The ATA sponsored workshop "Toolkit of Tapestry Techniques," May 11 - 13, 2009 was a great experience. Christine Laffer taught the workshop, with Mary Lane, ATA's education committee coordinator, assisting. . . . in a wonderful venue, the San Jose Museum of Quilt and Textiles. This workshop was really three in one. Each student chose one area: Fundamentals, Color Manipulations, or Specializations, which Christine customized for us to eccentric and shaped weaving. . . .As in all weaving classes on technique, we were focused on weaving enough to get the most possible out of the class instruction. . . Exhausted but happy and eager to get home, to our own looms, and use the skills acquired in the class.

below left: Sarah Warren, workshop sampler of eccentric tapestry weaving
below center: Barbara Golding, workshop sampler from the color class
below far right:Erica Diazoni, workshop sampler from the basics class

below: Students weaving at Christine Laffer’s “Toolkit of Tapestry Techniques” Workshop

below: Christine Laffer’s “Toolkit of Tapestry Techniques” Workshop Group Photo
front row, left to right: Nancy Corkery, Marcy Fraker, Phyllis Coffield, Barbara Golding, Marcia Ellis
back row, left to right: Alicia Woods, Christine Laffer, Louise Abbott, Sarah Warren, Eve Pearce, Erica Diazoni

Merna Strauch’s Echoes, took first place at Fiber Open, one of four concurrent exhibits comprising Focus On Fiber II, at the Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, California, May 16 – July 3. Echoes combines ikat, wedge weave, and traditional tapestry techniques.

below: Merna Strauch, Echoes, 14" x 12", 2008; wool warp and weft, acid dyes

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