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Calendar of Events - see the newsletter in the Members Only area for more details on events.
We have guild meetings September through May.Calendar for 2010: March l April l May
March Meeting Program
Due to illness Celia Quinn's Comprehensive Spinning Workshop was rescheduled to the March 12 - 14 weekend. The change of dates created several openings.The workshop will be held at OUT North. Friday's session is 5PM - 9PM, with the Saturday and Sunday sessions running 9AM to 6PM. There will be an ~ 1 hour conflict with the guild meeting. It will be your choice to stay in class or attend the guild's business meeting. The program portion of the guild has been canceled due to the workshop conflict.
This should be an exciting and informative workshop, allowing participants to experiment with exotic fibers and new techniques. If you are interested in attending, please contact Karen Williams for more information or to make your reservation. You can reach her at 907-346-2792 (hm), 907-223-3947 (cell) or via email.
Hope to see you there.
Tom HobbsCommunity Outreach Programs
by Dawn Needham
Help us show community support for great artistic and instructional programming on KAKM – Anchorage’s Public Broadcasting Station. The Weaver and Spinners Guild would like to volunteer to answer phones for the Spring Membership Drive on March 16 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm.
We request you don your finest fibers as the phone bank is typically shown on TV as the evening evolves, allowing us an opportunity to show off our wares. Who knows, we may even have an opportunity to talk about our upcoming Fashion Show, as well as our community outreach endeavors.
If you are interested in joining for a fun filled evening of answering phones, vogueing and chatting with complete strangers, send Dawn Needham an e-mail at Needhamd@yahoo.com. by March 10.Alaska Fiber Festival Project
by Tom Hobbs
The bi-annual Fiber Arts Festival takes place from 5 to 14 March. Many fiber related event are scheduled throughout the period. Please go to http://www.alaskafiberfestival.org/home for more information and a detailed schedule of events and locations. Several of our members will be taking part, so come out and support them and the Fiber Arts here in Alaska. One of our teacher, Kathyanne White will be teaching (Expanding the Digital Print to Uncommon Surfaces) at Convergence in July 2010. She will be teaching Beginning Digital Printing at the Alaska Fiber Festival. This is a good opportunity to take a class you might miss by not going to Convergence. Rachel Clark is an outstanding teacher in garment design and construction. This would be helpful to be prepared for our own fashion show next year. If you've never figured out how to sew circles then you need to take one of Carol Taylor's workshops. The Alaska Fiber Festival isn't just quilts, it's all fiber arts. Go tot he web site for more detailed information and the forms.Alaska Fiber Festival: http://www.alaskafiberfestival.org/home
Color Creek-Fiber Art: (907) 244-7968
www.colorcreekfiberart.com
Commissions, Tutorials and special projectsComprehensive Spinning
Instructor: Celia Quinn
Sample a huge variety of fiber types. Learn what makes them different and special.
Celia lives in Homer and is a nationally acclaimed spinning instructor. Celia has taught for AWSG several times before getting high reviews.
Class Description: An intensive class to increase your knowledge of fiber properties, fiber forms available, and spinning techniques suited to each fiber. Fibers included are wool, silk, cotton, flax, cashmere, yak, alpaca, mohair, ramie and many more. Students will learn to construct yarns of appropriate fiber, diameter and twist for the desired end use. We spin approx. 65 – 85 samples. Skill level: All levels (be able to spin a continuous yarn).
Class Dates/Times: Friday, Mar 12 from 5 pm to 9 pm. Class continues on Sat, Mar 13 and Sun, Mar 14 from 9 am to 5 pm each day with a one hour lunch break. There is a refrigerator available and it is recommended you bring your lunch.
Class Limit: 20 individuals
Location: Out North Theater, 3800 DeBarr Road, Anchorage, AK
Cost: Guild Members - $175, Non-members $195
Registration formHandweavers Guild of America
http://www.weavespindye.org/
Convergence 2010 Albuquerque is coming this summer and registration booklets will be available soon. What a wonderful opportunity for the fiber arts community to gather in an environment of inspiration, education and rejuvenation. Convergence presents opportunities for every level of weaver, spinner or felter, from beginner to professional and brings us all together in a learning experience like none other.
The theme for Convergence 2010 is “New Visions: Ancient Paths” and with events/exhibits entitled Walk in Beauty, Enchanted, Eye Dazzlers, it’s simple to envision the beauty and grandeur of the New Mexico’s landscape reinterpreted for all to view and experience in this biannual conference. The deadlines for Convergence exhibits are early in 2010 and vary according to exhibit, so check HGA’s website for details at: www.weavespindye.org.
Should you have any questions regarding Convergence 2010, or any of HGA's educational programs, including membership, conferences or the resources available for guild activities, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I wish you continued success in all of your fiber related expressions.
With warmest regards,
Pamela M. Grefsrud
HGA Alaska Representative
pgrefsrud@alaska.comFirst Thursday Spinning
with Dolores Roguszka
We meet from 1 to 4 PM on the first Thursday of each month at the home of Dolores Roguszka. All spinners welcome. For directions or questions, email Dolores or call 346-1024.Third Thursday Knitting.
With Dolores Roguszka
Need an afternoon just for YOU? The Holidays are over, hopefully stress levels are abating, and fiber friends would like to share an afternoon with you.
Please join us on February 18, from one to four, for our Third Thursday Knitting Session. Bring knitting or other handwork. We’ll visit, knit, enjoy refreshments, but most of all, enjoy being together.
If you have questions or need directions contact me at dande80@alaska.net or call 346-1024.Chemo Cap Report
By Dolores Roguszka
Once more we would like to thank Shelly Lindell and Judie Link for their recent donations of yarns for our Chemo Cap Project. These donated yarns and patterns are always available at the third Thursday knitting and first Thursday spinning sessions and other times by contacting me at dande80@alaska.net or 346-1024. Come by and be inspired by new yarns and get your knitting needles flying! We need caps! Caps for men, women AND children. Please help us provide them.
We made a distribution of caps to cancer clinics and hospitals this week, bringing our donation totals to 4,503 since the inception of the program in 2003. The number of caps delivered to each clinic was only half of what we generally give, so supplies will quickly be dispersed. We need to knit faster!Chemo Cap Contest
By Dolores Roguszka
Our Chemo Cap Contest is open to everyone! A $25.00 gift certificate to a favorite local yarn store will be awarded to the hat chosen as “The Most Wonderful Chemo Cap”. That winner will be voted on at the May Potluck by all attendees. Hats will be part of the table décor and so will be on display all during lunch.
Entries per person are limited to two. Any fiber may be used. They may be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Hats must be very soft, and washable.
The deadline has been extended to May 1. Previous contests have been limited to hats designed for women. No longer! You may enter handsome hats for men; clever, gorgeous creations for women; or cute, fantasy caps for kids.
A tag listing the maker’s name, fiber content and contact information must accompany entries.
Guild Challenge
by Sherry Rogers
Every year our guild puts out a challenge to members. This year we have tied that challenge to our fashion show to be held in April 2011. So warm up your weaving loom, oil your spinning wheel, find your drop spindle, locate your knitting needles, lace bobbins or peruse your felting and surface design books (the guild librarian has wonderful books on surface design) - whatever your addiction may be we need you! Examples are hand embellished items, hand dyed fabrics, handwoven , handknit, felted or bobbin lace items and items from handspun yarns. Remember we will need accessories for garments to adorn our models. You have March to work on this. Your challenge will be shared at the April 10 guild meeting. Stimulate us with your creations and support your guild with entries for the Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Fashion Show.2010 Challenge Project
At the Fashion Show committee meeting we thought it would be great if the Challenge for next year (Spring 2010) was to produce enough handwoven or hand-spun yardage to make a garment. The garments will then be the Challenge for 2011 and we hope they will be shown in the 2011 Fashion Show. If you have further questions please contact Sherry Rogers.Fashion Show Committee Report
Fashion Show Committee Meeting
by Sherry Rogers
Committee members met in January with museum staff Sam Meurer and Adam Baldwin to discuss details of next year's fashion show. We are confirmed for April 17, 2011 for our fashion show in the auditorium with our sale in the atrium. Our rehearsal date is Saturday, April 16. We will demonstrate in the atrium during the sale showing our skills at weaving, spinning, tapestry, bobbin lace etc. We would like to encourage all guild members to participate in our guild challenge and create an item to enter in the guild fashion show.
The fashion show committee will meet after the March 13 guild meeting to discuss progress of the individual subcommittees. We will discuss a timeline for the fashion show/sale/demonstrations. Plan to attend and contribute your ideas.
If you are interested in working on any of the fashion show committees please contact Sherry Rogers at sherryweaves@aol.com.Thinking Ahead
by Myler Almandinger
The name of the fair theme this year is “IMAGINE IF.” The fair is August 26 to September 6. Anchorage entry date is at the Boys and Girls Club in Mountainview again. Dates and times are: August 9 from 11am to 7 pm and August 10 from 11 am to 7 pm. Judging Day is August 15. I have most of my judges. Thank you to all who signed up at the last judging day but one member has moved so I need another spinning judge.
I will write next month to each judge to confirm your position Anchorage weekend is August 27, 28, and 29. If you want to come any other days I will be happy to give you tickets for the next week. So when sign up comes around let the committee chairman know.
Pick up date is September 10 from 12 to 7 pm and September 11 from 12 to 7 pm at the boys and girls club. I am training a new Supervisor this year and she will be there each month till summer vacation to keep everyone up to date.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
- 2010 Jane Stafford - Terrific Twills-- 3 days, Round robin weaving exploring a number of twill patterns through 3 basic design principles tie-up, threading, and treadling. Samples are woven on a variety of natural fibers.
