Another successful year for the Guild at the Thurston County Fair, largely due to the efforts of Lana to schedule and coordinate the volunteers and the display and “hands on” demonstration area in the “Log Cabin,” home arts building.  Below is her commentary, with photos contributed by her and the other guild members who entered work in the fair:

Lana:

“The 2015 Thurston County Fair was a record breaker – certainly weather wise. The Daily O proclaimed the hottest temperature ever recorded, with an average for the week at 97!! But the weavers crew had cool neck wraps, fans, water & tea galore. We did well. We also did well with a very great group of kids and parents. I have no idea how many kids we played with because some wove on the 4-harness table loom, some to the rigid heddle, some even sat down and wove at the ‘weavers’ loom. And beyond that, or above that was the kumihimo braid experience. We kept everybody happy.

The “kids loom” fabric, created by 159 young weavers.

Full view of the visitors’ loom work.

My specific thanks to the crew: Carol Dorgatz, Cathy Belfry, Edith Garling, Eleanor Hintz, Vicki Booth, Patty Berke, Debra Spoorseen, Margaret Cook Jean van Effen, Darlene Dickinson, Larye Parkins, Tricia Shaw, Patti Logan, Roxanne Robertson, Jan Green, Alice Dinerman, Sarah Nopp and especial smiles to Gail Trotter who made kumihimo happen for so many days and Nancy Berger who enriched the weaving experience with rigid heddle and the other looms. That’s all it takes to make a good memory : a remarkable crew of volunteers. You guys did so well, like a well practiced machine, just moving along. I hope you enjoyed yourselves, in spite of the heat. Who knows? Next year may be glorious weather.

I know there are other opportunities that arise for a public presence, a place for us to give the public an idea that not only are we around, but engaged in a real viable art/craft, welcoming to all who seek us. Continue to value the opportunities as you can. Besides the public, you find yourself working with …us!

What follows is a showing of … some of the work entered into the fair by our members. I apologize for no candid shots – my head was obviously in a different place…”

Lana’s entries in the fair

Lana Schneider received Reserve Champion for her Daryl vest! Also shown are her multi-layered singles silk scarf and her Holey Socks

Lana’s “Daryl” vest

“Holey” socks

Multi-layer scarf.

Vicki B. entered her pine needle display and the decorated gourd

Margaret C.: quilt displayed at the fair, not entered for judging.

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Edith’s quilt.  Blue Ribbon

Edith G.

Kate J-K. Skirt from hand-woven fabric. Blue Ribbon.

Kate:

“The COE requires you to weave yardage where epi and ppi are identical.
I’ve done a fair number of practice chunks…but am not yet satisfied
that the results are Examination Quality.

This skirt was made from one of my practice chunks.

It received a Blue ribbon”

Kate J-K. Handspun with sample,  Blue Ribbon, Best of Class, Champion

Kate:

“I bought a one-pound bag of commercially-prepared wool in “Christmas Green”.  The first stuff was spun up and is being used on a loop-pile Christmas stocking that is almost finished.

Since most of what I do is weaving… the rest of the wool was spun up with the idea of incorporating it into future weaving projects…

This skein received:
Blue Ribbon
Best of Class
Champion

Kate J-K. “Three-ply blend of wool and mohair. Both pair were knit from the
‘samplings’ of the wool/mohair ‘bump’ that I bought [last spring at OWG].”  Both received Red Ribbon.

Kate J-K. Hand-spun wool-mohair blend, with sample, Blue Ribbon, Judge’s Choice Ribbon

Kate J-K. Handspun flax. Blue Ribbon and Judges Choice Ribbon.

Kate:

“The COE in spinning requires us to spin flax. Never having done this before, I purchased a one-pound bag of flax from … the OWG meeting a couple of months ago.

My first attempt at spinning flax was too tight — felt like rope! I hated it and threw it away. ~loosened the spin and twist then used the next attempt to knit the lace, “sample swatch”… I liked it much better. Later that same day, I did the 2-ply skein. (yes, wet-spun)

The swatch and skein were subsequently wet-finished. They softened up — considerably. (~hmmm, maybe that first attempt might not have been so much like rope…) Any, I see this being knit into a lacy, summer top.

~turns out… I like spinning flax!”

Patti L. was awarded best in class for her little bowl and judges’ choice for her centerpiece

Patti’s ship tapestry.

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A link from Marjorie: A new exhibit at the Bellevue Art Museum, July 3 – October 18, 2015. Click here to open site, or scroll through the exhibit page below.

The class for new weavers in September is full. We are now looking at February 2016 for the next class.

Students learn how to warp a loom and weave off one or two projects, learning ancillary information along the way.

Classes are limited to 3 minimum and 4 maximum and once you have committed to the class, the fee of $125.00 is non refundable.

Students must be a member of the guild to enroll. Once a member, looms are available for rental during the course from the guild. Costs include the $125.00 for the 3 1/2 day course, spread over 3 weeks. Loom rental is approximately $25.00. The only other expense is the purchase of materials for weaving, which doesn’t cost much.

Click here to go directly to the Whatcom Weavers Guild site.  Otherwise, use the scroll bars at the side and bottom of the frame below to see the full page.

Contributed by Marjorie

The Jumpstart Vest workshop ended a bit early, because of a schedule conflict for the room.  At the last minute (actually, last Friday), we were told that the room we had scheduled at Griffin  #1  would not be available, due to exigent maintenance.  The workshop got relocated to Griffin #2, 10km farther toward the Island, but we also inherited a Wednesday afternoon conflict.  Karen did a miraculous job getting the venue moved and all participants notified: the new location was a bit smaller, so setup was “interesting.”   Nevertheless, the workshop was a bit short, packing up at 4:00pm as the 4:30 group arrived, but everyone had their vests cut out and pinned for fitting at least, and a few were sewn up but not finished.  We won’t expect any to be at Showcase on Friday, but the May Showcase should be awesome.

If you have interest in a Felt Study Group, please e-mail Gail Trotter, getrotter@comcast.net or pass on the information at the April meeting.
Please provide the following info:
1. What your learning interests are
2. How frequently would you like to meet: monthly, quarterly or other and
Your favorite time to meet weekends, weekdays or nights
3. Other thoughts or insights