Sewing for the love of animals

Five sewing machines + one serger + a passionate group of fiber art enthusiasts from the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild = 31 dog and cat blankets and 9 pillows for animal care facilities in the Chattanooga area.

Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members sewed fleece, flannel and terry towel
blankets and bed liners to provide warmth and comfort to animals and pets.

The February guild meeting began with a presentation and videos about rehabilitation services for animals that was given by Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practictioner, Cassy Englert. Many pets and service dogs have benefited from the underwater treadmill, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, athletic conditioning and other theraputic services available at RIVER and similar facilities.

Carbon, a flat coated retriever, uses the underwater treadmill.

After the presentation, guild members got to work cutting fleece, flannel and terry towels for the animal blankets.

Cutting terry towels for a dog blanket.

Measuring and trimming fleece fabric to size.

Flannel pillow cases were stuffed with knit and fleece trimmings to make dog beds and crate liners.

Stuffing pillow cases with trimmings and fabric scraps.

Sewing machines and servers were humming. Pillow cases that were stuffed with scraps were sewn closed.

Sewing the pillow cases closed to create dog beds.

Pieces of fleece, flannel and terry towels were sewn together to make cat and dog blankets. Old flannel shirts can also be cut and repurposed for these blankets. Step-by-step instructions for making dog blankets with flannel shirts can be found here.

Serging and sewing per blankets.

At this meeting, guild members completed 31 blankets of various sizes and 9 dog beds for their annual community service project. It all went to the dogs... and cats.

Show and Tell

Left: A year-long "Sky Scarf" knitting project inspired by
the changing colors of the sky.  Right: A quilted batik table topper.

Left: Neckwear woven on the triangle loom with bead embellishments.
Right: Knitted items with alpaca yarns.

Woven cotton dish towel.

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.

Weaving and Pythagoras?

What does weaving and Pythagoras have in common? The triangle, of course!

At the Janurary 7, 2012 meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild, the program will be on Weaving with Triangle Looms. Join us and find out what makes weaving on triangle looms unique, what can be made using a tri loom, and the tools and supplies you'll need to get started.

Try a Triangle! Weaving with a triangle loom.

Tired of squares and rectangles? Here's your opportunity to try a triangle! Small tri looms will be available to use and can be purchased for a nominal fee. Also bring along: scissors, a crochet hook, and an assortment of smooth, worsted weight yarn. Yarns may be combined to get color variation and a larger piece.

You won't need to bring your high school geometry book—just come and have some fun weaving triangles. (Minimal math skills could be helpful.)

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.

Fiber art demonstrations at Ketner's Mill

Spinning demonstrations provided by
members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild.

Come out and visit the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild tent at the Ketner's Mill Country Fair this weekend, October 15-16.

Guild members will be demonstrating fiber art techniques such as spinning, carding, weaving and hairpin lace throughout the weekend. Fiber art pieces and hand crafted items made by guild members will be for sale at the tent. Hand spun yarns and fibers—made from animals raised and cared for by owners of local farms—will also be available for purchase.

The fiber arts can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These crafts teach coordination, dexterity, flexibility, offer mental stimulus, and are fun and creative. If you're curious, check out our demonstrations.

The fair is a great opportunity to talk with guild members about fiber arts, ask questions, and purchase one-of-a-kind items, kits, yarn and fibers for holiday gifts. And it's never too late to learn something new!