Michigan League of Handweavers Conference, 2011

This is the first year I have had the opportunity to stay for the weekend at the MLH Conference and take seminars.  

This year our guild (Greater Lansing Weavers Guild) was inn charge of setting up the Fiberart and Functional Exhibits.  We were given classrooms instead of actual gallery space but I think we got everything hung and laid out the best we could.  Here's some photos from the exhibits:

Fiberart Exhibit

Artist: Barbara Van Dyke

Artists pieces in this photo: Martha Town, Lestra Hazel, Marie Gile, Marilyn Pruka

"Congratulations and Thank you Mr. Finkle"-Martha Town

"Braided Bangle" -Jenny Schu (that's my Second Place award!)

Artist's Pieces in this photo: Pricilla Lynch, Jill Ault

Artists pieces in this photo: Priscilla Lynch, Joyce LaVasseur

Artists pieces in this photo: Loyce LaVasseur, Loretta Oliver

"Theme and Variations" by Bonnie Kay

Artists piece in this photo: Marilyn Pruka, Majorie Mink, Terry Tarnow, Joyce LaVasseur

"Project Runway Grocery Store Challenge: Ms Closure, Ms. Too Too and Candy Girl" Jennifer Gould

Artists pieces in this photo (that you can actually see): Mary Ippel, Joyce Lavasseur, Loretta Oliver

Artists Pieces in this photo: Marla Smith, Bonnie Kay, Mary Ippel

Artists pieces in this photo: Jenny Schu, Marie Gile, Millie Danielson

Artists pieces on the table on the left: Mary Ippel, Lauren Anderson

Functional Fiber Exhibit

The basic set up of the room

Artists pieces on the back blue board: Leslie Johnson, Catheine Roberts

"Symbols" by Bonnie Kay

"Lemon and Lime Kitchen Towel" by Ellen Wilson

Atists pieces shown here: Ken Allen, Nanck Peck

"Midnight Sky" Rya Rug by Catherine Roberts

Artists pieces shown here: Nacy Hedburg, Anne Flora, Andrea Anderson

Pillow: Priscilla Lynch

Artists pieces hown here: Priscilla Lynch, Marla Smith

All three of these are by Janet Peters

I'd like to apologize for the photography.  I remembered to take these photos last minute, with my phone.  I'll do better next time!  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to all who won prizes!!!!

Briony Foy Workshop with GLWG

At the beginning of May the Greater Lansing Weaver's Guild brought textile artist Briony Foy in for their Tuesday evening program and a 3 day weaving workshop called "MORE WEAVING: TEXTURE! PLEATS, BUMPS, HOLES AND LUMPS!".  She managed to squeeze a ton of information into 3 days, but I think we could have gone on for weeks!

The workshop was set up so that each weaver was given a draft in advance, and brought their pre-warped loom to the class.  Below are some photos of samples, weavers and the name of the weaving draft.  I can't wait to get back on loom this summer!

Martha weaving "Scribbles"

Sue working on "Bead Leno"

"Scribbles" on loom (this is woven with cotton and wool so that after it is washed it scrunches to a scribble effect in the open-square sections).

Bead Leno up close.  The straws (or what the y have used are beads) push the warp to cross over itself while you're weaving to create the pattern.

Spanish lace and spacing and denting, along with other various things you can do on a straight draw warp.

Triple weave creating layers. (One of the many reasons I want an 8-harness loom)

Structure and texture. This draw you can weave together for interesting texture with the spacing, but you can also weave as a double weave and pull it apart to 2 cloths after it is off-loom.

Cannele, the detail hangs out at the front side of the cloth. (Yes, those are beads up toward the top.)

Undulating Twill.  One of the biggest reasons I've always wanted a loom with more harnesses.  You can do this on an 8-harness, but this draw up is for a 12-harness loom.

We also did a cloth that is solid when you weave it off, but when you burn out parts of it, those spaces create a double-layer in the burnout and stay solid where you leave it.  

I was worried that my Theo-Mooreman weaving that I had been planning for the Michigan League of Handweavers Conference exhibit would change to something else at the end of this workshop, but I've got it on loom and am taking a break from serious beading to get back to my weaving.  Plus I have 2 looms going right now.  No one can weave 5 yards of Theo Mooreman in 3 days (that was on my loom), so I have to finish off that warp to return Martha's loom to her, and work away at my current project. 

More to come on that. 

Holiday Events

As I slowly clean up my place from the aftermath of Halloween at the house I am attempting to get my brain in gear for the multiple Holiday Sales coming up.  I would rather be basking in the afterglow of costumes, glitter, candy, chili and Rocky Horror Picture Show.  But alas, it seems that the wreaths, snowmen, giftlists and christmas sales have been going since August so I better get to it!

Here is what's coming up for you holiday-shopping-handmade lovers:

This weekend! Greater Lansing Weaver's Guild Sale
Friday November 5th, 12:00 noon -9:00pm
Saturday November 6th, 9:00am-4:00pm

Holiday Opening and 1st Sunday Gallery Walk
Grove Gallery Co-op
Sunday, November 7th, 12pm-4pm

Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Sale (1 Day only!)
Saturday November 13, 10:00am-4:00pm
(I will also be bead-demoing next to the jwewlry table all day)

Online charity auction in support of the Wounded Warrior Project
with fantabulouslyfrugal.com
Beaded Blob Earrings
Hosted by eBay, November 26th-December 6th

Art for the Soul hosted by MargaBeth Cibulka (at her fabulous home in Williamston)
Saturday, December 4th, 2010
10:00am-5:00pm

The Holidays are Here.

My husband and I were grocery shopping last night and realized it has begun: Christmas songs playing overhead, Halloween has been moved out to make way for ornaments, wrapping paper and middle isles of gift-giving ideas.  Grab some thermal underwear for everyone on your list!

I am starting in on the road to holiday art sales starting this weekend.  I belong to a handful of groups that keep me hopping and I decided to be involved in all of them this year.  This means a few rounds of tagging and re-tagging, finishing some last minute pieces, and where the heck did 3 of my favorite bangles go???  I will be tearing the house apart tonight.

Round 1: Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Guild Holiday Sale, Saturday November 14, 10am-4pm
I will have my latest beaded bangles and earrings including the tiny snowflake staple of the holidays.
The Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Holiday Sale at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Shop for beautiful hand-made treasures. From wearable art to functional art – all made in Michigan.
Admission is free!
You may have to pay to go into the Gardens, but it's worth it. I spent many days drawing for class there.

Directions:
From I-96 Exit I-96 at US-23 South (Toledo). Exit US-23 at Plymouth Road (exit 41). Turn left onto Plymouth Road. Continue east on Plymouth Road for approximately 1.5 miles then turn right onto Dixboro Road. The Gardens will be on your left after approximately 1 mile..

From I-275Exit I-275 at M-14. Exit M-14 at US-23 South (Toledo). Exit US-23 at Plymouth Road (exit 41). Turn left onto Plymouth Road. Continue east on Plymouth Road for approximately 1.5 miles then turn right onto Dixboro Road. The Gardens will be on your left after approximately 1 mile..

From I-94Exit I-94 at US-23 North (Flint). Exit US-23 at Geddes Road. Turn right onto Geddes Road. Continue east on Geddes Road for approximately .1 miles then turn left onto Dixboro Road. The Gardens will be on your right after approximately 2 miles.

Round 2: Greater Lansing Weaver's Guild Holiday Sale

Friday November 20, 12:00pm-9:00pm, Saturday November 21, 9:00am-4:00pm

At the Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823

The Lansing Weaver's Guild is begining to allow Fiberart that is non-woven such as art quilts and other types of surface design.  Come join us! (I will be there on Saturday 9am-12pm).

Round 3: Holiday Open House at the Grove Gallery Co-op

Saturday, November 22nd, 12-6pm

Join us for snacks, wine and glugg! (Don't know what glugg is? You'll have to come over to find out :) )

We will be having guest artists in to join the Co-op for the Holiday Season so that our visitors have more variety!  Come see what we're up to!  Many of the artists will also be there on the 22nd. (More info to come.)

Round 4: Art for the Soul  December 5.  10:00am-5:00pm

Hosted by MargaBeth Cibulka at her home (which is just fun to come see the fabulous colors in her house!)

6177 Zimmer Rd., Williamston MI  

Cookies provided, art to buy. 

Whew! Is it January yet??  You know what I'll be doing!