Talking Textiles: Conversations about Cloth
Talking Textiles was developed for the ARTSgarage weaving community in response to our need to be “apart together” during the Covid pandemic. Talking Textiles is a Zoom-based discussion about some aspect of weaving, and initially was a way to stay in touch with one another during our time apart. As our community has become able to meet in person, these virtual conversations have become less frequent. - but continue on occasion.
The conversations are free, but you must preregister in response to a “Talking Textiles” invitation. If you are a weaver who has not yet joined our mailing list, please send an email to cameron@artsgaragela.com and we will add you.
Based on input from our weaving community, the discussions are a mix of Inspiration and WeaverSpeak (helpful bits of knowledge that move our weaving practices forward.) On occasion, I suggest a meet-up at events sponsored by other textile groups.
2023 - None were scheduled. I’d better get on it in 2024!
2022 Dates and topics
February 12 - 10 AM - Inspiration - Textiles Around Town. A conversation about current textile-based exhibits throughout the Southland.
April 20 - 7 PM - WeaverSpeak - HGA Convergence and other study opportunities coming up this summer.
December 6 - 7 PM - Inspiration - Our last program of the year is a virtual holiday party of caring and sharing. All are invited to share something that is textile-themed - a project, book, lecture, exhibit…
2021 Dates and topics
January 27 - 7 PM Inspiration - Jack Lenor Larsen: Weaving a Life takes a look at many facets of this remarkable man, who died at age 93 in December of 2020.
February 27 - 11 AM - WeaverSpeak - Types of shaft looms and which are “best” for your needs?
March 31 - 7 PM - Inspiration - a conversation with Susie Taylor, who has been weaving up a storm of fabulous new works!
June 1 - 7 PM - Inspiration - a look at design process as Cameron discusses a commission she is working on.
July 24 - 11 AM - WeaverSpeak - A recent interview on HGA’s Textiles and Tea with Janet Philips led to the purchase of her books Designing Woven Fabrics, and Exploring Woven Fabrics. This session will take a look at Janet’s use of pattern blankets as a design tool.
2020 Dates and topics
May 30 - 11 AM Inspiration - share inspirations and current projects
June 10 - 7 PM WeaverSpeak - understanding yarn counts - what do those numbers mean?
June 20 - 11 AM WeaverSpeak - the challenge of sett - how to determine ends per inch
July 1 - 7 PM Inspiration: Deborah Jarchow shares project ideas from her new book The Weaving Explorer
July 11 - 4 PM WeaverSpeak: Our favorite yarns and where to find them.
July 22 - 7 PM There is a book group discussion with Textile Arts Los Angeles at EXACTLY the same time, so let’s participate in that. The book is The Art Spirit, a classic by Robert Henri.
August 1 - 11 AM Inspiration Anni Albers : tool and textile. We’ll compare and contrast two works by Albers - a multi-layer geometric from her Bauhaus period and a “pictorial weaving” from her time in Connecticut - and discuss the interplay of woven design and loom types.
August 15 - 11 AM WeaverSpeak - Determining how much yarn is needed for a project can be a challenge, but there are worksheets for that. We’ll fill one out together, explaining the reasoning between each step.
September 2 - 7PM Inspiration - We’ll navigate the packed September event calendar for Textile Month Los Angeles and discover what inspires each of us.!
October 3 - 11 AM Inspiration - We’’ll discuss our experiences of Textile Month and share our favorite events.
October 21 - 7 PM Inspiration. “Not Settling” A conversation with Carrie Miller about her evolution as an artist, mother, marketer, volunteer and educator. She shares the ways in which her many roles have brought depth to her artistic work and enhanced her ability to share the arts with others in her community.
November 11 - 7 PM. WeaverSpeak - Robyn Spady, founder and editor of Heddlecraft, accomplished weaver and conference instructor extraordinaire, will share her amazing collection of shuttles with us!
December 5 - 10 AM Inspiration. Our last program of the year is a virtual holiday party of caring and sharing. All are invited to share their gift of a recent discovery that is textile-themed - a project, book, lecture, exhibit…