Sandy Fisher has been weaving for over 40 years. Her passion for textiles began as a young child when she learned to knit, and she deepened her interest in college, graduating from CSU Chico with a BA in art with an emphasis in weaving. After college she took on an internship with David Gurney Weavers of Turriff, Scotland. From 1981 to the present, Sandy has been a professional weaver and owner of Sandy Fisher Woven. She has participated in The Smithsonian Craft Show and many other national juried shows through American Craft Council from 1988-2015. She has also been awarded the prestigious Niche award, and has been featured in both Ply and Handwoven magazines. Her work has been shown in national galleries and private collections throughout the US.
Over the course of her career Sandy has shared her knowledge with others through private and public instruction. She has opened a textile school in her studio, been a consultant, as well as working as an instructor at AVL Looms. From 2015 to the present she has been an Associate faculty member of Butte Community College teaching Fiber Arts. Currently, Sandy is a consultant for Huston Textile Company of Rancho Cordova, CA working on new climate beneficial fabric designs through Fibershed. She is also engaged in a collaboration with Lani Estil of Lani’s Lana of Cedarville, CA, creating a handwoven line of climate beneficial shawls, scarves and blankets.
“I have continued to keep alive the tradition of my craft for over 35 years. My inspirations come from many avenues; for example, seeing the painted desert of the southwest at sunset, I become excited by the large array of color combinations surrounding me. The early morning hours of a solitary bike ride become the venue to see form and texture in the hillsides I ride past. Everywhere I go, I see Nature’s woven elements in her patterns and design that I bring home to my studio.
Three elements are vital in my design process — color, texture and pattern. Color is introduced by hand dyed techniques, either from a controlled formula or in random fashion where anything could happen. Texture comes from natural fibers (cotton, linen and rayon), or from something as diverse as hand made paper, wood or cut up canvas. The woven structure or pattern comes from how I manipulate the threads in the warp, to best express the form and function of each piece.
Through my work I share my passion of weaving and for life. This is my way of giving.”
– Sandy Fisher
2023 November 3-5 – 47th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA.
2023 March 3-5 – American Craft Council, Baltimore Marketplace, Baltimore Convention Center.
2022 April 20-23 – Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington DC.
2018 to present – Articles in both Ply and Handwoven magazines.
2014 to present – Weaving School, Swedish Glimarkra looms and techniques and Membership Weaving Loom Studio.
2018 to present – Consultant for Huston Textile Company of Rancho Cordova, CA working on new climate beneficial fabric designs through Fibershed.
2016 to 2019 – Taught Textile Arts and Weaving at Butte Community College, Oroville, CA.
2013 to present – Chico Flax LLC. Growing Flax into Linen: a New Industry in Northern California.
2001 – Consultant and Weaving Instructor AVL Looms, Chico, CA.
1981– Established Sandy Fisher Woven (previously known as the Flying Shuttle).
1980 – Russell Gurney Weavers of Turriff, Scotland.
1979 – California State University, Chico; Bachelor of Arts in Art, emphasis in weaving.
Award Winner, “Fiber Production— Placemats”. Niche Magazine, 1996.
Grand Prize, “Teach a Friend to Weave”. Handwoven Magazine, 1982.
