April 2023 Newsletter

Celebration of Life

If you haven’t been to see the Katazome Exhibit at the Whatcom Museum in downtown Bellingham, you will want to plan a trip soon. The exhibit is lovely and so inspiring, there are numerous cafes close by, and the museum shop has some very nice items that coordinate with the exhibit too. Great for a small group field trip or solo Artist’s Date. Special events are on the schedule as well, including curator’s tours and artists’ lectures. Katazome Today closes June 11, 2023.

Fibres West 2023 was a fun time! A carpool of Guild members attended on Friday. I had an appointment, but DH (Dear Husband) offered to drive up on Saturday. We had not crossed the border in 3 years, not since March 2020. It was lovely to see the yarn vendors, fleeces, bobbin lace makers, and more. Surrey is so close to us, right across the border. Talking with folks in the Museum of Surrey booth, I remembered a guild field trip from years past, where we toured the Textile Studio, learned the history of their Jacquard Loom, and were even allowed to weave on it. This summer will be the second year of a community dye garden project at the Museum of Surrey, and we are invited to come up this summer to see what they are doing. On display at Fibres West were yarns dyed with Japanese Indigo, Marigold, and Rosemary. The Dye Garden is a multi-age hands-on community outreach program of the City of Surrey, active during the summer months. Also at Fibres West, I learned of a new Exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver, Dressed For History – Women’s Fashion 1750-2000, which opened March 16, 2023.

Of course, not to be missed is the Ikat Exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. It’s up from March 9 to May 29. Fiber Fusion is coming up in Early June, and classes are open for registration! It’s time to be planning our trips and organizing carpools.

As the world is opening up more fully, with exhibitions, festivals and travel, we are also sadly attending memorials as well. Friends and colleagues we haven’t seen enough of in the past few years are taken away from us, way too soon.

Maker Party! A small group of weavers making and warping small looms for the Monthly Small Looms at the Library event

Museum of Surrey Staff and Textiles Display, Fibres West, March 25, 2023

Heidi’s Inkle Band in ANWG 2023 colors

Remembering to value the sweetness of life, every single day, is my keynote for spring. I am grateful for crocuses, daffodils, sun, rain, string, and a community of fiber lovers to share it all with.

Warmly,

Carol Berry
2022-2023 President, Whatcom Weavers Guild

Dori Painter – In Memoria

We are sorry to share the sad news that Dori Painter lost her life in a house fire on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. She was a member of the Whatcom, Skagit Valley and Whidbey Weavers Guilds, and participated in several study groups when her busy work schedule as a nurse at Whidbey Health Medical Center allowed. She was integral in the creation of the Whidbey Island Crafters Market and Studios group, and an enthusiastic member of Kathyrn Weber's Blazing Shuttles west coast group. She was also very helpful to weavers and dyers in the various Facebook Groups she belonged to.

Dori's fiber journey started out over 7 years ago, when she acquired several sheep. This led to spinning yarn from their fleece, then dyeing the yarn, and then, in her own words, failed attempts at knitting and crocheting. And then she learned to weave and that hooked her. Her interest in fibers and natural dyeing led to botanical printing and once again, she was hooked. Weaving was her calm and relaxing place; botanical printing was her exciting place. She attended the Muslin Monday study group on March 20th, and shared a new surface design technique she was just starting to explore, and again, her excitement was palpable. Noted Weaver and instructor Daryl Lancaster referred to Dori as one of the best and most enthusiastic students she has ever taught.

Dori’s sense of humor, curiosity, drive to learn new things, and her generosity in sharing what she knew will be missed. A memorial for Dori is being planned by her friends at Whidbey Health Medical Center for Sunday April 16th, and will be announced when more details are available.

Dori Painter - Artist and Friend (photo by Karla Addison)

Dori Painter, modeling her handwoven vest made in Daryl Lancaster’s workshop

News from Committees and Interest Groups

The Tapestry Focus Group

The TFG will be meeting on Tuesday April 11th from 1-3 pm at the Ferndale Library large conference room.

Our Tapestry submissions for the upcoming ANWG Conference WWG Exhibition Booth are due to be collected by Sheila at this meeting. Please have them ready to go, with titles and appropriate notes. Thank you!

For more information, text or email Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818 or sheilag1948@comcast.net.

The Rigid Heddle Loom Study Group

RHSG is a hands-on, skill-building and project-oriented exploration of RH weaving, open to any weaver, beginner to more advanced; mentoring and one-on-one assistance available. We currently have 9 members, and room for 4-5 more, if you would like to join. We meet on the third Thursday every month, 1-3 pm, at the Ferndale Library. Upcoming meeting is scheduled for April 20.
For more information, please contact coordinator Susan Torntore at [email protected].

Wendy Eakle ANWG Challenge 2023 Cocktail Table Placemats

Wendy Eakle ANWG Challenge 2023 Placemats Setting

Mary Oates ANWG 2023 Challenge 2023 Scarf

Wednesday Weavers (a.k.a. “The Loomatics”)

Our monthly informal gatherings meet on the first Wednesday of each month, at the home of LeslieAnn Bestor in colder weather, and in Sharon Allen’s driveway in warmer weather. Bring your small projects, handwork or just hang out and visit:

Wednesday May 3, 10 am - 1 pm, Home of LeslieAnn Bestor
Please contact Sharon for location and directions.
Sharon Allen, 360-305-0111, LeslieAnn Bestor, 413-387-3205; call either of us if you get lost!

Community Outreach

Skill Share Space/Small Looms Group at the Bellingham Public Library

Small Looms at the Bellingham Library continues to June 2023. We have seen an increase in the numbers of attendees with about half of them wanting to try out some sort of weaving. We provide the materials and show them how to do the basics and let them begin. They can even take home the project to finish. It is really fun to watch the pleasure, that most experience, on the first try. We also provide information on resources in the community if they wish to take further lessons, reference books to read or if they need inexpensive materials.

We will be in the Skill Share space the first Saturday of each month. We need volunteers to come sit, weave your own project, share your skills, answer questions.
If anyone is planning to attend, please email or text: Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818, [email protected].

Hospice Washcloth Project

Thank you to all who have woven cloths to donate. A simple thing can mean so much to many. Keep them coming.
Sheila Atwater
For information about how to participate in the project, please contact me at 360-201-0818 (call or text), or email me at [email protected]

From our Member at Large / Association of Northwest Weavers Guild
(ANWG) Representative

The deadline of mid-April is coming up soon for submissions to our WWG exhibit at the ANWG Conference in Bend in June.

Our Booth Planning Committee will be meeting on Friday 4/14, at the home of Sharon Allen, to inventory all goods received from our members, and to plan the booth set-up. Please arrange to deliver your pieces to them by that morning.

Thank you to all who are sharing their wonderful contributions. Let’s show off our skills and creativity! And much thanks to Sheila Atwater, see photo below of her beautiful ANWG Challenge tapestry, “United in Fiber: Many Roots, One Tree, Much Beauty” (7.5" X 12", 100% Borg wool, on cotton warp).

United in Fiber: Many Roots, One Tree, Much Beauty

Upcoming meetings

April 15: Linda Hartshorn presenting a Textile Tour of Guatemala.
Guatemala is a beautiful country of highland lakes, towering volcanoes, and amazing handwoven textiles. The modern-day Maya, whose ancestors built pyramids and studied the stars, continue their traditional weaving of complex fabrics on simple backstrap looms. Take a virtual tour of this fascinating country from a weaver's perspective. View vivid images on PowerPoint, examine many wonderful textiles, and hear fascinating stories from the auspicious time of December 2012, the end of the calendar, and the beginning of a new era in Mayan Cosmology.

Whatcom Weavers Guild Library

WWG Equipment Library

The Guild has equipment for short-term loan to members. Just a few of the items are a yardage counter, bobbin winder, shuttles, reeds in commonly used sizes, shaft table looms and Rigid Heddle Looms. The complete list and the equipment reside with Sharon Allen. Contact [email protected] for info or loan arrangements.

WWG Library

To access the Whatcom Weavers Guild Library’s catalog click on this link. A password is not needed. This gives you a list of all the books and magazines in the Library. It doesn't sort by topic and doesn't say if the book is checked out or not. To find out if a book is available for check out, contact Carol Berry.

From the Jansen

Classes and Dye Days at the J

The J’s spring quarter classes will soon be open for registration! Check out the wonderful new offerings at the Jansen Art Center Textile Studio! For members of the J, early registrations enjoy a 10% discount.

The Textile Studio’s schedule of classes for winter and spring quarter:

Weaving on Harness Looms:

Twills, Twills, Twills! with Sheri Ward, April 11 - May 2
Weaving a Rag Rug with Marcia Ford, April 26 - May 24
Designing and Planning Handwoven Clothing with Darlene Mathias and Sheri Ward, April 29 - May 13
Beginning Weaving with Sheri Ward, May 16 - June 6
Extreme Warp Make-over with Robyn Spady, May 17 - 19

Weaving on Rigid Heddle Looms:

Rigid Heddle Weaving: Let’s Get Started with Leslie Ann Bestor, April 22
Rigid Heddle Weaving: Beyond Beginner with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 4 - June 8

Inkle

Inkle Weaving with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 9

Tapestry

Tapestry Weaving: Beyond the Basics with Val O’Connor, April 12 - May 3

Kids’ Classes:

Threadbenders Club with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 4 - June 8

Crochet:

Beginning Crochet Part 2 with Jan Burton, April 1 - May 20

Felting:

Felted Bowl with a Handle with Donna Hunter, April 8

Spinning:

Beginning Spinning with Chris Paul, May 4 & 11

Dye Days:

Indigo Dyeing, May 4

Block Printing with Dyes, June 1

For any of these classes or workshops, check the J's website for details.

Twills

Handwoven Clothing

Robyn Spady’s workshop, Extreme Warp Make-Over

Robyn Spady’s workshop, Extreme Warp Make-Over, will be held May 17 - 19, Wednesday through Friday. Robyn will also be doing the guild program on May 20 (details elsewhere in the newsletter).
Robyn is a well-known weaver and wonderful teacher. Be sure to check your calendar and make time for this great workshop. Here’s Robyn’s description of this workshop:

Hate to warp, but love to weave? Want more versatility from a single warp? Then this is a workshop for you! In this workshop, participants will warp their loom with their choice of one of three four-shaft threadings and perform an extreme makeover and weave it many different ways . . . from twill, lace, and overshot to swivel, corduroy, deflected weft, and double-faced. At the same time, participants are presented with the basics of different structures and how to adapt a single threading to weave a number of different weaves, including concepts such as star vs. rose fashion, weaving on opposites, and echo treadling. Four-shaft loom required. (Note: This is not a round-robin workshop.)

This workshop is now available for registration through the Jansen Art Center website, www.jansenartcenter.org, or through the gift shop.

Classified Ads

For Sale

Please keep ads clear and concise, with title of item for sale, asking price, an accurate description, and your name, contact information, and general location. Photos must be in jpeg format, and emailed as attachments, rather than embedded in your email.

Schacht Inkle loom for sale, $60. Contact info: [email protected]

45 inch Kissenich loom constructed of golden oak, $175.00
This 6 shaft loom is heavy enough for rugs. Loom includes: bench with storage, extra steel heddles, attachable side shelves and 4 reeds. The loom folds up for storage. Does need a little work on the beater. Contact [email protected]

Kissenich Loom

Kissenich Loom & Bench

Dee Dee O'Connor has decided to give up weaving. She has some fabulous equipment and wants to sell it all.
The following pieces are available:

Louet Spring 8-shaft countermarche loom $3500
Reeds (6, 8, 10, 12) w/ custom made holder $225
Custom Made Rotating Loom Bench $400
Cone Tree (holds 82 cones) $100
Custom made Warping Board $75
Custom made Floor Inkle Loom $100
Kromski Mistral Spinning Wheel w/ 6 bobbins $800

EVERYTHING IS IN PERFECT, LIKE-NEW CONDITION.
BUY THE ENTIRE LOT FOR $5000
Call Dee Dee: 360-305-7300

 Louet Spring Loom

Reeds & Reed Holder

Cone Tree

Warping Board

Loom Bench

Custom made Floor Inkle Loom

Kromski Mistral SpinningWheel

8 Harness Colonial Loom, Jack Type, $500, in Ft. Langley, BC

8 harness/10 treadles, Colonial loom, Jack type, however 4 harnesses can be counter balanced.
Includes 6 reeds, 3 lease sticks, and raddle

Contact Laurie Knull [email protected]

Colonial Loom

In Search Of (ISO)

Looking for Old Cashmere Sweaters
I am in need of old cashmere sweaters in any condition. I have a local resource that will turn them into Chemo Caps. Sharon Allen [email protected], 360-305-0111

Calendar of events of interest to Guild members!

Please contribute details of upcoming events of interest to WWG members to [email protected].

Two fiber exhibits are coming up in our region, that you will not want to miss!

At the Whatcom Museum of History and Art, in Bellingham, Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art, February 11 – June 11, 2023, in the Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora St., Bellingham. For more information click on the link to the Museum website. Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art - The Whatcom Museum.

Traditionally used for kimono dyeing, katazome involves the application of a rice-paste resist using special stencil papers with complex designs.

At the Seattle Art Museum, Ikat: A World of Compelling Cloth opens March 9 – May 29, 2023. Ikat is a radical departure from the reliance on the factory-made cloth that surrounds us. This spring at SAM, be reminded of the potential power of the woven world to carry the sacred into view. Click on the link for more information Ikat: A World of Compelling Cloth - SAM - Seattle Art Museum

...and companion lecture by Marilyn Romatka:
Marilyn Romatka’s focus is living folk art crafts. She teaches a wide variety of topics, from painting techniques to weaving, the common thread being the techniques are all deep-rooted in cultures from around the world.

Event Date: Sunday, 4/30
Time: 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Location: Plestcheeff Auditorium (south hall)
Cost: Free to the public.

Seating is first come, first served. If you require additional ADA accommodations, please contact our customer service team at [email protected] or 206-654-3210. Please submit requests with as much advanced notice as possible.

Ikat

Whidbey Weavers Guild Workshop: Rigid Heddle Weaving with Jane Patrick

April 26 and 28, 2023
Whidbey Guild is holding a workshop given by the well known Jane Patrick who is currently the creative director at Schacht. It is on Zoom so it is convenient for people who don't want to travel to in person workshops. It is April 26 and 28. The class is limited to 12 and is half full at this point.

Instructor: Jane Patrick
Dates: Wednesday, April 26 and Friday, April 28, 2023

Location: Zoom
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: $100 if 12 participants
Level: Students who know how to weave but have little or no rigid heddle experience
Maximum # of students: 12
Registration and a $50 deposit must be received by 3/15/2023
Final payment must be received by April 1, 2023
For more information and for Registration Form, please contact Sharon Allen, [email protected]

This workshop is an introduction to rigid heddle weaving. It will include warping, weaving, and simple warp and weft pick-up. Students will need a rigid heddle loom, stash yarn, stick shuttles, and two pick up sticks. A complete supply list will be provided by the instructor.

A Contemporary Approach to Traditional Embroidery
The Skagit Valley Weavers’ Guild is proud to present A Contemporary Approach to Traditional Embroidery, a workshop by Anita Mayer
Dates: May 17-18, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Peterson Road Fire Station, 16220 Peterson Road, Burlington, WA

Learn traditional embroidery stitches and explore contemporary ways to use them on clothing and accessories. Each student will complete a reference notebook of samples including creative stitchery, mirrors, innovative beading, couching, wrapped rings, and the faggoting join techniques. The instructor's garments and textiles featuring these embellishments will be on display.

Materials fee: $35.00 to be paid to Anita at start of class
Includes: fabric, thread, needles, mirrors, rings for wrapping, beads, beading thread, folder of handouts. See detailed workshop information for list of things students should bring.

The maximum class size is 20 people. If we have a full class, total tuition will be about $50/person. If the class is smaller, the tuition will be higher.
For additional information and link to registration form, please email Molly Gerhard, [email protected]

Our Monthly Show & Tell

Submitting content for the newsletter

The deadline for submitting content for the newsletter is 5:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of the preceeding month, unless otherwise specified. The newsletter will be on the WWG website around the first Sunday night of each month or in the first few days of the following week. The goal is for members to be reading the newsletter about mid-way between Guild meetings and programs, which are on the third Saturday of each month.

Please send content for the next newsletter to [email protected], with “newsletter” included in the subject line.
For photos and images, please send individual JPEG files (please no .tif, .png, .gif etcetera), as attachments only! Do not embed them in the body of your email. Text can be typed into the body of an e-mail or be sent as a Word document that is saved as a doc or docx but not as a PDF. Contact Wendy at [email protected] if you have questions.