TEXTILE/FIBER ART AT THE CAROLINA DESIGNER CRAFTSMEN SHOW

It was a busy weekend full of packing , traveling, visiting, setting up and tearing down. Here are some photos from the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Art and Craft show which took place over Thanksgiving weekend.

  This is what greets us when we arrive to set up for the show.  It is actually quite amazing how quickly this bare space turns into a warm, inviting area for people to come meet artists and shop for art and gifts.

Mary Kircher's booth.  Mary creates contemporary weavings.  She does custom dyeing and has a wonderful eye for combining colors.  Some areas of her weavings are left open creating a sense of mystery through the warp.  She has a studio at Artspace in Raleigh, N.C.

Michael Smith's booth was a rainbow of color and texture.  Who wouldn't feel good wearing one of these shibori dyed designs?  For a closer look at the intricacy of the dyeing visit Michael's website by clicking on his name above.

Teresa and Mike work in bookbinding using leather with a sense of character.  They create one-of-a-kind designs.  You can hardly wait to fill the pages with your  adventures, thoughts and dreams. 

Lisa M. LeMair incorporates Morse Code and other hidden messages in her stitched clothing. Her use of contrasting fabrics make for a bold fashion statement.

Jill Wagoner is a master of marbled fabric.  Each of these ties has its own original pattern created through the dye process.  She also designs clothing with marbled fabric.

Jen Swearington uses screen-printing and shibori techniques to create stylish clothing.  Her styles have a definite feminine flair.  They are shaped well leaving any woman feeling great about herself.  Jen has also authored the book "Printing on Fabric: Techniques with Screens, Stencils, Inks and Dyes"

Nancy Raasch designs jewelry using various fiber materials and wire.  Her creations are unique works that would make great additions to anyone's collection.

 Liz Spear weaves fabric that just begs to be touched.  She has recently added felting to the garments she creates with her woven cloth.  Her clothing is soft, comfortable and adds an aura of class to the woman who wears it.

Neal Howard weaves scarves and shawls.  She also hand-dyes yarns into some luscious colors where one hue blends beautifully into another.  I used one of her combinations to whip the edges of a piece I showed at University of Connecticut's Art Gallery recently.  It couldn't have been a more perfect fit.  Thanks, Neal!

Here I am Sunday, getting ready to pack up and head home.  I had a great time at the show meeting old and new friends and seeing pieces find a new home.

Check out the shows in your area and have a great day.

CONTINUED PREPARATION FOR FINE CRAFT SHOW AND NEW DESIGN BEGINNINGS

Works lined up in studio awaiting framing.

This week has been full of finishing work and preparing items needed for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild show next weekend.  The works above have been mounted, but I often leave pieces unframed until they are going to a show, exhibit or gallery.  This tends to leave them available in the studio/gallery for people coming in who may want a piece left unframed.  Interior designers also like to look at pieces unframed so they can choose a frame which fits the decor they are working on.

Work placed in booth display.

One of my other jobs this week was to decide on the placement of work in the booth.  I always do this ahead so when I unpack work at the show set-up I know exactly where each piece will go.  I thought the booth looked a bit spare, so I am going to include another table in the left corner that will hold some smaller 8 X 10 works.  I will now have to pack all the work in boxes, dismantle the setup, pack booth parts and place everything in the show trailer for transport to the show.  

And in my spare time...

Since the day was spent prepping, my evenings were spent deciding on a new series of work.  All the works will be 3 feet by 5 feet and I have rough designs of about six of them right now.  

Series design ideas pinned on studio wall.

The best way for me to work on a grouping is to pin up ideas on the wall.  This way I am constantly glancing at them as I work on other things in the studio.  I can also sit and see how they work together and where changes will need to be made.  At this point I am not contemplating what type of materials will be used in the piece, only design aspects.

 Working on the floor.

From my days in art studio classes in college, I have always worked larger designs by forming squares on backing material and drawing free hand. This works for me and brings back great memories of  creating murals with my old art classmates. There may be other methods such as projectors, tracing, etc. that work for you. 

I broke up the 3 X 5 foot space on the monk's cloth into 15 squares using a ruler and pencil.  The design photo was divided into the same amount of squares.  I then drew what was in the square on the design photo onto the same square on the monk's cloth.    

 Design in progress.

I used a wall for my ideas, if a wall is not available, you can use a bulletin board. I used to use a large old piece of cardboard and place drawings and magazine cut-outs on it with push ins.  The idea is to create a space larger than a notebook, a space where you can look at all your inspirations at once and have a chance to study them.

There will be no post next week due to show weekend.  Enjoy exploring your passions and have a great day.

SHOW BOOTH SET UP, EVELYN ACKERMAN, SAUDER VILLAGE CLASS

It's the time of year to dig out the boxes and determine what the booth set-up will be like for this years Carolina Designer Craftsmen show.

Propanel boxes removed from storage.

It may be just me, but I find if work needs to hang it just does not show well with the piping and curtains that are provided by show promoters.  High end shows can cost anywhere from $500 - thousands of dollars for a 10 X 10 space.  Your work should be shown to its best advantage.  

Unless you are at a show that provides preset white walls, I have found  ProPanels to be the way to go.  They are easy to set up, come in a variety of colors and the company offers a variety of options for add-ons such as shelving, lights, desks, etc.

The lower section of ProPanels being set up.

I used the gallery area to do a sample set up.  I do this before each show to make sure I have all the pieces available and everything is in working order.  Yes, it takes time, but it makes the set up at the show that much quicker and easier. 

 Upper section set up.

I have been assigned a different booth space this year and will have some space behind the booth that I can use for storage.  This led to working out a different design than I normally use.  I planned the set up with the panels at the back of the booth coming out toward the center to allow for storage for boxes and packing material behind them.  I also placed a shelf on either side of the entrance for business cards and artist information to be placed on.

Since I have been working with gray pieces this year that will be placed on a gray background I was a little worried about how the work would show.  I hung one of the pieces from a panel and found it looks really good and has a sophisticated feel to it. 

 Lighting attached to bar above.

Don't skimp on lighting.  You can really never have enough.  Every corner of the booth should be well lit so people can see the work well.  Lowe's and Home Depot carry sets that work well or ProPanels now carries lighting.  You can use track or clip on.  I use track and remove the lights from the track for transport.  Pack the lights carefully.  I kept the original boxes and pack them fairly tight in a larger box to prevent motion during the drive. Lighting can easily be adjusted during show set-up. Make sure lighting is set up so it does not shine in people's eyes as they approach your booth. 

Rods bracing top of booth with lighting attached.  I know this photo is a bit confusing as the garage door opener is above the booth lights.

"Hand-in-Hand: Ceramics, Mosaics, Tapestries and Woodcarvings by the California Mid-Century Designers Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman written by Dan Chavkin and Lisa Thackaberry.

This book was ordered a while back, after I found some of Evelyn Ackerman's work available at an auction house.  It was not supposed to be shipped until December or January.  It arrived this week which was perfect as I was sick with a cold and there is nothing like snuggling with a good book when not feeling well.  I was interested because Evelyn Ackerman experimented with rug hooking for a while.  

Along with photos of her wall hangings, there are photos of her colored pencil sketches and color choices.  This made me think about being a bit more aware of documenting a series of work I have planned for next year.  This may include filing photos, notes, sketches, thoughts as I work on each piece, why each piece was included, etc.  Something to think about.

I also received my Architectural Digest this week and loved the cover text "Celebrate Art".  I love viewing art in home environments and this satisfied my craving. 

I will be teaching the class "A Creative Approach to Working in a Series" at Sauder Village in Ohio in August of 2015.  Information can be found here.   

Decide how you will celebrate art this week and have a great day.  

RUGS: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Since I've been working hard getting ready for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show in Raleigh over Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to take a few breaks this week.  In addition to a town revitalization meeting and a visit from my aunt and uncle, I received an invitation from friends Laurey Masterton and Alicia Keshishian.  Alicia was in town giving a presentation on her rugs at Laurey's restaurant in Asheville. 

Those who know me know if rugs are around, I want to be there.  For those who could not attend, here are some photos of a wonderful evening.

 When I saw this rug hanging up, I recognized it right away.  It is gorgeous and was purchased by Laurey when Alicia had it on display in the Penland Gallery in Penland, N.C.  You can see the depth it has when light hits it.

 The two samples above have beautiful shades of red in them with one minimalistic and one full of color. 

A closer look at one of the samples in the previous photo.  Alicia is a color expert and it shows in the way she puts various hues together.  This design makes me want to dance.

This piece, draped over a tabletop, garnered plenty of attention.  It was woven using bamboo silk giving it a luxurious feel both visually and to the touch.  Very rich looking.  Yum!

Samples with a touch of silk to add sheen.  I feel a great sense of movement in the left piece and a sense of peacefulness in the right sample.  A great example of how important design is and how rugs can bring a certain feeling to the room they are in.

  A closer look at one of the above rug samples.  I love the calming background color with the wicked bright line through it.

Those who attended had the opportunity to learn about the dyeing and weaving process during a slide show presentation.

A table with articles about Alicia and her rugs.  Color, color, color!

More socializing after the presentation. 

Alicia discussing rugs with one of many interested attendees.

A few of the many great treats Laurey had out for us.  Needless to say, I had to have more than one! 

Look out for events happening in your area and have a great day. 

TABLE RUG DONE, "ROCK RUGS" IN RUG HOOKING MAGAZINE

Festive Table Rug with metal, 10" X 12 1/2", Lori LaBerge, 2012

I am guessing I was in a festive mood when this rug was hooked as it really reminds me of a party or Mardi Gras with streamers and confetti falling down upon the crowds.  A better photo will be taken later. The current cold air and strong winds had me taking a quick picture outside and heading in for a cup of hot tea.  While sipping on tea, I managed to finish updating the website with the new logo and a new section of contemporary floor rug designs.

The time of year has come when I am finishing up most hooked pieces and getting ready for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show which takes place Thanksgiving weekend.  Unless time permits, the table rug above will most likely be the last hooked piece that will be ready for the show.

"Rocks and Rugs:  When Opposing Textures Meet"  in Rug Hooking Magazine.

Rug Hooking Magazine's November/December issue arrived in the mailbox yesterday and I had a chance to see my article on rock rugs in print. The article has information on how the rock rugs came about, their relationship to my hometown, and the creative thought process.  I had a wonderful time writing it and in the future would like to do more to encourage others to experiment with the art of rug hooking. Thank you to Debra Smith, Kathryn Fulton and the rest of the staff at the magazine who made this such a pleasant experience.

November/December 2012 issue

I would encourage those interested in rug hooking to subscribe to the magazine.  It has articles for beginners as well as those more experienced.  The magazine has information for use by both traditional and contemporary artists as well as dye info.

Writing about your work can clarify why you are doing it and where you want to go with it. Take some time to think about all those wonderful pieces you've created and where they are leading you.  Would you like to do a series of works or possibly experiment with new styles?  Send a message to viewers or just create something beautiful?  There are so many directions.  Whichever you choose, enjoy the ride and have a great day.

TABLE RUGS FOR DECOR

Yellow table rug, 10" X 13" linen, wool, metal, Lori LaBerge  2012

This week has been a wonderful combination of dyeing, hooking, whipping edges, stitching metal to fiber and designing.   I love the table rugs.   They are wonderful for displaying pottery and look great on coffee tables, sofa tables and chests.  The rugs will be available for purchase at the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show in November.

Full view

The whipped edges were finally finished this week.   After the edges were finished, the various hardware parts purchased last week were poured onto the studio table.   Decisions were made as to which metal parts would go on which rug, then the parts were scraped and painted according to what was needed for the design.

Red table rug, linen, wool metal,10" X 13", Lori LaBerge 2012

Full view

I also purchased some art this week.  My husband and I took a ride toward Banner Elk, passed a little gallery and had to turn around to go take a peek inside.   I'm so glad we did as we had the chance to meet Sally Nooney.  The gallery was full of her paintings, fused glass and jewelry. She was a delight to visit with and we talked about art, painting, glass and rug hooking for at least an hour.

Now at home on an entry wall, fused glass, "The Forest" by Sally Nooney

I love exploring back roads and finding little gems like Sally's gallery. Enjoy a weekend ride near your home, explore new places for art and have a great day.