It’s homework time, but no whining or complaining. Just take a look at your topic: Prep work before shopping at the seventh annual Fair Trade Oriental Rug Event Wednesday through Sunday at Houston’s own Ten Thousand Villages.

The Rice Village store, located at 2424-A Rice Blvd., showcases during the sale of more than 300 hand-knotted rugs made by artisan groups in Pakistan participating in Bunyaad, a job-creation project started in the 1960s. Find 2-by-3-foot to 10-by-14-foot carpets, as well as runners.

Many of the rugs are of hand-sheared wool that is hand spun and hand dyed with extracts from fruits, vegetables, roots and tree bark. And the final results of the artisans’ skilled hands are exquisite.

“These rugs are made by members of different communities whose backgrounds in rug making go back for centuries,” says Yousaf Chaman, director of Bunyaad, which in Urdu means “foundation.” “You’ll find that each has its own styles and designs. They are truly inspirational.”

First Assignment: Ten Thousand Villages & Bunyaad

Ten Thousand Villages Houston is one of almost 400 nonprofit retail outlets in the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products and one of 35 in the country and Canada hosting a Fair Trade Oriental Rug Event. As a well-established fair trade organization, Ten Thousand Villages has 60-plus years in cultivating relationships with craftsmen (and women) from around the globe who, in return, receive a fair price for their work.

Consumers have access through the outlets to purchase these one-of-a-kind jewelry and personal accessories, gift items and home decor objects, including the beautiful rugs of Bunyaad.

Bunyaad focuses on creating strong foundations in the villages of Pakistan and has grown to include more than 850 families in about 100 settlements throughout that country.

“The whole idea with fair trade is that it supports families in the villages and gives them jobs that are sustainable,” says Chaman, who grew up in a rug-making environment. “Many of the artisans are already rug makers, as there are thousands of experienced rug makers in different regions, so our supervisors in the field approach them to join.”

While farming is the first priority, Bunyaad expands on their livelihood by providing looms in their homes, where they can work at their own pace choosing the colors and designs of each rug they produce and allowing nature and tradition to guide their creativity.

“Many of the artisans get together with their looms and discuss village issues, environmental concerns, improvements for the schools, so Bunyaad goes beyond rug making,” Chaman says. "It also opens the door for equal opportunity for women, who earn the same wage for their work as their male counterparts.”

An informative video of Bunyaad artisans demonstrating wool spinning, dyeing, knotting and detailing is already running in loop on a TV screen at the Houston store, setting the atmosphere now for the four-day extravaganza. "It's amazing to see how these rugs are made," says Cassy Martin, shop manager. "You learn so much about the people and their cultures."

Martin says interested customers receive complementary DVDs of the video when they visit the store, and that Bunyaad representatives will be on hand at the Houston shop 6-8 p.m. on Thursday to host a free informative seminar, “An Introduction to Oriental Rugs,” as well as on site throughout the sale. Thursday just happens to be International Women's Day — another reason to celebrate fair pay and equal opportunities for women.

Second Assignment: Rug Making 101

Tribal, Bokhara and Persian are the three major types of Pakistani hand-knotted rugs. You’ll learn the differences among the styles, and you’ll also learn that their durability and merit as fine, handcrafted rugs are the same.

Tribal rugs range from whimsical, with bright, unexpected colors and playful patterns, to large floral motifs to more contemporary looks using bold stripes geometric designs. Bokhara rugs are distinctive for their repetitive geometric patterns on solid background colors, generally in jewel tones. You’ll know it’s a Bokhara by feeling the velvety, plush piles, some almost blanket-like in texture.

Persians, the quintessential Oriental rug, are famous for their intricacy, symbolism and detailed floral features, sometimes shown with a pronounced center medallion and other times with a repeating all-over pattern. And note the diverse and captivating color palettes on Persians, with the number of hues in a single rug at 15, even 25, colors, making them favorites for customers for their décor flexibility.

Third Assignment: Knot Knowledge

You won’t need to look for any sewing machine stitchery at the Fair Trade Oriental Rug Event, but do be aware of the amazing number of knots tied to complete these artworks. Some Persian-style pieces can have up to 500 hand-tied knots per square inch, sometimes as high as 1,000.

“Our artisans are paid by the knots per square inch,” Chaman explains. “That is the fairest way, we’ve found. So the fair price part of fair trade starts at the artisan level. They chose what is best for them.”

Some participants balance their time between farming and rug making by devoting five to seven months on a rug, while others may work nine to 10 months on project for Bunyaad. “And it’s much like creating a painting,” Chaman adds. “It’s an expression of body and mind.”

Fourth Assignment: Start Measuring…And Be Excessive

Break out your measuring tape and record the dimensions of the spaces you think are in need of a rug underfoot. Quick snapshots of the areas are helpful, too, as well as are representatives of the décor in each location, such as paint chips, swatches of existing upholstery, accent pillows and other accessories you wish to complement. And bring all your goodies to the shopping extravaganza.

“The more items that represent the room where your carpet will go, the easier the choice will be,” the Ten Thousand Villages website notes. “Be excessive when planning for your visit to the rug room.”

Of course, your rug doesn’t have to perfectly “match your couch,” as your furniture, upholstery and even home will most likely change through the years. Rather, get ready to look for a carpet that “speaks” to you, as these works are meant to last a lifetime.

"We want people to approach this as a learning experience," Martin says. "It's very interesting to see this many styles together. And I've noted so many times how people come in wanting one type, but then end up finding another and liking it better."

Customers are allowed to take rugs home on a 24-hour approval to make sure their investment fits in with the designated area.

"We want people to see if it works in the space and with their accessories," Martin says. "We want them to really love the rug, so trying it out at home is essential." Rug prices range from about $450-$10,000. "We have customers who know rugs tell that we have very good price points for the quality of these rugs," she adds.

Store hours are extended for the Fair Trade Rug Event from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also stop by 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday. If you're not able to attend the event, visit at your leisure Ten Thousand Village's online rug shopping center at rugs.tenthousandvillages.com.

Fifth (and final) Assignment: Go Shopping!

"It's a great time, I love it. I love being surrounded by these works of art," Martin says. "It's a wonderful experience, and we don't pressure any one. We just invite them to come in, look at the rugs and we'll be happy to answer any questions. We want people to learn."

Well, what are you waiting for?