Spring is coming– and to prove it- go to the Spring issue of CNCHnet.  The focus is felting. Members contributed articles that ranged from felting toys to –well— felting worlds!

Tiny toys

Some planets

Click on the CNCHnet button to see what else is new!

Saturday Group demonstrations of a variety of “do-it-yourself” equipment and techniques.
Spinning demonstrations of a variety of fibers and equipment.
Weaving demonstrations – floor and table looms, card weaving, inkle loom, basketry, traditional Navajo weaving, kumihimo, wagon wheel loom.
Hands-On – Guild members will help you spin and weave.
Exhibits of items made by Guild members.
Special displays by Spinners Group and Weavers Study Group.
Workshop Display – Samples of work from Guild sponsored workshops.
Drawing of member donated items. Need not be present to win.
Sales Area – all items for sale are made by Guild members.

Please come and join us and bring a friend or two to introduce them to our passion of weaving, spinning, dyeing and felting – a great time is guaranteed!

For more information, contact Jan Leininger janleininger1 or 916 956-5685.

Early Bird registration expires on February 15 and that means prices go up on February 16.

Full Registration with 9 hours of classes and admission to the market place, galleries, fashion show and the banquet with keynote address is $280 before the deadline, $305 after.

Mini-Registration with admission to all the events but no classes is $145 before the deadline and $165 after.  You can add one or more classes to the mini-reg if you so choose at $65 per class before the deadline and $75 per class after.

You can see which classes still have openings at this site – click on conference 2012, then click on classes.

Register online at the CNCH website or download the mail-in form – but be sure it is received before February 15^th.

Also, remember to make your hotel reservation at the Oakland City Center Marriott – using the facilities key on the conference website.  Staying at the conference hotel makes your conference experience so much nicer and it helps keep conference expenses down for everyone by ensuring the lowest costs for classroom and exhibit space. Encourage your weaving, spinning and basketry friends to join you at the conference and share a room! Beginner classes still available – bring your students along too.

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

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!

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.

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.