|
Notes from the President -Welcome Back to WWG Fall! The crispness in the air, the gentle golden light of autumn, and the promise of renewal—fall has arrived in Whatcom, ushering in a season brimming with energy, creativity, and anticipation. After months of summer stillness and driveway parties, we gather again with fresh ideas, rekindled connections, and an eagerness to see what lies ahead. Welcome back to fall, where each leaf that tumbles to the ground seems to whisper tales of possibility, or is that just begging to be raked up?? As we return, we are delighted to welcome new members to the WWG family. It’s exciting to welcome a diverse group of talented individuals who infuse our community with new perspectives and fresh enthusiasm. Established members are invited to reach out, share their experiences, and help newcomers discover the spirit of WWG. New members are welcome to join study groups or ask for mentoring help. We want you to succeed in your weaving journey. With fall comes reflection on our achievements. Over the past year, WWG has reached significant milestones, and this season is a time to honor those accomplishments—large and small. Every contribution enriches the tapestry of our organization. Some of ours include:
Let this season be one of discovery, collaboration, and joy. Welcome back to WWG, where new possibilities await beneath each changing leaf, and where every day is an invitation to learn, grow, and inspire. Meg Spaulding WWG President September 2025 Meeting Our monthly WWG meeting will be held at the Bellingham Public Library on Saturday Sept 20. The meeting room is on the lower level of the library; go down the stairs/elevator just inside the front door. For those who can’t join in person, you have the option to join us virtually via Zoom. 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. Weaver’s Yarns This new section is dedicated to YOU, the amazing weavers in the Guild. I hope that you (yes, I mean YOU) will help fill this space with short articles on whatever strikes your fancy. Have you seen something amazing in a museum? Have you attended an interesting class? Met a weaver on your travels? Taken a photo that screams “tapestry”? Shoot me a quick email at [email protected] so we can all enjoy your stories – I mean yarns! WWG Challenge 2025-2026 Weaving History – “Everything old is new again” More info to come at our September meeting! General rules, guidelines, and instructions will be posted on our website as they become available.  Committees and Interest Groups Tapestry Focus Group The Tapestry Focus Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from noon to 2:00 pm in the Gathering Room at Anytime Toffee, 5701 Third Avenue, Ferndale, WA. Each month is hosted by a different Tapestry Focus Group member, and topics will vary from meeting to meeting. Coordinator: Janis Rose [email protected] Text: 360-914-7315 Rigid Heddle Study Group The Rigid Heddle Study group will be meeting on zoom. 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. Coordinator: Meg Spaulding [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. Coordinator: Carol Berry [email protected] Band Weaving Group Our band weaving group meets monthly, on the third Tuesday of the month. All levels are welcome. Coordinator: Cindy Harris Online Workshops Please see our Education page for a list of recommended online courses and other learning opportunities. If you are interested in coordinating a study group for a specific online workshop, email [email protected]! Driveway Parties (aka The Loomatics 😉) During Summer months, we meet up every Wednesday during lunch time (roughly 12:00-3:00) in Sharon Allen’s driveway. Feel free to bring a project to work on, a small snack to share if you'd like, and join other members of the guild in community and friendship. This mid-week event started in the summer of 2020 (!) when we were desperate to see our fiber friends, and continues to be popular with our membership. Come and check it out! By popular demand, this meet up will continue through the month of September. What to Bring:
Reach out to Sharon Allen if you need the address: 360-305-0111 Community Outreach I have begun the journey as Education and Outreach Chair for the guild. My September plans are to contact leads for Outreach events and current Study and Focus groups, hear more about these activities, and to get any questions and support requests that I could assist with. Will also chat briefly with these individuals at our monthly guild meetings. One of my goals is to have an update from one outreach or study/focus group in each newsletter. With a focus on how much fun and learning goes on in these groups too! Another goal is to review and make sure there is up-to-date content on the website for these pivotal and engaging guild activities. Also, look forward to reading in an upcoming newsletter about how to propose and start-up a new study or focus group. All guild members are encouraged to contact me with any ideas and suggestions for new or different community outreach efforts and education support for the membership. Marion Scichilone [email protected] Recap of the Lynden Front Street Arts Fair Our guild had a very successful outreach at the Front Street Arts Fair on Saturday, July 26. We shared booth space with the Textiles Studio from the Jansen Arts Center -- it was close to the Fair's entrance area so was seen by most attendees. Several guild members brought weaving samples for display as well as some portable weaving equipment. Just like at Little Looms, the guild's pop-up banner clearly shared who we are and what we do! Here are a large thanks and kudos to the guild members who volunteered their time in the booth: Carol, Cindy, Jill, LeslieAnn, and Meg, and with Erica, Sheri and Susie who were demoing for the Jansen! SMALL LOOMS AT THE LIBRARY 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 number of people stopping in to see what we have to offer. This means we could use more volunteer help each month. Just bring a small project that you are working on to demonstrate what we are doing. 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! Marilyn Stemerick [email protected]
Whatcom Weavers Guild Libraries Equipment Library Contact Sharon Allen for information on the items available. [email protected] Book and Literature Library There are two new books that have recently been added to the Whatcom Weavers Guild library. Please take some time to check them out along with the hundreds of other books that reside there. If there is a book that you’d like to see added, please email or text me for suggestions. Lynn Berman [email protected] (360) 739-8334 Upcoming Classes at the Jansen The Jansen Art Center has a full lineup of textile classes this fall, from weaving and dyeing to felting, basketry, and holiday crafting. Highlights include Mary Zicafoose’s Ikat Workshop in September, beginner-friendly weaving and tapestry courses, Sheri Ward’s dyeing explorations, and a variety of fun youth classes in felting, weaving, and paper quilling. Seasonal favorites like felted witch hats, corn husk dolls, and holiday crafts are also on the schedule. Space is limited and some classes are already waitlisted - visit the Jansen Art Center’s Textiles Studio page to see the full calendar and register. Classifieds Wanted: Warping Board I now am an Inkle Loom and Rigid Heddle Loom owner. So, I need a warping board. Marion Scichilone, [email protected] For Sale: Rasmussen Table Loom and Accessories, $175 The loom is a 26” Rasmussen 4-harness table loom in fine condition. The weaving width is a little more than 24". There are 7 spaces per inch in the reed. Also included are a warping board, raddle, thread and book. (I got involved in volunteer work and just didn't have time to weave, alas!) I would like it to find a good home! Please contact [email protected].
For Sale: Fleece Pickers, $150 obo The Jansen has two fleece pickers available, perfect if you like to start from a fleece for your spinning projects. They normally retail for over $1000, and these are $150 obo. One is made by Fricke, the other has no maker’s name on it, but it looks equally effective. Contact Sheri Ward [email protected]
ANWG Recap In an age where technology weaves invisible threads between us, the tactile satisfaction of working with fiber offers a grounding, creative counterpoint. Across meadows, mountains, and coastal enclaves, weaving retreats and fiber opportunities are flourishing, inviting both seasoned artists and curious beginners to rediscover the beauty of handcrafts. These immersive experiences transform fiber art from a solitary pursuit into a vibrant communal activity, nurturing skill, inspiration, and connection. Weaving retreats are more than workshops; they are sanctuaries for creativity, spaces where the rhythm of the loom find harmony with the pace of nature. Held in picturesque settings, from rustic barns in Vermont to sunlit studios in California and ancient castles in the Scottish Highlands, these retreats beckon weavers to leave behind the distractions of daily life and surrender to the meditative process of textile creation. Some of us got the opportunity to travel to Yakima this summer for ANWG. While it may have lacked some of the exquisite beauty and charm noted above, it was a fun time of friendships, learning, socializing and relaxing. We were awed by some of the incredible creations at the fashion show and enjoyed shopping at the merchant’s mall. The displays by individual guilds were creative and unique, making me wish we had put together one for WWG. Everyone LOVED our name tags and commented on just how special they were. Each person got to pick their favorite color, making it even more personalized. One of the most rewarding aspects of weaving retreats like ANWG is their inclusivity. Whether you have never threaded a heddle or are an accomplished tapestry artist, there is a place for you. Instructors tailor their guidance to each participant, covering topics such as:
ANWG encouraged exploration across disciplines, blending weaving with spinning, felting, or even basketry. The diversity of instruction ensures that every participant finds new creative doors to open. This was my first year attending, and I’m sure in following years there will be different topics and classes. The world of fiber art is broad and welcoming, offering myriad opportunities beyond structured retreats. Annual fiber festivals dot the calendar and the map, from the grand Sheep & Wool Festivals in New York and Maryland to the smaller gatherings in Pacific Northwest. Here, attendees can witness sheepdog trials, sample artisan cheeses, or buy hand-dyed yarns while networking with passionate fiber folk. Some include a sheep to shawl competition, where a group starts with shearing a sheep, spinning the wool, and then weaving or knitting it into a shawl. I’d never make it on that team!! For those of you who missed ANWG, or those who want more weaving retreat opportunities, I encourage you to start thinking and planning now for next June 2026 and the MAWS conference in Missoula MT. The guest speaker is Tom Knisely and this should be a fun opportunity to connect with others in WWG. As the world grows busier, the slow art of weaving has become a balm for many. The measured repetition of passing the shuttle, the gentle tension of warp and weft, and the satisfaction of watching a design emerge row by row is meditative. Whether you are drawn to weaving for its meditative rhythm, its technical challenges, or its celebration of color and form, there is a place for you in the ever-growing world of fiber arts. So, take up your shuttle, gather your skeins, and listen for the call of the loom—your weaving journey awaits. -Meg Mark Your Calendars! Lummi Skirt Exhibit - thru early Oct @Jansen Art Center A display of skirts and other fabric woven by the Ethel Barber and the Lummi Handweavers is on display at the Jansen. These skirts were handwoven in Whatcom County from about 1946 to 1960, and were quite the rage on fashion runways. Many thanks to Carol Berry for her loan of several of these skirts, and for her research into this bit of our local history. The skirts will be on exhibit through early October. The J also continues to display original tapestries by Jim Davenport along with a stunning Navajo rug on loan from Meg Jobe, all of which are well worth a look. The Shifted Warp Ikat Scarf with Mary Zicafoose - Sept. 17-19 @Jansen Art Center Ikat is a revered and exciting resist-dye fiber process resulting in graphically beautiful woven cloth. This three-day workshop provides instruction in eight distinct ikat warp shifting techniques used to create classic patterns and high contrast design in a woven ikat scarf. Students will dye their ikats in an indigo blue synthetic dye bath using Procion MX dye. This workshop requires experience in winding a warp, warping a loom, and weaving. Previous dye experience is not necessary. Participants in this three-day workshop will design, warp, dye, and weave a classic blue and white shifted warp ikat scarf. The scarf is the format for teaching and learning the basic techniques of the warp ikat process. Each student will stretch a warp for their scarf using warp yarns and a warping board they have brought to class or borrowed from the studio. The warping boards will be secured to workshop tables using two 3” C-clamps, either brought from home or borrowed from the studio. A variety of ikat wrapping techniques will be demonstrated. This is a unique opportunity to work in person with Mary, an experienced ikat weaver. There are still spaces available, so act soon! Textiles a la Carte - Monthly at 12:00 3rd Thursday @Jansen Art Center The Jansen Art Center is having a “no host” drop-in textile get-together on the third Thursday of each month, starting at noon. Bring your lap work and spend some relaxing time with your fiber friends in the Piano Lounge of the J. The next get-together will be on Thursday, Sept 18.  Handweaver’s Guild of America Spinning and Weaving Week - Oct 6 - 12, online Spinning and Weaving Week is celebrated every October during the first full week of the month. We're thrilled to offer activities and events for seven days devoted to celebrating spinning and weaving. Our online programming will educate, inspire, and support the fiber art community. The registration fee includes access to all 7-days of programming including Marketplace LIVE, Thread Talks, Studio Tours, Panel Discussions, an Informal Fiber Art Show, and Virtual Exhibit Hall. Arts Sparks (30-minute and 1-hour mini workshops and seminars) are available for an additional fee. Small Expressions Exhibit from HGA - Oct 16 - Dec 30 @Jansen Art Center We are very pleased to announce that the prestigious Small Expressions Exhibit will be on display at the Jansen Art Center from Oct. 16 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 over the US, as well as a couple of entries from Europe. 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]. Ragfinery to Reopen! After months and months of searching we are beyond excited to announce that we will be reopening retail operations before winter at 115 Unity Street Suite 101! The space needs work, and we have so much to replace after the fire. We lost nearly the entirety of our stock, fixtures, electronics, our home for the past 10 years and our retail staff have lost their jobs. We have a very generous anonymous donor who has offered to match donations dollar for dollar up to $25,000 to help offset the costs of reopening and getting our staff back to work. We so appreciate every and any amount of support! We also humbly ask that you hold onto your fabrics, notions and textiles for us. We will be doing donation drives around town, in our van and at our new space (when it is ready). Let’s share our resources so everyone in Bellingham can have affordable access to materials to make amazing things! Thank you for not forgetting about us, more news will follow. We can’t wait to be back! HELP US REOPEN: https://givebutter.com/WAKODh  St. Distaff’s Day - Jan. 3 2026 St. Distaff’s Day is more than a Spin In – There is a whole gym full of fiber vendors, used equipment sales, door prizes, and more.  
0 Comments
|
WWG NewsletterOur newsletter is published monthly on our website and emailed to all active members. ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed
Contact us:
|
|
|