Thank you to our Sponsors!

Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild thanks these friends for sending Door Prizes for the 2013 Open House.

• Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild Classes
• HGA
• re:loom – weaving a better life
• Georgia Yarn Company
• New Era Fiber
• Yarn Circle
• Mo-Purl Yarns, Auburn, Alabama
• WEBS Yarn
• R&M Yarns
• PRO Chemical & Dye
• Halcyon
• Cast-On Cottage
• The Basket Maker’s Catalog / G H Productions
• The Woolery®
• Hair & Now Salon – Hair by Janice Conway
• Harrisville Designs
• Fiber Charmer
• Maison Robert Fine Chocolates
• Just Our Yarn

Almost 100 guests attended, and some have already registered to learn to weave!

St. Distaff’s Day: Back to Work

Traditionally, spinners and weavers went back to work on St. Distaff’s Day,  the first day after the Twelfth day of Christmas.   So while the women were weaving and spinning, the men had a few more days off until Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Day.

17th-century English poet Robert Herrick wrote about the revels in his poem Saint Distaffs Day, or the Morrow After Twelfth Day. Listen to a reading here on LibriVox.

In 2013, Plough Monday and St Distaff’s day fall on the same day, January 7, so everybody is back to work.

Everyone at Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild wishes you a happy and productive year.

Retreat!

A review of CHG’s 2011 Fiber Retreat, contributed by Terri Bryson

Camp Mikell, Toccoa, GA

The last week of October 2011 found me talking to myself as I packed clothes, fiber, and looms.  I had ambitious plans.  The weekend loomed ahead with no meals to plan or cook.  No expectations other than relax, hang out with friends, and practice weaving and other fiber arts.  Sounds ideal, doesn’t it?  Well, I wondered, will my attention span tolerate this?  There were no formal classes planned.  Participants could work or not.  Why on earth was I making all the effort to pack up my weaving toys and other things?  I could work here at home.  The lure of not cooking had proven too much.

With hindsight, I am now able to answer my own questions.  The best part of the weekend was the friends and sharing.  Everyone worked on different things: floor loom weaving, rigid heddle weaving, knitting, spinning, photography, tapestry weaving, and, best of all, lots of laughing and talking.  If by some chance you needed a break there were hiking trails and other places to walk and stretch your legs.  The weather was perfect.

In addition to helping each other with project questions, the learning opportunities were ample.  We were offered an impromptu class on weaving a beaded tapestry bracelet.  We explored Zentangle and drop spindle. We had some rather unusual offerings as well.  From “Olympic Rosary Toss” to “advanced needle click” knitting to the “gluteal slide” hiking technique, everyone earned something new.

• CHG’s Education Committee’s next Retreat! is scheduled for October 4-7, 2012.  More information is in the Fiber Focus newsletter.

Celebrating Fibonacci Day

November 23rd has been named Fibonacci Day since 11-23 doubles as the date’s abbreviation and the first numbers in the Fibonacci Sequence (1, 1, 2, 3…). The Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci used this sequence in lots of wacky ways–from predicting the population growth of rabbits to exploring the “golden ratio” formed between two consecutive numbers in the sequence.

contributed by Catherine Neiner

Jon Riis featured at MODA Gallery Tour, Oct. 27

The Opulent Object in Wood, Metal, and Fiber: Jon Eric Riis, Mike Harrison, and Richard Mafong.
Photograph by Susan Sanders.

Jon Riis, tapestry artist and long-time friend of CHG, will discuss his work and design processes at the Museum of Design Atlanta on Thursday, October 27, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Artist Richard Mafong will also discuss his work in metal.  The gallery talk is included in MODA’s Drink in Design event, adult admission $10.

The artists are showcased in The Opulent Object in Wood, Metal, and Fiber: Jon Eric Riis, Mike Harrison, and Richard Mafong - on display at MODA through January 1, 2012.

Jon Eric Riis is an internationally known contemporary fiber artist specializing in tapestry.  Many of his works feature precious materials such as metallic and silk thread, often with added embellishments of freshwater pearls, crystal, and coral beads.

Jon has spoken at CHG meetings many times, and he has juried several of our exhibits.  For our members who may not be familiar with his work, this talk is an  excellent opportunity to meet him and to see some of his work. For more information about Jon and his work, visit his website jonericriis.com

MODA recently moved to a new location at 1315 Peachtree Street,  Atlanta, GA 30309.

2011 Georgia National Fair

Congratulations to CHG members for their award winning entries in the
2011 Georgia National Fair

Div 20303 – Weaving and Felting – Apprentice

Class 9 - Shawls or other shapes- 100% handspun, 11 inches or wider
1^st place – Susannah Scott
2^nd place – Laura Klein

Class 10 – Shawls or other shapes, mixed yarns, 11 inches or wider
1^st place – Richard Fox
2^nd place – Susannah Scott
3^rd place – Susannah Scott
Honorable Mention – Susannah Scott 

Div 20403 – Weaving and Felting – Journeyman

Class 2 – Decorative – smaller than 20 inches wide
2^nd place – Kim Wall
3^rd place – Kim Wall

Class 10 – Shawls or other shapes, mixed yarns, 11 inches or wider
1^st place – Cindy Fox – AOE

Div 20501 – Knitting and Crochet – Master

Class 7 – Scarves – 100% handspun, less than 10 inches wide
1^st place – Kim Wall

Class 8 – Scarves – mixed yarns, less than 10 inches wide
3^rd place – Kim Wall

Div 20502 – Spinning – Master

Class 1 – Accessories – handwoven; hats, purses, bags, belts, etc.
1^st place – Kim Wall
2^nd place – Kim Wall

Class 3 – Decorative – larger items
2^nd place – Linda Jarrett

Class 6 – Felting – three-dimensional wet-felted or needle-felted items
1^st place – Kim Wall – PHG Spinning Award
3^rd place – Linda Jarrett

Div 20503 – Weaving and Felting – Master

Class 8 – Scarves – mixed yarns, less than 10 inches wide
2^nd place – Linda Jarrett

Class 10 – Shawls or other shapes, mixed yarns, 11 inches or wider
1^st place – Judith Krone
2^nd place – Judith Krone
3^rd place – Judith Krone

Class 12 - Tailored wearables – mixed yarns
1^st place – Linda Jarrett

Class 13 – Project completed by two or more people
1^st place – Judith Krone – AOE – Master
2^nd place – Judith Krone

Div 20504 – Misc – Master

Class 4 – Any item not listed
1^st place – Judith Krone – Natural Dye Award

CHG Mini-Workshop

The Workshops Committee will be offering a Mini-Workshop following the regularly scheduled meeting and program on November 19, 2011. The one-hour program will be on Loom Maintenance and Handy Tools.

Studio Artist Show

Gallery 4463 in downtown Acworth held an opening for their Studio Artist Show on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Kudos to CHG member Dinah Rose for her collection of framed tapestries on display.

Felting Workshop

The Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild hosted a day and a half Felting Exploration Workshop conducted by Darilee Sims on Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18. Darilee is a Fabric Designer and handmade felt expert. Two different processes were used to construct two different results and creations. Nuno Felting produced a beautiful scarf using wool roving and silk chiffon, and Resist-Felting used to create a tote bag or shoes. This was a great workshop and all were very pleased with their creations!

2011 CHG Open House

Beautiful weather and a fascinating array of exhibits, demonstrations, and attractions brought a large and enthusiastic crowd to the 2011 CHG Open House on February 13. Turn out for the event was tremendous; 80 visitors signed the guest register. Our open house was featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution print edition, in AccessAtlanta as one of  the “Top 5 Things To Do This Coming Weekend,” and on WABE City Cafe.