A lot has been going on here at the Textile Center since our last news update.

What's showing in the Joan Mondale Gallery?

Our current show, Beads of Whimsy (March 7 - April 12, 2008), has received a great response from the public. Be sure not too miss this amazing exhibit showcasing artists from all over the world.

We would like to congratulate the Beads of Whimsy award winners.

Valerie LB Kuzma
First Place
Wearable - Jewelry
Sponsor: Nordic Gypsy

Carole Horn
Second Place
Wearable - Jewelry
Sponsor: Nordic Gypsy

Maggie Hamel McCloud
Third Place
Wearable - Jewelry
Sponsor: Nordic Gypsy

Brenda Brousseau
First Place
Wearable - Other
Sponsor: Kalmbach Publishing/ Bead & Button Magazine

Kelly Dorman
Second Place
Wearable - Other
Sponsor: Kalmbach Publishing/ Bead & Button Magazine

Terry Steen
Third Place
Wearable - Other
Sponsor: Kalmbach Publishing/ Bead & Button Magazine

Laura Leonard
First Place
Non-wearable - 3D
Sponsor: Beadbury

Diane Fitzgerald
Second Place
Non-wearable - 3D
Sponsor: Beadbury

Julie Fletcher
Third Place
Non-wearable - 3D
Sponsor: Beadbury

Samara Kaufman
First Place
Non-wearable - Flat

Frances Holliday Alford
Second Place
Non-wearable - Flat

Karyl L. Lynch
Third Place
Non-wearable - Flat

Jennifer Hastings
Best of Show
Non-wearable - 3D
Sponsor: Storm Cloud Trading Co.

Evelyn Letfuss
Juror’s Choice
Wearable - Jewelry
Sponsor: Nordic Gypsy

Also, It's Spring time in the shop!

It's that time of year again! Our newest group of artists for 2008 have been selected and are busy creating their inventory! Many of our favorite artists are returning for another year and are in the process of updating to a spring inventory. Be sure to come in and check out all the new items!

Kristin Nicholas will be visiting the Textile Center on Friday February 15 at 7:00 pm to give a lecture and sign her books! We are delighted that she is coming and hope you are too.

KRISTIN NICHOLAS: THE JOY OF COLOR
Join handknitting designer and author Kristin Nicholas as she talks about her new book Kristin Knits, and the joyful color palette she employs in her unique designs. Her patterns are inspired by ethnic textiles, nature, and the world around her. Julia, her signature blend of wool, alpaca, and kid mohair is featured in her book and her designs. Believing that everyone can have fun with color, Nicholas encourages knitters and fiber artists everywhere to develop personally inspiring palettes for every project.

BIO
Kristin Nicholas is a knitwear designer and decorative artist who lives, designs, and writes in the hills of Western Massachusetts. Her mediums of self-expression include stitchery, knitting, painting, interior design, sewing home furnishings, ceramics, and gardening. She brings her love of color and its possibilities to each of these pursuits. Nicholas was named one of Vogue Knitting's Master Knitters of the '90's and has designed knitwear for Vogue Knitting, and other major magazines. She is the author of Colorful Stitchery, Kids' Embroidery, Knitting Beautiful Classics, and Knitting the New Classics.

In just a few days, A Common Thread, our annual members show, will open in the Joan Mondale Gallery. Hopefully you have seen this fantastic postcard in your mailbox and you are as excited as we are to see the show. The piece featured on the postcard is by Anna Carlson and is titled "Cloud Forest". It is a digital print on fabric that has been cut and stitched. You can see it in person when the show opens January 11. Please plan to come to the opening reception that evening where we will be serving wine, cheese and other goodies.

Also new this year, we have moved the Textile Center's Annual Meeting up to coincide with the opening for the members show. Two great events for our members on the same night! The Annual Meeting will start at 7:00 pm on January 11 and we will be electing the Board of Directors for the coming year and presenting a Spun Gold Award to an outstanding member of the textile community.

Wishing the very happiest New Year to all who support Textile Center.
-- Textile Center Staff

A Few News updates!

Don't miss the Holiday Show & Sale in the shop & gallery throughout December. We are also open on Sundays just for the holidays so you have more time to shop.

We are pleased to welcome three great visiting artists for Winter/Spring. Claire Benn, Stephanie Eddy and Donna Kallner will all be joining us. Go to the Classes & Workshops page for complete details.

Come on December 2 for free kids activites! Adults can shop in the holiday show, kids can make gifts for dad, grandma and more. Projects for ages 3 and up. Robot keychains, pom pom ornaments, gift card holders and more!

Now available in the Textile Center Shop, Susan Stein's new book "Fabric Art Workshop". And even better than that, we have a collection of Susan's art quilts for sale, some of which are featured in the book! You could own the piece on page 118! Take home a book and a one-of-a-kind art piece. Susan will be here to sign books at our Holiday Show opening reception on November 9 and 10.

Here is our new Artist-in-Residence, Candy Kuehn hard at work! Renee Stevens took advantage of our new "Dye Lab Thursdays" punch card to get some one-on-one work time with Candy. Don't they look like they are having fun? You could be there too!
Visit the Artist in Residence page on our website to learn all about it.

Here's a sneak peak at some gorgeous Artwear! This is Jungle Kimono by Laurie Schafer. You can see more than 150 garments to make you swoon, but only if you come to Artwear in Motion on October 13.

You can still get your tickets for Artwear in Motion, but you should hurry. The shows are starting to fill up.

Get your tickets today! Artwear in Motion tickets are now on sale for the Runway and Matinee shows October 13. Tickets range from $20-$50. Call for details and to reserve your seats for the most exciting artwear fashion show of the year!
For Tickets: 612-436-0464
Matinee $30/$20 Evening Gala $50/$40
Artwear in Motion Boutique opens at 2:30 full of artwear and one-of-a-kind accessories.

Those lovely toes are modeling "Silk Stockings" from Annie Modesitt's new book, Romantic Hand Knits. Come see many projects from the book up close and personal on display in our Library right now.

Don't miss seeing Annie Modesitt at the Textile Center on Friday. She will be speaking and signing books at a fundraising event for the Textile Center Library.

Friday August 24, 6:00 pm
Tickets $20, in advance or at the door

Annie's new book will be available for sale and signing at the event. Don't miss treats for knitters in our shop as well! We will be featuring other Annie Modesitt books as well as handspun yarn, knitting themed pins and handmade knitting needles in the Textile Center Shop.

We are happy to welcome the St. Paul Craft Mafia to the Textile Center Community Gallery. The Craft Mafia presents "The St Paul Craft Mafia's Kitchen" from August 19-September 1. Aprons, sock monkeys, and tasty textile treats have made their way to the walls and spaces of the corridor gallery. Stop by and see what's cooking!

Dr. InRyu Choi speaks with a visitor on Monday night.

Dr. Choi presented a lecture to a fascinated audience, discussing Korean textile traditions. She brought gorgeous samples of her textile work and wore a beautiful gown made from fabric of her own design. It was a delight to have her visit.

Join us Friday August 17 at 6:30 for a celebration of "Hot Art, Cool Jazz". See the show "Spirals in Space and Time: The Art of Leslie Bohnenkamp" in the Joan Mondale gallery, meet "Artwear in Motion" up close and personal and listen to Christine Rosholt singing jazz standards in our transformed auditorium "club". Call to reserve your place 612-436-0464. This is a fun and entertaining evening and proceeds benefit our Gallery Endowment.

Spirals in Space and Time opens August 10.

Check out the July/August issue of MARQ magazine! Not a subscriber? Then come into the Textile Center Shop, see the article and photo and Ziya Tarapore's amazing wooden bowls in person! Ziya uses a batik method to dye her wood - a technique usually seen only in textiles - and achieves phenomenal designs and colors.

From MARQ Magazine's website:
"MARQ is the finest luxury magazine in Minnesota. It's all about personal style, exquisite design, fabulous places and pure inspiration. Relax and enjoy an insider's view of the finest goods, the finest restaurants and the finest luxury services available locally,.....The magazine staff collects the very best for our readers, making MARQ truly a cut above the ordinary."

They certainly recognized the "personal style, exquisite design...and pure inspiration" of Ziya's work!

Congratulations, Candy Kuehn! Candy's piece, "Tree Coat & Hat", has won the Juror's Award for "Nothing New: Fiber Art from Recycled Materials"! Be sure to stop in and see this marvelous creation up close! "Nothing New: Fiber Art from Recycled Materials" will be in the Joan Mondale Gallery through August 7, 2007.

I would like to invite teachers to submit their class proposals for classes to be included in the September-December Fall class schedule at the Textile Center. To submit a proposal, please email the following information:
1. Title and Short Description of the class including summary of what students will be doing in class and what they will leave class having accomplished or learned.

2. Class schedule - how many hours or sessions needed for class. Example: "Class meets 3 hours once a week for 3 weeks" or "Class meets 6 hours one day".

3. A short bio of the teacher - who you are and your teaching experience.

Email this information to Becka Rahn by July 11 2007.
Proposals for classes in all textile techniques are welcome. Classes will be selected based on a variety of factors including student interest, fit with our mission/curriculum goals, fit in to schedule and more. You will be contacted via email about your proposal as soon as possible after July 11.

Two Spun Gold awards were presented at a reception held on June 14 for the From Gee's Bend to Here: African American Quilt Exhibit. Dorothy Lawson accepted the award for honoree Wilma Gary and Thelma Battle Buckner serenaded the crowd with "Amazing Grace" after accepting her award.

Our Volunteers of the Year were all smiles as they accepted their awards at this year's Volunteer Recognition Dinner held on June 5. Many of our fabulous volunteers came for dinner, awards and door prizes. This year's new "Textile Tool", a folding seam ripper, was recieved with "ooohs" and "ahhh's".
Pictured: Sheryl Schwyhart, Michelle Germanson, Nancy Fulton, Mary Mortenson, Carly Stipe and Sue Wilson.

You can make your own felted sushi if you come to summer camp at the Textile Center. "Journey to Japan" was a huge hit last year and so we brought it back with even more fun Japanese-inspired art. We still have space in this camp and many others (sorry, kids only!). Click on Classes & Workshops to read more. Just call us to register and don't miss out on the fun.

The Textile Center has a need for a qualified electrician who can assist us by replacing the ballast in a couple of light fixtures in the Auditorium. If you are such an electrician, or know someone who can do this, please contact John Stein, our Building Manager, 612-436-0464 or jstein@textilecentermn.org.

The Textile Center offices will be closed on Monday May 28 to observe the Memorial Day holiday. Have a great weekend!

The Textile Center was pleased to award weaver Anna Smits with a Spun Gold award as a part of our annual meeting festivities on May 12. Anna talked about her life and shared fond memories of weaving and teaching. We were delighted to have her with us. Thank you to all of the guilds, members and vendors who attended.

Thank you to everyone who attended the opening reception for Rebozos de Tenancingo on Friday May 4. We enjoyed fabulous guitar music and an absolutely inspiring talk by Senor Erasto Garces. Don't miss your chance to see these amazing shawls on display in the Gallery through June 15, 2007. We also have shawls for sale in the Shop. It is truly a once in a lifetime chance to own one of these works of art.

Here is Becka at the Craftstravaganza on Saturday. The Craftstravaganza organizers estimate that 5000 people made their way through the art and craft show throughout the day. Many of them stopped for hands-on activities and demos with the Textile Mobile. Becka and a friend are making felted wool snakes.

This is a new page for all current events at the Textile Center. We have decided to try out this new blog format as a way to keep you up to date on everything that is going on. Old news will be at the bottom of the page and new news will pop up on the top. You can even subscribe to Textile Center news via RSS feed by clicking on that link over on the left.