Soft blankets for furry friends

Kitty Love.

Unconditional Love—this is what we get from the furry, four-legged friends in our lives, our pets. At the February 4 meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild, we'll be spreading some "puppy (and kitty) love" with Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Cassy Englert, who will give a short presentation on rehabilitation and wellness services for dogs and cats. She will also provide an overview of the emergency services and specialized care provided by the Regional Institute for Veterinary Emergencies and Referrals (RIVER) in Chattanooga.

In addition to the presentation, the guild will be making lap blankets and crate liners to support local animal care centers and shelters. The blankets provide warmth and comfort to our furry friends. Guild members are asked to bring the following supplies and tools to the meeting:

• old towels in any size (beach, bath, hand and facecloth size)
• flannel fabrics, old flannel shirts or flannel pillow cases
• scissors for cutting fabric
• rotary cutters, cutting mats and acrylic rulers

Fleece fabrics will be provided, but donations are gladly accepted.

"We've made these quick and easy fleece lap blankets in previous years and it's been an enjoyable activity for our guild members," says Veronica Hofman-Ortega, the guild Website Administrator. "Everyone chats and giggles while we assemble the blankets. It's very social."

Join us on Saturday, February 4, to partake in some Puppy and Kitty Love. New members and visitors are always welcome.

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.