March 2025 Newsletter

Gosh, I’m sure no one else feels like it was just Christmas a couple of weeks ago, and now all of the sudden, wham! It’s March………. things are growing, or will be starting soon, plant sales will be running every weekend.  St. Patrick’s Day and the official beginning of spring, or in some places, the start of the mud season are just around the corner!

For many people, spring marks the beginning of spring cleaning, a ritual of deep cleaning and purging things no longer needed. While you are doing that, feel free to go through your stash [yes, we all have TOO much] and see if there is anything yarn, books, fiber arts, sewing you might want to donate to the Ragfinery fund raising sale on March 15-16th.  And after a great stash busting talk at the guild meeting, you can go to the sale, and either buy your stuff back, or something new. It’s all for a great cause!!

As I look outside my window while writing and see my green lawn [its like 85% moss] it won’t be long before the lawn mowers are roaring, and the flower beds are calling. I’m thankful to have a small portable table loom on a stand, so when it’s warm I can head outside and listen to the birds while I weave. I’m not sure that it makes me a better weaver, but it does wonders for my attitude to get some sun and fresh air. 


​Meg Spaulding
WWG President 2024-2025
March Weaving Colors

March 2025 WWG Program

The WWG March meeting will be held at the Bellingham Public Library on Saturday March 15. The meeting room is in the lower level of the library; go down the stairs/elevator just inside the front door.
Whatcom Weavers Guild strives to be available and accessible to all members. With this goal in mind, we would like to ask any member or guest that is attending a meeting or other WWG function to refrain from using perfumes or strongly scented lotions or other products for the health and safety of our members who have allergies or respiratory problems. Thank you for your consideration.

​Set up and Social Time: 10:00-10:30
Business Meeting: 10:30-11:00
Show and Tell: 11:00-11:15
Break: 11:25-11:45
Program: 11:45-1:15   -    Janet Dawson - Stash Busting

​"I'm Janet Dawson. And I'm a weaver, a teacher, a writer, and an editor. This combination is my superpower: I not only get this stuff, I explain it well and write about it clearly.

Picture it:
You’re face-to-face with your stash closet. (You know what I mean - it’s in the corner of your backroom and consists of nine to eleven million bins. All stacked on top of each other like some weird version of yarn Tetris.) You stand there, gazing at all those bins, and emotions take over the logical part of your brain. Because you have NO idea what’s in all those bins. Your mind races, flooding your creative brain with tough questions like:
  • What am I going to make?
  • Where do I start with all the extra bits and bobs?
  • Can I even use up this hodgepodge of stuff?
  • What colors do I need that will mix well together?
  • How do I even work with all the mystery yarn?
  • What if I waste all that beautiful yarn I’ve been saving?"

Janet learned to weave in 1994 and has been teaching in person and online since 2000. In 2022 she launched the Handweaving Academy, an online school and community for weavers. Known for her Floor Loom Weaving class on Craftsy.com and Zoom weave-alongs on Facebook, Janet also teaches at guilds, schools, and conferences across the US and Canada. Her classes are so popular that they regularly fill before the topic can even be announced!
Janet's mantra is “Good cloth, happy weaver!” She loves chocolate, her husband Ron, and her cats, not necessarily in that order.
Weaving from your stash often means working with mystery yarns – and often a combination of mystery yarns. When you’re not sure what a yarn IS, you can’t be sure how it will behave, and that can lead to unexpected and disappointing results.
Let’s talk about using your beautiful yarn productively!

Social Time and Break Down: 1:15-2:00 There is no mad dash to leave, we have the room until 2:30. Your help is always appreciated in stacking chairs when you are done visiting!
 2025 Whatcom Weavers Guild Challenge
​
Note the updated schedule for the photo deadline and June Guild meeting due to ANWG.

Our Annual Guild Challenge is the perfect venue for new things – techniques, materials, composition, or anything you've always wanted to try but haven't gotten to try for whatever reason. The 2025 WWG Challenge requires that you work with black and white (using the fibers of your choice) and offers a list of additional criteria you may wish to choose from.

Optional—incorporate as many or as few of the following as you wish:
  • Choose one additional color to use with your black and white fibers
  • Try a new-to-you technique
  • Incorporate natural dyes or materials (bonus points if you forage them yourself)
  • Consider including unconventional materials
  • Apply your chosen criteria to create your piece in any fiber-art-related field –weaving, felting, braiding, basketry, paper, stitching or any other fiber-art OR incorporate a variety of fiber arts into your piece
  • Create a 3-dimensional final object
  • Make an abstract piece with no particular function, OR make something that serves multiple functions
  • Produce a piece themed after your favorite book
  • Complete half of your project, then swap with someone else to complete the other half

How many options will you include in your Challenge project? You choose!

The photo deadline is June 6, 2025. Note the updated timing for the photo deadline and the June 14th Guild meeting due to the ANWG dates.

​​News from Committees and Interest Groups

For more descriptions and information about each of the WWG Study Groups, please see our web page for Education.
The Tapestry Focus Group
​​
The tapestry focus group continues to meet in the Large Conference Room at The Ferndale Library on the First Monday of each month from 1pm-3 pm.  Topics will vary from meeting to meeting, but will always be something new, exciting and different.
 
Sheila Atwater
Tapestry Focus Group coordinator
[email protected] 
Text:  360-201-0818
The Rigid Heddle Weaving Study Group
​
The Rigid heddle study group will be meeting on zoom in March. If you are curious or thinking about joining a study group, come join us. There is no obligation or cost, and you can discover what we have planned. We will be meeting approximately monthly online to provide support and encouragement and quarterly to show our projects.
If you would like to receive a zoom invite, please email Meg Spaulding at [email protected]
Ikat Study Group

​The Ikat Study Group is continuing this year, with self-directed learning and meeting semi-monthly for sharing and show and tell. We are working through the projects in the book Ikat The essential Handbook to Weaving with Resists, by Mary Zicafoose. The group meets at the Jansen Art Center.
For more information, please contact Carol Berry, [email protected].
​Band Weaving Group

Contact Cindy Harris for more information.
Online Workshop Opportunities

Although we do not currently have a Workshop chairperson, please see our Study Groups page for a list of recommended online courses and other learning opportunities.
Driveway parties  (a.k.a The Loomatics)

We are taking a break for the winter.  See you next May!
Sharon Allen, 360-305-0111

Community Outreach

Whatcom Weavers Guild sponsors several Community Outreach programs. For more information about these projects, please access the Community Outreach page on our website:
  • Small Looms at the Bellingham Library Skill Share Space
  • Hospice Washcloth Project
  • The Sno-Cap Project
Small Looms at the Library
(12 noon–3PM)
We continue to hold our Small Looms sessions at the Bellingham Library Main Branch on the first Saturday of each month from noon to 3PM.  We are also seeing a steady increase in the numbers of people stopping in to see what we have to offer.  This means we could use more volunteer help each month as well. Just bring a small project that you are working on to demonstrate what we do. Then be prepared to answer questions and maybe even get someone started on a project of their own using the materials we provide.  Please consider joining in the fun and be a volunteer, there is a sign-up link in the outreach section of our website.  Thank you.
 
Sheila Atwater, Education and Outreach Chair
[email protected] ​
Small Loom gathering
Hospice Washcloth Projec
​
The total washcloths made in February was 32. That brings our total to 399 out of the 1000 we hope to donate by June.  ​Once again here are the instructions for weaving washcloths for Hospice.
  • Use un-mercerized cotton yarns, 60-100% works the best.
  • The finished cloth should be 10”x10”
  • They do not need to be fancy. Plain weave is fine.
  • You can choose the weight and sett that you prefer to make a soft, medium weight cloth.
  • Please use lighter colors. No black, navy, brown or dark greens please.
  • A machine sewn edge is OK for the finish, as is a short fringe.
  • Bulky hems are discouraged. ‘These cloths are folded small to fit into the kits.
  • When finished, wash in hot water and mild detergent.
  • Dry in the dryer with no softening agents.
  • These cloths will be used once and offered to the families to keep as a memory keepsake.
  • When weaving, please keep the purpose in mind and weave with care and love.
 
Sheila Atwater, Outreach Chair
[email protected]
Hospice Goal Chart
Sample of Washcloths

Whatcom Weavers Guild Libraries

WWG Equipment Library

​Contact Sharon Allen at [email protected] for information on the items available.
WWG Book and Literature Library
​
The Whatcom Weavers Guild Library is a collection of over 700 books, magazines and DVD’s.  Primary for weaving, but including all forms of fiber art.  The collection is listed online, utilizing Librarything.com, a free service for libraries of all types and sizes. No password required.
While this gives you a list of all the books and magazines in the library, it does not tell you if your item is currently available.
Email Carol Berry at [email protected] to check available and arrange for porch pick-up.

From the Jansen

Classes and Dye Days at the J

Here are the J’s upcoming classes! Mark you calendars and sign up!

Coming up, we have:​​​
  • Beginning Weaving with Darlene Mathias, Saturdays, March 8 - April 5
  • Round Reed Basketry with Dana Murphy, Wednesday, March 12
  • Round Reed Basketry for Kids with Dana Murphy, Wednesday, March 12
  • Beginning Spinning with Erica McCurdy, Fridays, March 21 & 28
  • Little Brown Jug Basket with Judy Zugish, Saturday, March 22
  • Triple Play with Nadine Sanders, Tuesday - Thursday, March 18-20
  • Block Printing with Dyes with Sheri Ward, Thursday, April 3
  • Overshot Weaving with Sheri Ward, Fridays & Saturdays, May 2 - 10
  • Beginning Weaving with Darlene Mathias, Saturdays & Wednesdays, May 31 - June 14
  • Indigo Dyeing with Sheri Ward, Thursday, June 5
  • Woven Wrist Bands with Dana Murphy, Wednesday or Thursday, June 25 or 26, (kids & youth)
July
  • Botanical Printing on Paper with Wanda Johanson & Wendy Pare, Wednesday, July 16
August
  • Eco Dyeing with Natural Dyes with Wanda Johanson & Wendy Pare, Tuesday, Aug. 12
September
  • Ikat Workshop with Mary Zicafoose, Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 17-19
To register and  for more information please visit here. For some classes, the website listing will not yet show the class - save the date and check back!
Nadine Sanders Workshop on Theo Moorman Technique

There’s still time to register for this workshop!

Nadine Sanders will be offering a workshop on the Theo Moorman technique, Triple Play, March 18 - 20.  The Moorman technique is an inlay method, using picked-up tie-down warps to secure the pattern wefts.  Any design at all is possible.  Of Nadine’s workshops, Triple Play is one in which you can elect to use the technique for rugs or for less bulky pictorial fabrics.  In Nadine’s words:

"Have you always wanted your woven designs to flow? Want the freedom to inlay a variety of materials (both common and unusual) without distorting the ground fabric? Looking for a way to express your ideas pictorially or abstractly with weaving? Learn to apply this versatile weaving technique for use in clothing, pictorial weavings and rugs.
Using two sizes of warps, the Theo Moorman technique allows designs to be "painted" on the surface with inlay yarns. Three different threadings achieve cloth to put on, walk on, lay down or hang up.
We focus on designing for this weave structure. Samples are woven to learn the technique and the possibilities."

Known as The Singing Weaver, Nadine travels around the country teaching and performing. She has written books, produced recordings and videos. She weaves pictorial hangings, rugs and clothing. Visit www.singingweaver.com to learn more about her and the Theo Moorman technique.
Front Street Arts Festival

​The Jansen Art Center will be hosting its second annual Front Street Arts Festival on Saturday, July 26.  It was a great event last year, for both the guild and the J textile studio. Save the date and come join in the fun!
Tapestry Exhibit in Vancouver

There’s a tapestry exhibit in Vancouver you will not want to miss. 
By the Light and Dark of the Moon:  The Tapestries of Ruth Jones will be on exhibit at the Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver, BC, now through April 30. Ruth weaves tapestries using the Gobelin technique which she studied at Gobelins in France. She was also one of the weavers invited to work on the Unicorn tapestry project at Sterling Castle.
More details about the exhibit can be found at www.italianculturalcentre.ca
By the Light and Dark of the Moon
Small Expressions Exhibit from HGA

We are very pleased to announce that the prestigious Small Expressions Exhibit will be on display at the Jansen Art Center from Oct. 9 to Dec. 30, 2025. This is an annual juried exhibit sponsored by the Handweavers Guild of America and consists of high-quality textile art from all regions of North America. To complement this exhibit, we will be hosting special events with local textile artists, demonstrating and discussing various forms of textile arts - felting, tapestry, harness loom weaving, dyeing, and more.  If you would like to participate in those kinds of events, or help plan them, please contact Sheri Ward at [email protected]. 
Navajo Rug Exhibit
The Jansen Art Center will soon be hosting an exhibit of Navajo rugs, which will be on loan from Ron Polinder.  Ron has an extensive collection of Navajo rugs, which he wishes to share with the community.  You may have seen some of his rugs at the Wool Show at the Northwest Washington Fair a few years ago.  The scheduled opening of this exhibit is on Thursday, April 3, and the rugs will be on display for a couple of months, time period yet to be determined.    
The J also continues to display original tapestries by Jim Davenport, which are also well worth a look. 

Textiles a la Carte
The Jansen Art Center will begin having a “no host” drop-in textile get-together on the third Thursday of each month, starting at noon.  Bring your lapwork and spend some relaxing time with your fiber friends in the Piano Lounge of the J.  The first get-together will be on Thursday, April 17.
Moorman Method
Quilled Paper Snowflakes
Kids small loom
Youth small loom
Embellishing

Classified Ads

For Sale & ISO (In Search Of)
​
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.
Looms for Sale
The Jansen Art Center Textile Studio has two floor looms for sale, both Nilus LeClerc 4-harness looms. One has a 47” weaving width and an asking price of $300, the other a 36” weaving width and an asking price of $250.  They are in reasonable, but not perfect shape.  If you’re interested, please contact Sheri Ward at [email protected]. 
Leclerc Loom  47" 1
Leclerc Loom 47" 2
Leclerc Loom 36" 1
Leclerc Loom 36" 2
Leclerc 8 Shaft  24” loom
LeClerc 8 shaft loom with 24" weaving width. Sectional beam (removable). Has a wheeled cart for taking to classes. Comes with 5 shuttles and 6 reeds sizes 6,8 10,12,15, and one that could be either 12 or 13. Very good condition.
$600

Kate Slaminko
[email protected]
Cell: 206-349-7633
Leclerc 24in 1
Leclerc 24in 2
Leclerc 24in 3
Leclerc 24in 4
Charka
Gypsy Spinner -  cotton lap charka.  New with lazy kate and some cotton.  $100 or best offer.  Contact Beth at [email protected].

Upcoming events of interest to Guild members!

Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound​

Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound: Telling Their Stories
January 23 – April 11, 2025
Postmark Center for the Arts 
20 Auburn Avenue, Auburn, WA, 98002

Opening reception January 23, 2025 
Q & A with the artists 4:00 p.m.  Reception 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
February 8, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Lecture by Margo Macdonald on her Washington Rivers Series followed by a weaving demonstration with Cecilia Blomberg.

This diverse group of artists share their artwork and ideas that inspire them. Each artist has a unique approach, uniting technique, material, and concept in the medium of handwoven tapestry.
Tapestry Vashon Steps by Cecelia Blomberg
Langley Fiber Retreat

​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 preceding 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] or [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 Tricia at [email protected] if you have questions.