The Magic of Wearables fashion show

The Magic of Wearables
fashion show and luncheon

A group of my quilt guild friends and I attended The Magic of Wearables fashion show and luncheon at the Museum Center at 5 Points in Cleveland, Tennessee this weekend. This show is the revitalization of the former Tennessee Presents Textiles runway show that was conceived and directed by my good friend and fiber artist, Geri Forkner.

Geri provided oversite and vision for the show and another fiber arts friend of mine, Karen Viser, headed the committee to successfully implement the revival of this wearable art event. Kudos to Karen, Geri and their team!

Several accomplished fiber artists from the southeast had their artwear modeled in the fashion show that was emceed by Libby Callaway, former fashion editor at the New York Post. Among the felted and hand-woven garments were works by Liz Spear, Neal Howard, Geri Forkner and Tone Haugen-Cogburn.

Fashion show garments.

The runway pieces and other hand-dyed, stitched and embellished garments and accessories were available for purchase from the artists before and after the runway presentation. Other vendors had hand-dyed yarns and fibers for sale as well.

Geri Forkner (left) with her nuno-felted and hand woven art pieces.

Here are some of Karen Viser's custom garments at her booth. Karen and I attended studio intensive art workshops together. It was wonderful to see the heights to which she has taken various surface design techniques and incorporated them in her hand-dyed silk and velvet custom sewn vests.

Shoppers admiring Karen Viser's hand-dyed and surface embellished garments.

Tone Haugen-Cogburn is a multi-disciplined fiber artist. She is a long-time quilt artist who has taken to felt-making the past few years. Our paths often cross at fiber art events such as these or at quilt shows and other quilting events. It was great to see Tone again.

Tone at her booth showcasing fabulous felted bags,
garments and accessories.

It was a great day to share with friends—introducing first-timers to a fiber art wearables show such as this, and visiting with other fiber art friends and seeing their latest fiber art creations!

Published again!

A complimentary issue of the Summer 2011 Belle Armoire magazine arrived in my mailbox this afternoon with this enclosure:

Congratulations! You've been published in Belle Armoire.

Belle Armoire, Summer 2011

Here is the cover of the newly redesigned magazine and its 160 pages full of beautiful color photos of distinctive, artful garments and accessories. Quickly flipping the pages, I was immediately consumed by the wide variety of techniques shown in the full view and detail shots of the artwear pieces— felting, knitting, tatting, crochet, sewing, fabric dying, embroidery and more. As Amanda Crabtree, the Senior Managing Editor, states in her column, "... no doubt you'll be able to find something in these pages that will speak to you."

A 2-page spread shows my hand dyed shibori bog jacket, p.100-101.

My article, entitled "Compliments of the Dye Pot" [they chose the title], features two of my artwear pieces: a hand-dyed shibori bog jacket and a silk dupioni shibori vest called "The Power of Panthera Leo." The vest won the Best in Show at the Riverbend Fiber Arts 2010 Guild Challenge and was chosen for the runway presentation at the Tennessee Presents Textiles fiber arts show and sale last November.

The Power of Panthera Leo, hand dyed shibori silk vest, p. 102.

I'm honored and excited to have my work showcased in this issue of Belle Armoire and to accompany the other talented artists who are featured. The imagination and skills of these international fiber artists have taken so many traditional needle arts to a new elevation. I'm especially intrigued by the unique combination of techniques that was used in several of the pieces.

When asked to submit the article, I was asked to provide information on materials, technique, inspiration and tips. You'll find these details from all the contributing artists about each of their featured pieces.

So, if you want to nourish your creative soul, sit back and enjoy 150+ pages of fiber art eye candy with the Summer 2011 issue of Belle Armoire. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or newsstand or order it on-line. Open the pages and prepare to be inspired! You'll find my stuff on pages 100-102.

Tennessee Presents Textiles runway show—a celebration of textile arts

A beautiful fall November day welcomed artists and fiber art enthusiasts to the southeast's Tennessee Presents Textiles artwear show and sale last weekend. A crowd of nearly 200 enjoyed a day of unique artwear and fiber art accessories presented runway style.

The featured guest speaker, contemporary folk artist, Rachel Clark, opened the event with a presentation of over 20 of her wearable art pieces. I've taken Rachel's workshops and attended her lectures, and her personality, humor, and tell-it-like-it-is style quickly ignites the room with energy and puts an audience at ease. You can be sure you're in for a treat when Rachel is on the agenda!

I also had the pleasure of picking Rachel up from the airport shuttle service in Chattanooga and driving her to the location of the show in Vonore, TN (accent on the VON). It was a delightful hour and a half of one-on-one with one of my favorite textile artists. Among the topics of conversation were her lost luggage (which she was surprisingly calm about), pattern making, print production and some new workshops and classes she was developing. Her mind and creativity never stops.

Rachel and I at the runway show.

Rachel's presentation and trunk show started off with three vests made with her "Picture This" vest pattern. This is a versatile pattern which I use over and over for my own pieces. It is a perfect canvas for piecework or can provide a great silhouette for other techniques.

Also included were pieces from her "Out of the Crayon Box" collection.

 

Student work from the Fashion and Design Department of Rangsit University in Thailand was also featured.

 The techniques were innovative and created unexpected textures.

Rachel and I got a back stage look at these garments after the show. These students are so talented and their work is inspiring!

Here is Geri Forkner (left), the Creative Director and driving force behind Tennessee Presents Textiles, at her artist's booth. Geri is a master at nuno felting and is now developing techniques combining hand-dyed silks, weaving, nuno felting and needle felting. (The dark brown scarf, center front, came home with me!)

Artists booths at Tennessee Presents Textiles. 

The second half of the runway show consisted of the garments from the "The Power of the Pocket" Challenge (Thank you, TPT, for crediting me for the Challenge idea) and work by twenty regional fiber artists. Artists had their work on display and for sale, including hand-dyed silk jackets, vests and scarves; felt bags, pouches, scarves and wraps; knit, woven and quilted garments; jewelry and other accessories.

It was a fabulous event and a wonderful celebration of textile artists and wearable art!

Tennessee Presents Textiles, November 13

Student work
Thailand Fashion School

Student work from the Thailand Fashion School just arrived and will be part of the wearable art fashion show, Tennessee Presents Textiles, next Saturday, November 13. These innovative, show-stopping garments were created by fourth-year students from Thailand's premiere design school.

Contemporary folk artist, Rachel Clark, is the guest speaker at the event and will have over 20 pieces from her collection presented on the runway.

Tennessee Presents Textiles is a unique wearable art runway show and sale. The artwear is elegantly presented by professional models giving the audience an "up close and personal" experience with the fashions. Fiber art garments will also be on display in a special exhibit and competition entitled "The Power of the Pocket."

Hope to see you there!

Arts and crafts at Red Bank Market, Saturday

The Red Bank Market fall arts and crafts event is set for this Saturday, October 9. I will be there with FiberAntics to participate in the event. Stop by my tent for a visit and see my newest fiber art creations.

Grape Harvest bog jacket

The Red Bank Market features area artists and their hand-crafted items including hand-dyed silk scarves, fiber art, wearables, hand knit items, glasswork, woodwork and other art. Live music, food and produce from local farms will add to the festivities.

Shown here is one of my newest pieces. It is a silk noil bog jacket called Grape Harvest. It is a kimono style jacket made from hand dyed raw silk with a shawl collar and kimono style sleeves. It is reminiscent of several trips I made to the wineries of the Finger Lakes area—particularly Bully Hill Vineyards—in upstate New York.

Embrace the cooler temperatures in a one-of-a-kind artwear jacket and celebrate the fall harvest season in the luscious colors of the vineyard! Come to the Red Bank Market this Saturday for unique holiday gifts or something special for yourself.

My hand-dyed artwear and other fiber art pieces will also be on the runway and for sale at Tennessee Presents Textiles on November 13, 2010. Tennessee Presents Textiles is a wearable art fashion and runway show and sale featuring several of the southeast's finest textile artists. Tickets are one sale now until November 8 through the Monroe Council for the Arts. Call: (423) 442-3210. Advanced purchase is required.