Registration is open until May 21st.
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As weavers throw the shuttle from side to side, we’re all weaving the cloth of time – the weavers who came before and the weavers who will come after, connected with each pass of the shuttle. Past, present, future.
Join Contemporary Handweavers of Texas for our biennial conference, Nothing but Blue Skies, to celebrate time’s traditions, the essence of weaving and its storied history, and to embrace its future.
Featuring
Keynote Speaker
Learn a new skill or expand a current one in a variety of workshops covering tapestry weaving, dyeing, spinning, floor loom weaving, bead weaving, and design techniques. Exhibit your creations in the Members’ Exhibit and Fashion Show, and dazzle at the work of others. Shop for quality goods in the Vendor Hall, and sell your own work in the Members Sale.
Enjoy the company of fellow weavers and fiber artists, all under the Texas sky. Registration is open!
Registration is Open until May 21st!
Not a member? Join now to register!
Already a member? Login to register!
Venue ~ Houston Marriott Sugar Land
16090 City Walk | Sugar Land, TX 77479 | 281-275-8400
Welcome to a landmark, just 15 minutes southwest of downtown Houston, where contemporary comfort and classic Texas charm converge. The Houston Marriott Sugar Land is located in the heart of the vibrant Sugar Land Town Square, surrounded by fabulous dining and delightful shopping venues all within walking distance.
Explore Sugar Land Town Square
Book your stay and get the conference rate!
Last day to receive the conference room rate is May 10, 2023.
Log-in to see additional information.
Teachers ~ Classes ~ Schedule
Class Unit = 1⁄2 day Extra Class Units = $30
W = Pre-Conference Workshop $250
M = Mini Workshop (Full Day) (2 units)
S = Seminar (Half Day) (1 unit)
Wednesday, May 31, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (W1 starts at 9:00 am)
Thursday, Jun 1, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, Jun 2, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
W1 – Kathrin Weber – Focus on the Warp: Controlling Creative Chaos (starts at 9 a.m. on Wed.)
W2 – Nathalie Miebach – Weaving the Weather
W3 – Molly Elkind – Collage to Cartoon: Designing for Tapestry
W4 – Karen Donde – Houndstooth to Pinwheel: Exploring Color-andWeave Effects
W5 – Barbara Walker – Advanced Ply-Splitting: Interpreting Weaving Techniques
Classes 1:00 pm– 4:00 pm
S1 – Mary Berry – Spinning Skills 201
S2 – Marti Swanson – Needle Felt Landscape
S3 – Lynn Smetko – Design Deliberations and a Design Journey
S4 – Deborah Harrison – Designing and Weaving Rep in Bengaline Fashion
S5 – Laura Viada – The Basics of Transparency Weaving
S6 – Carol Moseley – Beaded Christmas Ornament
Mini-workshops 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
M1 – Karen Donde – Stitching, Twisting, Wrapping: On-Loom Embellishments
M2 – Lynn Williams – The Fiber Artist’s Notebook
M3 – Giovanna Imperia – Wire, Wire and More Wire on the Marudai or Disk
M4 – Molly Elkind – Using Photographs to Design for Tapestry
M5 – Nathalie Miebach – Play Time
M6 – Kathrin Weber – Not Your Grandma’s Dyepot!*
*This class is held offsite at the Sugar Land Art Center.
Classes 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
S7 – Mary Berry – A Taste of Art Yarn
S8 – Marti Swanson – Needle Felt Cacti
S9 – Barbara Walker – Multiple Warp Design
Classes 1:00 am – 4:00 pm
S10 – Mary Berry – Spinning Mohair Neat & Artsy
S11 – Marti Swanson – Wet Felt Vessel
S12 – Barbara Walker – Putting it All Together: Mixed Media and Collaborations
Classes 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
S13 – Mary Berry – Master Your Electric Spinner
S14 – Karen Donde – Making the Numbers Work in Weave Design
S15 – Molly Elkind – Sampling: Your Tapestry Superpower
S16 – Laura Viada – Designing for Transparency Weaving
S17 – Jessica Wilson – Social Media Marketing for Fiber Artists
Members Exhibit and Fashion Show
Entry Deadline Extended to May 1st!
Start those looms, wheels, and dye pots!
Have you been exploring color and are excited about showcasing your discoveries in a new creation? Maybe you have taken a deep dive into a structure that has your creative juices flowing and are ready to take it to the next level. Is there a new pattern that you are dying to interpret in your handwoven fabric?
We all want to see your ideas come to life! Whether you are a beginning, intermediate, or accomplished weaver, this is a wonderful opportunity to display your work. More details will be released during registration, but here are some basic guidelines to help you get started:
Weaving, spinning, dying and felting entries are accepted.
2D and 3D art concept entries in any of the above processes. Household and utilitarian textiles are appropriate.
Wearables that will be featured in the fashion show can include fashion accessories and garments.
Awards will be given. Start today!
Member’s Sale
In addition to many exciting vendors selling fiber arts supplies and handmade items, Nothing but Blue Skies will also feature CHT Member’s Sale! The Vendor Hall and Members’ Sale will be open to the public.
You can download the rules and information about acceptable items. Before submitting the entry form please read the CHT MEMBER SALE RULES. You can download the CATEGORY CODES for items being submitted for reference. Please ready carefully before coding your items.
Vendor Hall
Below are the many exciting vendors selling fiber arts supplies and handmade items. Click the name of each vendor to visit their websites.
Challenge Project: Members’ Exchange Weather Pattern Napkins
Entry Deadline Extended to May 1st!
Texas is the largest state in the continental United States and has a variety of climate zones. In fact, Texas has eight unique climatic zones, creating many types of weather throughout the state. This is the inspiration for our Member’s Exchange Challenge Project. Using the weather as a guide, participants in the exchange will design and weave a set of four napkins inspired by a weather event, occurrence, or pattern. Find out more.
We Love Our Conference Volunteers
The CHT Conference is planned and organized by a team, but needs attendees to serve as volunteers during the event. When our members join us as part of the team then things run smoother, instructors have support, the doors to the Exhibits and our Vendor Hall stay open, people connect, and everyone has a better, more engaged experience. All because someone says, “Yes”.
Learn about the jobs for conference volunteers here.
Where would you like to help? Let us know by completing the Online Volunteer Contact Form (coming soon).
Scholarships
Because the CHT’s mission is to support individuals and guilds in Texas through education and networking of the history, the craft, the art, fashion and innovation in weaving, spinning and related fiber arts techniques, CHT has committed to provide financial scholarships to our members.
The scholarship opens the door to opportunities to learn more about weaving, spinning, and related fiber arts techniques and share that knowledge with the CHT community.
Learn more about our scholarship programs here.
Need help?
Here is a list of common problems and issues with conference registration.
- What dates do I need to keep in mind?
- Priority registration for current members opens Feb 1, 2023 at 10a.
- General registration opens for new members on Feb 14, 2023 at 10a.
- Last day to sign up for the Members’ Exchange, Members’ Sale, Members’ Exhibit, and the Fashion Show is April 15, 2023.
- The last day to withdraw and receive a refund is April 30, 2023. Withdrawal before April 30, 2023 are subject to an administrative fee ($15).
- Last day to make reservations at the conference hotel, Houston Marriott Sugar Land, and receive the special room rate is May 10, 2023.
- Conference registrations after April 30, 2023 will incur a $50 late fee. Registration will be open until May 21, 2023.
- See the CHT 2023 Registration Booklet for additional deadlines.
- I can’t see registration/entry form buttons on the website – The buttons will not appear for members until Feb 1, 2023 at 10a, and you must be a current member prior to Jan 15, 2023 to see the buttons, and furthermore you must be logged in to see any of the buttons for conference registration, fashion show, members’ exhibit, members’ exchange, etc. Your first step is to log in. If you still don’t see the buttons, you may need to clear your browser cache. Here are instructions for Safari on iPhone, Safari on Mac, Chrome and Firefox.
- I forgot/my dog ate/my cat chewed my password and I can’t login – you can reset your password by selecting the Lost Your Password? link at the bottom of the login screen. If you still have trouble, contact Nancy using this form by selecting the subject “Membership.”
- I want to join, but the website won’t let me – memberships are closed to new members between Jan 15 and Feb 14, 2023 to provide existing members priority registration.
- I already registered for the conference, I need to change or add something/I never got a confirmation email/something went wrong – you can contact Rebecca using this form and selecting the subject “Conference.”
- The website is displaying unintelligible gibberish/gives me an error message/won’t display anything – well I guess you can’t see this note either, but if you read this far, keep this in your back pocket … you will want to contact Laura using this form and selecting the subject “Website.”
Below are the main contacts for the various conference activities. You will only be able to see them if you are a member and logged in.