March 2018 Newsletter

Hello Fiber Friends:

Happy March! Although winter isn’t quite finished with us, the bulbs are beginning to poke their heads above ground and buds are beginning to set, and in no time, our days will be longer, warmer, and brighter with the colors of spring. Great inspiration for a fiber project, don’t you think?
Our Saturday Guild meetings are going well. Join us to share your work and ideas, learn more about what’s going on in the fiber community, and make new friends. If you have questions about weaving or a loom, bring them; if you have an idea you’d like to share, share it; if you have a challenge you’d like to start, bring it. Let’s all make the best guild, ever!
This coming month, we will be taking a field trip to the Whatcom Museum to see “Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America”, and hear Polly Adams Sutton talk about her cedar bark basketry.
I hope to see you all, soon. In the meantime, create!

Best,
Kathy Hutchinson, President

Upcoming Programs
March 17 – Saturday meeting & Field trip: Basketry in America
Apr 21 Saturday meeting & program: Tracy Hudson
Meetings held at: St James Church (lower level), 910, 14th St., Bellingham. Third Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm. Meeting start—10am.
10-noon—business meeting, show and tell and lunch 2-4pm—program.

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

2018 Dues Reminder
It’s time to renew your Whatcom Weavers Guild membership. Membership is annual from January through December. The cost remains the same at $25 per single membership or $35 for a family membership. Along with your check please add any updated information for the roster. Printed rosters are available at the meetings.
See you then and thank you, Cathy Thompson, Treasurer.

Program Notes

Looking Back, Fun at the February Meeting
Susan Clueit gave us a review of “What the Judges Look for” in jurying items for an exhibition or sale. All agreed that the criteria as written for the fibers and Beyond sale can be seen as a little intimidating, and could be simplified. Careful workmanship, suitability for purpose, and good finishing are key to showing and selling your work. Items displayed for sale at the 2017 Fibers & Beyond sale were complimented for high quality. Members and friends of the guild are encouraged to create work for sale at the 2018 sale.

“Walk the Dog Challenge” Seven members brought and donated a total of eleven items, which were in turn adopted by ten other members, with an eye for the future potential! See some of the before photos: “scraps” of hand woven yardage, lovely blue and white felt, mug rugs in need of embellishment… all agreed to bring these materials back transformed, re-purposed, embellished, for “after” pictures, at the June meeting.

Mugs vs. Paper or Styrofoam disposable cups: What if we stopped buying disposable cups for coffee & tea at WWG meetings, and used washable mugs instead? This question came up at the February meeting, and the consensus was Yes to reusable mugs, especially after Hospitality Chair Marcia Ford even offered to take mugs home after the meeting, and run them through the dishwasher for the next meeting! Attendance at meetings averages about 20-25 people. Who among us has a spare mug or two to donate for use at WWG meetings? Please bring your own mug or a donated mug for general use, to the next meeting.

More Notes from the February meeting:
What do Weavers Want? NW Yarns, Bellingham’s Local Brick & Mortar Yarn store is serving weavers with Louet harness table looms and rigid heddle looms, and is looking to provide weaving yarns and supplies we can get our hands on. Check in at NW yarns, at the corner of Commercial and Magnolia in Downtown Bellingham, and ask for what you need and want!
With the change in UKI mercerized cotton availability, Lunatic Fringe is filling in some of those spaces, with their 20-color spectrum, un-mercerized cotton in several sizes, and natural-grown colored cottons in their American Maid line. Check out the Lunatic Fringe Website - https://lunaticfringeyarns.com/ for the rainbow colored yarns and scarves we saw in January’s color program. Rumor has it Lunatic Fringe is considering adding tints and shades of mercerized cotton to their awesome tubular spectrum line, and that NW Yarns will be carrying the Lunatic Fringe weaving yarns!

New Weavers Get Warped at the February meeting: A Cricket rigid-heddle loom, and a Louet 4-shaft “Erica” loom brought their new owners to the February meeting, and more experienced weavers helped get the warps sorted out. Hands-on mentorship can be a regular part of almost every meeting, so please bring your small looms, and/or other portable fiber work to the meeting, to do, show, and ask for advising or assistance.

Resources:
Want to know more about looms, large and small? Ever wonder about terms like jack, counterbalance, countermarche, shaft, heddle, reed, beam, apron, shuttle? How to know if a used loom (or a free loom) will work, or work for what you want to do? Check out the Glimakra USA website resources pages: Especially the Glossary and Learning about Looms http://www.glimakrausa.com/learning-about-looms Their website has more information about the Swedish-style looms they make and sell, but has good and thorough information about many kinds of looms, and how looms work.

Coast Salish Weaving Field Trip?
The University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology Exhibit of Coast Salish Weaving will be on view until Mid-April. Some members have seen the exhibit and many have expressed interest in getting carpools together for a day-trip to this wonderful museum.

Looking Ahead, March Meeting, March 17, 2018
Our March Program will welcome Artist & Basket Maker Polly Adams Sutton. Polly is a full-time studio artist and teacher of basketmaking. Living in the Pacific Northwest, she gathers her own materials - cedar bark from logged forests and sweetgrass from the tidal flats of Washington. She even uses invasive species such as Himalayan Blackberry, morning glory and ivy vines, incorporated into her cedar-bark basketry. Polly will share about her work, and the program will include a visit to the Whatcom Museum, to view the Exhibit Rooted, Revived, Reinvented: Basketry in America. This exhibit is a survey of American basketry from its origins in Native American, immigrant, and slave communities to its presence within the contemporary fine art world. Polly Suttons’s work is included in the exhibit.
Meet at St. James Church at 10 am, after a short business meeting, we’ll sort out carpools to the Museum to view the exhibit. For those not members of the Whatcom Museum, Admission is $10 for Adults, Seniors $8 (62 and up). We are inquiring about a “tour group rate” for discount admission.

Looking Ahead to April
Weavers and former classroom teachers Marcia Ford and Mary Oates have been asked to help organize and train volunteers and parents in preparation for a weaving “Art Night” at Wade King Elementary School. This will follow a study unit on Guatemala, and the school is very excited about the opportunity for hands-on weaving. Marcia and Mary are going to need help with this, which I’m sure will be forthcoming from the guild. We’ll learn more details next month.

Looking further ahead to 2019: Sprang, Anyone?
This message comes from from Linda York, Peninsula Spinners and Weavers Guild, who will be hosting Sprang and Finger Weaving Artist and author Carol James for a Sprang workshop in February, 2019.
Sprang is an ancient method of constructing fabric that has a natural elasticity. Its appearance is similar to netting, but unlike netting sprang is constructed entirely from warp threads.
The Whidbey Guild will also be hosting Carol James for a workshop. Carol will be visiting the Whidbey and Peninsula guilds during February 7-14 and offering workshops for us. If WWG would also like to schedule a workshop with her, the guilds would be able to share in her transportation costs and each guild would be responsible for lodging when she is at each guild.
Linda adds: “I took Carol’s three day workshop on Sprang this past summer at ANWG and it was a really fun workshop. She is a fabulous speaker.”
Here is a link to Carol James’ website and all she offers: http://www.spranglady.com

Thanks!
Carol Berry, Program Chair

Jansen Spring Textile Classes, from Sheri Ward

Classes

Color and Weave, Fridays, April 6-27, 1-4 pm with Sheri Ward; $145 plus $15 materials fee
Beginning Spinning, Saturdays, April 21 - May 5, 10 am - 2 pm with Chris Paul: $145
Beginning Weaving, Wednesdays, May 16 through June 6, 1-4 pm with Sheri Ward; $145 plus $15 materials fee
Felted Bag, Saturday, April 28, 11 am - 3 pm with Donna Hunter; $45 plus $12 materials fee
Basketry Basics, Thursdays, April 12 - May 3, 10 am - 4:30 pm with Kay Harradine; $210 plus $50 materials fee
From Bark to Basket, Saturday, June 9, 10 am - 4:30 pm with Kay Harradine; $65 plus $35 materials fee

Dye interest groups

"Stamp and Clamp" resist dyeing for cotton, Tuesday, March 13, 11am - 3 pm
Wool felt or roving dyeing, Tuesday, March 27, 11 am - 3 pm
Cotton tray dyeing, Tuesday, April 10, 1-4 pm
Wool variegated dyeing, Tuesday, April 24, 11 am - 3 pm
Cotton dyeing of interest to quilters, Tuesday, May 8, 11 am - 3 pm
Wool immersion dyeing, Tuesday, May 22, 11 am - 3 pm

Dye interest groups are $10 for the room plus a modest materials fee.

Spin-Knit nights, 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month, 6-8 pm; $8 drop-in, $40 for an 8-session punch card.

To see details and to register, visit https://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio/
For the dye interest groups, please email Sheri Ward, [email protected] to reserve your space.

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 [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—March 3, from Sharon Allen
Saturday, March 3, 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!

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.

The Life-Saving Weaving of Bolivia’s Indigenous Women, from Carol Berry
In the high-altitude city of La Paz, Bolivia, rates of heart problems dwarf those of cities at sea level. But an unexpected partnership between medicine and art is helping address this problem. Doctor Franz Freudenthal is a pediatric cardiologist who created a device that fixes abnormal openings in the heart through a non-invasive procedure. But these tiny, intricate devices cannot be made by machine, so Freudenthal enlisted help from the country’s indigenous Aymara women. With their traditional weaving skills, they knit these life-saving devices by hand. It's the perfect blend of technology and artistry.

Announcements

Everson Library Small Looms: March 10, 2018 1:00-4:00 pm
Volunteers are needed to demonstrate weaving on small looms of all kinds, and assist new weavers of all ages, child to adult, in starting their own small weaving project. Pre-warped cardboard looms, yarns and wood needle shuttles are all ready for this fun event! Small Looms at the Everson Library echoes the popular monthly “small looms clinic” in the Bellingham Library. Join other members for what promises to be a fun outreach event. If you plan to go, or would like to and want to ride with someone, contact Barbara Young, Carol Berry, Sheila Atwater, or send an email to [email protected]

Northwest Washington Fair, from Marilyn Olsen, Wool Show Superintendent

Winter is the BEST time to be thinking about the FAIR!

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.

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.

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.

Master Spinning Class, from Sheri Ward
We are excited that Olds College will be offering a Master Spinner Class, Level 1, at the Jansen Art Center, May 18-22. Olds College, based near Calgary, Alberta, is one of the few colleges offering textile classes: master spinning and master weaving classes among them. They offer only a few off-site classes, and none on the west coast of the US, so this is a great opportunity for spinners in our area.
Participants can register online at https://oldscollegece.augusoft.net/ by searching (by menu or search option) for the Master Spinner Level 1 - Lynden, WA offering. Or they can do so by phone, by calling Olds College Continuing Education toll free: 1-800-661-6537, ext 2
You might note that the course doesn't appear on the Olds College website (oldscollege.ca) currently. That's only a temporary delay - this month they’ve been transitioning to a new website for the whole college, so changes to the old website are temporarily halted. Everything should appear there normally in February. That won't impact participants' ability to register, as the online registration system is a separate website, and the phone number leads to someone who has all the course information.
This is a 5-day intensive class, and the fee is $940. If you plan to stay in Lynden during this class, the Inn at Lynden will have special room rates available for participants. Please call the Inn at 360-746-8597 for reservations and let them know you are part of this class. More information about the Inn can be found at www.innatlynden.com.
For information about master spinner certificates please click here.

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.

Visit the Whatcom Museum for a dazzling array of baskets in three exhibitions!

ROOTED, REVIVED, REINVENTED: BASKETRY IN AMERICA
FEBRUARY 3 – MAY 6, 2018
LIGHTCATCHER BUILDING | 250 FLORA STREET
This exhibition showcases 93 objects, from historical baskets rooted in local landscapes and shaped by cultural traditions, to contemporary baskets featuring non-traditional designs, materials, and techniques. Rooted, Revived, Reinvented is generously sponsored in part by the National Basketry Organization, the University of Missouri, the Windgate Charitable Foundation, the Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, and numerous private donors. Additional support is provided by the Northwest Basket Weavers Vi Phillips Guild, the City of Bellingham, the Whatcom Museum Advocates, and the Whatcom Museum Foundation.

GATHERED TOGETHER: A SHOW OF WORK CELEBRATING MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWEST BASKET WEAVERS GUILD
FEBRUARY 3 – MAY 6, 2018
OLD CITY HALL | 121 PROSPECT STREET
View a selection of artwork at Old City Hall by members of the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild in an exhibition juried by Lisa Telford and Katherine Lewis, artists featured in Rooted, Revived, Reinvented.

HIDDEN IN THE BUNDLE: A LOOK INSIDE THE WHATCOM MUSEUM’S BASKETRY COLLECTION
FEBRUARY 3 – MAY 6, 2018
OLD CITY HALL | 121 PROSPECT STREET
Curated by Rebecca Hutchins, Curator of Collections, Hidden in the Bundle features a selection of baskets from the Museum’s extensive Native American and First Nations collection. Representing different eras and cultures, the baskets showcase unique, innovative, and even playful elements of design or decoration.

Image credits from left: Kate Anderson, Lichtenstein Teapot/Girl with Ribbon, 2005; Waxed linen, stainless steel, 9 x 10.5 x 2 in. Lent by David and Jacqueline Charak. Courtesy of the University of Missouri. Carrying basket, Salish. Gift of the Estate of Carl Cary. Whatcom Museum #1992.7.24. Jane Sauer; At Last, 1999. Waxed linen, 21 x 13 x 8 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri. Joanne Segal Brandford, Shoulder, c.1986. Bamboo, paint, 10.5 x 16 x 9 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri. Lois Russell, Magic Bus, 2012; Waxed linen, 9.25 x 11.5 x 10.5 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri.

Join us for a variety of related programs highlighting the art of basketry.
Visit whatcommuseum.org/events for more details.

DOCENT TOURS OF ROOTED, REVIVED, REINVENTED: BASKETRY IN AMERICA
THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS, 1:30 PM,
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 10; LIGHTCATCHER; INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE
Take a docent-led tour of two combined exhibitions, Rooted, Revived, Reinvented and Jeweled Objects of Desire. Tours last one hour and begin in the lobby of the Lightcatcher.

DOCENT TOURS OF GATHERED TOGETHER BY NORTHWEST BASKET WEAVERS GUILD
SUNDAYS, FEBRUARY 11, MARCH 11, AND APRIL 8, 1:30 PM; OLD CITY HALL
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE
Members of the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild will lead tours of the juried exhibition, Gathered Together, to discuss some of the techniques, designs, and materials used.

MUSEUM ADVOCATES: TWO BASKET ARTISTS DISCUSS THEIR ARTWORK
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 11:30 AM COFFEE, NOON PROGRAM; OLD CITY HALL; FREE
Basket makers Lisa Telford and Lanny Bergner, whose artworks are included in Rooted, Revived, Reinvented, will discuss their techniques, materials, and inspiration.

WHATCOM MUSEUM BASKET DAY WORKSHOPS
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 10 AM – 3:30 PM; LIGHTCATCHER
$65 WORKSHOP FEE (MATERIALS INCLUDED)
Skilled basket makers from the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild will lead four unique basketry workshops: birch bark basket, banded bowl basket, diamond embellished market basket, or translucent twine and paper basket. Instructors will share their knowledge and talents in natural basket weaving techniques. Students will take home their finished woven basket. Registration is limited to 10 participants per workshop. For more information and to register visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3233038.

ROOTED, REVIVED, REINVENTED CURATORS SHARE AN INTIMATE VIEW
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1 PM CURATORS’ LECTURE; 2:30 PM CURATORS’ GALLERY TOUR; OLD CITY HALL & LIGHTCATCHER
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE
Enjoy a lively discussion in Old City Hall with Kristin Schwain entitled “Canastromania: Or How Basket Fever Transformed American Basketry from 1890 to 1940,” followed by an informative gallery tour at the Lightcatcher with Jo Stealey.

COMMUNITY ART MUSEUM DAY: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BASKET
SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 10 AM – 4 PM; LIGHTCATCHER
$3 GENERAL ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE
Visit the Museum today and celebrate the innovation and reinvention of basket art. Experience basketry demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, and meet with basket artists to learn about their work.

Image credits from left: Lois Russell, Magic Bus, 2012; Waxed linen, 9.25 x 11.5 x 10.5 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri. Lisa Telford, Evening Out, 2007. Red and yellow cedar bark, 5.5 x 3.125 x 8 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri. Joanne Segal Brandford, Shoulder, c.1986. Bamboo, paint, 10.5 x 16 x 9 in. Courtesy of the University of Missouri.

For Sale

Nilus Leclerc maple jack loom- 4 harness —$700.00 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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.