So, You Want to Enter a Juried Exhibit?

The first Thursday of each month is reserved for Fiber Artists and March program was led by Anna Walker, Curator for Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC).  Anna  received her MA in Arts Administration from Indiana University before coming to Houston for the Curatorial Fellow position at HCCC.  While at HCCC Anna has overseen 18+ exhibitions and recently curated "Beyond Useful & Beautiful:  Rethinking Domestic Craft" in fall of 2011.  She presented the interesting information on how the selection process works for juried exhibits and show. 
So, you want to enter a juried show/exhibit?  Here are some measures you can establish to give you a better handle on what jurors look at in their process.

1) have a strong web presence (website)
2) have good photography, include details of work
3) keep your information updated often
4) entering exhibit--submit max # of images allowed (jurors have different opinions on some work; more entries increase the odds of selection of at least one piece for the show)
5) Develop newsletter: quarterly is sufficient.  Include exhibit/new work; always add and expand your email list
6) mail your portfolio to establish interest, include CD of images, write letter of interest, include media lists along with size of work and year made
7) DO research!!

The current exhibit at HCCC now are weavings by Lia Cook, Bridge 11: Lia Cook is part of the biennial Bridge Exhibition Series organized by the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

And then, members presentation of talent!

In February the Federation of Texas Fiber Artists held their conference in San Antonio and members showed their workshop samples.  This was felted pouch using embellishments.

The backside of the pouch.

This was portion of a scarf purchased from the vendor area.

This was another scarf purchased-- it was knitted with different fibers and fabric.

This fiber artist is studying Batik and showed several of her recent pieces. 

She employed stitching techniques to give the work texture and highlights.

This silk piece was just one of many she had to show.

The latest piece of work she is stitching on at the present time.

Busy Interesting Week!

The first full week of a month is always interesting--not only are their household chores (tile cleaning, laundry, regular etc. etc stuff) going on, there are also two meetings to attend.  Tuesday is weavers' gathering and round talk show and tell takes place. 

Penny had her lovely handwoven towels to show off--lucky sister who will receive this handy work.  Cottolin warp and weft makes for a thirsty towel.

This towel is cottolin warp and linen weft--nice handle.

Penny had this novelty boucle yarn scarf to show off!  Great cozy comfort this is!

Penny also had a set of six table linens to offer for sale--all dyed with indigo from her dye pot! Each of the six is individual in their look.

100% linen towels found through an Internet site.

Rosemary showed off her unique bracelets made from handspun yarns--time consuming but lovely to wear.

Talk about overshot was a big topic since the sample exchange this year was miniature overshot.  Rosemary had her notebook filled with the samples and also had this booklet honoring 40th anniversary of the guild.  An updated on was made for 50th anniversary.  The meeting was rounded out by presentation on how to tie for weft ikat dyeing--our 2012 study.
The second meeting of the first week is fiber artist meeting--next blog post on jurying for exhibit.

March Road Trip #1

The weather is beautiful--well, maybe little cloudy, but we can't complain too!  We are heading south to enjoy a local festival.  Our first stop is this quilt shop--yippee!  A Quilt Shop!  Hubby can sit in the car while investigation takes place..............................

Cedar Chest Quilt Shoppe right in the middle of town!  As soon as you walk through the front doors, you are greeted with a warm 'hello' and 'welcome to Cedar Chest'!  Really nice folks here--willing to assist you with whatever you are looking for.

We are browsing--looking at their displays and fabric selection.  This is such a cool kids section!  Love the kiddies pillow and quilt!

The neat thing about their displays throughout the shop are not only these lovely quilts but the pattern that was used to make the top are right there beside the finished project.

Great Balls of circles!  Super fun!

This is such a sharp looking top!

And this one with red and white!  One of the quilters working in the shop talked about her black and white quilt for her daughter--can't you just see this top in black and white--simply smashing!!  And you say what was purchased??

You just can not leave this shoppe without purchasing something.  So, these fabric bundles caught our eyes--and yes, there is a purple bundle!  Can you believe??  It was difficult to pick those up, but we did!  We also joined one of their BOM clubs.  This one released through Patch Abilities.  It is a monthly calendar flag for table stand--kit includes stand header, pattern & fabrics--all for $25!    Back on the road and heading south again........

Arriving in Fulton, Rockport, TX for the 33rd annual oyster festival!  We are going to enjoy those fresh oysters right out of Texas bay waters.  Shuckers are kept busy as we pull out our tickets and pick up a dozen. 

Fresh, salty and delicious!

Along with our Shiners beer and a dap of cocktail sauce and a few crackers, we settle down to enjoy as our ears listen to country rock band on stage #1.

Don't like oysters, then one end of the tent is set up for you--fried shrimp & oysters, sausage on a stick, fried pickles, crab cakes, funnel cakes, etc.  All the food you care to chow down on.
Spring in Texas bursts forth with a wide variety of wildflowers and blooming trees.  The byways are decorated with blooming Huisache trees.  We spied many Indian paintbrush as well.  We are looking for those state flowers--the bluebonnets to appear. Happy trails to you as you traverse across your state during the spring time! 

Great Group of Weavers!



The first week of every month is a real treat when the weavers gather to discuss, show and tell what they have been working on for the past four weeks.  It is always inspiring to see the latest creations straight from their looms.

Linda had samples (finished projects is more like it!) from her workshop adventure at VAV weaving weekend retreat.  This is one of the cottolin twill towels she had to display.

One of her accomplished wovens was this fulled wool throw--once again in twill.

Very traditional Swedish towel in clean blue and white cottolin yarn--woven by Linda.

Here is the bath mat that was woven in heavy cotton yarn--very absorbent.

D'Anne showed her  samples from workshop presented by Inge Marie Carmel, who works with e-textiles and soft circuits, combining weaving and electronics. 



This braclet has connector threads that run along the back.  When the snaps are connected completely then the LED lights will function--flashy!

Two or three of the members participated in the guild swap exchange--the study was on overshot.  This was one of the samples pulled from the notebook.

This is an interesting interpretion of one overshot.

Marian is weaving satin and had this lovely scarf to show.  She is working to achieve a different front and back in structure.  Her yarns are silk warp and tencel weft with 5 H weave.

Barbara is working with woven shibori--This is bamboo 10/2 dyed with navy and red.

Aside from the swap swatch exchange, Barbara wove this overshot in butterfly pattern.  Once again she has used 16/2 bamboo for warp and 8/2 tencel for weft--this had a light weight and nice touch to the hand.

Karen I working with overshot at a recent workshop, brought this interesting rag rug.

This is her second rug on the same warp--she used a heavy cotton seine yarn for the warp thread.

Here is how the rug looks on the floor--great pattern detail.

We welcomed Gretchen back to our fold after an absence of many years.  Gretchen has been living abroad.  She recently joined one of Anne Hanson's Knitspots knitting club.  This one is called Bare Naked, featuring natural color yarns and a different pattern each month.  We've got to check this one out.  Okay, that loom sitting in the corner must be uncovered and warp must be applied.......................................such inspiration--how can we can begin to weave??!!

Let's Chat!

When you are with friends, you can let your hair hang down, get burdens off your chest, sing the blues, cry in your beer, shout with each others joys, laugh at jokes and unload your sorrows.  And these friends, who have ventured with you down the long halls of life, lift you up, give you support and bring you the peace you desire.  They are truly there for you no matter what!
We are just chatting, but oh what a strength we get out of these chats!
The expatchers gathered Tuesday to 'just chat' as our hands were busy with various other chores.

Karen brought her four patch flannel blocks to square up.  She is making blankets for 'her boys'.

She has her ruler marked where the boundaries should rest--that makes it doubly correct, before trimming.

Camilla has brought her machine so she can work feverishly away on a Binky quilt top.

These squares were cut at a previous gathering and quick to sew.

Linda was adding the finishing touches to the binding on this quilt top.

Brenda, our hostess for the day, was happily stitching away on a burp cloth.

This lovely collection is going with her as she journeys to be with her newest grandbaby.

Bet you can guess the sex of this new addition?
Yes, we are just chatting.  But, somehow, when you walk out the door, your steps seem lighter, your heart is filled with laughter and joy--just knowing your friends are listening and they care.