Contemporary Handweavers of Houston

2010-2011 Workshops at a glance:

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Collapse Weave Exploration

• WHO: Giovanna Imperia
  
• WHEN: October 16 and 17, 2010
• WHERE: Williamsburg Settlement Club House, Katy, TX
• COST:Workshop fee for 2 days will be:
  8 particpants - $90
  12 participants - $80
  plus $35.00 Materials Fee (This includes all those great and unusual weft materials).
  See our new sliding scale workshop fee guildelines.
• Deposit: $45.00.
• DETAILS

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New Directions with Wensleydale: - A Lace Felt Scarf

• WHO:Pat Spark
  
• WHEN: October 21, 2010
• WHERE: Art Supply, 2711 Main St., Houston, TX
• COST:Workshop fee:$50
  plus $10.00 Materials Fee
• Contact: Barbara Kile
• DETAILS

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Viking Knit and Felt Bracelets

• WHO:Pat Spark
  
• WHEN: October 22, 2010
• WHERE: Art Supply, 2711 Main St., Houston, TX
• COST:Workshop fee: $50
  plus $30.00 Materials Fee
• Contact: Barbara Kile
• DETAILS

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Dyeing Without a Dyepot: Disperse Dyes Workshop

• WHO: Holly Brackman, Surface Design Artist
• WHEN: January 21, 22, and 23, 2011
• WHERE:The Williamsburg Settlement Club house in Katy, Tx
• COST:Workshop fee for 3 days will be:
  12 particpants - $180
  15 participants - $160
  20 participants - $125
  plus a Materials Fee - approximately $20.
  See our new sliding scale workshop fee guildelines.
• Deposit: $90.00.
• DETAILS

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Collapse Weave Exploration

October 16 & October 17, 2010
Giovanna Imperia

In this workshop students will have an opportunity to experiment with a variety of active yarns -- which cause a woven structure to collapse. In the process, students will gain an understanding of properties and capabilities of the various active materials such as over twisted/crepe yarns (silk, cotton, wool) and elastic yarns.

The crepe yarns will be available in Z and S twists: interesting effects can be obtained by using either one twist throughout or by mixing the two twists.

Elastic yarns are a class of active yarns where a fiber (e.g. wool) is plied with an elastic material (Lycra, elstane, elite, polyurethane). Students will be able to experiment with a variety of blends, ply types, and with different elastic content – including pure elastane. This will include viscose, silk, wool, and polyester, metallic. In addition, students will have an opportunity to weave with other collapsible materials such as stainless steel wool, silk, linen; copper yarn, and selected metallics.

To further understand elastic materials, students’ warps will use a warp of fine non-active fiber such as linen, cotton, polyester, silk, etc. (40 epi). No wool please.

Students will be required to prewarp their looms (7” width, no more than 2-3 yards length depending on the loom). Prior to the workshop, students will receive a 4-shaft draft. Please use a straight tie-up so that we will be able to explore the collapse effects of different structures.

At the end of the second day we will be able to evaluate the various samples. Please note that some materials will react only after washing. So, if possible, time should be set aside for wetting the samples.

Required equipment: 4 shaft loom. Heddles must be: texsolv or flat steel. No twisted wire please. Reed: 12+ dent. Sectional beams not necessary.

Suggested warps: 2/120 silk, 60/2 silk, 30/2/linen, 30/2 Tencel?, 30/2 cotton, 80/2 viscose, sewing thread.

Giovanna has been doing a lot of sampling with a variety of fibers that we don’t usually have access to. I think this is a great opportunity for many of us to test the waters with so many different fibers that can produce contemporary fabrics.

• WHO: Giovanna Imperia
  
• WHEN: October 16 and 17, 2010
• WHERE:The Williamsburg Settlement Club house in Katy, Tx
• COST:Workshop fee for 2 days will be: $90.00 plus $35.00 Materials Fee (This includes all those great and unusual weft materials).
• Deposit: $45.00.

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Workshops with Pat Spark

Since Pat Spark will be in Houston for the Contemporary Handweavers of Houston show, Material Matrix, Pat has agree to give a couple of workshops. The workshops will be at Art Supply, 2711 Main St., on Thursday, October 21st and Friday, October 22nd. The cost for each workshop is $50.00 plus a supply fee. We need a commitment from 12 people by September 17th to guarantee the workshops. The maximum number of participants is 20. Contact Barbara Kile for more information and to sign up for the workshops. (Contact information for Barbara is below.)

Thursday, October 21st NEW DIRECTIONS WITH WENSLEYDALE: A LACE FELT SCARF. Some types of wool make a wonderful lacey felt without much effort involved. We will use the unique felting properties of Wensleydale wool to create a beautiful but strong lace felt scarf base. We will add prefelt imagery which will be felted into the lace base to create areas of solid motifs. The contrast between the felt lace and the solid motifs is stunning! Supply fee $10 for Wensleydale wool , pre-felts, use of felting equipment.

Friday, October 22nd VIKING KNIT AND FELT BRACELETS. This type of wire weaving is credited to the Vikings because examples have been found in archeological digs but it might even be an older technique than that. Using fine sterling silver or copper wire, participants will create a wonderful bracelet that combines Viking Knit with felt beads. Supply fee $30 (Fee includes wire, findings, wool fiber, use of felting equipment.)

Contact:
Barbara Kile
5223 Jason St.
Houston, TX 77096-1320
713-668-1362
713-304-1235 (cell)
kilebar@rice.edu
www.bkdd.com

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Dyeing Without a Dyepot: Disperse Dyes

January 21, 22, and 23, 2011
Holly Brackman, Surface Design Artist

This workshop will be a change of pace from our weaving workshops. It is always good to shift those creative gears from creating the cloth to changing the cloth with some very interesting techniques. This is a workshop that offers something for the weaver and the non weaver.

Dyeing Without A Dyepot uses disperse dyes, which are used to dye synthetics including polyester, nylon, acrylic, and acetate rayon. A process unique to disperse dyes is dye transfer printing — you apply thin or thickened dye to smooth, nonabsorbent, plain paper such as copy, drawing, or watercolor paper, allow it to dry, and then transfer the image to the fabric by heating with an iron. The design on the paper goes as a gas from the paper into the fabric and is the reverse of the resulting image on the fabric. Several prints can be made from each piece of paper. Disperse dyes are lightfast, washfast, and produce strong hues. Wax transfer fabric crayons made from disperse dye and wax can also be used for transfer printing.

Visit Holly’s website: http://www.hollybrackman.com.

• WHO: Holly Brackman, Surface Design Artist
• WHEN: January 21, 22, and 23, 2011
• WHERE:The Williamsburg Settlement Club house in Katy, Tx
• COST:Workshop fee for 3 days will be:
  12 particpants - $180
  15 participants - $160
  20 participants - $125
  plus a Materials Fee - approximately $20.
  See our new sliding scale workshop fee guildelines.
• Deposit: $90.00.

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New Workshop Fee Guidelines

The workshop fees will now be based on the number of participants in each workshop. The price of the workshop will decrease as the numbers of participants increase.

1. We will start off our registration by determining the minimum and maximum number of workshop participants.
2. The pricing will be determined by the cost estimate for the workshop. Each workshop will have a different price scale that is a reflection of the cost of each workshop.
3. Deposits will be half of the minimum price of the workshop with the remainder paid at the workshop. An example would be: you pay a deposit based on an estimate of 8 participants and the workshop ends up having 20. Your total payment (deposit plus balance due) will be based on the 20 participants. That is your balance due will be adjusted to reflect this.
4. If you decide to cancel after you have made your deposit, you will have to forfeit the deposit if we do not have anyone to take your place.

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To sign up for the workshops, send deposit to contact Charlene Kolb. If you are a member you can find her information on the Member section.

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