Guild Challenge: Fiber Art Tote Bags

Team Lead, Veronica Hofman-Ortega,
emcees the Challenge presentation.

The second annual Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge exhibit and awards presentation was held Saturday, November 12. This year's Challenge showcased 10 multifarious fiber art tote bags. The Challenge exhibit and awards presentation, entitled "Fiber and Caffeine get me going... ," was emceed by Challenge team lead, Veronica Hofman-Ortega.

Veronica and her team introduced the Challenge guidelines to guild members in January, with a ten-month time frame in which to create a fiber art piece that was inspired by a favorite coffee mug. The resulting entries exhibited a broad range of techniques— felting, knitting, crochet, quilting and weaving—and heralded the skills and creativity of their creators.

The tote bags were displayed with an Artist's Statement and the mug inspiration.

One of the requirements of Challenge entries, the inclusion of a decorative design element, resulted in an artistic display of embellishing and surface design techniques such as stumpwork, embroidery, thread painting, image transfer, beading, dyeing and appliqué.

Selecting the winning entries, determined by vote from the guild membership, was an arduous task and a very close competition. Prizes were awarded to all participants and ribbons given for First, Second, and Third Places and Best Workmanship. Local fiber arts businesses, including those owned by guild members, generously contributed merchandise and gift certificates for the prizes. Here are some of the Challenge participants and their entries. Congratulations to all the artists!

Left: Ann Buggey (Third Place) with her entry, "Dragonfly"
Right: Phyllis Narus (First Place) with her entry, "Red Hatters."

Left: Mary Lou Scohier with her entry, " Kiwi"
Right: Pat Keran (Second Place, Best Workmanship) with her entry, "Dragonfly Bag"

Left: Sheri Streety with her entry, "Cat and Mouse Bag"
Right: Veronica Hofman-Ortega with her entry, "How to be a Fiber Artist"
See details on Veronica's design process here.

Left: Brenda Park with her entry, "New Mexico Morning"
Right: Sally Broom with her entry, " Knit Happy"

Left: "Mesa Verde" by Judy Anderson
Right: "Stella's Antler" by Cheri Miller

For additional photos of the
2011 Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge, click here.