Fiber Artists Collective Exhibit in DC

The Fiber Artists Collective will hold an all-member exhibit September 18th to November 16, 2007 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science located at 1200 New York Avenue, Washington, DC 20005. The exhibit is open M-F from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

The Fiber Artists Collective (FAC), established in 1996, is an organization of professional fiber artists creating fiber art for residential, corporate and public settings. The Fiber Artists Collective's mission is to enable professional fiber artists to work cooperatively to present and market their work, educate the public and inspire its appreciation and awareness of works of contemporary fiber art.

September Etsy Beadweavers Challlenge

Time once again to help us out and cast your vote for the next winner of the Etsy Beadweavers monthly challenge for September. Just to push you in my direction, the photo I posted is of the piece I submitted. It's very simple, but was a color study and served to get me out of my usual monochromatic rut. More pictures of my bracelet are listed in my Etsy shop. Enjoy all the beautiful beadweaving from our industrious and artistic members !

FFF-Friday Fiber Finds (belated)

I forgot to keep up with my new goal of sharing a new Etsy "fiber find" of the week last Friday. I was in Austin, Texas on a recording gig and lost track, but never fear, I'll get caught up today with a wonderful selection of beadweaving from my dear friends of the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team.

Freeform Crochet

Last year I started to learn freeform crochet in my knitting study group (we got sidetracked with crochet). I still haven't finished my first project, but I might just pick it up again after finding this inspiring website called Not Just Knitting. There is a good tutorial to get you started.

1st Weekly "Friday Fiber Find"

I've decided to share my favorite Etsy fiber find of the day every Friday. Every other Friday, I staff the gallery at Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia and we recently got wireless internet in the town. So while I'm gallery sitting, I plan to do some Etsy-surfing. Here's what I found today: Peaks and Valleys Art Basket by johnsbasketcase. I just love the way this basket looks like it created its own personality. Check back next week for my next "FFF" and happy Etsy-surfing this weekend !

An Inspiring Story

In the latest issue of the About.com-Jewelry Making newsletter, I ran across a reference to group in Colorado that helps refugee women by teaching them jewelry-making skills. To read more: A Little Something: The beaded path to self-sufficiency They are in need of stash beads and especially findings and tools.

Another group I think is a worthy organization is Bead for Life which operates in Uganda. They provide work for Ugandan women through creation of paper beads made from discarded magazines. I went to a Bead for Life sale, and the beaded jewelry was being snapped up like hotcakes. Quite beautiful.

Brazilian Lacemaking

On Sunday I was treated to the sight of a highly skilled Brazilian lacemaker in action at the Brazil Day festival in Frederick, MD. She was working with a large tufted pillow with a leather pattern pinned to it and with incredible speed, shuffled handfuls of unmarked bobbins back and forth to create the beautiful lacy patterns. If I had been carrying more cash with me, I would have brought home something. I was there to perform with my new Brazilian percussion band, Batala.