The Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild is dedicated to the promotion of all fiber arts techniques and skill levels. Our members are involved in many fiber and needlework disciplines that include:
- fabric and fiber dyeing
- beading and embellishment
- crochet
- embroidery
- felting
- knitting
- quilting
- raising animals for their fleece
- rug hooking
- spinning
- tatting
- weaving
- and other needle arts and fiber embellishing
Monthly guild meetings are held the first Saturday of each month, excluding December. Meetings include a program on a fiber art topic along with a short business meeting.
Past programs have included topics such as spinning with a drop spindle and carding art batts, knitting with beads, fiber from angora rabbits, needle felting, card weaving, fiber embellishments with free-motion sewing, triangle loom weaving and hairpin lace. The program format can be a demonstration of a current fiber technique, a presentation on a time-honored craft or a hands-on Make-It / Take-It project.
Past programs have included topics such as spinning with a drop spindle and carding art batts, knitting with beads, fiber from angora rabbits, needle felting, card weaving, fiber embellishments with free-motion sewing, triangle loom weaving and hairpin lace. The program format can be a demonstration of a current fiber technique, a presentation on a time-honored craft or a hands-on Make-It / Take-It project.
Starting in 2009, the Guild has issued an annual Guild Challenge that encourages members to expand their skills and explore new techniques by creating a fiber art piece directed by certain parameters and a theme. Most recent Guild Challenges were "The Power of the Pocket" and "Fiber and Caffeine get me going...". Monthly programs often support the themes and requirements for the Challenges to assist members with design, inspiration, construction methods, and engaging their minds to "think outside the box."
The Guild also sponsors workshops by local and national instructors in various fiber arts fields. Previous workshops included Inkle Loom Doll with Character, Yarn Fabrication: Free-motion sewing with Yarn, Nuno Felting and Hand Dyeing Yarns and Roving.
As a means of giving back to the local community, members provide demonstrations on fiber arts at schools, children's museums and community events. The Guild also adopts a yearly community service project.
As a means of giving back to the local community, members provide demonstrations on fiber arts at schools, children's museums and community events. The Guild also adopts a yearly community service project.
Other guild membership benefits include:
- inspiring Show and Tell by guild members,
- invitations to special guild activities,
- participation in regional fiber arts events,
- members-only discounts for workshops,
- discounts at craft, yarn and fabric stores,
- special magazine subscription rates on fiber-related publications (through Interweave Press),
- the camaraderie and support of like-minded fiber arts enthusiasts.
Guild membership is $15, and is due in November for the following calendar year. This is a bargain at twice the price! New members can join at any time. First-time membership paid at or after the July guild meeting is half price.
For specific questions, please e-mail rbfiberarts@gmail.com. We hope to see you at a future meeting! And, bring along something for Show and Tell.
