May 2024 Newsletter
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Hi fellow fibers friends!
The colors of spring have been spectacular this year with the flowering bulbs giving way to the trees and shrubs covered in blossoms. I've spent the last year focused on leaves and am finding delight in seeing the flowers on the trees as well as the delicacy of the new leaves. You have heard me muse before about the seasons and how I see them reflected in the natural cycles of groups over time. This time of the year I am thinking of the seeds we plant, specifically the seeds we sow as a guild to provide for the continuing growth and nourishment we need to sustain our group. We have members with deep roots in the group that have created a strong network that will continue to support the group for years to come. And like any healthy ecosystem, we have saplings coming along with our encouragement and growing stronger, both as weavers and as active members. Planting seeds is another piece of keeping our guild strong long-term and community outreach is one of the best ways for us to sow those seeds. Our Education and Outreach Coordinator, Sheila Atwater, has established a very successful monthly Small Looms program at the Bellingham Library. Guild members volunteer to demonstrate and teach weaving to library visitors and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We have been able to share our joy in weaving with others and let them know that our guild is right here in their community. We've gained new members as a result and educated many more about weaving and hopefully sparked some interest that will manifest later for some. Fairs and events are another great place for outreach, and we will have an opportunity for that this summer (stay tuned for details from Sheila). This is about planting those seeds and we are looking for more places to let people know we are here and invite them to join us so that they can learn to weave/learn more about weaving and become a part of the community that is our guild. To that end, we have begun doing outreach in a new space and just like at the library, the response has been great. We are partnering with the Bellingham Queer Center to start an ongoing textile group in their new center in downtown Bellingham. The Q Center will be opening in June, and we are pretty excited that they chose textiles as the focus for their first project because it furthers our own goals of creating new weavers, and introducing ourselves to another segment of our local community. There will be work parties throughout May with Guild volunteers on hand to teach and mentor. Within the first week we had taught 4 new inkle weavers and another 4 were working on tapestry looms. The seeds are sprouting already. It gives me great joy to see new weavers! To move beyond the seed metaphor, I'll just say that new weavers are the new wefts that allow us to continue to weave the cloth of our guild community. We need those new threads so the web is strong and the cloth will continue to carry us for a long way. I am grateful for the opportunities to enrich our guild with more people who are passionate about textiles, so I'll be down at the Q Center often during May and I invite you to join us and spread the weaving joy! Contact me if you're interested in coming by the center to volunteer. I am also appreciative of the continuing efforts of our WWG Board members and others who show up to help at meetings and events. Your ongoing participation is also an important part of strength - thank you! LeslieAnn Bestor WWG President, 2023-2024 |
Sheila with a young future weaver on rigid heddle loom
Michelle and friends, weaving at the Q Center
New members Phoebe and Peter getting a warping lesson on a Rigid Heddle loom. The excitement in the room was so much fun!
Social time after the last meeting at WECU was at Haggens in Ferndale. We had the best time debriefing over snacks, and more than a few cookies!
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