The Twelve-by-Twelve Fiber Show is Local Cloth’s annual exhibit celebrating the creativity and skill of our member fiber artists. Each submitted work must fit within a 12-inch by 12-inch square space.
This exhibit is also our signature fundraiser. While donating artwork is not required, many participating artists generously choose to donate their pieces. Proceeds from the auction directly support the programs and mission of Local Cloth.
Start dreaming up your 12x12 now — and mark your calendars!
Application Opens June 1, 2026
2026 TIMELINE
+ June 1 | Applications Open + June 29 | Applications Close + July (by July 20) | Artwork Drop-Off + August 3 | Judging Complete
+ August 20 | Opening Reception + Auction Launch
+ September 30 | Auction Closes
The exhibit will be on display from August 20 through September 30
JUDGING
We are honored to welcome two guest judges this year: Betty Hilton-Nash and Joyce Tromba.
Judging will be completed prior to the Opening Reception. Committee members, judges (and/or their family members) are not eligible for awards.
Betty Hilton-Nash
Betty Hilton-Nash has been weaving tapestries for more than 30 years, building a career rooted in technical mastery and artistic excellence. She began her tapestry career in 1990 as a contract weaver at Pam Patrie Studios in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, Betty has studied with leading tapestry artists Archie Brennan, Jean Pierre Larochette, and Philip Playe of the Gobelins in Paris, deepening her command of this demanding and expressive medium. Her work has received awards from the American Tapestry Alliance, Handweavers Guild of America, the Blue Ridge Fiber Show, and the Australian Tapestry Workshop. She has been a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild since 2018.
At Local Cloth, Betty leads the Tapestry Interest Group, which has been responsible for many of the organization’s exhibits. Her leadership has helped foster both technical excellence and collaborative spirit within the tapestry community. Betty’s decades of dedication to tapestry bring both rigor and insight to her role as a judge for this year’s Twelve-by-Twelve Textile Show.
Joyce Tromba
After living and teaching around the world for 30 years, Joyce Tromba is happily settled in Western North Carolina, where she continues to cultivate both community and craft. Her global travels exposed her to a wide range of fiber traditions, and wherever she lived, she sought out fellow makers to share in the joy of creating.
Joyce brings more than 20 years of teaching experience in design, sewing, knitting, quilting, bookmaking, and natural dyeing with both high school students and adults. She has studied fiber and book arts at Penland School of Craft, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and Center for Book Arts.
A Master Gardener, Joyce tends a natural dye garden at the Buncombe County Extension Office and teaches natural dyeing and other fiber arts at Local Cloth, John C. Campbell Folk School, and North Carolina Arboretum.
At Local Cloth, Joyce leads the Natural Dye Interest Group and serves on the Workshop Committee. As the craftswoman behind Freehand Fiber, her naturally dyed and hand-sewn garments, plant-dyed yarns, eco-printed bags, handmade books, and knit kits reflect her deep knowledge of both material and process. Her breadth of experience and commitment to fiber education bring both insight and discernment to her role as a judge for this year’s Twelve-by-Twelve Textile Show.
AWARDS + RECOGNITION
Our award categories are designed to celebrate excellence, encourage participation, and recognize innovation across our community.
BEST IN SHOW
The highest honor awarded to a single, outstanding piece of fiber art.
This award recognizes exceptional originality, technical skill, artistic vision, and professional presentation.
The winning piece demonstrates a deep understanding of both medium and message, offering a cohesive and compelling artistic statement.
Best Entry by a New Member or First-Time 12x12 Exhibitor
Open to:
+ Members who joined Local Cloth after January 2025
+ First-time Twelve-by-Twelve Fiber Show participants
This award celebrates new voices and encourages fresh participation within our community.
Best Youth Submission
Open to artists 18 years of age and younger.
This category honors young fiber artists and supports the next generation of creative talent. (Age information will be required on the application.)
People’s Choice Award
Visitors will have the opportunity to vote both in person and online.
The People’s Choice Award will be announced at the close of the exhibit — giving us one final celebratory moment at the end of the show.
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