President's Message
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2013 — Issue 06 The Gazette of the FEBRUARY President’s Message Dear Fellow Members, This winter is turning out to be a super busy time for us. We recently had an interesting talk from Nicholas Thaete about chair caning. Many members have told me that they love the class he is now offering. Maybe we can ask for another class for those who were unable to attend this time. On February 7th we’ll have a presentation on IKAT weaving, by Marcia Weiss, at our meeting, with a workshop on the following day, February 8th. This is an interesting technique and I’m looking forward to attending the workshop. There’s still room for more members if you’re interested. Susan Davis will bring additional examples of IKAT pieces to the meeting. Among our goals for the new year, upgrading of the web site is very important. Nancy Shiffrin created our web site over ten years ago, and we appreciate her making it functional as long as it has been in place. With the acceleration of technology we now see that there is more that we need to add to make our site consistent with the latest expectations of cyber-technology. Our aim will be a system that is easier to use and still interesting for the readers. This may necessitate our getting a different server. We’re getting some cyber-ideas for the web site from Julia Wilson, our member with considerable com- puter savvy. A small committee will be working on the transition, chaired jointly by Tiffany Robbins and Amoi Goldman. As Tiffany and Amoi are also in charge of scheduling next year’s programs and workshops, starting in September, please free to e-mail Amoi your ideas. They also need more assistance, so don’t be bashful about volunteering. Additional Guild news: For several years Faith Varrone has put great effort into overseeing the Guild calendar, but needs to step down for personal reasons. We thank her for her dedication. We’re fortu- nate that Maryanne McDevitt has offered to take on the responsibility. There’s no doubt that demands on the use of the Guild House require a lot of coordination. You’ll soon see a difference in the environment around the Guild House; we’re in a project to clear out trees, shrubs, and debris. We take pride in our work and it will now be reflected in our setting. Kathy Selbst A Hands-On View of Moroccan Textiles By Susan Schaefer Davis Another side trip was to the small town of Many of you know that I lead trips to Morocco, and I Sefrou, where thought you might like to hear some details of the adven- we visited a tures of travelers on last year’s premiere textile tour. cooperative In early June, people flew into Casablanca and traveled by that produces bus to the fascinating city of Fes, the oldest intact Islamic the needle woven satin cord buttons that trim Moroccan city in the world. It is the religious, intellectual, handcraft robes, and which they make into jewelry. They also make – and culinary - capital of the country, and we spent 3 days wool rugs using plant-dyed yarn, and rayon fabrics woven exploring its intricate web of streets and shops, many pro- on a floor loom. The president showed us the different ducing textiles. These included that of the last man mak- plants and the yarn color they produced, and illustrated ing his living using a drawloom, the predecessor to the with two colors, one madder from local roots. People Jacquard loom, to make brocade fabric. Because it was tried both types of loom weaving plus needle weaving. founded in 808 AD, streets are narrow and hilly, and there Then we is no wheeled traffic; everything goes in and out by donkey headed south and mule, including to Marrakesh, cases of Coke. One the other “must friend said she felt see” city in Mo- like Alice falling rocco. There down the rabbit hole we found a when she first en- cooperative of tered old Fes. disabled While based in Fes women who crochet trim on clothing, and another group we took day trips to doing the intricate Fes embroidery which is the same on two nearby sites to see different lifestyles – and textiles. both sides. And we saw many examples of fine textiles, as We walked through fields of wild lavender and daisies to a rugs or trim or clothing, and also fine jewelry, in shops and farmhouse near Ben Smim where the women weave in museums. One of the favorites was the Berber museum their spare time. (You can see the setting, weavers, and with clothing, textiles and jewelry in the tranquil Majorelle their products at http:// Gardens. And of course we visited the famous Jma el d2ssd.com/www- F’naa Square, which is like stepping back 2000 years, with source/ storytellers, snake charmers, acrobats, musicians, henna me_nov02bensmim/ artists ….and so much more! bensmim1.html .) They Everyone really enjoyed the trip, including me – it was demonstrated carding great fun traveling with a group so interested in textiles. and spinning wool, and I’m planning a trip for June 1-10, 2013 and it’s filling up had carpets they had (limited to 16); you can see full details on my colleague made from the wool of Joan Noble’s web page at http:// their own sheep – and www.noblejourneys.com/morocco-tours.php . I also lead also made us a delicious a longer trip May 18-June 1, and you can see those details lunch stew or tajine of at http://www.noblejourneys.com/open_doors.php .And chicken with olives and lemons. Afterward we visited a please feel free to email me at [email protected] if you cooperative in town of women who harvest herbs to make have any questions. soaps, oils, and other herbal products. I saw their herbed couscous grain for sale in the Casablanca airport! 2 UPCOMING GUILD MEETING Friday & many talented visual artists. She was Saturday— instrumental in the creation of the Rain- PROGRAMS bow Women’s Arts Association, whose March 8 & 9 mission is to provide a platform for (Thursdays) (Felted Vessels) women’s artistic growth while preserving and Sunday, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ traditional textile arts of Nigeria and March 10th adapting them to remain relevant in February 7, 2013—7 PM (Felted modern times. Ikat Weaving: Marcia Weiss Satchels) ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Recently, the distinctive ikat Saturday, April 6th look has become a popular design motif. BATIK & TIE DYE (ADIRE) INDIGO Find out how that unique look is created. Felted Join us on Thursday, February 7th when Vessels WORKSHOP we learn about the fascinating process of Workshop— Ikat Weaving from Professor Marcia Instructor: Yemisi Ajayi Last year several members Weiss, the Coordinator of the Textile De- Fee: $85 members/$90 non-members sign Program at Philadelphia University. exhibited at our annual “Celebration of Marcia, also an accomplished weaver, Fibers” the projects that they created in a Bring: Art pencil (2b, 4b, 6b or ebony), received the Juror’s Choice Award for her Felted Vessels Worshop taught by Carol Eraser, Ruler, Comfortable, stainable double cloth Ikat art piece “Dialogue II” Ingram. The response was so clothing or apron. Other materials pro- at the Handweavers Guild of America’s overwhelming that we invited her back! vided. Small Expressions 2012 Exhibit. She will be the guest speaker at During this hands-on work- ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ our March members meeting as well as shop, participants will learn the history teaching another Felted Vessels and process of Adire, an ancient dye Friday, February 8th Workshop on Friday, March 8th, and process from the Yoruba of southwest Saturday, March 9th, from 9:00 am to 5 Nigeria. Students will have the opportu- IKAT WORKSHOP— pm on each day. The cost of the nity to try both types of Adire: one, by tie Plan to attend Marcia Weiss’ workshop is $130.00. Registrations dyeing or stitching, and the other, by Ikat Workshop on Friday, February 8th should go through Maryann Laverty. painting or stenciling using a starchy from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm to learn the Workshop registration forms can be paste made from cassava or yarns. found on our website (www.pghw.org) ikat process for warp and filling yarns, Students will learn immersion which includes winding yarns, creating under the Education section. Just print it out, fill it in legibly, and forward it on dyeing using melted wax resist tech- and marking a pattern, wrapping and niques, compression dyeing, and low- yarn dying. Students will transform the to Maryann Laverty along with your workshop fee — 519 Dudley Avenue, water dyeing as they apply natural lo- natural yarn of their choice into weave- cally-produced indigo dyes onto natural Narberth, PA 19072-1710. You can ready ikat yarn. The cost of the work- fabrics. In the process, they’ll acquire a reach Maryann via phone at 610-668- shop is $55.00 members/$65.00 non- knowledge of the tools, materials and 2433 or email her at members. Registration forms can be traditional cultural designs of the Yaruba downloaded and printed from the Educa- [email protected] with people. tion page of our website www.pghw.org . questions. A supply list will be forwarded To register, please contact Amoi Goldman once payment is received. Don’t miss Yemisi Ajayi has won a reputa- by email at [email protected] or call out! tion as an innovative textile/fiber artist 610-348-4150. This exciting workshop is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ working within the realm of traditional coming up soon; Yoruba cloth, motifs and dyeing.