "Meet the maker: Arounna Khounnoraj of bookhou". 91 Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
6. Day, Lauren Chorpening (October 2015). "Studio Tour: Arounna + John of Bookhou". Design*Sponge. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
7. Benning, Sarah K. (17 January 2018). "Craft With Conscience: Arounna khounnoraj of Bookhou". Sarah K. Benning Contemporary Embroidery. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
8. Shan, Shuang Esther (8 January 2020). "Partners: They're Running the Modern Day Mom and Pop Shop". Shopify. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
9. Norton, Debra (12 July 2019). "Toronto artist gives punch needle crafting a modern twist". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
10. Dorset, Lish (2018). "Creative Genius: Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou". HGTV. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
11. Koenig, Ravenna (3 June 2023). "If you want to fix your own clothes, try this easy style of mending". NPR. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
12. Khounnoraj, Arounna (2019). Punch Needle. Photography by Catherine Frawley. London: Quadrille. ISBN 9781787132788. OCLC 1090439560.
13. Gulli, Cathy (12 May 2022). "Designer Arounna Khounnoraj of Toronto's Bookhou uses social media to breathe new life into traditional crafts". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
14. Khounnoraj, Arounna (2020). Visible Mending: Repair, Renew, Reuse the Clothes You Love. London: Quadrille. ISBN 9781787136090. OCLC 1202472359.
15. Voon, Claire (8 March 2021). "Making It: Let It Show with Visible Mending". ARTnews. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
16. Khounnoraj, Arounna (2022). Embroidery: A Modern Guide to Botanical Embroidery. Photography by Lauren Kolyn. London: Quadrille. ISBN 9781787138315. OCLC 1258656145.
17. Khounnoraj, Arounna (2023). Winter Celebrations: A Modern Guide to a Handmade Christmas. London: Quadrille. ISBN 9781837830664. OCLC 1360284229.
18. Martin, Kristen (11 August 2023). "Homemade Crafts for the Holidays: PW Talks with Arounna Khounnoraj". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
19. Khounnoraj, Arounna (2023). Contemporary Patchwork: Techniques in Colour, Surface Design & Sewing. Lafayette: Stash Books. ISBN 9781644033753. OCLC 1389487142.