“Convergence 2008” TampaBay June 22 - June 28, 2008. Convergence is an outstanding conference for everyone who loves and works in fibre. It is the biennial, international conference sponsored and organized by the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. (HGA), and hosted by a committee of dedicated fibre enthusiasts. Convergence features special lectures, workshops and seminars, exhibits, tours, special events, and a commercial vendor’s hall full of fibres, fibre-related equipment and an artist market. HGA's Convergence 2008.will be held June 22 through June 28, 2008, in Tampa Bay, Florida, and will be hosted by the Florida Tropical Weavers Guild (FTWG).
The Florida Tropical Weavers Guild has a long tradition in the weaving and fibre arts community as well. Founded in 1943, this state guild has provided an educational conference for its members annually, drawing instructors from all over the US and the world. For more information visit: www.weavespindye.org

"Scythia 7" - June 18-22, 2008, Kherson, Ukraine.
International biennial exhibition on contemporary textile art and conference, which will include: juried exhibition - conference - fashion snow - workshops
Crimea tour: Genoese fortress (Sudak), Jalta, Alushta - visit to tsar's palaces Massandra, Livadia, Vorontzov palace, Ajvasovsky picture gallery (Feodosia), Novy Svit and Koktebel.
Deadline for slides, photos and CV - 1 February 2008.
Please contact to receive Entry Form.  anschnei@public.kherson.ua


Specific to Tapestry Weavers:


“Salsa y Salsa” – an International Juried Exhibit featuring Multimedia Fibre Arts Works; May 23rd – August 23rd, 2008 at The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Florida, hosted by the Weavers of Charl-lee. “The spicy spectrum of saturated color influenced by the Caribbean, Central and South American societies permeates Florida. Salsa fires our taste buds and puts the passion in our music. Let these images inspire this Multimedia Fibre Arts exhibit, which is open to work created using any fibre arts techniques.” International Entries: January 3rd, US Entries: January 10th; Jury Notification: March 21st, 2008.
o Channeling your Muse: Experimentation, Research, Innovation, Design
Educational Events at Convergence 2008: ATA's 2008 Educational Retreat
Tuck your muse in a beach bag and set sail for TampaBay to join talented tapestry artists Joan Baxter (http://www.joanbaxter.com/) and Mary Zicafoose (http://www.maryzicafoose.com/)! Dive into ATA's educational retreat and stuff your treasure chest of creativity with tools that will make your tapestries shine. Like hunting for buried gems, you will discover: strategies to identify, develop, and personalize design concepts and resources; skills and motivation to move beyond the initial design phase; formal tactics for concept expansion; image manipulation; dynamic use of color; and methods to catch and ride your wave of creativity. Whether new, novice, or seasoned, all weavers will uncover pearls of wisdom during this tropical retreat! This ATA's retreat will follow Convergence 2008 in TampaBay, and will take place at EckerdCollege from June 29 through July 1, 2008. Registration materials will be available by December 2008.
For more information and registration see www.americantapestryalliance.org or contact
Mary Lane at: marylane53@mac.com or (360) 754-1105. Mark your calendars!

“Textiles as Cultural Expressions” – 11th Textile Society of America Biennial Symposium, 2008; Honolulu, HI; September 24th – 27th, 2008. Hawaii is the most geographically isolated island chain in the world and a crossroad of cultures between the East and West. As the melting pot of the Pacific, Hawaii’s diverse cultures will be highlighted at the many tours offered before and after the Symposium. Call for Papers – Submission Deadline: October 1st, 2007; Program Proposal Submissions Deadline: January 1, 2008. For more information, visit: www.textilesociety.org/symposia_2008.htm The TSA encourages presentations of textiles from all parts of the globe and from textile-related disciplines including (not limited to) anthropology, archaeology, art, art history, indigenous traditions, linguistics, theatre and the physical and social sciences. Scholars, artists, gallery and museum professionals, educators and lovers of textiles are encouraged to submit proposals. – Address: Tom Klobe, TSA Symposium Programme Coordinator, University of Hawaii Department of Art & Art History, 2535 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822

Exhibitions

• “Tapestry in the Baroque: Threads of Splendor” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York – October 17, 2007 to January 6, 2008 – 45 rare 17th century tapestries from the collection of more than 15 countries. There will be a book as there was with the Medieval Tapestry exhibit held a few years ago. For more information, visit: www.metmuseum.org and follow the links to Special Exhibitions / Upcoming Exhibitions. 

• Exhibits at the Australian Conference: Lao PDR Tapestry: “Weaving Dreams and Aspirations”, ANU, School of Art Foyer. Fine silk tapestries from the rich artistic tradition of Laos where the weaver works directly at the loom creating a composition of patterns, symbols and motifs. She invests her life in the fabric and it tells of her hopes, dreams, ambitions, sense of self and position in the world.

“The Fine Art of Tapestry Weaving” School of ArtGallery. Aino Kajaniemi, Finland, Susan Mowatt, Scotland, Yasuko Fujino, Japan, Sue Lawty, GB, Sara Lindsay, Australia, Jane Kidd, Canada and Fiona Rutherford, GB.

“LAND” The Tapestry Foundation of Victoria Open Entry International Award Exhibition to encourage emerging artists and recognise professional artists.

“En Pleine Air Tapestries - A Month at Bundanon: Tapestries and Drawings by Cresside Collette”, curated by Alison French, at the Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra. There will be focussed talks at public venues displaying tapestries in Canberra .
• In Toronto, the Textile Museum of Canada; visit: www.textilemuseum.ca

Exhibition Opportunitie

• 6th INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL OF TEXTILE ARTS OF TOURNAIBelgium – to take place from 14 June to 31 August 2008 - ‘‘Dia – logue’’ International Tapestry and Textile Arts Competition - Entry Deadline to reach BelgiumFebruary 1, 2008. For more information email e-mail:triennale.tapisserie.tournai@belgacom.net or write tocontact INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL OF TAPESTRY AND TEXTILE WORKS OF TOURNAI ASBL, INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, 1 Boulevard des Frères Rimbaut, B-7500 Tournai, Belgium

• Open submission award exhibition - LAND: The Tapestry Foundation of Victoria Award Exhibition. This exhibition is part of the symposium TAPESTRY 2008: The Fine Art of Weaving. Entries must be delivered to ANU, School of Art, Textiles Building 105 ACTON ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA. Deadline for receiving tapestries: 21 March 2008.
For more information, e-mail (asap): Valerie.Kirk@anu.edu.au
LAND: An unjuried exhibit in Australia, with a theme of “Land.” All tapestries must be 10cm high (4 inches) and any width you like. Must arrive in Australia by March 21, 2008. Email Valerie Kirk NOW to notify her that you plan to participate: Valerie.Kirk@anu.edu.au
Customs information for people sending LAND tapestries from overseas. Please visit the website for further information or contact Valerie Kirk with questions.
Valerie.Kirk@anu.edu.au This is important to take note of so that the work is not held up at customs /duty charged. Any enquiries regarding your woven tapestry materials content can be addressed to The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) as they determine the legality of bringing animal and plant matter into Australia. Their contact details are:

Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS)
PO Box 657

Mascot NSW 1460
Fax +61 2 9364 7340
Email: pr@aqis.gov.au
Internet: www.aqis.gov.au

Quarantine would have to inspect any tapestry that had natural grasses/seeds or unprocessed animal material in it. The regulations in Australia are very strict to prevent contamination and disease in the primary industries.

You should include a simple concise description of the goods on your package. For more information on Customs refer to: www.customs.gov.au or write to information@customs.gov.au
Entry forms are also available on the website: http://www.deserttapestryweavers.blogspot.com/



An Opportunity to Express Yourself in the Craft Field

• Fiberarts Magazine is always seeking submissions for the “Sampling” section. Send slides, transparencies or high-resolution digital images of your latest work. Include full caption information (including year completed), a resume, artist statement, and SASE to: Fiberarts,
201 East Fourth Street, LovelandCO80537-5655
. For more info contact lizg@fiberarts.com.

Educational Opportunities

• A six year part-time correspondence course for tapestry, sponsored by the Southwest Institute of TAFE, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. Course material covers drawing, design, painting, printing, photography, textile technology and weaving. For more information, visit: www.swtafe.vic.edu.au

• Traditional and Aubusson tapestry weaving courses are being offered by Nancy Jackson in her studio, as well as Russian and Ethiopian sacred iconography. For more information about her classes, e-mail Nancy at “Timshel Studio” – nancy.jackson@prodigy.net or visit her website: www.timshelstudio.com

• James Kohler offers individual studio classes for tapestry in his new studio on
7 Estambre Road, Santa Fe, NM 87508
; (505) 466-3924

• Weaving Southwest, Paseo de Norte, Taos, NM. We are continuing to offer intensive weaving classes in three subjects: Beginning Tapestry Weaving, Frame Loom Style Weaving and Advanced Weaving Techniques. For interested students there is a warping workshop on Mondays after the three-day courses, also starting at 9 am and ending at 4:30. Cost for the three-day intensive classes is $350. Students can bring their own yarns or purchase them here in small amounts. Cost for the one day warping workshop is $125; all yarn and equipment is included.
We are also beginning regular, weekly weaving workshops on Saturday afternoons from noon to 4:30 pm. Cost is $25 per person; materials cost is extra. Drop-ins are welcome. Weaving Saturdays is open to weavers of all abilities, including those who don’t know how to weave. Students start on a frame loom and continue in whichever direction they choose. For more information, visit: www.weavingsouthwest.com
• Advanced jacquard workshop with a six-color warp (tapestry warp) : A one-week workshop : from July 7th to 11th, 2008 Cost : 400$ cad (material included). These jacquard workshops include the Study of tapestry weaves and other complex weaves using a six-color warp; Additional instruction for special case issues pertaining to personal projects; Designing and weaving different samples; Possibility to leave complete designs to be woven after workshop.

Introduction (1) to Jacquard weaving: A one-week workshop : from August 11th to 15th, 2008. Cost : 400$ cad (material included) Instruction includes: Introduction to Jacquard weaving; Study of simple and some complex weaves; Adaptation of a scanned image into a usable form for a woven interpretation; Designing and weaving different samples; Possibility to leave complete designs to be woven after workshop.

Intermediate (2) to Jacquard weaving: A one-week workshop : from August 18th to 22nd, 2008 Cost : 400$ cad (material included). Instruction includes: Study of complex weaves, including different ratio wefts, mixing two complex weaves, etc; Additional instruction for special case issues pertaining to personal projects; Designing and weaving different samples; Possibility to leave complete designs to be woven after workshop.

General information:
- Jacquard weaving is done on two fully computerized Jacquard handlooms and Pointcarré software is used. Photoshop is also used for special design effects and composition.
- The warp on our loom consists of 1728 threads set at 40 epi for the Introduction and Intermediate workshops and at 84 epi for the Advanced six-color warp workshop.
- The computer lab and the weaving workshops are accessible at night and during weekends.
– one MacIntosh computer per student.

To reserve a place, please send as soon as possible a deposit of half of the registration fee. We will accept participants on a base of first come/first serve. Payments can be made with a VISA or Master card number. Please pass along the information to those around you who might be interested.

For more information/registration on the Jacquard Workshop(s) with Louise Lemieux Bérubé, please contact Louise at: llemieuxberube@mac.com
http://web.mac.com/llemieuxberube

• Channeling Your Muse: Experimentation, Research, Innovation, Design - ATA’s 2008 Educational Retreat with Joan Baxter (www.joanbaxter.com) and Mary Zicafoose (www.maryzicafoose.com). They will be teaching at the American Tapestry Alliance’s educational retreat, following Convergence 2008 in TampaBay. The retreat will take place at EckerdCollege June 28th through July 1st, 2008! For more information and registration see www.americantapestryalliance.org or contact Mary Lane : marylane53@mac.com; (360) 754-1105.
If you are an ATA member and have received your current Tapestry Topics, please note that the dates on the registration form in Tapestry Topics are incorrect. The registration form on the website has the correct dates.
www.americantapestryalliance.org/ArchivedDocuments/Regis_08_Channeling.pdf
• James Kohler Workshop James Kohler has been booked to give a five day workshop in Vancouver from May 3 to May 7, 2008 and will give the weaver’s guild Memorial Lecture on Tuesday May 6, 2008. Topics for the lecture and the workshop are still being discussed. Contact Robert Kolen,
4578 Brentlawn Drive, Burnaby BC V5C 3V1
, or Rob.Kolen@vch.ca for more information.

• Elaine Duncan offers a variety of tapestry and loom weaving courses as well as day sessions in dyeing techniques at her studio in beautiful Errington, (on Vancouver Island), BC. For more information, visit: www.ElaineDuncan.com or to contact her, e-mail her at: eduncan@island.net

• Handmade Felt workshop: "Hold Everything! Purses, Bags, Vessels". Desert Weaving Workshop, Tucson, Arizona85701, 520-792-6665. For more information/registration:
www.desertweaving.com, ann@desertweaving.com, Julie@desertweaving.com
Dates: Jan 26-27, 2008. (Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 4 pm). Cost: $100 plus $15 materials fee. Limit: 12 students. Skill level: Beginning and Intermediate
Description: Felt-making is advancing in design and technique by leaps and bounds around the world. My felt-work has led me in new exciting directions which I am happy to share with others. It is a wonderful time to be working in this medium.
Heat, soapy water, and agitation are the only elements needed to turn wool fleece into the eco-friendly medium of handmade felt. Since the spring of 2000 I have been experimenting with front loading washing machines to make my felt sculpture and vessels. The washing machine technique is fast, easy and produces exceptionally smooth, sturdy felt.
Participants will learn how to create, carve and shape templates for ornaments and containers. We will then prepare the wool shapes for felting in the washing machine. There will be time to apply a variety of surface design techniques including mixed media applications, embroidery and needle felting.

• Workshop: “Bugs + Flowers + Twigs = Recipe for Color”; at the Desert Weaving Workshop,
512 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ85701
This course is offered as part of the “Fiber's Through Time Conference”. Jane Hoffman offers her expertise to explore the world of plant and natural dyes in an intensive 2 1/2 day workshop.
Contact: To register: www.azfed.org or contact Brooke Miner at mbminer@theriver.com
Date: April 4-6, 2008. Skill Level: Beginning and Intermediate.
Description: Discover nature's sources of color. Trained artists know that muted, natural colors are the workhorses of their palette. A good color palette consists of harmonious hues and a range of value and intensity that frame and offset intense pure hues. Yarn shops offer limited choices of colors; however you can fill in the blanks by learning to dye.
This comprehensive workshop shows you how to create beautiful, lightfast and wash-fast color from natural dyes. The emphasis in the workshop will be to create a range of value and intensity of colors. Jane will bring natural dye plants from her own dye garden, native and imported dye material. You will learn to prepare the dyes, to mordant, to dye protein fiber, and to experiment with color by using post-mordant baths, after-baths, and exhaust baths. Handling dyes safely will be covered.

“The Classified” – Supplies for your Tapestry Needs

• Tracy Kaestner’s “Nordic Studio and Lone Star Loom Room”, 22506 Unicorns Horn Lane, Katy, TX 77449; Lone Star Loom Room houses the ongoing weaving classes, has a classroom for dyeing and other classes and all of the stock for Nordic Studio. We are much happier in our new space! Classes are offered for beginning and intermediate weaving, warp painting, and some classes are taught by guest teachers. Come by and visit! Website: www.lonestarloomroom.com; Phone (281) 467-1575, 1-888-562-7012

• “Weaving Southwest”: “Here at Weaving Southwest we are proud to promise the highest quality products for fibre enthusiasts from all over the world. Our tapestry gallery is unique in the southwest, showing the best of New Mexico tapestry weavers’ current work. Our weavers here in the studio produce blankets and rugs on our Rio Grande looms using the finest of virgin wools which we hand-dye. The weaving and spinning equipment is either designed and manufactured by us or carefully chosen from what we consider to be among the best equipment available. Customers tell us the exclusive Rio Grande hand-dyed yarns for weavers and knitters are the best. Enjoy”. For inquiries about this business opportunity, or for more information about buying quality tapestry supplies, visit: www.weavingsouthwest.com or phone: 1-800-765-1272; or e-mail: weaving@weavingsouthwest.com. “Weaving Southwest” is currently for sale by Pat Dozier.

• “This Mad Tapestry Studio & Retreat”,
184 Spinnaker Drive, Mayne Island, BC
: Tapestry Yarns from Norway: Fine 2-ply Tynt Kunstvevgarn - $4.50 / 25 gram ball / 65 meters. Tapestry Weaving Instruction in my oceanfront studio with or without the option of B&B. For inquiries, please e-mail me at: madeleinedt@shaw.ca or by phone: (250) 539-3699.

• "Brenda Franklin Designs" offering for tapestry weavers, small portable tapestry looms with convenient stands. Both the top and bottom bars are notched in a durable high density polymer plastic for easy and secure warping. For inquiries about these lovely and inexpensive looms, please e-mail Brenda at: help@bfdesigns.on.ca or by phone: (519-638-9958)

• “One Artist’s Equipment is Another’s Art” For your next tapestry project, are you running out of tapestry bobbins? If so, I would be happy to make some for you from lovely hardwoods, as I enjoy wood turning on my lathe. For inquiries, please contact Bruce Campbell at: (604) 944-3028, by e-mail: bvcampbell@telus.net or visit my website at: www.artisansworkbench.com/Sales_Gallery/This-n-That_for_Sale/This-n-that_Gallery.htm
• Cahiers métiers d'art * Craft Journal - This new Canadian magazine,is a non-profit organisation that encourages and publishes critical, historical and technical research on local and international craft. To learn more go to the website: http://www.craftjournal.ca/

• Publications on CD-ROM by Peter Harris. These collections on CD are compiled of commonly-used file types and self-running slide sequences, on a Windows-based computer. Available by lettermail for $10.00 each, postpaid, from Peter Harris / R.R.2 / Ayton, Ontario / Canada N0G 1C0; tapadesi@hotmail.com for more info.
--'Tapestry Shawl Design and Weave Patterns' (2005) Two slideshow sequences cover some basic technical concepts, and uses of pattern repeats in Kashmir shawl weaving; two more present the development of specific projects from image source to woven results.
--'Selected Early Kashmir Shawl Motifs' (2006) Sources, CAD drafts, row-by-row design instructions and woven results for 16 designs (14 from antique shawl fabrics, 2 from botanical illustrations) collected on two samplers made by the author.
--'An Ellen Adams Scrapbook' (2005) A catalogue of her pieced fabric wallhangings and biographical selections.
--Forthcoming: 'A Textile Tour of India' A wide-ranging compilation of travel and workshop photographs taken by two freshly-initiated textiles students in 1985-86: Ellen Adams, the main photographer; Peter Harris, the travel guide.


• TAPESTRY 2008: