| Handweavers Guild of BoulderA TEXTILE AND FIBER COMMUNITY |
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Programs & Workshops 2021-2022
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER | JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | PAST PROGRAMS
Meetings will be held online until COVID-19 restrictions allow.For members, you will receive a Zoom
Meeting invite e-mail from the Guild on the Friday before the Day and Evening Guild meetings. The
invite will provide you with a link to view the HGB programs. The Zoom meeting will also be posted on the HGB website under Members/Announcements.
If you are not a member and would like to visit one of our meetings, please email president@handweaversofboulder.org for the day meeting and eveningchair@handweaversofboulder.org for the evening meeting.
Day Meetings are held at 10:00am on the 2nd Monday of the month unless otherwise noted.
Evening Meetings are held at 7:00pm on the Tuesday following the 2nd Monday unless otherwise noted.
Updated 08.29.2021
| Day Guild | September 13, 2021at 10:00 am |
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| Evening Guild | September 14, 2021 at 7:00 pm |
mountainsandplainsfibershed.org
You may have heard of Watershed and Foodshed. Now you will be introduced to Fibershed. Fibershed is a regional, national and international movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a new Textile economy. And yes we have a regional affiliate, Mountains & Plains Fibershed. It encompasses a 300 mile radius around Golden, CO. It fosters collaboration among textile artists, designers, and fiber farmers, processing mills, suppliers and retail businesses in and around Colorado.
Our presenter Anne-Marie Chmielewski (meal EV ski) grew up raising Suffolk sheep in rural Montana. The king of the flock was a large, very wooly ram named Los Angeles who patiently endured her riding him around the pasture. Anne-Marie loved Los and that was the start of her life with wool. She was a part of the whole Farm to Fiber process from lambing to shearing and designing milled wool products, mostly blankets. Her current focus is promoting local fiber and natural dyes. As a founding member of Mountain and Plains Fibershed, she supported their mission. Their goal is to create high-quality, natural fiber products processed with natural dyes that hold their beautiful colors, are durable, comfortable, wearable and stylish over time.
Tune in and become a part of this environmentally focused TEXTILE organization.
Updated 09.29.2021
| Day Guild | October 11, 2021 | The Magic of Wool: You Can’t Make Anything Like It in a Lab |
| Evening Guild | October 12, 2021 |
Rare Sheep and their Wool: Treasures We Can’t Afford to Lose |
You will be mesmerized listening to Deb Robson share with you her journey as she spent four years spinning every fiber-grown-by- an-animal that she could get her hands on, and working with livestock expert Carol Ekarius to write The Fleece & Fiber Source Book, and later The Field Guide to Fleece. These books complete the circle of breeds and their wool for fiber lovers. Understanding the origins and characteristics of the animals that produce your favorite fibers enhances your experience as you spin, knit, weave, and dye, adding depth and meaning to the crafts you love. Deb began spinning in the 1970s and began noticing that hand spinners valued breeds that were often listed as “at risk of extinction” by the livestock conservation groups.
She has been a free-lance editor working both fiction and nonfiction, including a dozen years as editor of Spin-Off magazine, was born and raised in the Midwest, has lived across the US from New England to the Pacific Northwest, and currently lives in Fort Collins. She is featured in a set of instructional DVDs called Handspinning Rare Wools, and presents hands-on workshops. You can sign up for Deb’s on line newsletter to hear more about her adventures with wool.
Meetings are the third week because of the Sale.
| Day Guild | November 15, 2020 | International Quilt Trends |
| Evening Guild | November 16, 2020 | My Creative Life – 40 Years of Color, Fabric and Design |
Take a trip around the world with over 200 quilt images featuring trends in contemporary quilt-making. See how quilters in different countries use their own culture as inspiration for unique works of art, and how the minimalism of Modern Quilting continues to expand as a design trend. Color trends and techniques will be discussed, in this review of quilt art trends over the last year. Includes quilts from virtual exhibits from around the world during the pandemic, and future trends for quilt-making as we emerge from the last challenging year. Be sure to bring a notebook to jot down ideas for your next year of quilt-making and fiber art!
Luana generously allowed us to record this lecture and post it here:
Lecture - My Creative Life – 40 Years of Color, Fabric and Design
Luana Rubin is the co-owner and president of eQuilter.com in Boulder
Colorado, and has worked as a designer in the quilt, textile and garment
industries since 1980. She is a Bernina Ambassador, and a chairholder
in the Color Marketing Group, an international color forecasting
association.
After getting a degree in Fashion Design at FIDM, she worked as an
import designer in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and New York. Upon discovering
the quilting world in 1990, she and her husband Paul started
eQuilter.com in the basement of their home in 1999. eQuilter is a
sponsor of quilt exhibitions, contests and quilt museums in the US and
around the world. eQuilter also donates 2% of sales to charity, and they
have raised over US$1.8 million for a variety of international
non-profits.
Luana and eQuilter have been profiled in many US and International
magazines, and she has been a frequent guest on PBS quilting shows –
Quilting Arts TV and Fresh Quilting. Her Flickr photo pages have over
12,000 photos from quilt shows and travels around the world, with over
17 million views. She has traveled to 49 countries, and given lectures
in Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Mexico,
France, Russia, and the UK.
She lives in Boulder Colorado with her husband and business partner
Paul, their 2 Goldens and 3 rescue cats, next to Celestial Seasonings
Tea Factory.
Luana generously allowed us to record this lecture and post it here:
Updated 11.16.2021
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Day Guild |
December 14, 2020 | |
| Evening Guild | December 15, 2020 |
What is The Pavlova Project?
The Pavlova Project, in simplest terms, is a “Visual Biography.” It tells the life story of a real historical person, Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), who was not only the most famous ballerina of her day, but also a bold and pioneering woman with her own ballet company who traveled across the entire world. Peggy tells this story through the costumes and fashions that Anna Pavlova wore. Included with Pavlova in Peggy's collection are her friends, teachers, dance partners, and other important people in her life. Through archival photographs and the written word, Peggy has meticulously researched almost 100 costumes and fashions and have recreated them in one-quarter scale. They are presented on 16” vinyl manufactured dolls which serve as mannequins. Every outfit Peggy has recreated has a story of its own, and if the dressed mannequins are viewed in chronological order, they tell the story of Anna Pavlova from her childhood in Russia in the 1880’s, all the way to her final performance in London in 1930. Peggy drew inspiration for her project from a famous collection of miniature fashions called Le Theatre de la Mode, which was created after World War II by the couture houses in Paris. This collection, displayed on wire mannequins, celebrated the survival of the fashion industry in Paris following four years of Nazi occupation. It toured the world in 1947, the year Peggy was born.
Peggy Turchette: Artist’s Bio
Peggy grew up in Boston MA and attended the New England School of Art & Design, concentrating in Commercial Illustration. While still in school Peggy began working as freelance illustrator, always supplementing her art income with dog walking. In 2003 Peggy moved to Boulder CO, where she continued freelancing and dog walking while attending the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at The Denver Botanic Gardens. Peggy received a degree with honors in 2007. In 2010 Peggy reluctantly closed her illustration studio and turned to dog walking as her full-time job, while caring for elderly parents. Meanwhile, Peggy had become enchanted with the extraordinary story of ballerina Anna Pavlova, a story that right away she knew was one worthy of being shared with others. There was no one collection anywhere in the world dedicated to this ground-breaking woman. Peggy realized that as a visual artist she had a unique opportunity to introduce Pavlova to contemporary audiences in a completely original way. This collection is what Peggy came up with. It is her way of sharing Anna Pavlova’s story with you.
Anna Pavlova (1881-1931): Historical Notes
Anna Pavlova lived in a time of shifting societal values, of war and revolution, a global pandemic, economic inequalities, and political uncertainties: vast numbers of struggling or displaced persons were on the move. In short, it was a time with many similarities to our own. But in an era when most women were entirely dependent on men and rarely left their domestic environs, Pavlova made it her mission in life to introduce her art form to others. For the first half of her life she trained and then performed at the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Then, for the following two decades, she and her troupe continuously crisscrossed the globe by steamer ship and locomotive, performing thousands of times in large cities and small villages. She believed deeply in the power of dance to promote a less divisive, more harmonious world. Wholeheartedly embracing peoples of other cultures, her performances bridged ethnic, religious, and political divides. She connected to a wide variety of audiences in a way both universal and intensely personal. Anna Pavlova’s exceptional life, her unflinching dedication to her art, and, most of all, her generous spirit of inclusivity. still resonate with and delight us today.
Updated 11.16.2021
| Day Guild |
January 10, 2022 |
Design Deliberations (Download Day Guild Handout) |
| Evening Guild |
January 11, 2022 |
A Design Journey (Download Night Guild Handout) |
Bio Lynn Smetko, a weaver of 25 years, enjoys the design phase of weaving the most. She combines a fascination with weaving, technology and art when designing for her 40-shaft computer-assisted loom. Photo-editing and weaving software are used to create weave plans that not only define fabric, but an entire piece. Lynn is a past president of Complex Weavers, past editor of the CW Journal, past president of the Fort Worth Weavers Guild, and also belongs to Cross Country Weavers, Contemporary Handweavers of Texas, Dallas Handweavers and Spinners Guild, and HGA. Her articles have appeared in the CW Journal and Weavers. | Be still (my beating heart)
Lynn Smetko
Doggies
Fall Ivy scarf
Frisse scarf
Lynn at her loom
Ties That Bind
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Design Deliberations (Monday)
Designing can be hard work. Do you have trouble deciding what or how to design for weaving? Are there too many choices or not enough? Are you stuck in a rut with your designs? Sometimes the best ideas come from considering the work of others. Many different approaches to weave design will be explored while looking at inspiring examples.
A Design Journey (Tuesday)
Follow one of Lynn’s design journeys which will take you through the many deliberations inherent in the design process. We will look at how a design begins with an inspiration and follow it through creating a draft, weaving, evaluation, and display. We will also see how one design can lead into another, improving the concept with each iteration.
Updated 02.14.2022
| Day Guild |
February 14, 2022 |
Travelog – There and Back Again: Tales of a traveling Sprang artist |
| Night Guild |
February 15, 2022 |
Sprang Lace: A quick tutorial, and the inside story of of what it takes to produce a book of Sprang lace patterns |
Bio Carol James has been exploring low-tech textile methods for 30 years focusing more recently on the technique called sprang. She has examined sprang items in collections across the US and Europe, and is known for her ability to replicate these historic textiles. She has also created modern garments deemed worthy of the Handweavers Guild of America fashion show. Carol has taught in Canada, the US, Europe, and New Zealand. Students describe her as patient, knowledgeable, and passionate. She spent much of her COVID time charting sprang lace designs and writing instruction sheets. She is the author of numerous articles, four books, and two instructional DVDs. For more information visit https://www.spranglady.com |
Tales of a traveling sprang artist Carol James had never heard of sprang before a military re-enactor asked her to make a sprang sash back in 1996. It was a jump into a deep, dark rabbit hole from which she has not yet emerged. It was also an invitation to some fascinating travel. Sprang has taken Carol across the US several times, to teach at Convergence, and also to examine museum collections such as the sprang bonnets in the collection of the Kelsey Museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the British Museum in London and the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia. Sprang has also taken her to the Czech Republic, Norway, New Zealand and Japan. She will share some of the knowledge she has gained.
Sprang Lace (Tuesday)
A quick tutorial, and the inside story of of what it takes to produce a book of sprang lace patterns Sprang is a very adaptable technique, accommodating a variety of structures, some quite sturdy and others open and lacy. This presentation will give you a quick look at the way sprang works, some of the basic sprang lace stitches, and an account from her perspective, of what it takes to produce a book of sprang lace patterns.
Updated 3/5/2022
| Day Guild | March 14 | Growth and Change |
| Evening Guild | March 15 | Learning to Adapt |
Taking Stock: 44 Years of Basketmaking Fiber artist Karen Pierce grew up in the Midwest and holds degrees in German, French, International Business and Human Resource Development. Vienna, Austria was her home for over twenty years when she worked for the U.N. She has lived in Colorado since 1996. Learning from books in Austria, she taught herself basketry techniques and decided to turn her hobby into a second career. She has honed her skills through decades of weaving and at workshops taught by internationally-known artists and has taught basketry to teens and adults. Karen has also shown her work in juried fiber shows. Since 2000 Karen has worked with ceramist husband Marc Jenesel to create one-of-akind sculptural pieces in clay, fiber, metal, stone and other materials. Karen and Marc have participated in regional and national exhibitions and have had images and articles published in The Crafts Report; Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot; 500 Baskets; and Fiber Textile Forum magazine. Karen was an invited speaker at Colorado Weavers Day 2016. Karen has generously allowed us to record both of her presentations. Please see them below. Updated 3/17/2022 |
| Day Guild | April 11 | “Run ... away Fashion from the Hands of Makers” A trunk show of inspiration |
| Evening Guild | April 12 | “Composing and Combining Textiles” An evening chat with Liz |
Liz Spear is a maker of handwoven fabrics, and has been incorporating nuno-felt into her designer creations as well as surface design fabrics from fellow fiber artists. These collaborations, known as LIZ SPEAR & FRIENDS invigorate her creativity and emphasize the one-of-a-kind nature of her clothing. Liz spends part of each year teaching and mentoring students through workshops and demonstrations. HGB members attended her class at the Intermountain Weavers Conference in Durango in 2018 and HGB is hosting a 3-day workshop with Liz (April 12-14, 2022, see page 4 for details). She is a member of Southern Highlands Craft Guild and several other Guilds. She has taught at John C. Campbell Folk School, Penland, and Arrowmont Craft Schools. Find her works & more online at https://www.lizspearhandwoven.com Updated 1.31.2022 |
Liz has generously allowed us to share the recordings of both presentations here.
A very special in-person HGB 3 day workshop with Liz Spear - Sewing Your Handmade Woven or Felted Fabric
Note:Registration closed on Friday, February 18, 2022
Dates: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, April 12, 13, & 14, 2022
Class Description: Liz will help you transform your treasured woven or felted fabric into a garment or wearable accessory that you will WANT to wear, using a pattern and style of your choice. Liz primarily uses 24EPI cotton and rayon and rag fabrics, as well as nuno-felted yardage in combination with her handwoven. Additional information will be sent as soon as you register.
Cost: $250.00 fee paid with registration fee NO Material Fees.
Time: 9:00 to 4:30 with 1 hour lunch break Place: Studio Bernina 2850 Arapahoe, Lafayette 303-447-0852
Level: Intermediate Sewing Skills
Limited: to 12 Students Registration Deadline:
Friday, February 18, 2022
Cancellation Policy: Workshop fees are payable to HGB and due with the registration form. Refunds are made only if another or (wait list) person can fill your space. If workshop is canceled fees will be refunded Please Note: With the upturn of Covid-19, all students need to be vaccinated. Standard protocols will be followed and Students need to wear masks indoors. Boulder County Public Health Order
Updated 1.31.2022
| Day Guild |
May 9, 2022 |
Beyond Plant Hangers and Owls: Knotting in Three Dimensions |
| Evening Guild |
May 10, 2022 |
The Power of the Double Half-Hitch |
Fiber Bio Al Canner began creating macramé works, both wall-hanging and sculptural, in the 1970s. Since his retirement from professional pursuits in 2013, he has devoted much of his energy to knotting, usually producing five or six works each year. His pieces have been shown at local, national, and international juried exhibits. Completely self-taught, he has developed techniques for achieving the results he intends while regularly surrendering to the instruction offered by the cords passing through his hands. The juror at a recent HGA exhibit stated that she knows of no one who has taken macramé so far. Find out more: https://www.cannerfiberart.com |
"Beyond Plant Hangers and Owls: Knotting in Three Dimensions” (Monday) Al will discuss the kind of knotting that he does (known alternately as Cavandoli weaving/knotting/macramé) and show selected pieces from his body of work, highlighting techniques that he has developed over the years and demonstrating the result of innovative approaches, such as juxtaposing cords of significantly different gauge. |
“The Power of the Double Half-Hitch” (Tuesday)
Building upon the themes introduced in the morning talk to the Guild, Al will delve into the various techniques that he has developed or, in some cases, stumbled upon in his knotting journey. Included will be various techniques for mounting cord and beginning a work, for creating bulges and indentations, for fashioning corners and curves, and for finishing. |
