Folk Art Center Fiber Weekend Celebrates Textile Arts

May 14 - 15, 2016    Fiber Weekend at The Folk Art Center   Come enjoy a celebration of textile arts. Throughout the weekend, craftspeople will be sharing their inspiration and expertise as the Southern Highland Craft Guild hosts Fiber Weekend 2016. 

Educational craft demonstrations will include: spinning groups, quilting bees, yarn circles, weaving and more.  The Annual Fashion Show of Wearable Art will be held on Saturday.

Known for demonstrating the raw labor of processing fiber, Cassie Dickson will be presenting silk worms to silk fabric. “The silk worms will be babies on Fiber Day, but they will be looking for a place to spin their cocoon,” says Dickson. Other participants in attendance will be the well-known quilter Georgia Bonesteel, alongside Sheila Rauen working on blocks and patterns. Lin Oglesby and Rita de Maintenon will have their knitting needles ready, and Mary Nichols will be at her spinning wheel with the Blue Ridge Spinners.

The annual Fiber Wearable Fashion Show will be held on Sunday, May 15 at both 1 PM and 3 PM. In its seventeenth year it will continue to honor fiber wearables from a selected pool of artists within the Guild. With 20 years of membership in the organization, weaver Liz Spear will be emceeing. She will explain many of the techniques and processes, as well as pointing out the education centers within the region that offer opportunities of workshops or classes in the textile arts, for all experiences.   

Fiber Art Weekend is a FREE event held annually at The Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 on The Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville NC. 


 

Fiber Art Fair this Weekend in Asheville

October 24 - 26, 2014   Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair   Hosted by the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, in the McGough Arena, the event includes 100’s of animals, crafters, workshops and demonstrations, See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and much more! 

Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearable art at SAFF! 

Fri. and Sat. 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sun. 9:00AM-4:00PM, Admission $3/person, Youth under 13 yrs. old free.

Get links for additional Asheville arts and crafts on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Cloth Fiber Workshop Final Class for 2014

September 12-13  at Cloth Fiber Workshop - Screen Printing: Non-Traditional Methods with Heather Allen Hietala
. Deconstruct traditional concepts of screen-printing. In this workshop you'll explore the versatility and immediacy of using a blank silk-screen as a creative tool. With blank screens and non-toxic textile paints you'll play with non-traditional methods of screen printing to create texture and images. 

You'll experiment with mark making and pattern and image possibilities using silk-screens in an intuitive painterly way. Bring your ideas and creativity and see what can happen! You'll go home with printed fabric, a blank screen, squeegee and all the information to continue screen-printing at home. Level of expertise: all levels. Fee: $185 + materials fee.  

This workshop is currently full. Please call 828.505.2958 to be placed on the waiting list.

Cloth Fiber Workshop Offers Embroidery with a Twist

March 9 - Embroidery with a Twist with Betsy Archer at Cloth Fiber Work shop, 122 Riverside Drive, Studio D in Asheville. Learn how to turn family photos into an embroidered work of art.

First you'll learn how to translate your photographs and plan your embroidery pattern. Then you'll transfer your pattern to linen. Next you'll learn how to use basic (and a few advanced) embroidery stitches to create imagery and use fabric paint to enhance your piece. Finishing, including framing will be discussed. Level of Expertise: all levels. Fee: $85 + materials fee.

Fiber Expo at Historic Farm in Hendersonville NC

January 26   Historic Johnson Farm   Fiber Expo 10:00 AM-3:00 PM  -  A free event with continuous demonstrations of all the fiber arts practiced by the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists. Held in the Boarding House at Johnson Farm, located at 3346 Haywood Road in Hendersonville NC.

Cloth Fiber Workshop announces 2013 Class Schedule

The Cloth Fiber Workshop 2013 Schedule of classes will begin in March and continue through early December. Included in the class list are the following workshops:

Contemporary Rug Hooking with Yarn with Betsy Archer

Pattern Making 101: Flat Pattern Method with Susan Stowell

Screen Printing with Dana Fehsenfeld     

Bags by Dana Fehsenfeld

                                                              

Abundant + Local + Natural: Plant Dyes with DeDe Styles           

Sticking with Geometry: Contemporary Quiltmaking with Susan Webb Lee

Embroidery sampler book

Embroidery Sampler with Heather Hietala

These are just some of the workshops that will be offered in 2013. For the complete class list visit the website after mid-January.

To register for workshops call 828.505.2958 or stop by the studio, Mon-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm. Online registrations will begin January 14th. Cloth Fiber Workshop is located in Asheville's River Arts District at 122 Riverside Drive, Studio D in Asheville NC.

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair this Weekend in Asheville

October 26-28  Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair    Hosted by the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, in the McGough Arena, The event includes 100’s of animals, crafters, workshops and demonstrations, See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and much more. 

Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearable art at SAFF.  Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, Admission $3/person, Youth under 13 yrs. old free,

The Blue Ridge Fiber Show begins tomorrow at the North Carolina Arboretum

September 29 - January 2  Blue Ridge Fiber Show: Into the Gardens  at the North Carolina Arboretum.  An international, biennial celebration of fiberarts Sponsored by The Western North Carolina Fibers/ Handweavers Guild, Inc. Opening Reception October 2 in the Education Center 2nd Floor Gallery

Cloth Fiber Workshop offers Dye and Shibori Resists with MX Class

August 17 - 18, 10 AM to 5 PM at Cloth Fiber Workshop, 122 Riverside Drive, Studio D in Asheville's River Arts District - Shibori Resists with MX Dyes with Heather Hietala. The focus of this workshop is exploring pattern, color and imagery through Shibori or resist dying using Procion MX dyes.

Working with natural fibers and stitching, clamping, and pole wrapping you'll create controlled yet not, patterns of color. MX dyes are translucent and work wonderfully over dyed fabrics adding another layer of pattern and color. A wonderful rayon scarf will be provided in addition to the fabrics you bring to experiment on. Safe studio procedures using MX dyes will be covered. Level of expertise: all levels. Fee: $175 + materials fee.

Featured Artist: Stina Andersen, Renegade Seamstress

Stina Anderson is the creative force behind ARTeries by Stina  - The Fashion Sewing Studio & Boutique located at the Wedge Studios in Asheville's River Arts District. Her contemporary clothing line is hand-built, piece by piece,  transforming old clothing into bold fashion designs. Her work is available at the Boutique, on Etsy or by custom commission.

ARTeries offers sewing classes and workshops from basic sewing to advanced patternmaking.

HandMade in America announces: Ladies Friend-raising Lunchen still has seats available

June 14 11:30 - 1:30 at Chef Mo's Restaurant & Bar, Asheville NC. The Luncheon includes an entrée, dessert, wine and/or a non-alcoholic beverage. Each guest will also receive a small gift from Echoview Farm & Fiber Mill, our featured business for the luncheon.

 

This meal is more of a friend-raising than fundraising luncheon. Attendees will share a meal prepared by Chef Mo, enjoy some wine, and celebrate a Western North Carolina artist and businessperson named Julie Jensen. Julie lives in Weaverville, where she owns and operates Echoview Farm & Fiber Mill.

Her mission is to demonstrate that sustainable agriculture can work in Western North Carolina and beyond.  Echoview Fiber Mill is equipped to provide quality fiber processing from washing to yarns, felted fabrics, and anywhere in between.  You can learn more about Echoview here: http://www.echoviewfarm.com/

The luncheon is hosted by Angie Chandler, Pam Lewis and Stephanie Twitty along with featured business owner Julie Jensen. 

 

Please RSVP by June 11 to Rachel Berry at (828) 252-0121 x 305 or rberry@handmadeinamerica.org.

Cloth Fiber Workshop: Permanent Pleats + Color on Cloth

May 26 at  Cloth Fiber Workshop,  122 Riverside Drive, Studio D in  Asheville, NC -  Permanent Pleats + Color on Cloth with Amy Putansu. Permanently pleat, crease, and manipulate fabrics by heating and reshaping fibers. You will also apply color in the same step, using specially formulated dyes. The technique is appropriate for synthetic fibers. The dyes are called Disperse, are readily available online, and require no additional chemicals.

You'll shape and dye a series of samples, and then create up to 3 scarves, depending on complexity. There will be discussion about how and why this process works, as well as resources for using this technique at home. For more ideas, look at clothing designer Issey Miyake, or textile designer Junichi Arai. Fee: $85 + materials fee.

For the complete summer/fall schedule and workshop materials lists and fees, please see the Class Description page on our website.

To register for workshops call 828.505.2958; stop by the studio, Mon-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm, or register online.

WNC Textile Study Group at HandMade in America

March 21, 5:30 PM -  HandeMade in America WNC  Textile Study Groups.  These study groups will be held at 5:30-7 PM on the third Wednesday of every month on various topics in textiles. All are welcome. Meeting will take place at HandMade in America, 125 S. Lexington Ave., Suite 101. Entrance is on Hilliard Avenue near Church Street, two blocks from the Orange Peel.

Morland Room Drapery Project 1998-1999 - In 1997 Heather was approached by the Biltmore Estate to make a replica of a set of textiles in their collection to create a bed canopy and drapes for the Morland Room, one of the women's guest rooms that were restored and opened to the public in 1999. Her talk will illustrate how she undertook this interesting and challenging project. Heather (Allen) Hietala has worked with textiles for over 20 years in a wide range of techniques and materials. Although her work has expanded into ceramics and mixed media, her sensibilities remain grounded in textiles.

Roc Day at HandMade in America

January 8 - Roc Day is THIS Sunday at HandMade in America's office, 125 S. Lexington Avenue, Suite 101 in  Asheville NC.  This annual spinning event is hosted by Spinners, Shepherds and Wannabee's, and will include a pot luck lunch, Stone Soup, Show and Sell your fiber, roving and more, Spinning games and demos. It will take place from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Farm to Fashion Opening Reception Tonight

December 16, 5:30 PM - 8 PM - Farm to Fashion opening reception at  the HandMade in America offices at 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101 in Asheville NC. Learn more about local textiles and see a special screening of “Farm to Fashion”; a documentary produced by film students at Western Carolina University.  Fiber farmers, custom mills and textile artists are ready to spread the word about the regional fiber economy by encouraging you to buy clothes and home furnishings that are locally raised and produced.

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair this Weekend in Asheville

October 21-23 FLETCHER (ASHEVILLE) Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair Exceptional educational workshops and demonstrations, hands-on opportunities, a variety of livestock shows, and a large assortment of terrific vendors.

Summer Fiber Festival in Asheville this Weekend

July 15-17   Summer Fiber Festival   Three spectacular days of more than 35 vendors with a variety of over 70 classes/workshops and free demonstrations. Artist and vendors from all over the United States will feature workshops in felting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting, crocheting and much more. No entry charge for the retreat, you only pay for the classes you take!

Fiber Arts Heritage Week begins at Florence Memorial Art School

June 12 - 18   GLENDALE SPRINGS   Fiber Arts Heritage Week at Florence    A week long celebration of the rich heritage of the fiber arts.  Watch fiber demonstrations co-hosted with the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild. The workshops begin on Monday with the traditional art of rug hooking with Cheryl Roberts or how to spin fiber into yarn with Nancy Hoffman. Tuesday & Wednesday, try your hand at weaving on a loom with Nancy Hoffman or spend the morning learn a variety of knitting techniques as you create your own hat with Christy Hoffman. Thursday & Friday, participants can join felt artists Rachel Nicholson for some 'Contemporary Hat Madness'. The week culminates on Saturday with a Fiber Market from 10 am - 1 pm open to the public with free admission.