AMERICAN TAPESTRY ALLIANCE (ATA) is a non-profit organization which provides programming, grants, scholarships and opportunities for tapestry weavers around the world. In 2015 I participated in an ATA thinktank whose goal was to research approaches to appealing to new weavers. One of the ideas that grew out of that conversation was a social media tour, and since then I’ve hosted one every two years.

The Tapestry Media Tour runs in anticipation of ATA’s biennial international, unjuried small format exhibition. And well, It’s that time again! Join me and six other weavers on Instagram for American Tapestry Alliance’s 3rd Tapestry Media tour...this year's theme: Weaving Small.

Beginning January 20th join us every day for a week Instagram, as we share our approach to weaving small format tapestries. To increase your chances of winning one of 22 prizes follow all the stops on Instagram at @rebeccamezofftapestry @sarahcswett @bridgetcetera @pattikart @mirrixlooms @kathetoddhooker and @everlea_yarn
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Prizes include, 1) one of five mini Hello Looms, 2) Rebecca Mezoff’s online Mini Looms course, 3) a three-month subscription to the online textile school @SchoolOfSweetgeorgia, 4) one of five Hokett Tiny Turned Beaters 5) one of five free entries into @AmericanTapestryAlliance’s Renditions 2020, ATA’s 13th international, unjuried, small format exhibition, and 6) one of five free one-year memberships to American Tapestry Alliance.

Here’s how to enter to win. 1) Follow @americantapestryalliance 2) Beginning January 20th, follow and comment on each stop on the tour for one entry at each of the seven stops.
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The Tapestry Media Tour is our way of encouraging you to exhibit with us! Renditions 2020 is ATA’s 13th international, unjuried small format exhibition and is open to all tapestry weavers around the world, new and seasoned. Find more details about entry into Renditions 2020 HERE.

Tapestry is a weft-faced cloth. Wefts are laid into the warp as the weaver desires, and packed by beating them down until the warp thread is covered. Tapestry is usually a simple two-shed process: only the colours change. Traditional French tapestry techniques become knowledge that frees up artistic expression: one is always learning. This course explores pictorial possibilities of the woven grid within your chosen colour palette. It is an opportunity to begin a new tapestry. You will explore solutions to both technical and aesthetic challenges. Your tapestry may be completed at home, subsequent to the classes, with materials provided.At the first class, each student will be offered to choose their tapestry materials from a selection of SWS\Sanjo silks of various textures in natural colours, and\or DMC Article 478 from France, in limited colour ways. For example, at our last class, we had a basket of pre-wound yarns to choose from (in black-white-grey-pink-blue palette) included in the course price. Optional colour choices may be purchased at $12-16 per ball.
This course is suited to your level of experience. Beginners, you will try out techniques on a pre-warped loom following a traditional sampler. Experienced weavers are encouraged to bring a black-and-white working drawing or trace a photo that inspires- it will serve as concept for your experiments.
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Class size is limited to 5, allowing more personal instruction.
This course will take place on 3 consecutive Thursday evenings: February 6, 13 and 20th, 2020, from 6:30-9 pm. You may register at Eventbrite:( see link below).
​Course price only (bring your own warped loom, tools and yarn to the classroom): $195

If you need a loom, the cost will be an additional $140, please contact silkweave@telus.net to get it ordered before the class starts.

Ruth Jones is an Aubusson-trained tapestry designer and weaver with a background in Classics and Fine Arts. She believes that patience, required for skill-building, pays off in gained visual and manual dexterity.



 To register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tapestry-weaving-with-ruth-jones-tickets-84034590723