WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS · KAREN GELBARD
My Textile Adventures in Italy
"My Textile Adventures in Italy"
What do six-harness Diamantina twill, silk lint, Jacquard looms, and Renaissance fashion have in common? They're all part of Karen's textile adventures in Italy!
Through photographs and workshop stories, discover how an everyday museum dress and a recognizable weaving draft became a bridge across time—and how much history lives in the cloth we make and wear.
Date
To be announced – To be announced
Fees: see details below
Availability
Unlimited places total
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
My Textile Adventures in Italy
My Textile Workshop Adventures in Italy
Discovering the Threads That Connect Weaving, Fashion, and History
What can a handweaver discover while studying textiles in Italy? As it turns out, quite a lot!
Join Karen Gelbard, The Oregon Weaver, for an illustrated journey through her textile workshop experiences in Italy, where centuries of weaving traditions, innovative techniques, and remarkable stories of fashion come together.
From exploring the structure of a six-harness Diamantina twill to learning about silk lint and the extraordinary capabilities of Jacquard looms, Karen shares discoveries that expanded her understanding of textile design and production.
Along the way, we'll meet Eleonora di Toledo, a 16th-century noblewoman whose influence helped shape Renaissance fashion in Florence. Her story reveals the close relationship between textiles, clothing, craftsmanship, and the social history of dress.
Through photographs, workshop experiences, and personal observations, Karen reflects on the techniques and traditions she encountered and the ways they continue to inform her thinking as a contemporary handweaver and garment designer.
Part travel adventure, part textile history, and part creative discovery, this presentation invites fellow weavers to explore the threads that connect us to generations of makers who came before us.
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Schedule
To be announced – To be announced
Registration closes To be announced
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Location
To be announced
To be announced
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Who it’s for
Presentation Format & Technical Requirements
This presentation may be offered in person or remotely.
In-Person Presentation: The hosting organization should provide a large screen or projector suitable for displaying detailed photographs, appropriate connections for the presenter's computer, and a microphone for larger audiences. Speakers may be needed if videos are included.
Remote Presentation: Presentations may be delivered through Zoom or a comparable online meeting platform. Arrangements for hosting and technical support will be coordinated in advance. A reliable internet connection and screen-sharing capability are essential.
No special equipment or prior weaving experience is required of participants.
Recording Policy
Presentations are intended for live viewing only. Recording, reproduction, or redistribution of the presentation or its materials is not permitted without prior written agreement.
Requests for recording permission may be considered individually, taking into account recording quality, intended use, and distribution.
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Enrollment
Maximum Unlimited participants
Small-group instruction
Materials & supplies
Karen provides
N/A
Please bring
N/A
Materials fee
Fees & registration
$350 plus lodging, meals, and travel costs
FAQs & practical details
Who is this for? Do I need previous experience?
This illustrated presentation is for anyone interested in handwoven textiles, creative practice, and the stories behind the work. No specialist weaving equipment is needed to attend. Contact Karen if you would like to discuss suitability or access needs.
When and where will it take place?
Dates and session times have not yet been announced.
The venue and full address will be announced before registration opens.
Available format: In person or Zoom
What should I bring, and how do remote presentations work?
No specialist materials are required for the audience. A notebook is optional. For a remote presentation, use a reliable internet connection and a device that can display the shared photographs and play sound. Joining instructions will be provided for the scheduled presentation. Host equipment and technical arrangements are agreed with Karen in advance.
Is the listed fee an individual ticket price?
The presentation fee and any travel arrangements described on this page are for the hosting organization. They should not be interpreted as an individual admission price. Any participant registration charge will be stated separately for a scheduled presentation.
What about accessibility, parking, and travel?
Accessibility arrangements depend on the venue and presentation format.
Contact karen@theoregonweaver.com before registering to discuss seating, mobility, sensory, or other accommodation needs. Parking and arrival instructions will be provided once venue arrangements are confirmed. Wait for confirmation that the workshop will proceed before making nonrefundable travel arrangements.
How do I register, and when is my place confirmed?
Use the registration button below when enrollment opens. Complete your details and the required workshop acknowledgments, then continue to secure checkout. A submitted form alone does not confirm a paid place; registration is confirmed after successful payment.
Audience capacity: Unlimited
The registration deadline will be posted before enrollment opens.
Keep your confirmation email. Workshop-specific preparation and supply information will be shared before the session; contact Karen if anything is unclear.
What are the hosting organization’s cancellation terms?
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations made by the hosting organization at least 14 days before the scheduled presentation will incur no presentation fee. Any previously approved, nonrefundable travel expenses remain the responsibility of the hosting organization.
Cancellations made with fewer than 14 days' notice will incur a fee of 50% of the agreed presentation fee ($175).
Requests to reschedule will be accommodated whenever possible, without an additional presentation fee.
If the presenter must cancel, any presentation fees already paid will be refunded in full, or an alternate date may be arranged by mutual agreement.
Contact Karen promptly if your plans change. Ask about a participant substitution or transfer before making arrangements; the applicable options depend on the scheduled workshop.
Who can answer a question before I register?
Email Karen at karen@theoregonweaver.com. Include the workshop title and your question so she can direct you to the relevant dates, preparation, or registration details.