August 2019 Newsletter

Hello Fiber Friends,
Other than the basil in my garden (come and get some - I have already put up 6 jars of pesto) it isn’t harvest time yet - feels like summer just started, actually - but the “getting the crop in” work of getting entries ready, and all the organization for the Fair is in full swing now. I am busy! We’ll be weaving rugs on the big loom, weaving with kids, demonstrating tapestry weaving, spinning, felting, and more. New this year: There are now added Divisions and Ribbons for Basketry, Weaving, Macrame in cotton, linen, hemp, wood, bark, cane, along with the traditional wool and animal fibers. Cotton and linen towels, table linens, scarves, plus baskets, caning, and macrame all have a place at the Fair! Featured will be Linda Rees, a nationally known artist, writer, and a founding member of the Whatcom Weavers Guild. We’ll show six large tapestry rugs from Linda’s 50 year career.
Thursday, the Felters will give a hands-on demonstration; Friday, Lydia and Jared Strand will be there to present a “Meet the Shepherds” Q & A session. They will leave the sheep at home, but bring fleeces, yarns, and answer your questions about local yarns and sustainable fiber systems. Of course, there will be spinners and weavers every day. That’s what we do!

See you at the Fair August 12-17, 2019,

Carol Berry,
2018-2019 WWG President

Upcoming Programs

Northwest Washington Fair: Wool and Natural Fiber Weaving
Enter your work now! Deadline for on-line registration is August 5.
New this year, there are divisions and classes for weaving, both on and off-loom, including caning and basketry, in natural plant and plant-based fibers, not limited to sheep wool and other animal fibers. To read the rules, classes and divisions click here. To place an on-line entry, click here. For detailed online entry tips, see the rules and entry instructions here. Questions or concerns? contact Carol Berry 2019 Superintendent.

Register your entries online now, final day to enter is Monday, August 5. Drop off entries early at NW yarns, Bellingham; Jansen Arts Center, Lynden, or on Friday August 9, at the Lynden Fair Rotary Building.

Volunteer and Join in the fun! August 12-17, Monday- Saturday, the Spindrifters and Whatcom Weavers Guild host the Wool and Natural Fiber Show in the Rotary Building at the Lynden Fairgrounds. Volunteers to meet the public and demonstrate fiber crafts are needed every day of the Fair. the Wool and Natural Fiber Exhibits are open 9 am to 9 pm daily. The Rotary Building is Air Conditioned, and it is great fun to chill with fiber friends, introduce the public of all ages to the crafts we love! Volunteers get free admission to the fair all day, when you sign up for a 4-hour shift. Choose morning, afternoon or evening, Monday through Saturday, August 12- 17, 2019. To sign up, contact Wool, Weaving and Natural Fibers 2019 Superintendent, Carol Berry, [email protected]

See whatcomweaversguild.org/events for further information or contact us at [email protected].

Program Notes

Looking Forward: August at the Fair, September at the Jansen Center
WWG does not have a formal meeting in August, instead we meet any day of the week at the Fair!
Our first Fall meeting will be September 21 at the Jansen Art Center, upstairs Concert Hall, for a talk by renowned weaver, fashion designer and instructor Daryl Lancaster.

Looking Back: July Meeting
The July meeting was our annual Field Trip to Maiwa, on Granville Island. 20 members carpooled to Granville Island for a view of amazing handmade artisan textile arts, and an educational and inspring talk by textile collector, philanthropist and entrepreneur Charlotte Kwon, founder and CEO of Maiwa and the Maiwa Foundation. For a view of the workshops, lectures, handmade goods and supplies that maiwa offers, go here.

Paddle To Lummi 2019
“The Lummi People are honored to welcome all our relations traveling the traditional highways of the ancestors.” The Traditional Salish Sea Canoe Journey was reinvigorated in 1989, and now rotates to different destinations along the Pacific NW coast. This year over 100 canoe groups from throughout the Salish Sea, many paddling for days to get here. On July 24 they arrived at Lummi, and asked permission to come ashore, for three days of speaking, dances, and gift-giving. If you did not attend the events July 24-28 at Lummi Nation, you can view Videos documenting this and previous canoe journeys above.

Gifts for the Paddle To Lummi, created by WWG members

Thanks!
Sheri Ward, Program Chair

Jansen Summer Textile Classes, from Sheri Ward

We are planning some dye days at the Jansen Art Center over the course of the summer. If you’re interested in any of these, put the dates on your calendar now, and after June 1, visit https://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio/ to register.

Block printing on small cotton squares, Tuesday, Aug 6, using thickened Procion MX dyes, materials fee to include cost of the fabric squares plus dyes
Wool and silk variegated dyeing for yarns, Tuesday, Aug 27, materials fee to include the cost of the dyes. Participants should bring their own prepared skeins of wool or silk yarns
Ice dyeing with cotton scarves, Tuesday, Sept 24, materials fee to include the cost of the scarf plus dyes. Participants may bring their own prepared skeins of cotton yarns
Cotton variegated dyeing with yarns, Wednesday, Sept 25, materials fees to include the cost of the dyes. Participants should bring their own prepared skeins of cotton or linen yarns

For all dye days

Scheduled for 11 am-4 pm
Ages adult and 13+ are appropriate
Fee is $10 plus materials fee; $10 paid at time of registration, materials fee paid on the day of the workshop
Registration deadline is 4 days prior to the event

Some classes in the planning stages for fall quarter are:

Beginning Weaving with Marcia Ford
Rag Rug Weaving with Marcia Ford
Double Weave with Sheri Ward
Rigid Heddle Weaving with Kelley Dragon
Felting with Donna Hunter
Tapestry with Joyce Noordmans
Spinning with Chris Paul

To see details and to register, visit https://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio. Beginning Weaving is listed on the Jansen's website at http://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio/ Around June 1. Sewing with Handwovens will appear, and classes planned for fall will appear around Aug 1.

Parfait dyeing fun!
These ladies enjoyed dyeing silk scarves at the Jansen Art Center. The scarves were folded, shibori-tied, and then put in a mason jar. Using primary colors plus black, the dyes were applied, down the side so they mostly hits the bottom, or over the top, however the dyer wanted to use them. Then, to fix the dyes, the mason jars were steamed (just like canning). The dyes hit the fabric in unpredictable, but always beautiful ways, to yield a variegated dyed silk scarf.

Two New Group Projects at the Jansen Textiles Studio

Block Twill Tea Towel
The first warp of 2-block twill "window pane" draft from the “18 Towels on 8 Shafts” book is almost done! This warp offers many pattern variations. Cost is $10 loom use fee per person, and $5.00 per towel for warp materials. Provide your own weft. Suitable wefts are 22/2 cottolin, 16/2 linen, 8/2 and 5/2 cotton, or similar weights in cotton or linen. If there is interest, we will put another warp on the loom in September. If you would like to weave one or more of these block twill towels, Contact Carol Berry to sign up. [email protected]

Wide Wool Blanket Project
Plans are being made for weaving wool blankets in 2-block twill, on the 60” wide Glimakra Loom. Cost will be $20 loom use fee per person, and each person will purchase their own warp and weft materials. “Tuna” Swedish wool blanket yarns from Glimakra is recommended. The threading will be 10 EPI, (600 ends) and the warp for each blanket can be 3 or 4 yards long. We will measure each warp separately and tie on to a dummy warp for each blanket. Each weaver will be able to choose their own colors, from the 100+ colors available. A group meeting will be scheduled to discuss the project, decide on a threading pattern, and plan a group order for the yarns.
If you are interested, Contact Carol Berry with questions. [email protected]

Jansen Art Center News

Eco Printing Workshop and Presentation
Christine Mauersberger will be offering a 3-day workshop at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden. Before her visit here, she’ll be leading two workshops for the Whidbey guild, and after her workshop here, she’s going to Maiwa to teach a workshop as part of its School of Textiles. The other workshops will focus more on mindful stitching and personal journal-keeping. This workshop is the only one that will focus on eco printing, with stitching included.

ECO PRINTING ON SCARVES, PAPER AND HAND STITCHING
with Christine Mauersberger, Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 23-25, 9 am – 4 pm
Eco-prints are created by layering wool scarves or paper with local leaves. Then bundled together, tightly bound and boiled in water. This process creates a permanent transfer of pigment from the leaves to the material. No external dyes, inks or paints are used in eco printing. All color and pattern come from the plants themselves. Days one and 2 will be spent eco printing on wool scarves and paper. Day 3 will be spent hand-stitching on our eco printed scarves and paper. Participants will take a short hike or bring wind fallen leaves to the studio. Each participant will be able to print several scarves, up to 4 each. Students should wear comfortable clothes and sturdy walking shoes.
About Christine:
Christine Mauersberger is known for her hand-stitched work that evokes singular moments in time. She uses the form of the humble stitch as a tool for inward as well as an outward expression of her inner life and as a message to the external world. The workshop is based on her own studio practice in which she uses photographs, drawing, and thinking as a tool to inform an intuitive style of hand stitching. You will be guided through exercises to translate what you see, think, or dream into hand stitched work.
For this class, registration is $295, $265.50 for Jansen Art Center members, and there is a materials fee of $40.
More information about this workshop is on the Jansen’s website.
She will also present a program on Eco Printing, which will be the guild’s program and meeting for the month of October. Please note that this meeting will be on Oct. 26, rather than Oct. 19, our usual meeting time. The program will be presented at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden, and admission is by donation.

ECO PRINTING PRESENTATION
with Christine Mauersberger, Saturday, Oct. 26, noon – 2 pm
Christine Mauersberger is internationally known for her hand-stitched work that evokes singular moments in time. Her work ranges in size and media from stitching on found leaves to creating room-sized installations. Christine will share stories of her career in contemporary textile art through the use of the ubiquitous stitch.
“When I was young, the sound of my mom at the sewing machine was the sound of comfort in the evening; it was the sound of home and that all was well. It is not surprising that the act of sewing is deeply rooted in my work and that it draws on the memory of earlier times.”
Admission is by donation.
More information about these workshops is on the Jansen’s website.

Announcement
Note from Chris Paul & Cynthia Poppe: SpiNit won't be meeting at the Jansen Art Center from April through September but plan on starting up again in October. Will keep you posted on that for sure.

From other guilds and Study Groups

From the Skagit Weavers Guild:
Skagit Valley Weavers Guild has a couple of openings for the Lace Weaves workshop with Robyn Spady on 7-8 September. Loom-controlled lace weaves explored will include huck, Swedish, Atwater-Bronson, and bead leno. Weaver-manipulated lace weaves, such as leno, Brooks Bouquet, Spanish lace, and Danish medallion will also be included.
The workshop will be held at the Fire Hall on Peterson Rd. in Burlington. Cost is estimated about $125-$150 contingent upon the number of attendees.
Whatcom guild members who would like to sign up, please contact me SVWG Workshop Chair Nancy Deitch at [email protected].

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 [email protected]. There you have it: You are always welcome at the "J" on Thursdays which is open studio from 11-7. Happy Spinning!! Chris Paul. [email protected].

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.

Small Looms Group, from Sharon Allen
During the Summertime continue to connect with your friends from the guild as well as demonstrate your weaving during the First Saturday Small Looms Group at the Bellingham Public Library. July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th. All times are Noon to 3 pm.

Pacific NW Wool Drop-In Studio
Kelley Dragon, WWG member, spinner, and owner of Pacific NW Wool (Awesome Carded Fiber for spinning and felting) is opening her work studio the fourth Sunday of every month, from March through October. Drop-in times are Noon to 4 pm. Bring something you are working on, buy wool, see the machinery, spend time with other lovely, artistic people. The Pacific NW Wool work studio is located in the Grandview Business Center, on Portal Way between Ferndale and Custer. Suite 102. Please email Kelley if you have questions, [email protected].
www.pacificNWwool.com

Interest Groups and Mentoring
Are you interested in a technique, weave structure, type of loom, particular fiber? A countermarche loom group is starting; members get together for plant dying and eco-printing; spinners love to spin together; Sprang, Small Looms, Inkle, Tablet weaving, Finger Weaving, Rigid Heddle, garments, knitting, crochet, tapestry… what is your thing? Find a mentor or be a mentor. Shout it out and share the learning, practice and fun.

Announcements

Knitting and Physics (from Sheri Ward)
Here's a fun read, which connects knitting with physics and computer programming.

Sapori & Saperi, Flavors and Knowledge of Italian Artisans is a blog/newsletter, website, and tour company you will want to know about. Go to https://www.sapori-e-saperi.com for Textile Tour opportunities in Italy, fascinating info about Italian textiles and artisans, and yummy photos featuring fiber, dyes, spinning, papermaking, baskets, felting pasta, and more

Heddlecraft (from Sharon Allen)
Have you seen Robyn Spady’s digital weaving magazine Heddlecraft? It is a six times a year resource jam packed with information, samples, .wif files, book reviews, all tailored for weavers using four to eight shaft looms and more.
I recently discovered that Robyn on her Heddlecraft website has created a link for all Upcoming Conferences for 2019, and what is known so far for 2020!
An additional link for On-line Learning Resources is full of access to tutorials, classes, Weave-a-longs, and you guessed it, MORE!

Norwegian Textile Letter (from Sharon Allen)
The Norwegian Textile Letter (NTL) is a quarterly publication for fans of Norwegian (and other Scandinavian) fiber activities, published since 1994. Scholarly or informational articles aim to raise the level of knowledge about historical and contemporary weaving and other textile techniques in Scandinavian countries, and highlight related activities in the United States.

Wool and Natural fibers at the NWWA Fairs!
August 12 - 17, 2019

The Annual NWWA Fair is coming up in a month. New this year, there are divisions and classes for weaving, both on and off-loom, including caning and basketry, in natural plant and plant-based fibers, not limited to sheep wool and other animal fibers. You can read the rules, classes and divisions here. To place an on-line entry, click here.

For detailed online entry tips, see the rules and entry instructions here. Questions or concerns? Contact Carol Berry 2019 Superintendent.

Register your entries online now, final day to enter is Monday, August 5. Drop off entries early at NW yarns, Bellingham; Jansen Arts Center, Lynden, or on Friday August 9, at the Lynden Fair Rotary Building.

Volunteer and Join in the fun! August 12-17, Monday- Saturday, the Spindrifters and Whatcom Weavers Guild host the Wool and Natural Fiber Show in the Rotary Building at the Lynden Fairgrounds. Volunteers to meet the public and demonstrate fiber crafts are needed every day of the Fair. Exhibits are open 9 am to 9 pm daily. The Rotary Building is Air Conditioned, and it is great fun to chill with fiber friends, introduce the public of all ages to the crafts we love! Volunteers get free admission to the fair all day, when you sign up for a 4-hour shift. Choose morning, afternoon or evening, Monday through Saturday, August 12- 17, 2019. To sign up, contact Wool, Weaving and Natural Fibers 2019 Superintendent, Carol Berry, [email protected]

For Sale

I am assisting a friend to sell two weaving looms and accessories:

1)LoomCraft 45 inch, hard rock maple, 4S6T, beautiful condition, comes with a 12 dent reed in excellent condition

2) LoomCraft 40 inch, hard rock maple, 4S6T, great condition, comes with a 10 dent reed that is just 24 inches…but there may be another to go with it.

Additional accessories include a well made bench with storage, lots of extra heddles, warping board (believe that it is a 20 yard), aa large tapestry frame, small tapestry frame that needs some repair, assorted yarns…
These are extra solid jack looms and can do just about any kind of weaving including rugs. They need a home and the seller is motivated. She would like to sell all as a package, but needs to move and get them out of storage. They are currently in completely clean and dry storage.
Located in Mt Vernon, WA. You would need a truck for one or both.
Seller is asking $900 for the package, which is a steel. If sold separately, the 45 inch will be $600, 40 inch will be $400 and these are still excellent prices.
You can contact me directly and I can assist with questions. I have seen the looms and wish that I had more room myself to take one or both. Or you may call the owner, Robyn at 360-293-8964.

Sent from Liz Moncrief, www.aweaversway.com

All sale items below are in Snohomish. Proceeds will go to the Skagit Valley Weavers Guild.
Contact Liz Moncrief or Roxie Rochet for additional photos and information
Liz Moncrief, www.aweaversway.com