Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Betty Burian Kirk fiber artist - teacher ## Posts - [September Art Shows](https://bbkirk.com/ into the area provided./fiber-art/admin/) - Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival, Sept. 6 & 7, 2025 Lemont, Art on the Green, Sept. 13, 2025 Springfield, Edward's Place Fine Art Fair, Sept. 20 & 21 Peoria Fine Art Fair, Sept. 27 & 28 - [Betty's Blog](https://bbkirk.com/ into the area provided./fiber-art/admin/) ## Pages - [Home](https://bbkirk.com/) - I am a fiber artist and teacher. I studied at Northern Illinois University where I received a Bachelor's and Master's Degree. I have a section on art work that you can pursue and if interested, you can purchase my work at art shows or my Etsy site. I have some prepared lectures and workshops - [Teaching/Shows](https://bbkirk.com/teaching-shows/) - 2026 Art Show Schedule September Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 2026, Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival The Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival will be celebrating 49 years this fall. The festival is held in the middle of award-winning, historic, Downtown Downers Grove which is located 22 miles from Chicago’s loop. Direct access to the BNSF - [Spinning Classes](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/spinning-class/) - Spinning Lectures Beyond Wool and Cotton If you work with fibers, knit, weave, etc., come to explore all the options you can use. You will be introduced to an abundance of fibers. Learn about animal fibers like yak and musk ox, plant fibers like ramie and lotus as well as regenerated manufactured fibers like rose, pearl - [Weaving Classes](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/weaving-class/) - Weaving Lectures & Demonstrations Beyond Wool and Cotton If you work with fibers, knit, weave, etc., come to explore all the options you can use. You will be introduced to an abundance of fibers. Learn about animal fibers like yak and musk ox, plant fibers like ramie and lotus as well as regenerated manufactured fibers like - [About/Contact](https://bbkirk.com/contact/) - I loved art as a child. Besides drawing, my mother taught me how to embroider and my sister taught me how to crochet. In college, I studied multiple disciplines in art as an art education major. My favorite medium was fiber and I focused on weaving and for my MA Ed at Northern Illinois University, - [Double Weave](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/double-weave/) - Double Weave on a Baby Wolf Loom Measuring the warp (24 ends per inch x 26" = 624 ends) Chain the warp Put lee sticks in the cross of the chains and spread out the warp for winding onto the back beam using a rattle. Ready to thread the heddles = oops not emough heddles. - [Art Work](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/) - I design and create lovely and unique wearable fiber art for the woman who appreciates high fashion. Exploring the tactile sense of fibers, I use my handmade wool felt to sculpt hats and make scarves. I emphasize color and/or pattern when weaving scarves on my floor loom. An explanation of the process I use and - [Felting Classes](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/felting-class/) - Felting Lectures & Demonstrations Feltmaking A lecture and demonstration of how felt is made out of wool. The historic importance of wool and felt will be explored as well as the technical and artistic aspects of producing felt. Learn how it is made, and its contemporary techniques and uses. Pictorial Felt Making pictures on felt - [Previous Shows](https://bbkirk.com/teaching-shows/previous-shows/) - Over the years I have done many juried events. Here are some highlights. Juried Exhibits Art Fair on the Square, Madison, WI Art Fair on the Square, Lake Forest, IL Art in the Barn, Barrington, IL Art in the Glen, Glenview, IL Art in the Park, Park Ridge, IL (Award of Merit) Art in the - [Teaching Engagements](https://bbkirk.com/teaching-shows/teaching-engagements/) - I have taught at local guilds, regional conferences, national conferences and international conferences. Convergence, Wichita, KS, 2024 Convergence, Knoxville, KY, 2022 Midwest Weavers’ Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 2017 Weavers’ Guild of Buffalo, NY, 2017 Convergence, Milwaukee, WI, 2016 Convergence, Providence, RI,2014 Wisconsin Spin-In, Waukesha, WI, 2014 Midwest Weavers’ Conference, Emporia, KS, June 2013 Wisconsin Handweavers, Inc., - [Felt Scarves](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/felt-scarves/) - Felt is made of wool using moisture and agitation or pressure. There are many steps to making handmade felt. First, the fiber, usually wool, is washed. Next, it is picked or teased and then carded into batts or little blankets of fiber. Then the fiber is laid out on a table in layers. The wool - [Woven Scarves](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/weaving/) - The chenille scarves are rich and elegant with that special soft feel.I weave my scarves on a floor loom. To use a floor loom one must go through many steps. First, one must design the scarf: what colors will be used, what pattern will be selected for threading the loom and how many threads to - [Felt Hats](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/felt-hats-and-scarves/) - Sculpted Hats of Hand Made Felt Felt is made of wool using moisture and agitation or pressure. There are many steps to making handmade felt. First, the fiber, usually wool, is washed. Next, it is picked or teased and then carded into batts or little blankets of fiber. Then the fiber is laid out on - [Woven Shawls](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/woven-shawls/) - I weave most of my shawls on a triangular loom. It is 7' wide with nails on all three sides. It is finger woven. (Think of weaving a 7' potholder.) This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click on a picture to enlarge it. You can purchase my shawls at my Etsy shop, FiberArtsByBetty - [Fleece Throws](https://bbkirk.com/art-work/fleece-throws/) - Sheepskins are lovely for home decor, but the sheep are killed. A fleece throw or fleece rug is felted and looks like a sheepskin, but NO ANIMALS ARE KILLED. At least once a year sheep are sheared, they get a haircut. I take the fleece and spread it out on a table with the lock - [Lectures/Workshops](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/) - I have taught classes, workshops, and lectures to local guilds, regional conferences and national conferences. A list can be seen at Teaching Engagements. My background is in Art Education. I taught elementary school art (grades 1-5) for 13 years and beginning and advanced weaving at a Junior College for 3 semesters. I have various workshops and - [Kumihimo and Tassels Classes](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/kuihimo-and-tassel-classes/) - Lecture and Demonstration Kumihimo - The Art of Japanese Braiding, an historic overview of how braiding was brought to Japan and the connection to the Samurai. Various techniques will be covered. An abundance of samples will be displayed. A demonstration of how the braiding is done on the maru dai will be given. Tassels A true - [More Classes](https://bbkirk.com/lectures-workshops/more-classes/) - Color Color Theory Colors can be more than warm or cool. How to obtain the correct color is part practice and part theory. Color theory terminology will be explained and you will see how to use it in your art or how you already use it and now can explain why. ( I have 2 - [Dog Hair Yarn](https://bbkirk.com/dog-hair-yarn/) ## Categories - [Fiber Art](https://bbkirk.com/category/fiber-art/)