When Deborah discovered weaving in 1996, her life-long love of fiber, texture, and color came together and she soon became a full time weaver. Since then she has created hundreds of garments and accessories for sale and her work has appeared in many national and international exhibits. Although known mostly for her success with rayon chenille wearable art, she weaves many different one-of-a kind items including large scale commissioned wall pieces. She has won numerous awards and has written articles for Handwoven Magazine. Since 2004 she has been an Artist-in-Residence, a teacher, and weaver at Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo, CA. where she was instrumental in developing the Fiber Art Studio. Deborah gives programs and teaches workshops for conferences, guilds and fiber groups. Classes are offered frequently at Studio Channel Islands Art Center. Please check the website, www.studiochannelislands.org, for a current schedule.

UPCOMING CLASSES

May 11, 2010, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
Using Double Heddles on the Rigid Heddle Loom – Weave a Chenille Scarf

May 23, 2010, Newtons Knits, Anaheim, CA
Weave a Color Sampler on the Rigid Heddle Loom

June 23, 2010, Anacapa Fine Yarns, Ventura, CA
Kumihimo Flat Braid

June 27, 2010, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
Weave a Color Sampler on the Rigid Heddle Loom

July 28 & Aug 11, 2010, Anacapa Fine Yarns, Ventura, CA
Weave a Shawl/Poncho on the Rigid Heddle loom

August 8, 2010, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving

Aug 31 & Sept 14, 2010 Anacapa Fine Yarns, Ventura, CA
Weave a Kimono Style Garment on the Rigid Heddle Loom

Sept 18 & 19, 2010 Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
Beginning 4 Harness Loom Weaving

Sept 26 & Oct 10, 2010 Newtons Knits, Anaheim, CA
Weave a Kimono Style Garment on the Rigid Heddle Loom

October 16 & 17, 2010 Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
Weave a Chenille Scarf on the 4 Harness Loom

SEMINARS OR GUILD PROGRAMS:
Taught at Studio Channel Islands Art Center or at your Guild or Conference

Rayon Chenille and Beyond
In this program I talk about the characteristics of rayon chenille and how understanding its structure makes weaving with chenille easier. I give tips for working with it and show and discuss various items I’ve woven with it. I’ll bring samples of my work showing chenille with beads or sequins woven into the fabric as well as samples showing differential shrinkage using chenille and wool or chenille and elastic. Set up - For this seminar I need only a table to place my samples on.

It’s All In Your Perspective
Make Discoveries, Not Mistakes - It happens to everyone. The project we work so hard on turns out totally different from what we envisioned. Don’t despair! We’ll talk about ways to make “mistakes” into springboards for future projects. I’ll show some of my past bloopers that turned into valuable pieces or were responsible for a new direction in my work. Students are encouraged to bring in projects that have gone awry for discussion. Set up - A table to place display and discussion items on.

Weaving Tips and Tricks
In this seminar, I will share many things I’ve learned to make weaving easier and more fun. These are methods I’ve worked out for myself as well as what other weavers have shared with me, so generally everyone is able to pick up at least a few things that they can use. I bring a small loom so I can demonstrate the things I talk about. Set up – a table to place the loom on.

3 – 4 HOUR WORKSHOPS:
Warping Front to Back
Learning to comfortably warp the loom is the foundation of weaving. We will warp a loom from front to back in this demonstration class, going through all the necessary steps to creating a consistent base for your weaving. Set up – we need a loom, warping reel or board and various weaving tools. Maximum number of students 15 Ability level all.

Warping Back to Front
Learning to comfortably warp the loom is the foundation of weaving. We will warp a loom from back to front in this demonstration class, going through all the necessary steps to creating a consistent base for your weaving. Set up – we need a loom, warping reel or board and various weaving tools. Maximum number of students 15 Ability level all.

Tie on a New Warp the Easy Way
For anyone that plans to use the same threading for more than one project, tying on a warp makes the job much easier. Students can learn a relatively simple method for setting up their loom so adding a new warp is very easy and threading errors can be eliminated. As a team, we will warp and thread the loom. Everyone in the class will participate in winding the warp on a reel, front to back warping, and tying on the new warp. Set up – I need a loom, warping reel and various weaving tools. The room needs to have two tables, one for the warping reel and one for the table loom. Maximum/minimum number of students 14 Maximum Ability level all.

Beginning Kumihimo
Japanese Braiding on a Card - Learn the basics of this Japanese braiding technique. Make colorful braids for use as bracelets, necklaces, eyeglass cords, drapery tiebacks, and other uses of cords. You will be provided with a set of kumihimo cards, instruction booklet, and some yarn to get started. Materials fee - $20.00. Set up – tables to sit at. Maximum 12 Ability level all.

1 DAY WORKSHOPS:
Make “Friends” From Your Odds & Ends
Do you have many bits of yarn, thread, lace, beads, fabric scraps and miscellaneous things you can’t bear to part with but don’t know how to use? In this workshop we will use up lots of those supplies to create dolls for decorations, lapel pins, ornaments, gift ties, etc. Let your imagination run wild! Think of the satisfaction in finding a use for all the orphan supplies in your drawers by creating little families of friendly figures. Set up – table for samples and supplies, tables for students to work at Materials fee $8.00. Maximum/minimum number of students 18 maximum Ability level all. This workshop can also be shortened to a 3 – 4 hour workshop.

Learn to Use a Rigid Heddle Loom and Use Up Your Stash.
This method of weaving is fast and easy to learn. In this class, you will learn to set up the small rigid heddle loom and weave at least one scarf. Once you’ve learned the technique, you can complete a scarf in just a few hours. Think of all the last minute holiday gifts you can make while enjoying your yarns in a new way. This exciting way to make use of fancy and fun yarns is quick and easy, with the same portability as knitting. Set up – tables to sit at. Maximum 12. Ability level all.

Log Cabin on the Rigid Heddle
Make a scarf or table runner in the beautiful log cabin pattern using a rigid heddle loom. You can create a wonderful woven piece that looks complicated, but is really very easy. If you’ve taken beginning rigid heddle weaving, enhance your skills. If you still haven’t tried this exciting fiber technique, now is the time to begin! This type of weaving is portable, easy and fun. Set up – 6’ x 2’ table minimum per 2 students. Maximum 12. Ability level – all

Color and Weave Effects on the Rigid Heddle
Learn to get outstanding color pattern effects using a rigid heddle loom. Make your weaving look like complicated patterns with very little effort. Set up – 6 x 2’ table minimum per 2 students. Maximum 15. Ability level all.

Open Weave Felted Scarf on the Rigid Heddle
Make a scarf with a lovely open pattern using a rigid heddle loom and wool. You can create a wonderful woven piece that looks complicated, but is really very easy. If you’ve taken beginning rigid heddle weaving, enhance your skills. If you still haven’t tried this exciting fiber technique, now is the time to begin! This type of weaving is portable, easy and fun. Set up — 6’ x 2’ table minimum per 2 students. Maximum 14.

2 OR 3 DAY WORKSHOPS:
Beginning Weaving

If you’ve decided to learn to weave on a 4 harness loom, this is the class for you. You will learn the basics of weaving by preparing the warp, warping your loom from front to back, weaving your sampler and finishing the fabric. Learn to weave and receive many weaving tips during the workshop. You will receive a booklet with complete instructions for setting up and weaving your project along with a goody bag of weaving supplies. Set up – Room large enough to accommodate students looms, warping reels and boards, display table. Material fee $25.00. Maximum/minimum number of students 18 maximum.

Weaving a Rayon Chenille Scarf
If you’ve always wanted to weave with chenille on a 4 harness loom but have been afraid to try, now is your chance! Students will learn about challenges of working with rayon chenille and ways to overcome some of the difficulties. Rayon chenille will be provided for the students to use. The class will alternate between lecture and hands-on activity as we discuss the process and then go about weaving our scarves. Set up – Room large enough to accommodate students looms, warping reels and boards, and display table. We will need access to a nearby washer and dryer. (A Laundromat will be fine.) Material fee $50.00 per student Maximum/minimum number of students 18 maximum Ability level: beginning and beyond weavers, but must have some knowledge/experience with weaving.

Weaving a Chenille Scarf with Puffs
Outstanding effects can be achieved when using both rayon chenille and elastic fibers for differential shrinkage. Combining lecture and hands-on activity, students will learn about the characteristics of rayon chenille, some methods to make weaving with it easier, and how to incorporate stretchy fibers into the weaving to create a puff effect in their scarf. Rayon chenille will be provided for the students to use. The class will alternate between lecture and hands-on activity. Set up – Room large enough to accommodate students 4 harness looms, warping reels and boards, and display table. We will need access to a nearby washer and dryer. (A Laundromat will be fine.) Material fee $50.00 per student. Maximum/minimum number of students 18 maximum. Ability level: beginning and beyond weavers, but must have some knowledge/experience with weaving.

Weave a Color Gamp
Are you unsure how the colors in your warp will mix with the colors in your weft? Participate in this workshop and develop a better understanding of weaving with color. The class alternates between lecture and hands-on activity as we discuss the process and then weave our color gamps on 4 harness looms. Set up – Room large enough for students looms, warping reels/boards, and display table. Material fee $50.00 per student (all yarn provided) Maximum /minimum number of students 18 maximum. Ability level: must know how to weave (can be relatively new weaver).

Weave a Pattern Gamp
Learn how different threadings create different patterns depending on the treadling you use on a 4 harness loom. In this class you will weave a sampler with several patterns. Ability level: beginning and beyond weavers, but must have some knowledge/experience with weaving. Maximum 12. $35.00 materials fee.

Weaving Round Robin
Expand your weaving skills! Each participant will thread a 4 harness loom with a different pattern or weave structure prior to the class. During the class everyone will have the opportunity to weave on every loom and take home a sample book of all the structures and patterns discussed in the class. Maximum 15.

DEBORAH HAS TAUGHT AT:
Convergence 2008, Tampa, FL
Association of Southern California Handweavers Regional Converence 2009, Riverside, CA
Association of Southern California Handweavers Regional Conference 2007, Visalia, CA


Numerous fiber organizations including:

Ventura Co. Handweavers & Spinners Guild, Oxnard, CA
Santa Barbara Fiber Arts Guild, Santa Barbara, CA
Palomar Weavers and Spinners Guild, Fallbrook, CA
South Coast Weavers, Irvine, CA
Inland Empire Handweavers, Covina, CA
Bobbinwinders, Pomona, CA
Weavers of the Valley, Exetur, CA
San Diego Weavers Guild, San Diego, CA
Southern California Handweavers, Los Angeles, CA
Anacapa Fine Yarn Shop, Ventura, CA
Bishop Yarn Shop, Chatsworth, CA
Temple Beth Torah, Ventura, CA
Newtons Knits, Anaheim, CA