Peggy Turchette – The Pavlova Project

HGB December 2021 Program – P. Turchette

Peggy Turchette – The Pavlova Project

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
December 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

The Pavlova Project – A Collection Exploring the Life and Art of Anna Pavlova

The Pavlova Project, in simplest terms, is a “Visual Biography.” It tells the life story of a real historical person, Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), who was not only the most famous ballerina of her day, but also a bold and pioneering woman with her own ballet company who travelled across the entire world. I tell this story through the costumes and fashions that she wore.

Included with Pavlova in my collection are her friends, teachers, dance partners, and other important people in her life. Through archival photographs and the written word, I have meticulously researched almost 100 costumes and fashions and have recreated them in one-quarter scale. They are presented on 16” vinyl manufactured dolls which serve as mannequins.

Every outfit I have recreated has a story of its own, and if the dressed mannequins are viewed in chronological order, they tell the story of Anna Pavlova from her childhood in Russia in the 1880’s, all the way to her final performance in London in 1930. I drew inspiration for my project from a famous collection of miniature fashions called Le Theatre de la Mode, which was created after World War II by the couture houses in Paris. This collection, displayed on wire mannequins, celebrated the survival of the fashion industry in Paris following four years of Nazi occupation. It toured the world in 1947, the year I was born.

Peggy Turchette:  Artist’s Bio

I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and attended the New England School of Art & Design, concentrating in Commercial Illustration. While still in school I began working as freelance illustrator, always supplementing my art income with dog walking. In 2003 I moved to Boulder, Colorado, where I continued freelancing and dog walking while attending the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at The Denver Botanic Gardens. In 2010 I reluctantly closed my illustration studio and turned to dog walking as my full-time job, while caring for elderly parents.

Meanwhile, I had become enchanted with the extraordinary story of ballerina Anna Pavlova, a story that right away I knew was one worthy of being shared with others. There was no one collection anywhere in the world dedicated to this ground-breaking woman. I realized that as a visual artist I had a unique opportunity to introduce Pavlova to contemporary audiences in a completely original way. This collection is what I came up with. It is my way of sharing Anna Pavlova’s story with you.

Anna Pavlova (1881-1931):  Historical Notes

Anna Pavlova lived in a time of shifting societal values, of war and revolution, a global pandemic, economic inequalities, and political uncertainties: vast numbers of struggling or displaced persons were on the move. In short, it was a time with many similarities to our own. But in an era when most women were entirely dependent on men and rarely left their domestic environs, Pavlova made it her mission in life to introduce her art form to others. For the first half of her life she trained and then performed at the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Then, for the following two decades, she and her troupe continuously crisscrossed the globe by steamer ship and locomotive, performing thousands of times in large cities and small villages.

She believed deeply in the power of dance to promote a less divisive, more harmonious world. Wholeheartedly embracing peoples of other cultures, her performances bridged ethnic, religious, and political divides. She connected to a wide variety of audiences in a way both universal and intensely personal. Anna Pavlova’s exceptional life, her unflinching dedication to her art, and, most of all, her generous spirit of inclusivity. still resonate with and delight us today.

More details on the HGB website
Visit the Pavlova Project on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pavlovaproject/


  • December 13, 2021 – Day Guild Meeting 10:00 am
    Email president@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information
  • December 14, 2021 – Evening Guild Meeting 7:00 pm
    Email eveningchair@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information
  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder monthly meetings are open to the public – non-members please email the appropriate contact link for Zoom access information.

www.handweaversofboulder.org
www.hgbsale.org
www.facebook.com/HandweaversGuildBoulder/
www.instagram.com/boulderhandweaversguild/


 

 

Luana Rubin – Founder of eQuilter.com

HGB November 2021 Programs – L Rubin

Luana Rubin – Founder of eQuilter.com

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
November 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

International Quilt Trends
Take a trip around the world with over 200 quilt images featuring trends in contemporary quiltmaking. See how quilters in different countries use their own culture as inspiration for unique works of art, and how the minimalism of Modern Quilting continues to expand as a design trend.

Color trends and techniques will be discussed, in this review of quilt art trends over the last year. Includes quilts from virtual exhibits from around the world during the pandemic, and future trends for quiltmaking as we emerge from the last challenging year. Be sure to bring a notebook to jot down ideas for your next year of quiltmaking and fiber art!

My Creative Life – 40 Years of Color, Fabric and Design
Luana Rubin is the co-owner and president of eQuilter.com in Boulder Colorado, and has worked as a designer in the quilt, textile, and garment industries since 1980. She is a Bernina Ambassador, and a chairholder in the Color Marketing Group, an international color forecasting association.

After getting a degree in Fashion Design at Fashion Institute of Design in Los Angeles, she worked as an import designer in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and New York. Upon discovering the quilting world in 1990, she and her husband Paul started eQuilter.com in the basement of their home in 1999.

eQuilter is a sponsor of quilt exhibitions, contests and quilt museums in the US and around the world. eQuilter also donates 2% of sales to charity, and they have raised over US$1.8 million for a variety of international non-profits.

Luana and eQuilter have been profiled in many US and International magazines, and she has been a frequent guest on PBS quilting shows – Quilting Arts TV and Fresh Quilting. Her Flickr photo pages have over 12,000 photos from quilt shows and travels around the world, with over 17 million views.  She has traveled to 49 countries, and given lectures in Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, France, Russia, and the UK.

Luana lives in Boulder Colorado with her husband and business partner Paul, their 2 Goldens and 3 rescue cats, next to Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory.

More details on the HGB website


 

October 2021 Program – Deb Robson – Author – The Fleece & Fiber Source Book

HGB October 2021 Programs – D Robson

Deb Robson – Author of The Fleece & Fiber Source Book

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
October 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

 

You will be mesmerized listening to Deb Robson share with you her journey as she spent four years spinning every fiber-grown-by-an-animal that she could get her hands on, and working with livestock expert Carol Ekarius to write The Fleece & Fiber Source Book, and later The Field Guide to Fleece.  These  books complete the circle of breeds and their wool for fiber lovers.

Understanding the origins and characteristics of the animals that produce your favorite fibers enhances your experience as you spin, knit, weave, and dye, adding depth and meaning to the crafts you love.  Deb began spinning in the 1970s and began noticing that hand spinners valued breeds that were often listed as “at risk of extinction” by the livestock conservation groups.

Robson has been a free-lance editor working both fiction and nonfiction, including a dozen years as editor of Spin-Off magazine, was born and raised in the Midwest, has lived across the US from New England to the Pacific Northwest, and currently lives in Fort Collins.  She is featured in a set of instructional DVDs called Handspinning Rare Wools, and presents hands-on workshops.  You can sign up for Deb’s on line newsletter to hear more about her adventures with wool.

• The Magic of Wool: You Can’t Make Anything Like It in a Lab Learn why wool’s properties are almost unbelievable – and not quite predictable.  And why it is one of the foundations of civilization and why Deb believes it can be one of its salvations.  Deb suggests that when we push the boundaries of what we know about wool, we also push the boundaries of what we think our crafts are, or can be.

• Rare Sheep and Their Wool: Treasures We Can’t Afford to Lose Deb will talk about who decides that a breed is rare (and how), and what breeds (and categories) of breeds are rare (and why). And then she will discuss why we need to keep these breeds around – both as fiber artisans and as members of human civilization. If time permits, she’ll also cover the different channels for processing wool and what to expect from each (large-scale industry, small-scale mechanical, and hand processing).

More of Deb’s work can be viewed at independentstitch.com

More details on the HGB website


2021 HGB Show & Sale – Standards Review and Publicity Material Distribution

HGB Members Only Event
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 2-6pm
HGB Fiber Art Show & Sale Committee
  • Standards Coordinator available to review items
  • Please review 2021 Rules & Regulations and bring any new items or questions you may have regarding technique or category acceptance
  • Sale Tech Committee assistance
  • Sign-up in-person for shifts at the HGB Show & Sale
  • Have your HGB Show & Sale questions answered
  • Postcards – Business Cards – Posters
  • Printed promotional materials for the HGB Show & Sale will be available for distribution

 

HGB Library
  • Return, browse and check-out materials from HGB’s extensive library

 


Masks are required. Please consider social distancing while attending indoors for the health and safety of our Guild community.


Let’s keep each other healthy.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 or have recently been exposed to anyone testing positive, please give this event a skip.

September 2021 Program – Anne-Marie Chmielewski – Fibershed

Anne-Marie Chmielewski – Fibershed

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
September 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

Anne-Marie Chmielewski is a founding member of the local Mountain and Plains Fibershed. Her current focus is promoting local fiber and natural dyes.

The regional Mountains and Plains Fibershed encompasses a 300-mile radius around Golden, Colorado fostering collaboration among textile artists, designers, fiber farmers, processing mills, suppliers and retail businesses in and around Colorado.

More details on the HGB website


  • September 13, 2021 – Day Guild Meeting 10:00 am
    Email president@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information
  • September 14, 2021 – Night Guild Meeting 7:00 pm
    Email eveningchair@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information
  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder monthly meetings are open to the public – non-members please email the appropriate contact link for Zoom access information.

2021 HGB Fiber Art Show & Sale – November 3-7, 2021

 

Welcome to Colorado’s premier fall art and craft celebration — the Fiber Art Show & Sale of the Handweavers Guild of Boulder.

  • November 3-7, 2021
  • Wednesday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
  • Sunday 10 am – 3pm

Boulder County Fairgrounds
9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado


Free Admission – Free Parking

Colorado’s Finest Fiber Art Event
100+ Guild Member Artists
Demonstrations

Juried Showcase Exhibit
2021 Theme – Colorful Colorado
Call for Entry Deadline – October 1, 2021
Membership required by September 14, 2021.


Represented techniques

Weaving • Felting • Knitting & Crochet • Bead Weaving • Lace & Knotting • Basketry • Embroidery • Appliqué & Quilting • Handspinning • Dyeing & Surface Design • Handmade Paper

Sample items

Accessories • Jewelry • Baby & Children’s Items • Clothing • Footwear • Hats • Scarves • Mittens • Home Accessories • Kitchen Textiles • Placemats Potholders • Wall Hangings • Pet Accessories • Yarn & Fiber • Holiday Items • Cards


It is our hope that you will spend a few moments exploring the hgbsale.org site, learning more about the fiber artists of the Handweavers Guild of Boulder and the Fiber Art Show & Sale.

Visit Artist Portfolios

2021 HGB Showcase – Call for Entries – October 1, 2021 Submission Deadline

2021 HGB Show & Sale Juried Showcase Exhibit Theme – Colorful Colorado
Call for Entries

O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountains majesties
Above the fruited plain!

The rich colorful Colorado view from Pike’s Peak was Katharine Lee Bates inspiration for those words.

Applicants to the 2021 HGB Show & Sale Juried Showcase are asked: How does the richly hued beauty of Colorado inspire your fiber art?

Share with us, in your fiber art form, the ways of creative inventiveness and stimulation animated by the intensity and undertones personified by our beautiful and beloved state.

Showcase Submission Timeline
Deadline for paid HGB Membership – September 14, 2021
Deadline for Showcase Submissions – October 1, 2021
Jury fee $20.00 – Maximum two submissions

2021 Juror: Peggy Turchette – Creator of the Pavlova Project


Participation in the HGB Fiber Art Show & Sale is a benefit of membership. Join or renew today!


2021 HGB Show & Sale Showcase Application Preparation
Please note you will not be able to save your application and revisit it later.
It is recommended you gather the following information before starting the application process:

• Contact information – Name – Email – Phone – PIN – Address

• Prepare digital images
– Images are to be emailed as attachments to showcase@handweaversofboulder.org
– Images submitted in .jpg format
– Images recommendation of minimum of 300 dpi and file less than 500kb
– Identify image files with LastName_FirstName_Image#.jpg
smith_sally_1.jpg
smith_sally_2.jpg

• Submission details
– Title
– If the piece is a collaboration, provide additional artist information to: showcase@handweaversofboulder.org
– Artist Statement – Describe how the piece relates to the theme of Colorful Colorado
– the artist statement is limited to 250 characters
– Materials and Techniques represented in the piece
– Price
– Year made
– Size – width x height x depth

Paid members click here to begin 2021 HGB Show & Sale Showcase Application

Click here to download pdf of 2021 HGB Show & Sale Call for Entry Preparation


 

May 2021 Program – Judy Newland – About Cloth And Me

Judy Newland – About Cloth And Me

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
May 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

Culture and the environment are the two main topics Judy addresses in her textile art. She has been working in textiles for more than forty years as a maker and later as a textile historian. Her background in textile history and museum anthropology allows her to bring a deep cultural engagement to everything she produces. “I don’t just dye fabric in an indigo blue dyepot, I look in the dyepot and see world history, science, fashion, medicine, ritual and your latest pair of jeans! It’s an entire world to explore and share.”

• Exploring the Meaning of Textiles Through Time & Place
Through textiles, we can explore art, society, politics, religion and more, making connections between cultures and through time. Textiles surround and swaddle us from birth to death, a part of the social fabric, bringing meaning to our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. The stories of our lives can be told through textiles. Culture and history can be explored through the study of textiles. Cloth is part of our past, present and future.

• Navajo Weaving – An Enduring Tradition
Navajo weaving is a mirror of the social, economic and political history of the Navajo people of the Southwest. Life experiences woven into cloth give us insight into a long and changing cultural experience. Together we will take an illustrated look at the history and development of these textiles – the important stylistic periods, the influence of trading posts on design and styles, and examples of rugs. From an anthropologist’s point of view what can we learn from the designs, motifs and iconography of Navajo textiles? We will share the story of these textiles by exploring the amazing landscape of the Navajo, their creation stories, cosmology and worldview.

More of Judy’s work can be viewed at clothgirl.com

Photos & Credits: Judy Newland


  • May 10, 2021 – Day Guild Meeting 10:00 am
    Exploring the Meaning of Textiles Through Time and Place
  • May 11, 2021 – Night Guild Meeting 7:00 pm
    Navajo Weaving – An Enduring Tradition
  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder monthly meetings are open to the public – please email programs@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information.

April 2021 Program – Liz Spear – Handwoven Art to Wear

Liz Spear – Handwoven Art to Wear

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
April 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

Liz Spear is a maker of handwoven fabrics, and more recently has been incorporating nuno felt into her designer creations as well as surface design fabrics from fellow fiber artists. These collaborations, known as Liz Spear & Friends invigorate her creativity and emphasize the one-of-a-kind nature of her clothing. She exhibits these garments mostly in North Carolina as well as the HGA Convergence conference.

She grew up in Minnesota, in the Mississippi River Valley attending Winona State and St. Cloud State University. She became a full- time craftswoman in 1978, working with clay. While in Iowa she made “pots” in the Earthworks studio of Alexander.  During that time her weaving interests prompted her to collect yarn, threads, fabrics, looms and begin weaving a few rag rugs.  In 1992, Liz attended Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program in Western North Carolina, where she developed her studio practice of weaving yardage and cutting and sewing that yardage into comfortable, classic garments for women.

Liz spends part of each year teaching and mentoring students through workshops and demonstrations. She is a member of Southern Highlands Craft Guild. She has taught at John C. Campbell Folk School, Penland School of Craft, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

• Inspiration and Practical Suggestions for Sewing Your Handmade Fabrics
Creating your dream garment, from your created fabric will be possible, after watching this presentation. She will share pictures and stories, some about garment development within a professional weavers business, some about working with custom orders or special fabrics. This virtual presentation will provide inspiration mixed with practical suggestions.

• Sewing Your Handmade Felt Fabric or Other Special Fabrics
This virtual presentation will follow the learning journey of making fine nuno felt which can be added to a weaver/garment-maker’s tool box.  And the ability to incorporate additional special fabrics to the mix.  Inspiration mixed with practical suggestions amidst visuals and stories!

More of Liz’s work can be viewed at lizspearhandwoven.com

Photo & Credits: Liz Spear


  • April 12, 2021 – Day Guild Meeting 10:00 am
    Inspiration and Practical Suggestions for Sewing Your Handmade Fabrics
  • April 13, 2021 – Night Guild Meeting 7:00 pm
    Sewing Your Handmade Felt Fabric or Other Special Fabrics
  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder monthly meetings are open to the public – please email programs@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information.

March 2021 Program – Flora Carlile-Kovas – Felt Art & Design

Flóra Carlile-Kovács – Felt Art & Design

Handweavers Guild of Boulder
March 2021 Day & Evening Program

 

Flóra Carlile-Kovács grew up in Hungary and now resides and works in Seattle, WA. She originally studied ethnography and museology because of their relationship to textiles.  However, she ultimately followed her passion for creating with fiber. She has been teaching various levels of felt making for 15 years as a full-time profession. She also leads annual Felt Tours to Hungary.

Flóra describes felt making as a combination of sculpture and painting.  The world of nature, its colors and materials are one of her inspirations, along with historical traditions in felting.

Flóra enjoys experimenting with materials and teaching herself through trial and error. She feels that, “felt, as an expressive medium, is conducive to an instinctive and spontaneous creative process.” Because of this, much of her work feels organic and living. She has taught a variety of classes, examples of which can be found on her website, florafelts.com. She is currently teaching a jewelry felting workshop for HGB members.

• Her Felting Journey
Seattle-based Flóra Carlile-Kovács will share experiences from her world of felting and teaching. Over the past 15 years, she has taught a wide array of felting classes, including slippers, patterned rugs, project troubleshooting, and jewelry. Flóra also has an impressive portfolio of functional art and larger textile pieces. In many of her works, she beautifully captures texture and color inspired by nature. She seeks to elevate and demonstrate the versatility and artistic potential of felting.

• A Hungarian Felting Trip
Flóra will be sharing with us her experiences during her felt tours to Hungary. She guides clients on a 12-day Felt Tour where they spend 5 days doing project-based wet-felting classes from internationally recognized felt masters while immersing participants in Hungarian culture. Flóra, a native of Hungary herself, provides unique tour opportunities including “craft markets, thermal baths, a special private trunk show and other seasonal programs.”

More of Flóra’s work can be viewed at florafelts.com 

Photo & Credits: Flóra Carlile-Kovács


  • March 8, 2021 – Day Guild Meeting 10:00 am
    Her Felting Journey
  • March 9, 2021 – Night Guild Meeting 7:00 pm
    A Hungarian Felting Trip
  • Handweavers Guild of Boulder monthly meetings are open to the public – please email programs@handweaversofboulder.org for Zoom access information.