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June 2018 Newsletter

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What’s Coming up in June?
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Weld, madder and dyer’s chamomile are coming up in my garden. The flax seed saved from last year has been planted in the University “Outback” and has sprouted! A new dark brown Romney fleece from the Wonderful Woolies sale has been washed, for carding and spinning. WWG “Walk the Dog Challenge” pieces are due to be finished for show and tell at the June meeting. Mine isn’t ready, yet – but getting closer. Bring a work in progress to show, if not complete. We will have a second showing in September. It may seem early to think about October, but the Fibers & Beyond mini-conference workshops are good to go, and look great! Go to the F&B page on the Jansen Art Center website here to register. WWG members get first chance at these workshops, before they open to the public. It’s not too early to start weaving, knitting, felting, stitching, or making cards for the Fibers and Beyond Sale. F& B entry fees are $10 before June 30, $15 from July 1- September 29. You can fill out an entry form at the June meeting. Scroll down to the Fibers & Beyond Article in this newsletter for the full line-up of workshops and details for registration. You can register through Jansen Art Center's website by clicking here.
 To access the website, you’ll need a password, which is WWG2018.
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See you soon!
Carol Berry,
WWG President



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Upcoming Programs ​
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June 16  Whatcom Weavers Guild meeting and Stash Sale! Sign up for a table, or donate your excess to support WWG activities. Want to donate, but can’t attend the sale? – Mary Oates will hold your items and bring the to the sale – make arrangements with Mary to drop off your goodies early. If you want your own stash sale table, or can help set up the guild tables, come to the Church hall at 9:00 am. Want to invite a friend? – The public is welcome at the sale, starting at 12 noon; after the WWG meeting, and show and tell. All yarn-lovers with cash are welcome to take home our stash! Let’s make this an event with no leftovers.

July 21 18 people can sign up for the Maiwa Field Trip, the day of the July meeting. Kathy Hutchinson has organized this awesome talk with Charlotte Kwon, Owner of Maiwa handprints, and Director of the Maiwa foundation. Charlotte was the keynote speaker at the 2017 ANWG conference. She is a warm, lovely, and very knowledgeable textile collector, and this is a great chance to get up close and personal with her and the fabulous Maiwa collection. Alternative Option: those who aren’t able to take the field trip can bring a small loom to St James (WWG regular meeting place), get help warping, and/or enjoy some community weaving time.

Meetings held at: St James Church (lower level), 910, 14th St., Bellingham. Date: Third Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm. Meeting start—10am. 10-noon—business meeting, show and tell and lunch 12- 1 pm—program. 
Bring your questions, small looms, spinning or other portable projects for hands-on time after the meeting.
See whatcomweaversguild.org/events for further program information or contact as at whatcomweaversguild@gmail.com.

Program Notes

Looking Back, May 19, 2018
Sashiko, Boro, and Kantha stitching, presented by WWG members Leslie Strong and Marilyn Olsen. Antique examples, and current variations were shared, with the chance to try out techniques and take home a practice piece. Lots of examples in Indigo Blue, plus some colorful variations inspired us to stitch. Great portable handwork for summer travels.

​Looking Ahead
June 16  Yarn, tools, equipment large and small for sale, members can sell, anyone can buy. Meeting starts at 10 am, sale starts at 12 noon.

July 21  Members Choice: Maiwa Field Trip or Warp and Weave Hands-on day

August 13-18  Come to the Wool Show at the NW Washington Fair – WWG won’t meet in Bellingham on our regular meeting day, because we’ll be at the Fair! Sign up to weave, spin, greet, work with kids, or even be “superintendent for a day” - and be sure to enter your woven, knit, chrochet, spun wool, silk, alpaca, lama, yak…any animal fiber in any technique can win a blue ribbon!

Thanks!
Carol Berry, Program Chair

Fibers and Beyond 2018

The WWG Annual Sale will take place on Saturday, October 13, at the Jansen Art Center, in Lynden, WA. All are encouraged to put on a warp for towels, runners, rugs, and more. Quality and style in woven, knitted, felted, and hand-dyed items were all in demand by an appreciative public in 2017. This is a fun and lively all-hands event, with volunteer and demonstration opportunities for every interest and skill level. Please view our acceptance criteria and entry form.

Workshop registration is now open! You can register through Jansen Art Center's website by clicking here. Registration will be restricted to guild members (or your very good friends) for the month of June. To access the website, you’ll need a password, which is WWG2018.

We have a wonderful keynote and some great workshops lined up:
Wednesday, Oct. 10:
  • The Many Ways to be Warped with Sheri Ward and guild members
  • Ply-Splitting: Braid a Scarf with John Mullarkey
  • Tablet Weaving: All Warped Up with John Mullarkey
  • Keynote Address by John Mullarkey: Warping the Fabric of Time
Thursday, Oct. 11:
  • Tablet Weaving: Two Sided Delights with John Mullarkey
Friday, Oct. 12:
  • Eco-Printing: Contact Dyeing with Plants with Caryn Friedlander
  • Stained Glass Felted Shawl with Patti Barker
Saturday, Oct. 13:
  • Stitching on Eco-Dyed Fabric with Marilyn Olsen
  • Surface Design for the Weaver: Warp Painting with Liz Moncrief
  • Collage Nuno Felted Scarf with Patti Barker
  • The Joy of Weaving with Sheri Ward and guild members
  • And, of course, the guild sale on Saturday.

Many thanks to Sharon Allen and the Peg Templeton fund for underwriting the John Mullarkey workshops to help reduce the price.
At the June guild meeting, we’ll have bookmarks and posters for you to distribute to your friends.

In the meantime, keep creating your wonderful items for the exhibit and sale!

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Jansen Summer Textile Classes, from Sheri Ward

Classes
  • Beginning Weaving, Wednesdays, July 18 - Aug. 8, 1-4 pm with Sheri Ward; $145 plus $15 materials fee
  • Weaving and Tapestry Explorations, Thursdays, Aug. 9 – 23, 1-3:30 pm with Joyce Noordmans; $95 plus $15 materials fee
  • 4-or-More; create your own workshop with a group of 4 or more participants; options include Small Tapestry, Sashiko Embroidery, Scarf in a Day, and Tray Dyeing
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Spin-Knit nights, 3rd Thursdays of the month for June through September, 6-8 pm; $8 drop-in, $40 for an 8-session punch card.
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To see details and to register, visit https://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio/

From other guilds and Study Groups

Spindrifters Meetings: 
Spindrifters meet the 2nd Saturday of the month and share with Skagit County. To be added to their e-mail list contact Tina spindrifters1@hotmail.com. There you have it: You are always welcome at the "J" on Thursdays which is open studio from 11-7. Happy Spinning!! Chris Paul. Youthfair.chris@gmail.com.
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Workshops in Fibers and other interesting stuff: 
Dyeing, soaps, lotions, felting, spinning, weaving, botanicals… Please check my website as my schedule is always changing and usually current.
Liz Moncrief, www.aweaversway.com, 970-692-3949

From the Whidbey Weavers Guild: 
Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month and run from 10:00 to 2:30, bring your brown bag lunch and cup. Meeting place: 15 NW Birch Street, Coupeville WA 98239, www.whidbeyweaversguild.org.
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Small Looms Group—June 2, from Sharon Allen 
Saturday, June 2, 12-3pm at Bellingham Library for the active Small Looms Group. Join in on the fun with your Inkle, tapestry, tablet weaving, rigid heddle or any loom small enough to bring to the library!
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Madelyn Van der Hoogt Class Opportunity, from Sharon Allen 
I will be attending Weaving II (2) with Madelyn Van der Hoogt in August of 2018. I am excited to attend and would be even more excited if I got to share the experience with one of my fellow Guild members. Let me know if this is something that you are interested in. Sharon Allen 360-305-0111.
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Announcements

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Joanne Hall: “The Swedish Art Weaves”, from Sharon Allen
June 8, 9 and 10, 2018 Hosted by the Skagit Valley Weavers Guild. Contact Sharon Allen at Sharon.newchapter@gmail.com for more information or click here to see flyer.
The cost for this three day workshop with 16 attendees (we can take 20) is $120.00 plus the $20-40 supply fee.

Warps are provided, for either a shaft loom, or rigid heddle. Swedish Art Weaves include traditional and very satisfying techniques and designs. Participants can create at least one pillow- or bag-sized sampler during the workshop. ​

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Northwest Washington Fair, from Marilyn  Olsen, Wool Show Superintendent

Winter is the BEST time to be thinking about the FAIR!
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Although at least where I live there is still snow on the ground, it's not too early to be thinking about the Northwest Washington Fair.  While there are always opportunities for you to be a part of the wool show as a volunteer (You'll be hearing a lot more about that from me later) now's the time to begin thinking about what you will enter in the wool show as well.  There are a LOT of different categories and, of course, the more you enter the greater your chance will be to take home those lovely ribbons. Plus, once your entry receives an award, you can note that on the item you offer in the sale.  As an award winner, it surely should fetch a much better price.
What are the categories?  As you may remember from last year, it's not immediately obvious how to find out.  But, as of this morning, this is how you do it.
Go to Northwest Washington Fair's website.  Choose Fair and Rodeo from the menu.  Scan down to Fair Exhibitors Guide/Premium Book. Scan down to Open Class Departments.  Go ALL THE WAY to the bottom of this page and click on Wool.   Also, if what you want to enter isn't listed, again, now's the time to make changes.  So, please let me know what they are sometime soon and I'll see what I can do to get them changed.

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Save the date, start planning! HGA Convergence! Submitted by Marcia Ford. 
Time to announce the 2018 Handweavers Guild of America conference Convergence 2018! It will be held next year at Peppermill Resort and Casino in Reno Nevada. Dates are July 6-12, 2018. I have attended a number of Convergences over the years and always have found them inspiring with exhibits, workshops, and opportunity to see first hand what is happening in our fiber community on a wider scale. Last year, few attended from WWG at Convergence 2017 in Milwaukee. However, it’s a great opportunity to learn lots, meet many, and have the opportunity to share rooms, transportation, memories. I hope our members will consider a Convergence experience.  

Convergence Announcement from Carol Berry
I was planning to go to Convergence this year and bought CVP (Conference Value Package) Tickets for me and my husband to see the fashion show, all exhibits, go to the banquet, and enter the shuttle race! As it turns out, I have been scheduled for surgery on July 5, so we can’t go.  The CVP tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferable.  If you have been on the fence about Convergence, or wishing you had bought tickets, here’s your chance to help me out, and save.  I paid $160 each for the tickets. I hope to get $100 each,  or trade for goods or services.   Please feel free to extend this offer to other guilds and friends, WWG members get first dibs. Contact Carol Berry, handwoveninBellingham@gmail.com


ANWG Thoughts, from Liz Moncrief
Many thanks to all Whatcom Guild members for the Guild's membership in the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds. If you don't know about ANWG, please ask Liz Moncrief, your Guild Representative. Being a member of the Whatcom Weavers Guild automatically entitles you to the benefits of ANWG, which include member registration to weavers conferences, held every two years. Our 2017 conference held in Victoria, BC was a huge success and may allow the ANWG board to issue financial grants again to the member guilds.
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Creative Clothing from Simple Shapes, Anita Luvera Mayer, September 7 - 8
Whatcom Weavers Guild and the Jansen Art Center Textile Group are excited to offer a two day workshop given by Anita Mayer on Friday and Saturday, 9/7 & 8, 2018, from 9am – 4pm. Class fee is $240 plus $30 lab fee. This is an opportunity to spend two wonderful days as she leads you through “Creative Clothing from Simple Shapes”. This comes in time to create a beautiful garment to wear for Fibers and Beyond Conference and Sale in October.
This workshop presents the methods for creating wearable, handwoven, contemporary garments constructed from simple shapes. The workshop includes the style of garment, fit, color choices, suggested weaving fibers, and pattern drafting along with methods of edge finishes, joining, linings, and embellishments including shisha mirrors, contemporary embroidery, cords and beading, and a joining stitch (faggotting) along with a crochet join. The instructor’s wardrobe of vests, kimonos, shawls and tops will be available for participants to examine and try on with time to copy patterns. These garments do not involve tailoring or sewing skills and are for “real women” of various sizes who want clothing that is stylish and comfortable.
For more information and to register please click here. You may also contact Joan Cunningham 360-733-8820 for additional information.

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Free Winter Artist & Writer's Fiber Residency in Central Mexico
360 XOCHI QUETZAL is an artist and writer's residency located on enchanting Lake Chapala, Mexico. International writers, visual artists, fiber artists, new media artists, dancers and string musicians working with fiber materials or content are all welcome to apply for our FREE 1-MONTH RESIDENCY from Dec 15, 2018 - Jan 14, 2019. Imagine spending the winter working on your art to your heart's content in sunny Mexico. We have fabulous live/work spaces for you. Applications are due July 29, 2018 through CAFÉ www.callforentry.org
We also have a personal residency program for artists and writers who need longer periods of creative time (1 - 6 months) throughout the year. For more details visit www.360xochiquetzal.com/personal-residency-overview/

2018 Dues Reminder 
If you have not renewed your membership for 2018, it's not too late.  You can send a check for $25, made out to Whatcom Weavers Guild, to WWG, PO Box 403, Bellingham, WA, 98227. We hope to see you soon!

For Sale

Nilus Leclerc maple jack loom- 4 harness —$600. Great Condition!
56” W x 36” D x 44” H — Folds to 29” W 46” weaving width
Includes: Two 46” reeds - 8 and 12 dent
Wire heddles, with many extras
Ratchet brake
Swedish Bobbin Winder ($100 Value)
Boat shuttles and Bobbins
Please contact Jane Coombs 360 398-1637 or dwjmcoombs@gmail.com
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​Arthur Allen 30" counterblance loom, $200. 
4- shaft, 6 pedals. 12-dent reed.
No bench or other hardware.
Cloth aprons front and back, with new lashing to apron bars.
Loom folds for easy storage or transport.
Fits in the back of a Prius.
Kelley Dragon. Text 321-506-5985, or email wise_lady@mac.com
Nilus Leclerc 4 harness, 6 treadle 36" beautifully cared for loom. 
This is Jo Morgan's loom for sale, submitted by Sharon Allen.
I am asking $500.00. Phone 360 305 0111.   
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