Topic: Why I Weave; How I Learned To Love Weaving Thanks To The Backstrap Loom

Speaker: Ann Hamburg

Backstrap weaver, Ann Hamburg, will take us through her weaving journey sharing what a life changing experience learning to weave on the backstrap loom was for her. Ann says, “I love to get my fingers into fiber and thread to create with sticks and string while exploring ways to create depth of color and bring historical motifs into a modern textile tradition”.

Speaker: Ann Hamburg

Location: A private home in Aptos, address will be sent to registered attendees.

Cost:

• Member: $100.00, plus a small materials fee paid to the instructor at the workshop
• Non-member: $120.00, plus a small materials fee paid to the instructor at the workshop

Workshop description:This workshop will focus on the basics of backstrap weaving.

Speaker: Ann Hamburg

Location: A private home in Aptos, address will be sent to registered attendees.

Cost:

• Member: $200.00, plus a small materials fee paid to the instructor at the workshop
• Non-member: $220.00, plus a small materials fee paid to the instructor at the workshop

Prerequisite:

THIS WORKSHOP REQUIRES COMPLETION OF THE BASIC BACKSTRAP WORKSHOP OR EQUIVALENT BACKSTRAP WEAVING EXPERIENCE

Workshop description:This workshop will focus on the complementary warp pickup technique.

Speaker: Patti Wells

This demonstration will take the group through each of the steps used to modify a man’s shirt. The removal of the top half of the collar, and substituting a mandarin collar instead; the addition of pockets in several places along the front; altering the hem line; changing the sleeve length and creating a gathered band; installing a placket to allow for various button placements.

Speaker: Rebecca Smith

San Diego artist, Rebecca Smith, is a nationally known teacher whose work has been shown in numerous juried shows throughout the US. She will share her weaving journey from workshops she took with master tapestry weaver, Archie Brennan in 1999 to her current work with woven transparencies.

Instructor: Rebecca Smith

Dates: May 18, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
May 19, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: TBD. Location will be provided to all registrants at least one month before workshop dates.

Important Information: Click the More Info button for pre-workshop preparation requirements and to register.

Annual Picnic with swap and sell.

Instructor: Barbara Nitzberg

Learn the basics of making and using paper thread. Experiment with the steps to making your own paper thread and how you might use it. Barbara will teach the adaptations she uses for the materials she loves, old sewing patterns. We can experiment with different papers she will bring and try out papers that class members bring.

Members: $65.00

Non-Members: $85.00

Click here to register.

Speaker: Barbara Nitzberg

Kami-ito translates as thread made from paper and Shifu is cloth woven using that paper thread. Barbara will share her love of making thread from paper to create unique pieces of art. We will learn how she has adapted this ancient process to use materials she loves and how she experiments with papers that might otherwise be thrown away.

Speaker: Gayle Ortiz

Gayle, owner Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria, will talk about her textile journey from high school to the present, showing slides of her work. She will also talk about the benefits of starting a small textile guild.

Don’t miss our wonderful Holiday potluck / party. It will be held on December 10 ^th, 12 to 2 p.m. (in lieu of the regular December guild meeting). We will be having an ugly sweater contest. Since decorating your individual place settings was such a hit last year, we will be doing it again this year. Please bring your own place setting. Prizes will be awarded. We’ll also be having the optional handmade gift exchange for anyone interested. Bring your favorite pot luck dish to share with all your friends!

Santa Claus will be joining the festivities!

We will circulate a signup sheet for helpers at our November guild meeting.

Instructors: Joan Vierra and Janette Gross

Description: Due to the unfortunate cancellation of Mary Zicafoose's workshop, Guild members Joan Vierra and Janette Gross will lead the Rug Weaving Basics and Weave-Along Workshop. This workshop and weave-along will be held at the same time, dates, and location. Joan and Janette will cover basic techniques and structures that work well to create a useful and beautiful wool rug as well as finishes and other fun techniques.

Please note: the workshop is full to capacity with all 12 original registrants.

Speaker: Mary Zicafoose

Note: Due to illness related travel restrictions, Mary's presentation at the Mid-County Senior Center will be presented via Zoom.

Nebraska artist Mary Zicafoose is an internationally known master weaver specializing in weft ikat, a complex resist-dye weaving process. She will share her story as a weaver, celebrating the sources of her inspiration, the challenges, and the unwavering focus of a lifetime spent creating behind the loom.

3 mini workshops; Dorset button, felted balls and Swedish Woven Heart

Topic: Annual Picnic , Swap, & Sale

Workshop continues on April 10 from 9:30AM to 3:30PM (plus 1/2 hour cleanup), Santa Cruz Friends Meetinghouse..

Topic: Mixed Media Weaving on a Simple Loom

Description: Learn many stitches and techniques to create exciting and unique weavings, made on a simple loom that you’ll build in class. Students will string their looms, use yarn and fabric strips to build the main structure, and add optional embellishments such as: lace, string, ribbon, shells, sticks, and jewelry parts. Whether you prefer symmetrical or random shapes, flat surfaces or undulating textures, realistic or abstract designs, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to produce the look you choose. You’ll also learn to make tassels, pompoms, and fringes to add to your pieces. Once you have completed your weaving, you’ll learn how to remove it from the loom, secure it, and hang it. No weaving or art experience is necessary to take this workshop, or to make fabulous and unique pieces of art! By the end of class, you will have your new weaving(s) to hang on the wall, as well as your reusable loom, and the skills to continue this fun, relaxing, versatile, and rewarding art form. All materials will be provided at no additional charge. Please also feel free to bring your own fabrics, yarns and mixed media embellishments.

Speaker: Vicki Assegued, M.A.

See April Meeting for Vicki's bio.

Cost (includine materials): $225.00.

Register online here.

Topic: Taking Our Fiber Art Beyond Where We’ve Been

Description: In this presentation, I’ll offer an inspiring, mind-opening talk about our own personal creative process and share many ideas for approaching new ways of working.

Making art is metaphorical for life, with so many decisions to make and so many directions things can go, with ups and downs, being in the flow and falling out of it, pushing past challenges, trying new ideas and approaches, taking risks, repeating patterns, breaking out of patterns and an overall super exciting journey. So much within art is within life. And the world around us is filled with ideas and inspiration when we open ourselves to seeing in this way.

Speaker: Vicki Assegued, M.A.

Vicki, is an innovative fiber artist, continually experimenting with, and discovering new techniques to bring out a wide range of effects and structures for both 2D and 3D art pieces. Vicki greatly enjoys working with the vast variety and possibilities that fabrics and fibers offer. She loves to share her techniques with her students and support them to create their own unique and stunning fiber art. She teaches privately and through various art schools, and exhibits/sells her art at various galleries and shows.

Website: https://www.vickiart.com

Topic: Tablet (card) Weaving 101 - Stand Alone Workshop

This is a stand alone workshop and not associated with the March monthly meeting. This is also a fund raiser for the Guild library. 100% of the workshop fee (not the materials fee) will be donated to the Guild for the support of the library.

Description: This workshop is an introduction to tablet weaving, sometimes called card weaving. It is intended for those who have no prior experience with tablet weaving and want to learn the basics of this process. Prior weaving is helpful, but not required.

Speaker: Bruce Fihe

See the February Meeting for Bruce's bio.

Note: This is an all-day Saturday workshop.

Cost: Workshop fee - $45.00, Materials fee - $25.00

Click here to register.

Topic: Personal style and how it is influencing the fashion business

There is a current trend in fashion for expressing your own personal style. This is a departure from a time where designers and brands would set a silhouette and color for a season and women would follow it. Think about Dior's "New Look" and the sensation it created. Or the logos that branded the wearer to a certain brand in the 1980's and beyond. Now we have trends but the wearer gets to interpret them. This allows for more creativity in dress but does it make it more confusing for the average shopper?

Other topics that might be included in this discussion are:

• sustainability
• up-cycling
• outdated business models within the fashion industry
• influencers & social media
• local designers
• sizing

Speaker: Tina Brown

I’m a fashion stylist and I live in Santa Cruz, California. I work with amazing clients throughout Silicon Valley and the Monterey Bay Area. I’ve developed my own trademark Three Elements of Style — body shape, coloring, and most importantly, your personality — to build a fashion platform that really reflects who you are, and what looks best on you. I’ll work with your existing wardrobe and within your budget to get the most from your own closet. And if you don’t have time to shop, I can do that too. With a B.S. in Environmental Design from UC Davis, Tina’s studies emphasized clothing as an environment for the body, not solely fashion. She interned with a French milliner in San Francisco and worked at Britex Fabrics where she took her first consignment making hats for a major runway event for Macy’s. Tina went on to work for the next ten years on fashion photo shoots and runway events in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles. Some of her clients included Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Giorgio Armani. Her credits also include movie set costume stylist, and makeovers for clients ranging from female executives and retired professionals to new moms. Tina especially enjoys helping clients find their fashion identity after lifestyle changes.

Topic: Framing Your Art

Description: I will give a brief history of my experience. I will show examples and describe ways to frame many types of textiles. Each can come with it's own restrictions and choices to be made. I will bring types of substrate and frame samples, as well as glass and matting options. I am happy to answer any questions that arise.

Speaker: Robin Lerios

I began framing for a small photo lab in SC in 1989. After a hiatus in motherhood I began my career as a framer in 1999 at York Gallery. I have worked here ever since. I bought the business in 2012. I have also been a professional photographer.

Taught color theory and design early by my mother who was a dress designer here in Santa Cruz gave me a "leg up" on learning the skills needed for helping others frame art. I began matting my photos for the county fair with York Gallery and the then manager offered me a job after seeing my natural talent for choosing colors. I was busy working as a parent of two daughters so I declined. Years later I showed up asking if that was still an offer (my daughters had grown up and needed less from me while in school), turns out that they had put an add in the Sentinel that morning for a designer. I got the job! I have loved it ever since! There is always something new to challenge me, cool art to see, interesting people to interact with, etc. Even framing the same piece twice is fun as each client brings their own spin on the decisions. My job still satisfies and interests me. As far as textiles: I know how to sew, used to do counted cross stitch and embroidery, and appreciate many forms of textile art.

Please note time change from our normal meetings.

Topic: Celebrate SCTAG Interest Groups

A table will be set up for each group to display their items or a space for a demonstration.  A short explanation from each group will be appreciated.

Topic: County Fair Wrap Up and Show & Tell

Annual Picnic and Sale

Please bring whatever you have been working on to share with us.

Is your stache out of control? Do you have equipment you no longer use? Here is an excellent opportunity to pass this on to your fiber friends. Bring it to the Annual Picnic and Sale for others to take away. Please be prepared to reclaim anything that does not find a new home.

If you find something here that you can not live without, please make a donation to the Guild.

Do you have items you wish to sell? Finished items, fiber supplies, equipment, whatever, these are welcome. You will need to manage your own sales, and the Guild would appreciate a donation of 10% of your sales.

Don't forget to bring your lunch and enjoy visiting with your fiber friends.

Topic: Natural Dye and Botanical Printing

Speaker: Mayumi Fujio

Website: https://www.mayumix.com

Learn to create beautiful prints using fresh leaves, flowers and minerals. Mayuymi will teach us how to transfer these natural colors and shapes from plants onto silk fiber. You will have a lovely scarf to take home.

Click here to register.

Topic: Botanical Printing & Dyeing

Speaker: Mayumi Fujio

Mayumi is an award winning fiber artist using natural dye and mushroom dye with the technique called botanical printing which uses real leaves to transfer colors and shapes from plants onto natural fibers. She extracts dye from nature and uses it for her work on silk, wool and other natural fibers. Mayumi will present a brief history of natural dye, the types of plants (and some insects!) to dye and process of Botanical printing.

Topic: Double-Sided Weaving

Speaker: Mary Napier

Mary will be discussing and demonstrating the weaving techniques that were used in the twofaced rug of "Wildflowers Return After The Fire," a Navajo-style Two-Faced Weaving.

Topic: Becoming a Wedgie!

In this one and a half day workshop, you will learn the basic structure of wedge weave, we’ll begin it together, and then just have fun with it. Beginning weavers welcome. If you love yarn and can weave over and under warps, you can do it. A simple design will be mapped out for you so you can jump right in.

This workshop continues on the following day, March 14, from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the same location.

Instructor: Janette Gross

Website: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-XN4pMM/i-BkcXqmt/A

Janette Gross has been studying, weaving and exhibiting her wedge weave tapestries for 17 years. She is one of two Rydell Visual Arts Fellows for 2023 and the first weaver/tapestry artist to be selected in the fellowship’s 17 year history. Janette will bring samples of her own work, from her very first piece to the current ones, and encourages everyone to bring their own wedge weave work or purchased examples to share.

Cost: $50.00 and includes materials.

Click here to register.

Topic: Weaving on the Wedge: A Personal Journey

Speaker: Janette Gross

Janette will take us on a journey, through photos of early Navajo wedge weaves, SCTAG member, Martha Stanley’s contribution to the technique, and contemporary wedge weaves including recent work from the Diné (Navajo) community. She will share her personal vision and how she has drawn from this ancient technique to create her own contemporary works. With intricate planning, and careful craftsmanship she tells us a woven story of her fascinating journey into the wedge.

Janette Gross has been studying, weaving and exhibiting her wedge weave tapestries for 17 years. She is one of two Rydell Visual Arts Fellows for 2023 and the first weaver/tapestry artist to be selected in the fellowship’s 17 year history. Janette will bring samples of her own work, from her very first piece to the current ones, and encourages everyone to bring their own wedge weave work or purchased examples to share.

Guild Play Day with mini-workshops
Nålbinding - Bruce Fihe
Pin Looms - Pat LaPointe
Card Woven Edge Demo - Janette Gross and Peg McCollough

Topic: Bojagi (Korean Wrapping Cloths)

Speaker: Youngmin Lee

Website: www.youngminlee.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/youngminlee_bojagi/

Youtube: https://www.instagram.com/youngminlee_bojagi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngmin.lee.357

Youngmin Lee is a textile artist uses bojagi tradition and techniques to create her work. Her interest in textiles led her to study Clothing and Textile in college and received an MFA in Fashion Design in South Korea. She has researched bojagi making and techniques and endeavor to apply her findings to both in traditional and contemporary art. After she moved to California in 1996, she actively works on preserving the bojagi tradition that embodies the philosophy of recycling and up-cycling, as the works are made from pieces of fabric leftover from other projects.

Bojagi (Korean Wrapping Cloths) are pieced together from small scraps of cloth. It is the most unique form of Korean textile art.

Topic: Ssamsol Jogakbo

Jogakbo, patchwork bojagi, was made with remnants of fabrics from leftover cloths in the past.

When Korean women make bojagi, the act of hand stitching is considered an act of wishing happiness and well-being to the recipients, users, or makers themselves.

Instructor: Youngmin Lee

Youngmin Lee is a textile artist who uses bojagi tradition and techniques to create her work. Her interest in textiles led her to study Clothing and Textile in college and she received an MFA in Fashion Design in South Korea. She has researched bojagi making and techniques, and endeavors to apply her findings to both in traditional and contemporary art. After she moved to California in 1996, she has actively worked on preserving the bojagi tradition that embodies the philosophy of recycling and up-cycling, as the works are made from pieces of fabric left over from other projects.

Click here to register.