Whatcom Weavers Guild
Acceptance Criteria for entries to the annual Fibers and Beyond Show and Sale - 2009
Concept:
The Annual Show and Sale is the showcase for the great work created by the members of the Guild. In its tenth year of operation, it has gained a reputation for professionalism and quality handmade work, where clients can find unusual and well-made articles which they can take pride in owning or giving as gifts.
Weaving is the primary interest of the WWG, with all its related skills, such as spinning and dyeing of yarns. The Guild also advocates the education and promotion of weaving in the community.
Many of the Guild’s members have expanded their creative skills into other areas, such as knitting and crochet, basketry, jewelry making, beadwork, metalwork, handmade paper products, needlework and quilting.
Although the major offering of Fibers and Beyond is education, display and sale of hand-woven product and its related accessories, the Guild includes other categories to showcase other types of items which are also created by its members. These categories are reviewed annually for appropriateness.
Acceptable categories of product:
Handspun, hand-dyed yarn and fleece
Hand-woven products – wearable and household items
Weaving accessories – items created by the Guild member for the use of weavers in their work
Basketry – all forms of hand-made basketry
Knitted and crocheted products – wearable and household items made from quality yarn
Jewelry – hand-strung, beaded, woven, metalwork
Beadwork – hand-strung beaded bags, belts, scarves
Paper products – handmade paper cards
Quilts – may be machine or hand-sewn by the artist, or a combination of both. Hand sewing and hand-crafted embellishment is encouraged.
Felted product – bags, hats, toys. Felted work must be totally created by hand from basic yarn/fiber.
Fiber art items
Hand-crafted metal and woodwork related to fiber products – for example, hand-finished napkin rings displayed with hand-woven napkins.
Process:
All items submitted for the event will be reviewed by an Acceptance Committee for quality, appropriateness and professional finish.
The Acceptance Committee will consist of a number of Guild members who are generally considered particularly knowledgeable in one of the main categories (weaving, basketry, jewelry, knitting, etc.).
For any item which is rejected by the Acceptance Committee, the appropriate committee member will complete a rejection form, giving the reason for rejection and positive suggestions for improvement.
Given the need to keep a balance between weaving and other product, not all items submitted may be included in the event. This is the responsibility of the Acceptance Committee to decide.