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February 2026 Newsletter

Guild Calendar

Guild Meeting

Monday: February 16th, 2026  

10:00 am to Noon

Speaker: Michele Belson, Lunatic Fringe Yarns

via ZOOM 

Study Group

Saturday, February 28th 

10:00 AM - Noon PM

Exploring: Weaving Cloth for Clothing

North Berkeley Public Library​

Get Together

Monday, March 9th

12:30 - 3:30 pm

Downstairs Meeting Room

North Berkeley Public Library  

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President's Message

Dear Weaving Friends,

 

Please note that Monday’s meeting is on ZOOM due to the federal holiday. You will receive the Zoom invitation from Bernie about 9:45 AM, as usual.

 

The Lunar New Year is on February 17th. In Chinese astrology, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Horse energy is strong and resilient, known for its ability to overcome obstacles. However, you will want to train your focus and lean forward into the path you’re most aligned with to bolster the results. 

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To harness the energy of the Fire Horse comes with a timely warning. A reminder to not sprint out of the gate only to burn out before the year is finished. 

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February Guild Meeting

Our presenter, Michele Belson, will be our February Zoom presenter.

A perfect fit for our 2026 Color Theme Program. 

 

As a weaving teacher and a founder/co-owner of Lunatic Fringe Yarns, Michele Belson has helped thousands of weavers with their challenges since the early 90’s. She’s intimately familiar with the pitfalls and solutions to a ton of weaving issues. Michele has taught classes in warping, color theory, pattern drafting, and rigid heddle weaving all over the country, from Florida to California. She’s also written articles for Weaver’s, Handwoven, Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot, WeaveZine, and Heddlecraft. She is passionate about teaching, and supporting every one of her students on their creative journey – whether beginners or experienced weavers, whether they weave on rigid heddle looms or 32+ shaft computer-driven. 

 

Study Group 

Our first Study Group of the year on Weaving Cloth for Clothes was a Hit. So much inspiration! If this subject interests you or you just want to  join inspired weavers please come to our next Study Group on February 28th.

More information below.

 

March Special Guest Presenter

Please note that next month we have a very special IN PERSON guest coming on Monday, March 16th at the Berkeley Senior Center. Sheila O’Hara will be coming with a wonderful presentation on her life and work in Textiles. Please add to your calendar. It’s not to be missed!

 

Until then, Happy Weaving.   ~ Vicky

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RAC Exhibition News

As many of you know, the Richmond Art Center will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year by hosting a special exhibit in the main Exhibit Hall. They have invited the Golden Gate Weavers and the Bay Area Basketmakers to participate. The theme of the Exhibit is: Weaving Between the Lines, From Tradition to Innovation and Back.

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Two Ways to Exhibit

1: WOVEN TOGETHER

This exhibit will consist of a set of Weavers' textiles, 12” x 12” weavings, to be mounted by each weaver on birch panel(s). 
 

  • ​DROP OFF: At the North Berkeley Public Library on Monday March 2nd, 1:00 -2:30 PM. Please bring your mounted work to the library’s downstairs meeting room. Please sign your name on the back of each panel(s). 

 

2: WEAVING BETWEEN THE LINES - Tradition, Innovation and Back

Here is where we can showcase our guild members’ weavings!   Submission acceptances were emailed on Friday, February 6th.​

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  • DROP OFF: At Richmond Art Center, Friday and Saturday, March 20th & 21st, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. See your acceptance email for more details.

 

EXHIBITION DATES  

  • Exhibition Opens, Wednesday, April 8, through Friday, June 5, 2026

  • Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11, 1 pm-3 pm

  • Artwork Pick-Up from Richmond Art Center: Saturday, June 6, 10 am-3 pm

Meetings

Guild Meeting

Date: Monday, February 16th, via ZOOM

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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TOPICS:

  • President's news and updates

  • Speaker: Michele Belson, "The Value of Color"

  • Study Group overview, "Weaving Cloth for Clothing"

  • CNCH News

  • Member updates​

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The Golden Gate Weavers Guild meets on the third Monday of the month, 10:00 am to Noon in the Gooseberry Room, at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave, or on Zoom. No meetings in July, August, and December.

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Study Group

Saturday, February 28th

Time: 10:00 AM - Noon

Large Meeting Room, North Berkeley Public Library​

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Weaving Cloth for Clothing

The study group will start working on "Weaving Cloth for Clothing." This will be a multi-month endeavor where participants will explore clothing options they would like to make and the textile needs. We'll also design and plan our weaving, then construct an article of clothing. It will be an opportunity to explore textiles, colors and structures, and to create a unique wardrobe item from beautiful fibers.

 

Members are encouraged to join the study group and learn from each other. No prior sewing experience is needed. We have some great resources and experienced members who can advise on fabric considerations for weaving, as well as clothes-making assembly and sewing activities. Options might include:

  • making a scarf

  • a simple piece of clothing based on rectangles, like a poncho, a vest, or a kimono

  • something more complex...

 

Susie, an experienced sewer, has a binder of simple rectangle-based clothing and resources from prior study groups on this topic.

 

Below are two examples of clothing made by Koko - an "origami jacket" and a vest with weft fibers from her Mother's funeral kimono.

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Get Togethers

Monday, March 9th

12:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Large Meeting Room at the North Berkeley Library

1170 The Alameda, Berkeley

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An informal gathering and an opportunity for Show and Tell.​

Show and Tell

CNCH News

 

 

www.cnch.org 

 

CNCH 2026 - May 14-17, Asilomar

  • Teachers and Classes: https://www.cnch.org/conferences/​

    • Classes include: Inkle Weaving, Weaving two Ways on the Ridgid Heddle Loom, Tablet Weaving, Huck Lace, Hands on Color, Vibrant Rugs, Spinning Angora Rabbit & Cotton, Spinpossible, Shibori Dyeing with Indigo, Painted Warps and Parallel Threading, Fabulous Felted Flowers, Transparency Weaving, and Pine Needle Baskets

    • Instructors include: Sienna Bosch, Gretchen Fancher, John Mullarkey, Rosalie Neilson, Cameron Taylor-Brown, Mary Zicafoose, Julie Drogsvold, Michael Kelson, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Denise Kovnat, Dawn Edwards, Rebecca Smith and Marilyn Mckanel

  •  Registration -

    • February 2: Early Bird Registration opens

    • ​March 19: Registration

    • April 10: Registration closes 

  • Silen Auction: Our guild will be submitting a kit for making an Origami Jacket (thank you, Koko)

 

CNCH 2027 Planning  

  • Area Three, which includes GGW, is planning the 2027 Conference. Vicky and Bernie joined a recent planning meeting.

    • Golden Gate Weavers has been assigned the task of Grant Fundraiser

EVENTS

  • The Woven Pixel, January 29 to May 11 at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. This exhibition explores the rise of digital weaving which emerged in the early 2000s. It brings together a variety of work by artists and designers who experiment with digital looms and jacquard software. https://sj-mqt.org/upcoming-exhibitions

  • New Works: Sheila Hicks, now on, ends August 9, 2026, at SFMOMA. Hicks’s first solo exhibition at SFMOMA features a site-specific installation in the museum’s New Work gallery. The works are inspired by objects, textures, and patterns observed in her adopted city or in her migratory life.  https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/new-work-sheila-hicks/

  • Arts of Indigenous America, ends August 31, 2028, at the de Young. The theme “Relationship to Place.” Developed with Native scholars and in consultation with communities of origin, the project centers Indigenous values and voices. Works spanning over a thousand years of history in all types of media. https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/arts-indigenous-america

Resources

Publications

Watch, Read, Listen to

Guild Members Recommendations

Board of Directors

President - Vicky McAdams Vickybees@comcast.net

Treasurer - Karen Schwartz 

Acting Secretary - Karen Tripp 

Newsletter/Comms - Bernie Geuy bernie.geuy@gmail.com

Programs - Vicky McAdams & Bernie Geuy

Membership - Koko Baker 

Librarian - Sarah Leverett 

Historian - POSITION OPEN

CNCH Liaison - Sheila Fitzgerald

Webmaster - Bernie Geuy

Newsletter Deadline:

Please submit any items to be included in the Newsletter by the 2nd Sunday of the month.

Email: bernie.geuy@gmail.com

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