Guild Workshops 2025-2026

Two Upcoming WGSL Workshops for 2025 - registration will open on July 21, 2025. 

(scroll down for details of each)

Workshop Title: Explore Soft Sculpture and Surface Embellishments and Make Your Textiles Spectacular

by Judith Olson

Workshop Cost: WGSL members $30 / Non-members $65

Workshop Location / Date: Brentwood Community Center / September 20, 2025 (1-5 pm)

Description: Creating Wearable Art with Fabric. Use basic hand sewing stitches to create dimensional surface shaping, decorate using textile paint, embroidery, and beads.  

We will be examining: 

1. A variety of tucking stitches for creating sculptural effects, 

2. applying textile paint with stencils and brushes or sponges,  

3. experimenting with a variety of embroidery techniques, and 

4. enhancing the work with beads and sequins. 

Instructor to provide: Use of stencils, textile paint, sponges and brushes for applying paint, fabric squares/pieces, assorted beads and ribbons. 

Attendees to bring:  

• 6 to10 fabric squares, approx. 8” to 12” for learning and practicing the techniques  

• Embroidery thread in several colors 

• Needles 

• Scissors 

• Bits of ribbons and lace for sewing on to fabric. Beads are optional. 

• Students are welcome to bring fabric to attach to a garment, such as a pocket, collar or cuff. Fabric may be woven or knit.

Workshop Title: Hex weave and Beyond: Creativity in Cane Basketry

by Barbara Shapiro

Workshop Cost: WGSL members $265 / Non-Members $300

Workshop Location / Date : Brentwood Community Center / November 15-17, 2025 / maximum of 12 attendees 

Description: Explore a flexible sturdy open weave technique in colorful cane. It’s amazing how strong this open structure is. Class projects include a simple single-weaver hex form to learn the technique and, on day two, a flat bottom traditional basket. Day three will stretch your imagination as you take one of these forms in a personal direction by starting a creative sculptural object of your own design embellished with random weave technique or paper skin or additional objects you bring. More advanced students may choose to learn the Japanese flower knot technique on a hex base by including a row of flower knots in the form. The hexagonal structure can be manipulated into many shapes and over-woven in materials of your choice to create stunning sculptures. Enjoy seeing how others have employed hex weave. Open your mind to working sculpturally or just create some useful gift items. 

Note: The first morning will consist of a short lecture to the WGSL on Traditional and contemporary hexagonal plaiting and recent work by Barbara Shapiro during the WGSL monthly Guild meeting.

Instructor to provide: Prepared cane for projects one and two. Students will learn by preparing additional cane for day 3. Instructor will also bring some embellishment suggestions, tools, project samples, some Japanese paper, glue, etc.

Instructions will be emailed to registered students to be printed up at home, reviewed in advance and brought to class.

Attendees must bring:

• scissors or clipper for the cane or paper

• a spray bottle

• a LARGE plastic bowl or small bucket  TO SOAK YOUR CANE

• a glue brush or tool if you intend to glue paper on your finished work

• a small towel to work on

• a spoke weight, if you have one, OR some other type of flat weight at least 8 inches long by about 3 -5 wide (a block of wood, marble, even a small heavy book covered in plastic wrap, in a pinch, your large cell phone in plastic will do.)

Instructor will bring some of the following but will rely on attendees to have their own: 

• 8 to 12 small toothless copper clips or micro sewing clips with narrow end if you have them. (LINKS to purchase provided below)

• These clips are copper coated and a bit stiff

• These clips are solid copper, more costly but easier on the hands.

• These plastic ones work but take up a bit more room. Also these on ETSY. Please note that these have a narrow tip. Plastic clips with a wider/square tip will not work. 

• Optional: additional narrow materials of your choice to weave into your basket or trinkets to attach to it, small amounts of Japanese or other similar paper (decorative or plain to paint later) to adhere to your sculptural piece. Creativity encouraged.