Brainstorming for future programs

The October guild meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild was filled with textile examples that stimulated and inspired ideas and suggestions for the upcoming year.

About three years ago, the guild began scheduling time during one of the guild meetings—usually a meeting near the end of the year— to hold an open brainstorming session for all guild members to share their "wish list" or "bucket list" of topics for future programs and workshops.

"This is your guild and we need [everyone's] input," said Guild President, Pat Keran, about generating ideas for programs and workshops for the upcoming 2013 year. "There are no right or wrong ideas in a brainstorming session," said Veronica Hofman-Ortega, who facilitated the session. "Oftentimes, someone else's suggestion will prompt an idea in your mind—something you might not have thought of on your own," she added. "It's all about generating ideas." A whiteboard, set up for capturing suggestions on-the-fly, was filled with over 25 topics by the end of the session. A few more topics were even added after Show and Tell.

Show and Tell provided additional inspiration.

Left: Vicki's woven paper basket with embellishment.
Right: Holly shows her mug wrap, knit in moss stitch. She used a pattern from
the book she won as a door prize at the 2011 Challenge presentation.

This shawl, woven on a triangle loom, will be over dyed in a walnut dye bath.

Triangle loom shawl (left) with edging detail.

A study in weaving huck lace patterns.

A first-time weaver relays her experience with a practice sampler.

Left: A woven scarf using spacers.
Right: A mola sewn to a plain T-shirt makes it quite unique.

Left: Faux batik with crayons. Right: Lace knitting a "Pi" shawl.

Woven scarves: what a difference a technique makes!

Crocheted scarves using interesting trims.

The outcome of this meeting's productive brainstorming session will provide a basis for future guild programs. Summaries and photos of previous year's programs can be found in the Archives: See what we've been doing! section of this web site. You might also enjoy recaps of our Wearable Art Challenge and Fiber Art Tote Bag Challenge. Items that appear at the guild Show and Tell are often the result of a guild program that inspired someone to further study or experiment with a technique or concept. 

Take a look at what the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild has been up to and let us know what's on your fiber art bucket list. Come out and join us at a meeting. New members are always welcome and bring along your Show and Tell.

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.