Happy 2012!! The group decided they like to be challenged with a project for the year. This year we are going to be using Nevada County as an inspiration for a woven piece. This is pretty wide open - it can be colors, structure or pattern that is "representative" of a scene, activity or feeling about the County.
We did something like this in 2007 when we created a perpetual calendar inspired by the County. There were pieces that evoke the local flora but many were inspired by our gold history. My piece from that project was inspired by Malokoff Diggins State Park. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=494 This is a place where one can see the effects of hydrolic mining from the late 1800's. It was a shadow weave pattern using 10/2 cotton.
I'm not sure what will inspire me this year, but I am sure that the group will produce many creative and unusual pieces.
We are working with the County Fair Board to introduce a new catagory in the Wool Division for the Fair in August. This category would be for a finished item that is inpsired by our County - handwoven or hand knit using handspun yarn. This will be something to look forward to this summer.
