OWG at Thurston County Fair

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[contributed by Lana]

A milestone year for Olympia Weavers Guild’s participation at the Thurston County Fair:  It is  the 20th year we have presented a Hands On experience for the community.

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We have a weavers’ count of 203 at the 4 harness loom and surely another 40+ at the little 2 harness and tapestry looms.  Once a kid started, they wanted to do more!  And that’s not all!  There was basketry(Carol Williams), lavender wand weaving(Suzanne Victoria), inkle(a few hands here) and kumihimo.  As the photos will record, our braiding team of Gail Trotter and Jan Green kept so many people of all ages concentrating on the pattern of the 7 strand braid and stayed for more. It was all fun.

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  Besides the volunteers listed above, I need to add  thanks to Eleanor Hintz, Edith Garling, Roxanne Robertson, Judy and Larye Parkins, Pam Odam, Debra Bond-Yancey, Vickie Booth and most emphatically, Sarah Nopp, who, with me, was there daily…a groupie for pleasure.  I estimate 236 volunteer hours were contributed – and that is if everyone left on time, which just does not happen.
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  We handed out many business cards and brochures to an inquiring public.  It is always hard to say whether it will bring us active participation, but I can plainly state this:  we created a wonderful experience for so many people

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Mention needs to be made of all the ribbons members brought home with them.  I am afraid to list them as I know I will miss something.  But I do have to draw attention to Terry Schurke’s Grand Champion piece – her tencel huck lace shawl.  What a way to go, Terry.  You show OWG in pride.
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Weaving sculpture in Olympia

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At the new Hands On Children’s Museum:

World-renowned environmental artist Patrick Dougherty will weave an amazing two-story stick sculpture for our new Outdoor Discovery Center. From August 1-16, he will bend nature into art to create a giant, walk-through structure. For more info about his work, which includes sculptures in California, Hawaii, Australia, and France, visit www.stickwork.net.

 

http://www.hocm.org/page.php?id=547

 

ANWG Booth

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ANWG 2013 was a great conference, and the guild booths were outstanding in their innovation. Olympia didn’t get a ribbon, but there was a lot of interest shown in the many bags, baskets, and other “baggage” displayed. For those who missed the conference, here is a photo of our booth:

Olympia Weavers Guild 2013 ANWG booth "The Baggage We Carry."

Olympia Weavers Guild 2013 ANWG booth “The Baggage We Carry.”

Beach Grass Trip

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Hi Bill

Can you share this with the Guild members who might be interested ? Lois Thadei, Olympia

Dear Olympia Weavers Guild Members:

OK, my Aleut basket weavers. It’s beach grass getting’ time again. Hooray. This is the traditional grasses I harvest every spring for weaving. You are invited to join me.

If you’ve been weaving with the waxed linen following our presentation last month for the Oly Weavers Guild you can join me. If you wish to continue your weaving using the traditional wild grasses, this is the last time I will be sharing a wild grass harvest session.

Hopefully you can make it.

How it Works:

Let me know if you are coming, so I can expect you. aleutwoman@comcast.net leave me your name, e-mail, phone including cell phone.

We meet at Trader Joe’s parking lot at the 2nd exit to left on Highway 101 just N of I-5 in Olympia, WA.

May 26, 2013 8 AM.

On the coast it will probably be blustery, blistering hot, colder than heck, sunny, rainy, foggy, wet raining, snowy, windy and, and, and …….. Wear layers, bring a scarf, weather resistant shoes/boots, gloves and such.

What to Bring:

· a couple gallon jugs for collecting sea water

· a sharp harvesting knife (I use a pareing knife and also brind a big old chef knife)

· an old bed sheet

· a few zip loc bags (who knows, might find something you want to take back)

· a pocket full of cordage or strings

· munchies, juice

· A damp washrag in a zip loc bag so you can freshen up

· Money so we can stop at a restaurant and eat a hearty lunch when we are done

· Sun block, bug spray, eye glasses as needed, cameras.

What we Harvest

We will be collecting an armload of Elymus Mollis, which appears to be having a GOOD YEAR. We will swing over to Bowerman Basin and also check on the 3 cornered sedge, cat tails and water iris. If it looks like we can harvest some big handsful we will. Also, canary reed grass is usually ready for a harvest at this time. We time the harvest to concide with the ripening of Salmonberries. But, given our hectic urban schedules, sometimes we are off by a week or two. We work with it.

Again, where we meet and how we Travel

We meet a 8 AM at the street edge of Trader Joe’s parking lot at Hwy 101 and Harrison/Cooper Point in Olympia. Once there, we will arrange any carpools that wish to form. We’ll be back before dark. Of course, if you take your own vehicle, you are in charge of your own time schedule. It’s about a 11 ½ hour drive to the harvest site not far from Westport, WA.

Fun

Lois “Louie” Chichinoff Thadei (Aleut-Sealaska)

MAILING Address Only: 120 State Ave. NE #1455 – Olympia, WA 98501

Phone: 360-539-5031

Cell: 360-259-4827

E-mail: aleutwoman@comcast.net

Web Site: www.aleutwoman.com/

Alaska Native Arts Foundation: http://www.alaskanativearts.org/shop-artist-individual?id=148

Aleut People Worldwide: http://wdict.net/word/Aleut+people

Washington State Arts Commission: http://www.arts.wa.gov/folk-arts/master-artists/thadei.shtml

Old Masters (NPR): http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuow/sets/72157622974889054/

My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aleutwoman/