Coming Events
SCTAG December Meeting
Please note time change from our normal meetings.
We’ll be together for a brunch potluck in the big front room at the Mid-County Senior Center. There will be decorations, an historical display about the Guild, optional games and surprises. Bring a friend or family member for $5. Guild members are free. More infor at Lizzy@baymoon.com.
SCTAG January Meeting
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.
SCTAG February Meeting
Topic: Introduction to Hardangersøm (Norwegian Hardanger Embroidery)
This presentation will provide an introduction to Norwegian Hardanger Embroidery, know as Hardangersøm. It will also cover a bit about the Hardanger region of Norway and the origins of this traditional Nordic art form.
Speaker: Bruce Fihe
I’ve been involved in fiber arts for longer than I can remember. My mother taught me to knit when I was five. I admit, I did not do much at that time. In my late teens I did a few projects and finally started serious knitting about thirty years ago. My focus was on Aron sweaters.
About 10 years ago, I became involved with the summer Language and Heritage Camps run by the Sons of Norway, when I was offered an opportunity to teach knitting to the 13- to 17-year-old group. Each summer after that, I taught myself a new Nordic craft so I could then teach the kids something new the next summer. The next craft was tablet weaving followed by Hardangersøm (Norwegian Hardanger Embroidery) and most recently Nålebinding (sometimes called single needle knitting).
SCTAG February Workshop
Topic: Introduction to Hardangersøm (Norwegian Hardanger Embroidery)
This workshop will teach the participants the fundamentals of Norwegian Hardanger embroidery. All materials will be included and the participants will complete a project suitable to be used as a Christmas tree ornament.
The workshop will continue on Saturday, February 15 from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM at the Villa Santa Cruz Clubhouse.
Speaker: Bruce Fihe
Cost and on-line registration coming soon.
SCTAG March Meeting
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.
Saturday Workshop
SCTAG April Meeting
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
SCTAG April Workshop
Workshop continues on April 10 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM, location TBD.
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.
Online registration and pricing coming soon.
SCTAG May Meeting
Topic: Medieval Distaff Spinning
Learn about the importance of the distaff during the Medieval period and how this historical European style of spinning differs from the drop spindling that most modern spinners are familiar with.
Speaker: Siobhan Harlakenden
I am a fiber artist and heritage craft enthusiast who does a little bit of everything but my main focus anything relating to wool. As someone who was always called an old soul, it seems only fitting that heritage crafts seem to have touched something deep inside me that harkens back to previous lives that are now being expressed again through my modern day hands. It brings me great joy to share my love of sheep and history with current generations and having a role to play in keeping these crafts alive.
SCTAG May Workshop
Topic: Hands on Medieval Distaff Spinning
Speaker: Siobhan Harlakenden
Learn about the importance of the distaff during the Medieval period and how this historical European style of spinning differs from the drop spindling that most modern spinners are familiar with.
Workshop registration will open February 15, 2025.
Past Events
SCTAG November Meeting
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.
SCTAG October Meeting
Topic: My history of a 30-year voyage of discovery in making art quilts
Speaker: Alice Beasley
I am an artist who lives and works in Oakland, California. I have been making portraits of people and objects since 1988. Fabric is my chosen medium of expression through which I incorporate the same light, shadow and realistic perspective used by artists in other media. Rather than using paint, dyes or other surface treatments, however, I rely instead on finding color, line and texture in the print of commercial fabric and thread or in fabrics that I print myself. I work directly, gradually building a composition in the same manner as a painter working on a canvas; cutting all pieces free-hand from fabric and then machine appliqueing them.
Website: https://alicebeasley.com
SCTAG September Meeting
Topic: County Fair Wrap Up and Show & Tell
Members will share their Fair experience and awards will be announced.
This will also be your chance to show any work you have completed this Summer, or even over the past year. With no other program, there will be time to tell us the back story of your work.
SCTAG June Meeting
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.
SCTAG May Workshop
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.
SCTAG May Meeting
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.
SCTAG April Meeting
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.
SCTAG March Workshop
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.
SCTAG March Meeting
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.
SCTAG February Meeting
Nålbinding - Bruce Fihe
Pin Looms - Pat LaPointe
Card Woven Edge Demo - Janette Gross and Peg McCollough
SCTAG January Meeting
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.
SCTAG January Workshop
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.