NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL OHIO WEAVERS PRESIDENT S MESSAGE, BY MARY LEE MONTGOMERY Starting the year as president of the guild has me reflecting on what got me weaving (and then spinning), finding my way to a guild, and why I continue to be a part of the guild. I had always thought weaving looked cool, ever since seeing it done at Colonial Williamsburg back in the late 70 s, but never thought I would ever have the chance to try it for myself. It remained a wish in my memory until I saw a group of weavers and spinners demonstrate in the sheep barn at the Orange County Fair in Southern California back in 1998. They all looked like they were having such fun weaving on these little table looms. I went to one of the weavers and asked Where did you learn to weave like that? She told me she learned at an evening class at the local community college and pointed to another weaver who she identified as the teacher. Of course I had to sign up for that! They had 2 harness table looms they loaned to students which is what I started with when I signed up for class. I not only learned to weave, I found a community of interesting, creative and caring people. I learned the priest at my church was a weaver and he gave me an old 4 harness table loom I still have and teach others on when I have the chance. I took that class over and over 3 or 4 times, learning more and more. I was blessed to have 2 local weaving shops. One owned by a lovely weaver named Gertie, would let me buy a cone for class after she weighed it, and she would let me bring it back after class, buying back the remainder of the cone. Gertie told me about guilds and how I MUST belong to one. She encouraged it by giving a guild discount on her wares. I bought my first used floor loom from Gertie-a beautiful Fireside that I still love and use. Well with Gertie s encouragement, of course I found myself a member of Southern California Handweavers Guild in Los Angeles which was founded in 1946. They had all kinds of really interesting workshops to learn more weaving techniques and they helped sponsor a regional weaving conference every other year. I learned so much from them and had so much fun. My community college classes laid my weaving foundation but I really learned how exciting weaving is in the guild. I made dear friends in that guild too. When I moved to Ohio, one of my first priorities was to find another guild, as I couldn t imagine my life as it had become without one. I was now A WEAVER. Blessedly a web search looking for a guild in Columbus, led me to Dee Dee Ptaszek who helped me connect to the guild I love now. She was the first of many to show Midwestern hospitality and make me feel at home. This guild was different from Los Angeles but just as active and still had much to teach me. And there were spinners! Of course I had to learn spinning too, so my fiber passions have grown. Through the guilds I have become involved in weaving, spinning, dyeing, felting, knitting, sewing handwovens, rug hooking, basketry. I think that sums up what the guild has taught me but I am sure I have forgotten something! Continued on Page 5
THRUMS A MESSAGE FROM DEE DEE PTASZEK-COWG VP The new guild year is almost here. As you try to get in all of things you planned for this summer, please take a look at workshop calendar and let me know which workshops that you want to sign up for. I'm taking reservations for the 2011 workshops now. I also need a program for November, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know. SEPTEMBER 24 & 25 - Nuno Felt a scarf. I'll be the instructor. Nuno felting is a way of binding fibers to a fabric to create lightweight yet structurally sound fabric. COST $25 (covers materials). Limit to 10 participants. We'll make a sample to learn the technique and start our scarves on Saturday. On Sunday we'll finish up, which should take the morning. OCTOBER 14, 15 & 16, Hand spinning for Hand knitters on Friday October 14. Saturday and Sunday (15 & 16) Painted Warps. Both workshops are with Judith MacKenzie. Cost not determined yet. Limit to 15 participants. NOVEMBER 19, To be determined. Let me know if you have suggestions. DECEMBER No Meeting JANUARY 21, Holiday Gathering and results of the Yarn Swap. Kirk Campus (11:00) FEBRUARY 18 & 19, Sloper Workshop - again I'll be the instructor. A sloper is a paper pattern of your body that you can use to create your own patterns. On Saturday we'll create slopers. On Sunday we'll work with how to use the sloper to create your own pattern or to adjust a commercial pattern. Saturday is limited to 6 participants. No limit for Sunday. Saturday cost - $45 Sunday's cost $15. MARCH 24, Style Show at the Clintonville Woman's Club APRIL 21, Rug Weaving Experiences with Jinney Becher. Jinney has been a long time member of the guild. She has also has many years experience weaving rugs. You may have seen her booth at Yellow Springs, Upper Arlington Labor Day Fair and WinterFair. She is going to talk to us about her experiences weaving rugs. MAY 19 & 20 - Knitted Cut Pile Bags with Sara Lamb. You may had seen Sara's book on the topic. I've seen the bags in person and they are absolutely lovely and it's a technique that is good to have in one's repertoire. COST TBA. We will begin signing up for the February, April and May workshops in September. It's ok to let me know about a workshop that you're interested, but PAYMENT IS NEEDED to actually reserve your spot! Please call or e-mail me with any questions... 614-262-9233, dptaszek@att.net. PAGE 2
Schedule of Workshops for 2011/2012 Sept 24-25 Nuno Felting Nuno Felt a Scarf Oct 14-15-16 Judith McKenzie Handspinning for handknitters Oct 14; Painted Warps Oct 15 & 16 Nov 19 Open TBD Jan 21 Holiday Gathering Feb 18-19 Sloper workshop Mar 24 Style Show Apr 21 Jinney Becher May 19 Sara Lamb Results of Yarn Swap Draft Your Own Sloper, how to use a sloper once created Style Show Rug Weaving Experiences Knotted Cut Pile Retreats scheduled for 2011/2012 Saturday, November 5 Sunday, January 29 Saturday, March 3 Saturday, April 28 Mark your calendars! Bring your spinning, knitting, tatting, weaving and yourself to the Spring Hollow Lodge! Visit with old friends, or make some new ones! PAGE 3
PAGE 4 Yellow Springs Wool Gathering 2011 THRUMS If you re longing for cooler temperatures and ice cream, start thinking about fall and The Wool Gathering at Young s Dairy in Yellow Springs! The dates/times this year are September 17 and 18 - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Details and vendor list can be found at http://my.voyager.net/~nfisher/ We re planning to decorate our 2 tents with items about our Guild. We re focusing this year on our workshops and activities. We want to display creations from 2 workshops (Bonnie Tarsus Almost Ikat and Catherine Ellis Woven Shibori), spinning, and our everfavorite Friendship Bags. Please consider loaning: Almost Ikat scarves Woven Shibori samples (up to 4 per person) Spinning samples Friendship bags Note: Each item should have your name attached (a small marking tag would be ideal) so we can make sure it s returned to the right person. Drop off location for loaned items: Cultural Arts Center (attention Leslie) Image Arts Etc @ Kenny Center (Jon Briney s store, M-F 10-6, Sat 10-4, attention Sue) Sue Briney s house in Powell (call first - 740-917-9388) We also need volunteers to spin, weave and talk to visitors. Please contact Julie Scott at 740-739-3171 or jscott12003@yahoo.com and let her know when you can help out. Schedule and volunteer needs Set-up Friday: Leslie Garman, Jane Droll, Sue Briney Demonstrators Saturday and Sunday: Open Open Saturday morning: Open Close Saturday evening: Open Open Sunday morning: Nancy Fischer and Leslie Garman Tear-down Sunday evening: Leslie Garman, Sue Briney, Jinney Becher and?? COWG Bookmarks: Joy Cain Warped guild floor loom for demonstrating: Open Warped table loom for demonstrating: Sue Briney Thanks! Sue Briney, Kathleen Craig, Leslie Garman
Board Meeting The executive board met in July. A 2011-2012 budget was prepared to be submitted at the September meeting for approval or changes as needed. Help for hospitality will be arranged at the September meeting also. COWG Budget 2011-2012 Income Expense Notes Membership $2000 $134 122equip.maint/12remind. Fashion Show 2012 $1000 $1000 Fundraising T-shirts $50 -- Advertising -- -- Lectures -- $400 Membership Books -- $150 Organization Dues -- $50 Workshops $5000 $5000 Hospitality -- $50 Recognition Award -- $70 Newsletter -- $30 Retreats -- $500 Miscellaneous -- $96 Outreach Expenses -- $50 State Fair -- $250 Yellow Springs -- $120 Software/Hardware -- -- Website Expense -- -- Presidential Stipend -- $150 TOTAL $8050 $8050 Continued from page 1 I have made many friends in my Ohio guild and most of these were made with regular participation in the workshops, retreats and by being a board member or officer. I feel passionately about the fiber arts and the role of the guild and it is something I find myself sharing with friends and strangers all the time. I bet you do too. Our membership has increased in the last year and a lot of the reason is the great outreach activities of some of our members. Demonstrating at the fair and Yellowsprings, brings people like me to the guild. People who always thought fiber arts seemed cool but didn t have an idea in how to get started or where to find people who were involved in fiber arts. As I write this, fellow guild members are sharing in a sheep barn, but it is in Ohio, not California. But those members sharing their passion will help others find theirs and make their way to our guild. Yellow Springs is coming and will be a great opportunity to share your love of fibers with others. Contact Kathleen Craig or Sue Briney to learn more about this opportunity. Also look for ways you can contribute your talents and time to the guild. Take one of Dee Dee s fabulous workshop offerings this year. This is how you get cemented in to our fellowship. I look forward to seeing all of you at the September 24 th meeting at Kirk House. PAGE 5
The Weavers Loft 24647 Zimmer RD Dover, IN 47022 812-576-3904 Orderline: 800-449-6115 weaving@nalu.net THRUMS www.weaversloft.com Yarn specials: Call or see website. Used equipment available: Call or see website Hours are usually Wed-Sat 10-4, also by appointment please call ahead when driving. For Sale Schacht Standard 36" 8/10 High castle loom with non-schacht bench $1950 LeClerc Minerva 4 now 4 later (missing handle) 22 1/2 weave width $450 Schacht Baby Wolf 4H $875 If interested, contact: Ruthie Anderson Mainville, Ohio 513-683-5525 PAGE 6
PAGE 7
PAGE 8 THRUMS