October 2024
Program and Workshops
Geri Forkner
The Artist:
Geri Forkner, a renowned artist and instructor, creates felted and woven works of art from her studio in East Tennessee. With her extensive experience and international teaching, she brings a wealth of knowledge to each workshop. Geri was awarded an Appalachian Craft and Culture Fellowship at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and her award-winning art is in museum collections. She was the driving force behind the off-site exhibits at the Handweavers Guild of America’s Convergence in Knoxville, TN in 2020. As a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Geri cherishes the old traditions and skills while using fibers in innovative ways.
Guild Meeting/Program: Traditional Techniques
Geri Forkner has traveled to countries in South East and Central Asia, Peru, and Hungary in search of traditional fiber processes. As of this writing, she has a trip planned to weave with traditional Navajo weavers in Canyon de Chelly in April. So forget jet lag on those multi-leg flights to Uzbekistan, Thailand, and the Southern Hemisphere. Join Geri on a whirlwind tour to see traditional weaving, felting, spinning, and dyeing along with the countryside that influences the artists. Textiles from each country will be available to view first hand!
Date/Time: October 12, 2024 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)
Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Mini Workshop: Felted Bead Workshop
Felted beads can be a colorful and unique addition to any wardrobe, used as buttons, or just sit in a bowl and look beautiful. In this class, we’ll make wet felted beads of several sizes, shapes and colors. Demonstrations will include ways to embellish with beads and yarns, and ways to tie-dye them. This is a fun and creative class.
Date/Time: October 12, 2024 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Mini Workshop Fee: Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $50.00
Student’s Materials Fee: $5
Student Supply List:
- Towel
- Open container – size: about 6 cups
- Bubble wrap approximately 12 x 24″
- Three pencils or chopsticks – anything pencil-size
Extended Workshop (2 Days): Weaving for Felt
Fabulous textures can be created by laminating wool fibers to cloth with nuno felting. This class combines two of fiber arts’ best techniques to create new textures that no other method matches. We will begin by breaking all the weaving rules to create a delicate web of cloth. This is a great time to use a mixed warp of everything but the kitchen sink. We’ll take cloth off the loom, add luxurious merino wool fibers, then wet felt everything together. Forget everything you’ve heard about hours of rolling and don’t worry if you’ve never felted before. Good results are guaranteed. You’ll go home with a wonderful scarf-sized piece plus the inspiration and knowledge to create something new. Beginner to advanced in either technique will love this combination. My article about this technique can be found in the May/June 2013 issue of Handwoven magazine.
Date/Time: October 13-14, 2024 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: PFAG Studio: 11810 Parklawn Dr Suite 204 #11, Rockville, MD 20852
Workshop Fee: Members: $160.00 Non-Members: $220.00
Student’s Materials Fee: $25
Student Supply List:
Rigid Heddle or Floor loom, 15″ min-width
Weaving tools:
Threading hook
Bobbins
Bobbin winder
Shuttles
Scissors
3 or 4 stocking legs to be used as ties
½ length pool noodle
Open container – size: small, 6 to 8 cups
Bubble wrap 18” x 3 yards – small bubbles
Small bottle of dish soap
Hotel-size bar of soap
Felting tools student already owns (e.g., ball brauser, rubbing tool–helpful but no need to purchase)
Homework: Specific directions to wind a warp will be sent to registered students before the workshop.
Extended Workshop (1 Day): Introduction to Electronic Textiles
Light up your weaving projects with LEDs for a bit of attention-getting glitz. Add a simple LED electric circuit by stitching with conductive thread to your class project or bring a small pouch or 12″ x 3” woven piece. We will add an on-off switch with a regular snap. Class will include an introduction to the rapidly growing field of electronic textiles; no computer programming or special skills are required.
Date/Time: October 15, 2024 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: PFAG Studio: 11810 Parklawn Dr Suite 204 #11, Rockville, MD 20852
Workshop Fee: Members: $80.00 Non-Members: $110.00
Student’s Materials Fee: $5
Student Supply List:
Scissors
Personal sewing kit
12″ x 3″ min woven or felted sample
Students may choose to use the scarf made in 2-day workshop
