Contemporary Handweavers of Houston

Gerry Woodhouse wove the tapestry of the Houston Skyline that we use on the Contemporary Handweavers of Houston website. In spite of the name of our web site, I think she is the only one of our weavers who ever set out to "weave" Houston! And she did it before we ever had that domain name.

The miniature inlaid tapestry of Houston Skyline was woven of Jaggerspun Zephyr wool, silk blend yarn on natural linen warp in an inlay technique. The image is about 5.5 x 7 inches with a self frame of linen, making the total size about 7.5 x 10".

You can see another of Gerry's tapestries on the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas website where they have used her tapestry of the State of Texas.

Gerry is an active participant in CHH's Annual Sale where her work varies from hand towels to wall hangings. Click on the images below to see some of her other tapestries:

Alamo
6"x8"
Linen and cotton

Ghost Mission
6"x8"
Linen and hand-dyed linen

Arizona Sunset
6"x6"
Linen and silk

New Mexico Sky
6"x6"
Linen and silk

Gerry's Biography

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Production Manager, My Secret Shelf, Katy, TX. Ladies custom designed clothing
• Retail Store Manager/Volunteer Administrator, Pueblo To People, Houston, TX 501.c3 nonprofit Organization. Marketed products for Latin American craft cooperatives
• Woodhouse Designs, Tuscaloosa, AL and Bolivar, TN. Create hand woven fabrics, rugs, and tapestries
• Design/Marketing Coordinator, Phifertex fabric, Phifer Products, Tuscaloosa, AL
  Created standard line, and custom design fabric for casual (outdoor) furniture market, acquired computer aided design system, introduced dobby and jacquard weaves, traveled U.S., Canada, Europe; chair holder, Color Marketing Group

EXHIBITIONS

• The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake (TAACCL), Houston, TX (TAACCL) Juried textile exhibit, Mission Windows tapestry, 2001
• Color Marketing Group national member show, juried Rocks tapestry, Interwoven screen print, Azalea; roman shade
• American Home Economics Association national art and design section competition, Philadelphia, PA, Honorable Mention for Interwoven screen print
• Auburn University Designs for Living Symposium, by invitation and slide selection Courtyard stenciled floor cloth; hand woven tablecloth, table runner and rug accepted
• Auburn University Fiberarts ’83 Textile Design Exhibit (Graduate Show) Thesis: Contemporary Textile Designs for a Turn of the Century Victorian Cottage
• Chattahoochee Valley Art Association, La Grange, GA Exhibit and demonstration by invitation, screen printing

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• Traditional Tapestry Workshop, Tall Pines Spinners and Weavers, August, 2007
• Miniature Inlaid Tapestry workshop, 3 days, Katy, TX, May 2005
• Contemporary Handweavers of Texas biannual conference, Stars Over Texas Houston, 1999, Inlaid Tapestries in a Day, Miniature Tapestry seminar
• Auburn University Continuing Education quilting classes, 1980’s
• Alabama Extension Homemakers Council Annual Meeting, Dyes from Nature seminar, 1983

AWARDS

• Contemporary Handweavers of Texas biannual conference, Austin, 2005 Ghost Mission linen tapestry, cash award, 2nd place, Tapestry, Rugs, Wall Hangings
• Contemporary Handweavers of Texas biannual conference, San Antonio, 2001 Houston Skyline tapestry, 1st place, and Bluebonnets tapestry, 2nd place in Tapestry, Rugs, Wall Hangings; Star Shadows hand woven multi shaft kitchen towel, 2nd place, Table Linens

EDUCATION

• MS Textile Design, Auburn University, AL
• BS Home Economics Education, Florida State University, Tallahassee

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Handweavers Guild of America
• Contemporary Handweavers of Texas
• Contemporary Handweavers of Houston
• Handweavers and Spinners of Tucson