Kumihimo braiding

Kumihimo braiding disk.

Kumihimo, a Japanese form of braid making, was the program at the March meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild. These braids can be made with four cords or strands of thread for a basic design, or multiple strands for more complex designs.

Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads." Examples of these decorative and functional cords date back to 1800 BC and can be found in many cultures.

Traditional wooden frames were used by Japanese artisans in a kneeling position. Modernized tools, such as this foam kumihimo disk, are made of lightweight materials and are much more portable and compact.

Basic kumihimo supplies and examples of braided patterns.

Silk threads, with their beautiful reflectance properties are often used for kumihimo, but pearl cotton, yarns, floss, cotton, rayon and metallic threads are other choices that would produce beautiful results.

Pat Keran, the program presenter, explains how to set up the cords
using a North/South/West/East designation.

Today's kumihimo disks have numbers printed on them to facilitate working the proper sequence during the braiding process.

Guild members making kumihimo braids for guild name badges.

Books, references, materials and other how-tos can readily be found on this classic braiding technique.

Examples of books on kuminimo.

The Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild 2013 Challenge, "Recycle—Reuse—Repurpose," was also announced at the March guild meeting.

Guild Challenge 2012, fiber art exhibit

Have you ever played, "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?" The 2012 Guild Challenge for members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild was a take-off on this much-loved guessing game, and the exhibit of Challenge entries was held at the November 3 guild meeting.

Ann Buggey describes the process
and materials used in her entry.

The requirements of the Challenge were to create a free standing, three-dimensional representation of something from nature. Materials used in the piece had to include something from each category—animal, vegetable and mineral—and a photo of the object that inspired the piece was to accompany the entry.

Guild members met the challenge with creative representations of their subjects. At the exhibit, the fiber artists discussed the construction processes and fiber art techniques they employed, and the materials used in their entry that fulfilled the Challenge requirements.

Here are the artists' statements:

Storm Tree by Ann Buggey

"Storm Tree" is made of wool roving, silk ribbon, and copper wire. It sits on a wooden base. The piece was inspired by a gnarled tree growing through a sidewalk in Memphis. No matter how often the tree was trimmed, it grew back more resilient. Its imperfections and the ravages of time and storms, became integral to its beauty.

Storm Tree: wool roving, silk ribbon, copper wire, wooden base.

"Farmer Joe" is a caricature of my older son, Joseph, who has a farm outside of Sewanee, Tennessee. The clothing, hair, etc. is in the style of his dress. He has eggs in one hand and a flower in the other. The armature is wire, he is seated on a piece of wood and the rest is needle felted roving.

Farmer Joe by Peggy Solomon

I like the idea of felting wool, but my hands no longer tolerate wet felting, so I have begun some work with needle felting.

Farmer Joe: needle felting with wool, wire armature, wood base.

"Lady Box Turtle" was inspired by my love for turtles and learning that my Cherokee ancestors were members of the Turtle Tribe. I have been wanting to learn how to sculpt paper clay, so I took this opportunity to try it. This was a fun challenge. 

Lady Box Turtle by Judy Anderson

A covered plastic egg was lined with antique silk. Hand dyed wool was felted for the turtle belly; hand made and dyed silk paper was embroidered with hand dyed silk thread (plates on back). Sculpted paper hands, feet and face; beaded ruffle, necklace and bracelet; crocheted hat.

Lady Box Turtle: plastic egg base, sculpted paper clay, wool, silk paper, beads.
Hand embroidered, felted, beaded and crocheted.

Lady Box Turtle: detail of beaded ruffle, paper sculpted feet and hands.

A ribbon for First Place, two Second Places and Viewers' Choice were awarded. Congratulations to the Challenge participants on their entries.

First Place: Judy Anderson

Second Place: Peggy Solomon

Second Place and Viewers' Choice: Ann Buggey

In appreciation for coordinating this year's Challenge, Pat Keran was presented with the book, "Knit Your Own Dog."

Left: Pat Keran shows the poodle page from the "Knit Your Own Dog" book.
Right: gift wrapping of the Thank You book.

Animal, vegetable or mineral: a 3D Challenge

Pat Keran presents
triangle loom weaving.

Do you remember the game, "20 Questions"? Initial inquiries into a mystery object's discovery usually determined whether it was an animal, vegetable or mineral. These three attributes are the basis for the 2012 "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral" Guild Challenge, announced at today's Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting.

This fiber art Challenge takes on a dimensional approach with the creation of a 3D fiber art piece inspired by something in nature. Upcoming guild programs are being planned to support participation in the Challenge by presenting topics related to Challenge requirements and creating fiber art that is three dimensional.

And speaking of trios, the January guild program featured weaving with triangle frame looms.

Guild members and guest attendees had the opportunity to weave on small wooden looms using yarn to create single-strand triangular weavings.

This interesting warp-and-weave-as-you-go technique can produce solid, striped or multi-color plaid triangular pieces. The process is quite magical—weaving from both ends simultaneously to finish in the middle.

Show and Tell
Members also showed various projects that included lace knitting, felting, crochet, rug hooking and quilting.

 

Several guild members offer their fiber and fiber art creations for sale at the Chattanooga Market, Alpaca Melissa on Etsy, My Little Darlings Alpacas, and at regional fiber art events throughout the year. Classes in knitting and quilting are offered through FiberAntics by Veronica, and weaving classes for beginners and on more advanced techniques are also available.

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.

Fiber Art inspired by Coffee Mugs

On Saturday, November 12, the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild will present its 2011 Guild Challenge exhibit. The exhibit, called "Fiber and Caffeine get me going...", will feature a collection of fiber art tote bags created by guild members, that were inspired by a favorite coffee mug. The exhibit and awards presentation is held in conjunction with the monthly guild meeting which starts at 11 a.m. at Senior Neighbors, downtown Chattanooga.

Challenge Exhibit changed to November 12

The Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild will present its "Fiber and Caffeine get me going..." Guild Challenge at the November 12 guild meeting. See unique fiber art pieces inspired by a favorite coffee mug.

There will be no guild meeting in October.

A Taste of Beaded Embellishments

Beads can add color and sparkle to a variety of items. The May program at the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting offered options for combining beads with knitting. Guild members are reminded that beading and beaded embellishments can fulfill the 2011 Guild Challenge requirement of a decorative design element for a "Fiber and Caffeine get me going..." tote bag. All guild members are encouraged to create an entry for the Challenge. Challenge results will be exhibited at the October guild meeting.

 Show and Tell

Guild members show off their fiber talents at Show and Tell.

Sally Broom models her hand knit Ruffle Scarf (left).
Martha Ooten shows her hand dyed angora fibers and
a knitted shawl from hand spun yarn (right).

Veronica Hofman-Ortega's work will be featured in the July issue
of Belle Armoire magazine (left).
A hand knit beret by Dana Huskey from her hand spun yarn (right).

Mary Wells' hand spun yarns.

Free-form crochet pieces from hand spun yarn by Martha Ooten.

Knit One Below: a stitch for many fabrics

A demonstration of the "Knit One Below" knitting technique was the program at the April Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting. This technique creates a drapey fabric that looks good on both the right and wrong sides. Solid or long striping yarns are good choices for this type of colorwork knitting. A baby hat pattern using the Knit One Below (K1B) stitch can be found here.

As seen in Elise Duvekot's book, Knit One Below: One Stitch, Many Fabrics this technique offers a variety of color, design and pattern options. With the appropriate choice of yarn and needle size, K1B is an option for constructing your tote bag entry for the 2011 "Fiber and Caffeine get me going" Guild Challenge. All members are encouraged to experiment with new fabric and construction techniques for their Guild Challenge entry. Guidelines and deadline information for the annual Guild Challenge are listed here.

In support of the Guild Challenge's decorative design element guideline, the program for the May meeting will be "Bead as you Go." "This is an easy and flexible technique," says Kathy Swift-Lawson, the program's presenter, "and you don't have to pre-plan the design or pre-string the beads." Kathy uses this beading technique on her knitted scarves, but indicated that it could be used on crocheted items as well. So, how easy is that?? Come to the May guild meeting and find out!

Show and Tell

Left: hand woven dish towel   Right: knitted wall hanging from left-over sock yarns

Monogrammed woven baby "blankie"

Beaded knit scarf using "Bead as you Go"

Hand made Sneaters from felted recycled sweaters.

Sneater, Sneater, Sneater

Coffee mugs inspire 2011 Guild Challenge

Veronica Hofman-Ortega (left) presents the 2011 Challenge.
Pat Keran (seated right) cheers.

Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members and friends raised a glass—or rather a favorite coffee mug—to the New Year and to the 2011 Guild Challenge at the January guild meeting.

The "Top 10 Reasons" (David Letterman style) why everyone should participate in a Guild Challenge were presented, along with details and requirements for the 2011 Challenge—the creation of a tote bag inspired by a favorite coffee mug. Coinciding with the mug theme of the Challenge, which is entitled "Fiber and Caffeine get me going...", were door prizes that included mug rugs, a coffee cup coozie and a ceramic mug.

A new program, called the Fiber Arts Buddy (FAB) program, was also introduced at the meeting. This two-fold program is designed to welcome new members by pairing them with an established guild member; and, guild members with expertise in a particular fiber art discipline will serve as a FAB to assist or mentor another member who wishes to learn a new technique or to more fully develop skills in that particular area.

Meeting "Mug" Shots

Guild members salute a New Year of fiber art activities.

Show and Tell consisted of knitted baby sweaters and mittens made from recycled sweaters.

Knitted lap blankets for the guild's Community Service project were collected for distribution.