Japanese Textile Studies - A Year Long Adventure

Jill  showing a garment that she constructed and dyed using Shibori techniques.

September means the beginning of a new guild year and this year Reno Fiber Guild is on a Japanese Textile adventure.  At our meeting, we invited two members who have been on textile tours in Japan and several more who just love  Japanese textiles and techniques  and agreed to share their work and textiles with members.

 

Diana  shows a scarf made of polyester that has been heat set so that the textured surface is permanent

 

 

The guild is interested in learning new skills and one of those that has a lot of potential for use in jewelry and decorative bands and braids is Kumihimo. 

 

Suzanne shows off her Kumihimo technique on the Marudai.  This pattern is using 16 tama in an 8 move sequence.

Nancy is braiding with eight tama and changes the colors after a certain length is braided so that she will have materials for three neckpieces.



 



Mary explained some interesting facts about Sashiko embroidery in her presentation.

Sashiko (an embroidery technique) is also something that seems quite plausible in decorating cloth for a variety of uses.

 

Julie purchased Haori from Kasuri Dyeworks in Berkeley quite a few years ago.  She brought her collection which had interesting surface design work.

For the grand finale, the members showed items that they had in their own private collections. Some of us had enjoyed the "old days" in which used kimono could be purchased by the 200 pound bale. Diana explained that now, the used kimono are being sold directly in street fairs instead of allowing them to be exported.  However,  prices still remain reasonable for cloth that was painstakingly created and still gorgeous.

This very long textile is an elegant obi embroidered with real gold threads.  Toni says she has used it as a table runner for holidays.

 

We ended the evening enjoying all the books and textiles on display with an eye on a full year of indulging our passion for weaving, dyeing and surface design.  Stay tuned for more posts as we learn and create our own Japanese style textiles

September Meeting Kicks Off our Guild Year

The Reno Fiber Guild had their first meeting of the guild year on Sept. 3rd.  It was full of guild business, but there was also time for some spectacular "Show and Tell" and a "Make and Take" Christmas tree felted ornament. 

Nancy  wove and constructed this kimono.  The painted warp was 10/2 mercerized cotton sett at 24 epi.  At the shoulders, Nancy reversed the pattern so that the "feathers" would all point downward and she took advantage of the warp end to make a fringe detail on one of the sleeves.

Lorene was the winner of the "Little Luxuries" raffle basket at our May Christmas party!  Among the treasures was a skein of fluffy pink yarn which Lorene used as weft in this "luxury" scarf. 

 

Toni is the weaver of this tapestry.  Here is what she said about her piece.

 

"Sheila Hicks has been juried into several Biennials and is represented by a Gallery in New York, who displayed some of her work at the recent Art Basel in Miami, Florida last March. I find it inspiring that a fiber artist has reached the status of New York Galleries and a Paris address, and have always followed her work. I gasped when I saw the price tag on her small 8x12 inch  work entitled "Sweden" done in white and bits of blue; $10,000. and was inspired to weave my own interpretation"

 

And finally here is a sampling of the Christmas ornaments made under the supervision of Lorene and Victoria.

left - Lorene's ornament with rick rack border  center - Sharon's ornament and right is Suzanne's ornament.

 

Dee Jones Retrospective - October 9

The Reno Fiber Guild is pleased to have Dee Jones as their speaker for the October 9th meeting at the South Valleys Library.  The meeting will start at 6:30PM.

 

Dee is a prolific weaver who has sewn dozens of garments using her hand woven cloth over the past 25 years.  Since she is also an expert quilter and knitter, she often incorporates these elements into her  garments.  A fan of Lois and Diane Ericson, she likes unusual button closures and embellishments.  Dee also puts a surprise decoration on almost every garment lining; something for the wearer to secretly enjoy.

 

Dee will describe her design process with a slide show and handout.  For extra fun, Dee is letting the attendees try on vests and jackets for a mini fashion show. Wear a simple top and join us for a fun filled evening.