January 26, 2012, Posted by RWitchey

Judy Fisher, one of our very gifted guild members, will be the speaker for the February meeting. Her presentation will be on weaving rag rugs, just one of her many talents. She will also give a brief overview on the history of rag rugs, which have been very popular in this country since our ancestors brought the craft here from various countries. Judy will conduct a workshop on rag rugs at a later date as well. The workshop details are in progress.

Category: Redwood Guild of Fiber Arts, Weaving

January 25, 2012, Posted by Janet Finch

Hi there fellow weavers,

I am the new volunteer proof reader for CNCH Net.  Learning how to use WordPress is a great experience for me.  I hope I can do a good job as proof reader.

Janet Finch, Humboldt Handweavers and Spinners Guild

Category: CNCH News

January 24, 2012, Posted by DLaVallee

Return to Sender Update

Attention CNCH 2012 spinners, it’s time to start thinking about your gorgeous Return to Sender fiber and the yarn it will make! Entries are already being submitted for the competition, so dust off that spinning wheel, let your imagination run wild and watch the fiber fly onto the bobbin. The deadline for entries for Return to Sender is April 30, 2012.  Email r2scnch with any questions.

Return of Return to Sender Guidelines Now Available

For folks entering the Return of Return to Sender Challenge with projects created using yarn from the last conference, the submission date is April 15, 2012.  Guidelines for submitting the projects are now available by emailing r2scnch.  In general, make something where the yarn from the CNCH 2010 Return to Sender Competition is clearly visible and send it in!

Category: 2012 Conference, CNCH News, Spinning

January 18, 2012, Posted by Web Manager

Humboldt Handweavers & Spinners Guild is hosting a spinning workshop with Patsy Z, the Spinnin’ Guru. March 2 – 4 she will teach a class on silk that includes degumming cocoons and several types of silk spinning. The next two days will cover controlling the spin to get the yarn desired. Registration deadline is February 17th. These classes will fill up fast. For more information email: rebecca (at) moonfrog.com.

Category: Humboldt, Spinning, Workshops

January 18, 2012, Posted by Penny Peters

On Saturday, Feb 4, Polly Jacobs-Giacchina will speak at Loom and Shuttle Guild in San Francisco. Polly is a fiber artist from Southern California whose passion is textiles in sculptural form using hand weaving techniques. She continually uses shape and structure to through her twined sculptures and wall hangings. Her work is shown in galleries and museums in juriend and invitational exhibits. She has been published in Fiber Arts Magazine, American Craft, Craft Arts International, Basketry Traditions and Beyond and 500 Baskets. Explore her work at http://www.pollyjgfiberart.com

Loom and Shuttle Guild meets at St. John’s Church in San Francisco, 501 Laguan Honda Blvd. There is a business meeting at 10AM followed by the talk at 11AM.

Category: Fiber Arts, Loom and Shuttle

January 18, 2012, Posted by Penny Peters

The Textile Arts Council program on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10 a.m. will be a talk by fiber artist Lia Cook entitled “Faces, Mazes, and Fiber Tracts”.  Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Free to TAC members, $5 for museum members and students, $10 for nonmembers.

Category: Weaving

January 17, 2012, Posted by DLaVallee

An explanation of the jurying process for the Gallery and Fashion Shows at CNCH 2012:

The purpose of judging by jury is to enhance the quality of the work being done by the individuals and groups, and to provide exhibitors with an evaluation by impartial experts which might otherwise be unavailable within guilds. Items submitted to be judged for awards shall have been designed and created by the exhibitor. Only work not previously shown at a CNCH conference may be submitted for judging. All entrants must be members of CNCH, Inc., Guilds or affiliate groups such as ANWG or a Southern California weaving, spinning or basketry guild.

The Standing Rules of CNCH, Inc. stipulate the following criteria for a judge’s scoring for awards:
Craftsmanship [including technique]
Aesthetic use of color
Design
Suitable use of material
Creative expression

A work submitted for judging shall be scored for each of the criteria.

Ribbons are then awarded according to a point range determined by the Jury Chair. Blue ribbons are awarded for “Outstanding” individual work as indicated by the highest judging totals. White ribbons are awarded for “Meritorious” individual work as indicated by the next highest point range. Other ribbons or awards can be awarded at the discretion of the Annual Conference Jury Chair.

In other words, the piece is judged against itself, not against other pieces and multiple outstanding and meritorious ribbons may be awarded. So, don’t be intimidated by more experienced weavers, just weave your best and enter it proudly!

Remember:  Entry forms for the gallery shows must be received by April 1, 2012!  Fashion Show entry forms must be received by March 31, 2012!

Anyone who is a member of a CNCH guild may enter items in the Gallery shows.  If a conference registrant is not a member of CNCH or affiliate groups, an additional fee of $30 will be added and they will become a member of CNCH.

Category: 2012 Conference, CNCH News, Uncategorized

January 10, 2012, Posted by DLaVallee

Now that the holidays are past, and things are getting back to normal – it is time to finalize your plans for attending CNCH 2012.  Call up your fiber friends and get your best roommates lined up.  Call or email the Marriott Oakland City Center and make your room reservations*.  The special conference rate is $119 plus tax for 1 or 2 people, double rooms have 2 beds and can accommodate up to 4. Plan to come in a day early or stay a day late to enjoy some of the many things to do in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.  The conference hotel is very well located for general Bay Area sightseeing.

The hotel is situated in Old Oakland, next to the City Center shopping and dining complex and just across the street from Oakland’s Chinatown.  Jack London Square is just a few blocks away and the Uptown Arts District is accessible by free shuttle.  BART – the area’s subway system will get you to Berkeley and San Francisco and the stop is right in front of the hotel.  Watch for the next edition of CNCHnet for details on all the wonderful restaurants near the hotel and convention center.

Some of the hotel amenities that will make your stay easier:

Onsite Parking and Valet parking.

In room coffee and tea

Coin operated laundry on site

Gift and sundry shop on site

Room service 6 am – 11 pm

Business center with fax and copy services

In hotel dining:

Restaurant:  Level Two – serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with California cuisine at reasonable prices

Twelve Bar Lounge – open for dinner serving light menu options, beverages and cocktails

Peet’s Coffee – open for breakfast

*To make your hotel reservation either:

Call (510) 466-6417  and use the code CNCH 2012 or

Log onto tinyurl.com/cnch2012hotel and use the code that comes up in the form

Category: 2012 Conference, Fiber Arts

January 9, 2012, Posted by Joan Pont

Category: Fiber Arts, Guild News, Tamalpais Weavers Guild

January 3, 2012, Posted by DLaVallee

Don’t miss the Banquet and Keynote Address on Saturday evening, May 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom! Peggy Osterkamp will be the featured speaker. The dinner will be preceded by a no-host bar starting at 6:00 p.m. in the foyer of the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Convention Center.

In her years as a weaving student and teacher, Peggy has developed a great respect for the traditions of weaving and a deep desire to pass those traditions on to the next generation. Her own weaving shows openness to new materials and possibilities, using clever and innovative techniques to create thoughtful and innovative works of textile art. An exhibition of Peggy’s work will be on display throughout the Conference in the Gallery.

Peggy is well known in the weaving world for her four books on warping and weaving, her articles have appeared in Handwoven, Threads, and Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot. Her DVDs and beginning weaving classes have helped countless weavers to get started. Check out her wonderful blog at www.peggyosterkamp.com where she answers questions, shares techniques, and talks about her own work.  Peggy lives and weaves in the Bay Area.

This event is included with Full and Mini Registrations. Additional tickets will be available to purchase for $65 each until May 1, 2012. They will not be available at the conference. Please indicate your entrée choice when you register.

Category: 2012 Conference, CNCH News, Fiber Arts