2026 HGB Show & Sale Showcase
WORKING COPY – NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
FINAL TO BE PUBLISHED OCTOBER 15
OR AS SOON AFTER ACCEPTANCE LETTERS ARE SENT TO APPLICANTS
QUESTIONS? salepub@handweaversofboulder.org
Artistic Endeavors
The Juror’s Choice award announced at the Member Reception – November 3, 2026
The People’s Choice Award announced at the Show & Sale – November 8, 2026
- 2026 Showcase Theme: VIVID A Celebration of Color
Color is used in art to evoke mood and shape perceptions. It creates depth, light and shadow. Use of color strategically involves mixing, combining, and arranging color to create harmony or contrast.This year’s Showcase focus will be the use of intensity, the vividness of color, to evoke an emotional response in the viewer.
Low intensity colors may be calming or serene. These are exemplified by cool blues, purples and greens often associated with water, sky, mountains, earth and ice.
High intensity colors may be energetic, happy and bright. They are associated with the reds, oranges and yellows of heat, sun, and fire.
In your artist statement, explain how your use of color helped define the feelings that you wish to convey with your fiber art.
Juror: Sara Rockinger
Showcase Co-Managers: Jane Hill and Jennifer Hill
Juror’s Choice Award
Announced
November 3, 2026
Artist Statement
Materials and Techniques used:
m” x m” x m”
People’s Choice Award
Announced
November 8, 2026
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques used:
m” x m”
Participating Artists
Jeanne Abel | Jude Biggs | Ruth Briggs | Emma Browning | Al Canner | Debra Coccoli | Teresa Coons | Linda Farrelly | Sondra Finch| Sally Fortenberry | Beth Fowler | Joanne George | Linda Grey | Jane Hill |Barbara Herrli | Alice Ierley | Kaye Iverson | Karen Krause| Kaitrin Kuchera | Jane McAtee | Amy Mundinger | Heide Murray | Madeline Nunn | Amy Blythe Oien | Jane Patrick | Denise Perreault | Star Rader | Cindy Sales | Jane Sutter | Kristin Taylor | Sue Torfin | Clarke Waskowitz | Susan Wilson
Links are not live on the WIP web page.
Jeanne Abel
A Polyptych; Vivid! Aspens
Collaboration
Cathy Bickell | Allison O’Neall | Deb Tewell | Jeanne Abel | Star Rader | Sue Torfin | Tsy Schupack
Artists Statement: Some felting friends in Kansas City shared an idea … create a collaborative piece of felted art based on a photo; a Polyptych (from Wikipedia: a work of art, usually a panel painting, which is divided into 4 or more sections, or panels).
Seven HGB member artists came together and chose a photo very near and dear to each of us; Aspen Yellow! Each worked independently with only a copy of their part of the image and the final dimensions of their piece as reference … and with no restrictions on colors, technique, fiber or style.
The photo we chose (with permission) was taken by Taylor Chonis in September of 2025 while biking above Powderhorn in the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Mesa, Colorado.
This was an incredible experience for all of us … And we’re ready to do it again!
Materials: Each piece contains various fibers of the individual artist’s choosing (wool, silk, rayon, etc). Each piece was individually hand sewn onto commercial black felt and the entire piece is backed with the same. The supporting wooden dowel is secured in sleeves on the back and there is a wire loop for hanging.
Techniques: Felting/Fusion
The felting techniques were left up to the individual artists and include wet felting and needle felting, with silk, rayon and other fiber embellishment.
48″ x 48″
Jude Biggs
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Ruth Briggs
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Emma Browning
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Al Canner
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Deborah Coccoli
Sheep in the Meadow
Artist Statement: The colors for this piece were chosen for their emotional impact. The purples impart a dreamy and mysterious quality. The gold used on the hills are meant to be warm and up-lifting. And the greens in the foreground are strongly tied to growth, renewal, and harmony. And, greens also help the eye to relax and promote a sense of balance and calm .
The goal was to combine these colors to create a layered emotional experience that courages contemplation and emotional connection with the landscape.
Materials: wool, cotton and rayon thread
Techniques: Embroidery/Stitching – Felting/Fusion
Needle & Wet felted with free motion stitching
19″ x 24″
Teresa Coons
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Linda Farrelly
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Sondra Finch
Western Sky Dance
Artist Statement: Our guild theme this year is vivid. I like the definitions of the word: producing strong or clear impression on the senses and producing distinct mental images. Also: having the appearance of vigorous life or freshness.
In this art piece, the sky holds the impact of how our western sunsets often display such powerful color, light and forms. I cut and collage, and oil pastel, combining the elements together before quilting, to attain the brilliance and vastness of the scene, using textural fabrics. The landscape is reminiscent of many dreamy skyscapes and landscapes here in beautiful Colorado, with shadows falling beneath the setting sun . I mount it on to stretcher bars and back it with a coordinating fabric. I then name it, and sign it. Each piece is an original designed by Sondra Finch in Boulder, Colorado. Enjoy!
Materials: cotton quilting fabric, cotton poly thread, oil pastels
Techniques: Quilting, Painting/Dyeing
I fussy cut images to arrange a collage of my landscape, design it, paint or draw on it, quilt it and frame it.
20″ x 46″
Sally Fortenberry
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Beth Fowler
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Joanne George
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Linda Grey
Vi-Brant
The Color Road Less Travelled (for me!)
Artist Statement:
The colors that I normally choose
Are subtle and earthy hues
So with this entry I explore
Vivid colors galore
A cacophony of brightness will effuse
This manikin is named Vi-Brant
Her body is sexy and scant
The saturation is bold
The contrast – uncontrolled
She shimmers and tries to enchant
I hope you will come to agree
And your eyes will successfully see
That her dress does express
Kinetic effervesce
And a yearning to dance and be free!
Materials: Glass beads of various sizes and shapes, One G thread
Techniques: Bead/Wire Weaving and Wrapping
Bead weaving: Peyote stitch, Brick Stitch and fringe technique
5.5″ x 16.5″ x 4.5″
Jane Hill
Desert Spring
Artist Statement: Open Spaces have always been beautiful to me.
Deserts are the earth in its stark but vivid colors.
This ‘desert-in-spring’ idea is reminiscent of the southwest areas of the USA I have enjoyed in my travels. The land has many changes – the color of the grasses, sands, rocks and flowers. The distance is vast and impressive as the colors continually change in the traveler’s view.
Within the tapestry are seventy-five different yarns of various content and weight. All are remainders of balls, cones and skeins from my stash.
“Desert Spring” is my first tapestry
Materials: Yarns of assorted fiber content.
Techniques: Weaving/Tapestry/Interlacement
23.5″ x 22.5″
Barbara Herrli
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Alice Ierley
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Kaye Iverson
Sunset on the English Channel Shawl
Artist Statement: While walking back to our cabin on the deck of our cruise ship, we were gradually surrounded by a spectacular coral sunset with colors of amber and orange and fringed in slivers of gold. The outdoor temperature did not change however the sunset felt as though we were wrapped in a blanket of beautiful warm light. The reflection of the sunset on the calm and shimmering blue water was stunning. I could not help but smile and say, “thank you.”
Materials : Manos de Uruguay yarn (60% alpaca 40% pima cotton), handspun yarn, and silk bouclè.
Techniques: Weaving/Tapestry/Interlacement
I wove this piece on a floor loom using the “hatching” technique used in tapestry work. This technique enabled me to blend the colors gradually for shading and also to merge the colors together to create more depth and texture.
15″ x 70″
Karen Krause
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Kaitrin Kuchera
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Jane McAtee
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Amy Mundinger
Woven Purse of Many Colors
Artist Statement: The exterior of this purse was woven in 100% Harrisville Designs Highland wool on a tapestry loom. This high-tension loom allows a tightly packed weft producing an extremely durable fabric. The weaving technique used is “Pick-and-pick” which creates vertical lines of alternating colors that vibrate, letting the colors play. The interior of the purse is lined with cotton denim and the handle is bridle leather.
Materials: Wool weft, cotton/linen warp, cotton denim, bridle leather
Techniques: Weaving/Tapestry/Interlacement
10″ x 19″
Heide Murray
Title
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Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Madeline Nunn
Title
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Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Amy Blythe Oien
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Jane Patrick
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Denise Perreault
Colorado Canyons
Artist Statement: Colorado’s canyons are comprised, in part, of 1.7 billion year old rocks — some of the oldest on the planet. The many bright sunset hues of our sandstones and iron oxides fascinate and delight me. Hiking the Dakota Ridge trails behind my northwest Boulder home inspired this rug.
Materials: 80% wool weft, 20% cotton warp
Techniques: Weaving/Tapestry/Interlacement
Six-shaft Scandinavian Boundweave
22″ x 43″
Standards review? – Application lists 2023 as completion date
– was entered into 2022 Showcase – 2022 application info not available
https://hgbsale.org/2022showcase/#Perreault
Star Rader
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Cindy Sales
Titles
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Jane Sutter
Girls’ Celebration Day
Artist Statement: I lived in Japan nine years and created this mixed media wall art inspired by Girls’ Day. It is an annual festival on March 3rd called ‘Hinamatsuri’, celebrating health and happiness of young girls and women. Many young girls wear bright, colorful kimono as they celebrate their special, happy day.
Starting by wet felting a bright multi-colored fabric and cords, next a vintage Japanese girl’s kimono fabric and an obijime (woven obi cord) were added by hand and machine sewing. The wet felted background and cords were inspired by the cheerful design of the girl’s kimono fabric. After finding and adding the two white vintage floral buttons I knew this celebration piece was complete.
Materials: Merino wool, viscose, firestar (synthetic nylon fiber); upcycled materials: vintage silk fabric, vintage woven cord, vintage buttons, wooden hanging stick; and thread.
Techniques: Felting/Fusion – Use of Upcycle Materials
Wet felted background fabric, wet felted cut-out pieces for the top and bottom, and three braided felted cords toward the scalloped bottom with multiple colors of Merino wool, viscose, and firestar. Hand and machine sewn vintage silk fabric, woven silk cord, felted cords, and buttons.
14.5″ x 43″
Kristin Taylor
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Kristin Taylor
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Sue Torfin
Rich Beyond Measure
Artist Statement: The animal kingdom, amply represented by the 20 creatures in this animal collage, is rich in diversity. Among the possible variations are the range of colors that capture every hue in the rainbow spectrum. The coloration of a creature can serve to camouflage the animal for its safety and stealth or can advertise its presence in bright and intense tones.
In constructing this felt menagerie, I tried to show this variety of colors from start black and white or brown through all the yellows, oranges, greens, and blues that entertain the eye. From the smallest turtle to the mighty elephant and giraffe, we’re drawn into their environs and welcome their vivid presence in our lives. A variety of color was also used to indicate their habitats, from blue water and sky to the tan and green surroundings and the sunset clouds. I hoped to create a whimsical feeling as well as a deep appreciation for our earth’s spectacular inhabitants.
Materials: Wool roving, synthetic felt for backing, dowel and wire for hanging.
Techniques: Felting/Fusion
This piece is needle felted, using dyed wool roving, needled into a synthetic felt backing. It was then backed by another piece of synthetic felt and prepared for hanging.
20″ x 28″
Clarke Waskowitz
Title
Artist Statement:
Materials and Techniques:
m” x m”
Susan Wilson
Deep Glory
Artist Statement: Life bursting out of darkness, Deep Glory uses vivid color to express energy, joy and renewal and conveys a dramatic contrast between darkness and light. Layers of felt, stitching, and rich color create a sense of movement and renewal.
Materials: Wool, silk, bamboo fibers. Cotton/polyester thread
Techniques: Felting/Fusion
Wet felting, needle felting, applique, machine embroidery/stitching.
22″ x 22″
Standards review? – All packaging/framing must be new, clean, and professional in appearance. For framed pieces, tight, clean mats and backs are required
HGB Fiber Art Show & Sale Juried Showcase
Each year, during the HGB Fiber Art Show & Sale at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, Handweavers Guild of Boulder members show their best work in the juried Showcase. According to the theme chosen for that year, members of the Guild interpret their reflections in a wide variety of media including weaving, quilting, knitting, crochet, basketry and felting which may be hung on the wall or stand as sculpture.
The Showcase brings visitors the opportunity to see creativity and skilled artisanship up close and personal, and the chance to vote on the People’s Choice Award for their favorite work.