Workshops, Seminars and Retreats
Complete listing of fiber related events which are shorter and more informal than conferences. These events are often limited to a single topic, ranging from a gathering of fiber friends to a more formal class with a leader from outside the area.
2012 Winter Classes and Workshops
January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012
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One thing that makes East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains such a unique area is the Appalachian arts, crafts, and trades that have been practiced for centuries. This year during a three-month period, Townsend is hosting a variety of classes and workshops giving locals and visitors alike a chance to tap into some of the area’s most time-honored traditions. This year’s winter classes and workshops include basket making, all-level guitar flatpicking, wool appliqué, broom making, photography and rug hooking. These one-of-a-kind crafts and talents can be learned by all who are interested. For more information, please visit www.smokymountains.org/classes-workshops.html or contact the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-525-6834 or (865) 448-6134. Registration is required for classes.
New Orleans Rug Hooking Getaway
February 12, 2012 through February 16, 2012
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A boutique hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA will be the setting for four full days of Rug Hooking instruction by three wonderful instructors. All levels welcome. Come for the rug hooking fellowship, the food and the music. The best value on fiber art.
Unlocking the Mystery of Design
February 26, 2012 through March 4, 2012
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Ann Templeton Center, St. John's, Newfoundland. Two classes, each from 2:30 - 5:30 on Sundays. Catherine McCausland will show you how to get a design - even if you can’t draw – and how to work from an idea and make it design ready.
Pick Me Up with Jane Patrick
March 9, 2012
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Pick Me Up: Easy-As-Pie Pick Up Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom with Jane Patrick Now that you’ve got plain weave down on the rigid heddle loom, it’s time to spice things up with pick-up patterns. Using a pick-up stick on the rigid heddle loom is easier than you think and you’ll soon appreciate how powerful this little tool can be. We’ll spend the morning creating weft floats and the afternoon warp floats—and then put it all together to weave both in the same fabric with just one pick-up stick. Whether it’s honeycomb, krokbragd or lace, you can weave all of these patterns on your rigid heddle loom – and have a blast doing it. Prerequisite: Students must be able to warp a loom independently and have woven several projects. Friday, March 9: 10am – 4pm | Level: Advanced Beginning Tuition: $119/$99 WGM Members
Magic Fingers with Jane Patrick
March 10, 2012
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Magic Fingers: Finger-Controlled Techniques for Any Loom with Jane Patrick Finger-controlled techniques allow complete weaving freedom, since they can be added anywhere, anytime, to almost any cloth. Need a little accent along the hemline? Add a row of leno or Brook’s bouquet. Need a little color accent? Then a row or two or soumak might be just the thing. Then too, you can create complete, unique fabrics by using Danish medallions or Spanish lace which no machine could ever, ever duplicate. Now that slow weaving is in, it’s time to learn the joy of the hand weaves, whether you have a frame, rigid heddle or multishaft loom. We’ll spend the day learning as many techniques and variations of these techniques as time allows. From leno to Brook’s bouquet to soumak, explore the vast options available in this hands-on explorations. Jane will bring many examples from, “The Weaver’s Idea Book,” as well as projects and ideas that are sure to inspire. Prerequisite: Students must be able to warp a loom independently and have woven several projects. Saturday, March 10: 10am – 4pm | Level: Advanced Beginning to Advanced Tuition: $119/$99 Members
Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
March 16, 2012 through March 17, 2012
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The Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, held in Townsend, TN, is a celebration of all things fiber. There are workshops, demonstrations, vendors, fiber animals, Border collie sheep-herding, and sheep-shearing.
Unlocking the Mystery of Colour
March 25, 2012 through April 1, 2012
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Ann Templeton Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland. 2 classes from 2:30 - 5:30 on Sundays. This class is open to all creative people working in colour – anyone hooking rugs, quilting, printmaking, painting, felting, doing embroidery and/or stained glass.
New Millennium Fibres with Heather Winslow
April 20, 2012 through April 22, 2012
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What on earth is Lyocell? Why would anyone combine cotton, silk, or merino wool with stainless steel into a yarn? Aren’t pineapples and soy beans for eating and bamboo for building? What does a combination of silk and ramie feel like? How does one deal with lycra? What is seacell and how do you use crepe yarns? Learn the answers to all these questions and more during this fun filled workshop using new millennium fibres. Each person will receive a warp and set up a loom with a different yarn and structure, and then weave samples on all the other looms. Just imagine what a unique project you can then weave once you get home. Prerequisite: Students must be able to warp a loom and read a draft independently. Materials Fee: $48 [includes handouts, pre-wound warps and weft]. Friday, Saturday & Sunday April 20, 21 & 22: 9am – 4pm Tuition: $357/$297 Members (Registration Deadline: March 5) | Level: Advanced Beginning to Intermediate Register with the Weavers Guild of Minnesota www.weaversguildmn.org.
Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser Guest Instructor continuous Strand Weaving - NY
August 4, 2012 through August 7, 2012
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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN a Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced workshop using the Continuous Strand Weaving Method on the Full Sized Adjustable Triangle, Square or Rectangle Frame Loom, with Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser, the "Goddess" of the Frame-Loom herself, author of "The Book", PLEASE CONTACT ME. She's coming to the East coast in 2012!!! Or call (518) 872-9081. Yes, you can complete a full size project on any of the three shapes in her workshops. Take this great opportunity to save the expense of traveling to Missouri. (Minimum of 6 needed to hold class). See my website for class details.
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