Blue Ridge Spinners and Weavers Guild

WELCOME - Please join us at our next meeting!

February 24, 2010

Textile Museum program on preserving and displaying textiles.

Sykes Hall - Loudoun County 4H Fairgounds
17558 Dry Mill Road
Leesburg, VA
Click for directions.

Note: Inclement weather policy - if Loudoun County Public Schools are canceled our meeting will be canceled. If the schools are on a delayed start, the BRSWG meeting will take place for those that wish to attend.

View topics from past guild meetings.

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2010 Guild Challenge
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"Can you make it ugly?" Keeping in mind, not made poorly, but made in a good technique. There will be guest judges. Items will be due by April's meeting. Any fiber medium accepted.

Membership dues ($25) for the 2009-2010 year are due by August 31th. Dues received from returning members after August 31, 2009 carry a $5.00 late fee.

Please make all checks payable directly to BRSWG LLC and bring, along with a completed membership form, to meeting or mail to:
BRSWG LLC Membership
P.O. Box 2382
Purcellville, VA 20134

2009-2010 Officers
President - Beth Wilson
Vice President - Rebecca Fox
Secretary - Dail Jones
Treasurer - Moira Ramsey
Membership - Lois Benson

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We are dedicated to enhancing the standards for excellence in fiber arts, educating its members and the public through presentations at meetings, seminars, and technical demonstrations and assisting members in marketing their work.

Our group meets on the last Wednesday of every month at the Sykes Hall - Loudoun County Fairgrounds from 10:00am until 12noon unless otherwise noted. Social Hour 9:00am until 10:00am.

A membership form can be downloaded here.

I hear, and I forget.
I see, and I remember.
I do, and I understand.

--Chinese Proverb

Please download the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 Workshop Registration Forms here and include a nonrefundable $10.00 deposit for each class you wish to register for. In an effort to give all members an equal opportunity to participate, the registration for these workshops will begin on September 1, 2009. If you would like to be added to the wait list, please do so via the registration form.

The Non-Geek Guide to Fiberworks PCW
March 24, 2010 (10am - 3pm)

Instructor: Cathie Chung

I'll bring a handout that will be an outline of my talk and practical exercises using PCW. Everyone should have a computer (I've found pairing up doesn't work well) either with their copy of PCW or a demo version downloaded. You'll need electrical for everyone. I'm not sure how long batteries last and I'm sure not all of them will be fully charged at the outset. A mouse is optional but if they have one I'd suggest bringing it. Lots of clicking and not so much typing. Just a reminder that PCW is Windows based only.

Workshop Fee: $40

Maximum Participants: 12

Location: Sykes Hall - Loudoun County 4H Fairgounds

Summer and Winter Structure Workshop
April 9-11, 2010 (midday Friday - Sunday afternoon)

Instructor: Tom Knisely

In this 3-day workshop you will work in round-robin format based on Summer and Winter weave structure.

Summer & Winter is a weave structure often associated with coverlets. Weavers are attracted to Summer & Winter by it's unique threading system that creates bold geometric patterns with short surface floats. These short floats make Summer & Winter an ideal choice for coverlets, rugs, upholstery or any application requiring a hard wearing fabric. Students will weave on pre warped looms exploring different treadling possibilities while weaving a valuable sampler or table runner. There will also be several additional looms warped for you to try Summer & Winter as rugs, multishaft patterns and color effects.

Workshop Fee: $260.00

Maximum Participants: 10 Students

Location: The Mannings, East Berlin, PA

Nantucket Lightship Basket Class
June 25-27, 2010 (Friday - Sunday)

Instructor: Terri Sackett

Terri will be offering a 3-day open round basket class in her MD workshop June 25-27, 2010. The price is based on the 6" open round basket and includes instruction and materials. She will provide all necessary tools to be used during class. There is no experience necessary to make a 6" open round basket.

If you have previously attended one of Terri's classes talk to her about some of the possibilities for other open round basket projects. For example, your basket for this session might be a 4" open round basket with wooden or brass ears.

The standard basket comes with a cherry base, oak handle, reed staves, reed rims, and ivory knobs (bone knobs can be substituted). For an optional charge you can exchange the cherry base for an exotic wood base. A $100.00 materials fee (included in the class fee) will be due at sign-up with the remainder due at time of class.

Terri would like to hear from you soon so let her know if you would like to sign up and which project you are interested in so she can start making basket parts, order supplies and work out the details to ensure there is a mold available and everything is ready for your arrival.

To sign up or to for questions contact Terri (sackett.terri@gmail.com)

Workshop Fee: $325

Maximum Participants: 6

Location: Terri's Shop

Before signing up for a workshop please read the BRSWG workshop policies here. Unless otherwise noted, workshops will be held in Sykes Hall at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds in Leesburg.

Interest Groups

Overshot
Beth Wilson ( bareftwevr@cottolin.com or 540-338-7742)
The woven overshot study group meets the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am until noon at the Purcellville Library.

Knitting
JoAnn Nachajski ~ admin ( jsnlv@verizon.net 540-822-5683)
Debbie Deutsch ~ teaching ( deborah.deutsch@comcast.net 540-338-5893)
The knitting study group meets @ 10:00am until noon at the Purcellville train station on the second Tuesday of the month. They are knitting squares from The Great American Aran Afghan.

Spinning
Chair: Rebecca Fox ( FoxyDr@gmail.com or 703-771-9066)
Co-Chair: Chris Butterworth ( chrisbb@hughes.net or 540-751-1541)
Co-Chair: Catie Dutcher ( cductcher@loudounwireless.com or 703-475-2978)

This group is newly formed.

Other: ??

Kindly contact individual group leader for information.

Fiber Festivals
If you know of any local upcoming Fiber Festivals please let us know.

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival - May 1-2, 2010
Howard County Fair Grounds, West Friendship, Maryland
Admission Free

Heritage Day in the Park - May 15, 2010
Historic Fireman's Field, Purcellville, Virginia
Admission Free

Loudoun County Fair - July 26 - 31, 2010
Loudoun County Fairgrounds, Leesburg, Virginia
Admission Free

Bluemont Fair - September 18-19, 2010
Historic Village of Bluemont, in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains in Loudoun County, Virginia
Admission $

Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival - September 25-26, 2010
Ruritan Fairgrounds, Berryville, in Clarke County, Virginia
Admission $

Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit - October 1-3, 2010
Village of Waterford, Virginia
Admission $
10am to 5pm

The Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia - October 2-3, 2010
Montpelier Estate in Orange County, Virginia
Admission $
Sat. 10am to 5pm, Sun. 10am to 4pm

Wondering how you will survive all the fall fiber festivals? Read this article for tips.

THE WEAVER

The weaver sat by her burden
Waiting the work to begin,
Dreamily throwing the shuttle
Backward and forward between;
Questioning much of the pattern,
Watching for it to be seen.

The shuttle was filled with colors,
Of every shade and glow,
thoughtless, she scattered the radiance
Falling above and below.
The pulse of the loom was beating
Solemnly to and fro.

The throb of the loom grew stronger,
The shuttle flew faster between;
One thread seemed a line of shadow,
Another a ray serene,
But the solemn loom wove together,
Equally, shade and sheen.

--unknown

Created on 08/29/2009 07:59 AM by sackett
Updated on 02/03/2010 03:07 PM by sackett