KAWS– the Kansas Alliance of Weavers and Spinners – will hold its annual Conference in Emporia this year, on April 30 – May 2. The theme is “May Mixer”. The keynote speaker has not yet been announced.

   The Guild exhibit will be “ Champagne and Chocolate” and everyone is invited to participate in this. It is important to stick with the theme and the parameters set for making items as follows:

All items must be made from at least 75% un-dyed fibers. This will give us a variety of off-whites and tans that will resemble champagne in a range of browns and blacks that will resemble chocolate. You must try something new when creating these items.

The samples will be very small – use no more than ½ ounce of fiber. Batts or roving should fit into a martini glass; finished objects should fit into a muffin tin.

   Examples of finished items might be needle-felted chocolate-dipped fruit, very small lace doilies that resemble cookies, small bits of handmade lace to place around the edge of a martini glass to represent salt, sugar or cocoa, etc.

   Light colored skeins will be used to create a champagne fountain; dark colored yarns will be used to represent chocolate martinis. The remaining items will be treated as if they are bon-bons or chocolate candies, and displayed on gold muffin papers on the table.

   Each guild member is welcome to bring up to 3 items for the table. Leslie McLaughlin will set up our display at KAWS. Bring each item with a paper attached with a safety pin giving your name, a brief description of the item, and what it was that you tried for the first time.   All items are due at the April guild meeting (April 14).

   Leslie will have small packets of novelty fibers at the retreat in February that we can use to try our hand at spinning something new (or in a new way).  

More information will be available during Fiber Guild meetings, or you can contact Leslie McLaughlin, Lolly Buxton, or see KAWS’ website at:

www.kansasweavers.com/calendar2.htm .

9th Annual Fiber Retreat 2010

   The University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University , in cooperation with the Fiber Guilds of Missouri, invites all fiber enthusiasts to join them on March 12, 13, 14, 2010 in Jefferson City , MO , to participate in a learning experience with other fiber artists from around Missouri .

   Everyone is invited to have a good time, make new friends, renew old acquaintances and learn new things.  This year’s focus is on spinning, and Patsy Z and Janel Laidman are keynote speakers. There will also be workshops in other areas, such as, weaving, natural dyeing, knitting and crochet.

   Please come and join in for a fun filled weekend. The cost is $55 for the whole weekend and $35 for one day. There are a limited number of bunk beds available in cabins for just $25 for the weekend (these fill up quickly!!). Registration for the retreat is limited, so sign up today.

General info:

http://extension.missouri.edu/fiber/2010/ online at:

Download Registration Forms:

http://extension.missouri.edu/fiber/registration_form.pdf

MoFA  Speaker and Workshop ( Missouri Fiber Artists)

Sandy Webster to Speak April 12-16

   World-renowned mixed media artist, Sandy Webster, will bring her extraordinary teaching skills to St. Louis for a 4 ½ day workshop, April 12-16. Webster specializes in collage, painting, basket making, book making and fiber constructions of all types.

   The workshop will focus on fiber arts construction and technique, with finished products ranging from containers that hold objects, to books with a variety of compartments, to…well, whatever you can dream up!

   Registration deadline is March 20. Contact Gina Alvarez, St. Louis Artists Guild, at ginatalvarez@hotmail for more info and a registration form.  See Sandy Webster’s website at the link below: www.sandywebster.com.

MoFA Spring Conference

You are invited to attend the MoFA (Missouri Fiber Artists) Spring Conference April 16-18 at the Country Inn and Suites in St. Charles , MO. Kay Khan is the Keynote Speaker. This is a great way to learn a lot, while networking with other fiber artists.  Registration forms are at www.missourifiberartists.com and are due by March 20. If you have questions, contact Bonnie Black at 1-573-346-7449 or

vicepresident@missourifiberartists.com.

Knitting in the Heartland

Hosted by Sunflower Knitter Guild:

March 27-28 at The Ramada Inn

 (Metcalf and Shawnee Mission Parkway – where we had the Creative Hand in 2009)

Knitting in the Heartland promises to be a lot of fun for everyone! There is a vendor market with yarn and fiber vendors, as well as a large variety of classes. Contact kith@sunflowerknittersguild.org for more info. (or contact Christine Long at treasuregoddess@kc.surewest.net.  A registration form can be printed from the website:  www.sunflowerknittersguild.org.