February 2016 OLYMPIA WEAVERS GUILD Newsletter Guild Meeting President’s Notes February 19, 2016 South Bay Fire Station 83 5046 Boston Harbor Rd. NE, Oly 9:00 Library open January’s New Year always catches me off guard, seeming to be swept up in the hurly-burly of the Christmas holiday. But February’s New Year, as it 9:45 Business meeting is celebrated among many people in the northern hemisphere, seems to fit 11:00 Showcase nicely. And we get to enjoy many observations, from the Year of the 12:00 Lunch Monkey in the Chinese Lunar New Year, to the Aztec New Year, to Imbolc 12:30 Program: “Sheep to in the old Celtic calendar. Shawl,” everything you ever In Ireland, February starts with the celebration of Imbolc, or St Brigid’s wanted to know abvout the Sheep Day, an observation of the very start of spring. One of the lovely ways the observant mark this holiday is with a weaving of reeds into a Saint to Shawl competition and our Brigid’s Cross. This was one of the few items I brought back for myself guild’s participation; presented by when I spent a couple couple months in Ireland a few years ago, and I Marjorie Erickson and Tamie learned how to make the crosses myself.. Herridge Here in Western Washington, we don’t have the proper reeds to make the Please read the article about the same cross as in coastal Ireland, but we have just about the same seasons: Sheep to Shawl process on page cold, rainy, and potentially stormy. But we also enjoy the 3 of this newsletter. promise of a bit more sunlight each day and the just emerging flower bulbs. If you have never tried your hand at Thanks to Nancy Berger, Linda this simple weaving craft, I encourage you to try it using Hanson and Carol Murphy for whatever you have at hand: grass, reed, or paper: http:// bringing refreshments. fisheaters.com/stbrigidscross.html And a happy New Year to you. — Sarah Nopp Membership Please welcome the following new members and add their information to your yearbook: Leslie Lingley (360) 456-1335 7815 Kerbaugh St. NE Olympia 98516 [email protected] Newsletter editor: Mike & Pam Faber (206) 920-6567 16212 62nd. Ave Ct E Puyallup 98375 Carol Murphy [email protected] Call 360-491-7678 or e-mail Leigh Gates (360) 789-5624 PO Box 2512 Olympia 98506 [email protected] [email protected] Next deadline: March 4, 2016 Olympia Weavers Guild MINUTES OF GUILD MEETING OF JANUARY 15, 2016 The meeting was called to order guild has gotten awards for best from the guild will discuss the by Sarah Nopp, President, at the use of color in a prior conference. sheep to shawl process. Boston Harbor Fire Station at 9:45 The guild will not have to Workshop: Marise Person gave A.M. participate in gift bags this year. information on the May Bill Green stated that a correction •Sue Willingham will be offering workshop which is By Summer and clarification to November several classes at the end of and Winter. Instructor will be minutes needed to be made for January and in February. Flyers Jannie Taylor. The class is full at the Towel Competition and are on the table concerning classes. this time (15). A deposit of $63.00 requested that it be referred to as The web site is weaverspalette.com is due by the March meeting. The a Towel Challenge, so that •The Guild presented a gift to deposit can be mailed to Marise. participants would know they are Lana Schneider in recognition of A list of individuals who have able to keep their towels that are her 20-plus years of work at the registered for the workshop was read. made and shown at the June, 2016 Thurston County Fair, Educational Outreach: Erica Plotkin meeting and picnic. Karen Verrill representing our Guild to the and Regine Carey announced that made a motion to accept community and introducing the beginner weaving class will November minutes as corrected, community members to weaving. be at Marjorie Erickson’s house. and Jan Downing seconded the •The next board meeting is in the Class starts February 27-28, 2016. motion. planning stage. Board members The class is spread over three Announcements need to check your calendar for weeks and table looms and •ANWG Grant-The Olympia February and March. Contact equipment may be rented from Weaver’s Guild has received an Sarah with the dates you are the guild. If interested in a June ANWG grant and will do a unable to attend the next board class, contact Erica or Regine. basket. An instructor needs to be meeting. Saturday Group: Betty Marcelynas chosen. Group will meet at Jan •FOR SALE: gave the information that the Green’s house on January 18. Karen Verrill has an eight harness group meets the second Saturday •ANWG conference is coming in Schacht for sale. It is 45” wide and of the month from 9:30-12:00. This 2017.The date is June 26, 2017 in includes bench, raddle, and year the group has planned to do Victoria, B.C. It is a time for guild shuttles. Cost is $1200.00 three projects: kumihimo, inkle members from Alaska, Montana, •Judy Parkins- Her daughter- in- looms and rigid heddle looms. If Canadian Provinces and the law’s father has three alpacas who interested, call Betty. Pacific Northwest to join together are looking for a new home. Membership: Jean Schwartz gave for a time of classes, vendors, Judy has posted information on information that by the end of fashion show, and more. http:// the web site. If interested, please meeting 51 individuals had www.anwgconference2017.com/ call Judy at 360-426-1718. signed in. New members include Lee Gates, Leslie Lingley, Mike The theme for this year’s event is Committee Reports and Pam Faber. Visitors include “Treadle Lightly.” The Felting Group: Gail Trotter asked Gerda Randolph, Lynn de la committee, at this point, consists that the felting group meet today Maza, Karen Haas, and Cheryl of Marjorie Erickson, Marise at lunch if you are interested in Laurenzo. Person, Erica Plotkin, Tamie felting. A type of felting will be Rental Properties: Gail Trotter. A Herridge, Carol Murphy, Sarah chosen today. Nopp, Regine Carey, and Nancy list of properties is on page six of Program: Cathy Belfry announced Berger. Marjorie Erickson the membership booklet. If that the program today will be discussed types of awards given interested in renting equipment, given by Sarah Anderson. For the for a booth at the conference. The contact Gail Trotter. February meeting a few members Minutes, continued Sheep to Shawl Library: Kathy Forsythe announced that the subject Every year the Washington State Fair in Puyallup categories are reversed in the book cabinets due to holds a Sheep-to-Shawl Competition at the Fall Fair. the painting and carpet installation in the room. For Several local Guilds participate, each on a separate • sale items are on the table. date. We work in 6-member team shifts from 10AM Banding group: The banding group will meet on to 10PM. Our Purpose: To weave a shawl st th demonstrating the steps involved in the “fleece to Thursday, the 21 of January and February 25 at shawl” process. 1:00 at Lana Schneider’s place. th Prior to the Fair, we are allowed to spin, dye and Felting group: February 26 at 9:00 at Deborah wind the warp. At the Fair, we demonstrate our craft Naslund’s. to Fair-goers by picking, carding, spinning and Spinner’s group: Deborah Sporseen brought cards to plying the weft, dressing the loom and weaving. sign for Joyce Lloyd and her husband as they are Once all of the shawls have been completed, they’re having some health issues. Please sign before you judged by a certified judge and put on display for the leave. remainder of the Fair. Computer weaving group: Carrie Seachord. Group will Our Guild has been participating in this event for meet after today’s program to look at several many years. For the past 11 years, Tamie Herridge weaving programs and compare them. Upcoming Exhibits and I have teamed up to design the final product. In • The Surface Design Association of Washington is Tapestry group: Lana Schneider. Group needs to meet all, there are probably 25 or more Guild members mounting a juried traveling exhibition and arrange time and date for meetings. who have their hand in its creation each year. and is accepting applications for entries. The theme Refreshments: Regine Carey gave information that Diligent spinners spin the warp yarn from a carefully is “Fiber Fusion” (not to be confused with Erica Plotkin brought blueberry muffins, Jan Green chosen and cleaned fleece. This “singles” yarn from and Regine Carey contributed also. Thanks to all several spinners is then plied. By the time Tamie and the fiber festival of the same name), and they are who contributed to today’s refreshments. I receive the plied yarn for dyeing, there are already open to items including handmade felt, paper, Treasurer’s Report hundreds of hours committed to it. One year at the fabric, clothing, or basketry, embellished or enhanced Terri Standley gave the treasurer’s report: judging, the judge actually asked if the yarn in our by dyeing, stitching, painting, beading, or Checking balance is $8926.96 shawl was all handspun!! When a judge asks this anything else the artist thinks up. Entry deadline is Savings balance is $7067.10 question, you know the yarn is of superior quality.