Send your news items to Tim Prins by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.
Guild Calendar
Thursday, April 13, 2023 – March Meeting
Multnomah Arts Center + Zoom
7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787 – Auditorium
10:00 am Day Meeting
9:30 am – 10:00 am: Set up, social time and library browsing time
10:00 am – 12:00: Meeting
7:00 pm Evening Meeting
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: set up, social and library browsing time
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Meeting
Thursday, April 27, 2023 – Board/planning meeting
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Zoom
Friday, April 28, 2023 to Sunday, April 30 – PHG Spring Sale with Gathering of the Guilds
Oregon Convention Center
President’s Message
Where do I start this month? So much going on. I know, let’s start with the retreat. It’s happening, and boy and I looking forward to it. I have more than a couple UFOs to bring, and I’m hoping to do some more krokbragd on the rigid heddle. I’m thinking of making a bag using nice sturdy krokbragd fabric and a belt woven on the inkle loom, or maybe even a tablet woven belt. The tablet workshops with John Mullarkey were a lot of fun, so maybe I’ll continue with that. So many options!!
If I can get it done in time I’ll enter the bag in either the open show at the ANWG conference, or maybe the conference colors show. That’s part of the reason for some sampling at the retreat. I’ll need to decide on colors soon if I’m going to get this done in time. In case you haven’t heard, the deadline for the shows at the conference have been extended to May 1. So there’s still time to submit something for one of those shows. It would be great to see a Portland presence in all the shows and not just in the guild booth.
And speaking of the conference, there’s still time to register. Ala carte options are now available, so you can sign up for just the right combination of workshops, seminars and evening events to suit your needs. Can’t make it to Bend? No problem. This year’s conference is offering 5 virtual seminars on Friday and Saturday that you can attend via Zoom! Pricing and more details are available on the conference website at https://anwgconference2023.com/.
The conference is in June, right after our annual meeting where we’ll be reviewing our budget for next year and voting on new officers and board members. The slate will have some familiar names, with some folks continuing in their current roles (Mike Schlieski as treasurer, Lynne Fitzsimmons as secretary) and others coming back for another stint on the board (Chris Rossi has said she’ll return to take on the Member Services Director spot and help with equipment rentals). But several spots are looking for someone to lend a hand, including program chair, workshop chair, and the at-large director spot that has yet to be filled. For programs and workshops Linda and Lynne are both happy to help by being a silent co-chair until people get comfortable with the roles. Please, even if you’re new to the guild we would love to have you join us on the board. I can say from experience that it’s a great group who share ideas and a desire to help the guild with their time and talents. Meetings are held via Zoom, and we typically only have 8 or 9 board meetings throughout the year, so the commitment isn’t too tough. If you have questions or want to volunteer please let me know.
Lastly, we continue to talk about a new home for the guild. In our last survey I asked what folks would like to see us do in a new home, and the results closely mirror what the board has been talking about these past few months. The top 3 answers were offering classes, supporting study groups, and offering more workshops, all of which got more votes from more than 70% of those who responded. The next three all got support from a little over 50% of the respondents: expand the library, expand the rentals, and exhibit member work. All great ideas, and things that I hope we’ll be able to offer in the coming year.
And with that I think I’ll go start packing for the retreat. And, as always, I hope to see you at a meeting soon.
Dan
Upcoming Program
April 13th PHG Meeting at MAC:
Steve Grafe from Maryhill Museum – Théâtre de la Mode: Paris Fashion for a Post-War World
The PHG Mannequin Project was inspired by the Théâtre de la Mode mannequins on display at the Maryhill Museum. Steven L. Grafe, Curator of Art at the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, WA will join us to talk about the history of Théâtre de la Mode, from its beginnings in 1944 to it’s influences still seen today.
Spring Fiber Arts Sale
PHG Spring Sale with Gathering of the Guilds
April 28-30, 2023
Oregon Convention Center
Time is moving quickly, and the sale is almost upon us. A couple of notes, the guild booth is still happening with some revised ideas on the structure of the booth. After chatting with some well-respected guild members, it seems that a % of sales are more appropriate than a booth fee. So, 20% of the proceeds would apply to members who participate and work a 2 hour shift and 30% if you are unable to do a shift. We have a guild Square card system and we can use that as the central pay option. With this format, it should be easier for members to sell just a couple of items and if you don’t sell, there is no cost to you. Please reach out to me if you are interested.
The other information is about the demonstration hours. Galadriel has been meticulously mapping out the hours and it should be available by April 1. We have some great outside guilds coming in but we certainly want to represent the talent of our guild. I have already had a couple of responses from our members about demonstrations but if you have a plan to demo, please send me an email with your demo and the hours you prefer. This will help streamline the process.
Thanks all, I appreciate your support and history of this event,
Cindy 303.250.9766 or cafweave@gmail.com
Guild News
Library 101
Instead of taking a deeper look at one item in the PHG library, this month we will take a closer look at accessing the library materials.
When is the library available to browse? The library shelves are available to browse on meeting days. The specific times depend upon in which room the meeting is being held.
If the meeting is being held in the auditorium, it is easy to maneuver the library carts to the auditorium. The library will be available for the half-hour before either the day or evening meeting and during the meeting break.
However, for many of our meetings, we have been assigned to the gym. The library carts cannot access the gym due to the many high door sills that must be crossed to get there. We did try that once in May, 2022, which led to cart-astrophic failure (picture available in the June, 2022, newsletter). We’re not trying that again. If the meeting is in the gym, the library will be available after the conclusion of the morning meeting in the hallway outside the guild closet. In the evening, it is available from 6:30 to 7:00 again in the hallway outside the closet. Please be cognizant that there are classes being held in the classrooms, so please keep voices low when browsing in the hallway.
Is the catalog available online? Yes. The guild library is available to browse using the third party platform, LibraryThing. Individual books and DVD’s are listed. Individual issues of periodicals are not. More information on using LibraryThing is presented below. There is also basic information on the library page of the guild website. Browse the guild library.
Will the online catalog tell me if an item is available for check-out? No. When the guild library was first put on LibraryThing that was not an option. In order to make it possible to find the status of items, each item would need to be assigned a barcode. That would also require each individual periodical issue to be cataloged as well as barcoded. This would require a lot of time and effort for the number of check-outs we currently have.
How do I use the online catalog? Below is a screenshot of the catalog. A few of the features have been highlighted. We will take a closer look at how to use these features to help you find items of interest.
1. The search bar. Use the lower, smaller search bar to limit your search to the PHG library. If you use the larger, upper search bar, you will search all the libraries cataloged on LibraryThing.
2. By clicking here, you will get a list of the authors with items available in the library. You can then click on an author’s name and see all the items by that author that the guild owns. You can also use the drop down menu to choose the “Tags” option. Most tags align with the shelving categories in the PHG library. When selecting a tag, you can choose to browse a shelf or see what DVD’s we have.
3. Once you have found an item that you are interested in checking out, please note the first tag listed in the tag box. This is the shelf area on which the item is located.
ANWG 2023 Conference: Fiber Connections
The 2023 Conference of the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds is less than three months away. Although the window for the conference package has closed, you can now register for individual seminars, workshops, and evening events on an a la carte basis. Some classes are full, but there are still plenty of terrific workshops and seminars from which to choose, including five virtual seminars. Also, if you can’t travel, there is an option to sign up for five zoom-only seminars. In addition to classes, there will be a Marketplace with terrific vendors, Shopping Extravaganza and reception, a keynote speaker, banquet, fashion show with reception, demonstrations, a reception and exhibit of the works of Margaret Johansen, an Oregon Tapestry Artist, and much more. And please consider entering your handwovens or other fiber arts in various shows. Deadlines have been extended, so you have plenty of time to submit your works. For conference details, go to https://anwgconference2023.com/
ANWG 2023 Conference – Vendor spaces still available
Here is an opportunity for guilds or guild member to benefit from the ANWG conference in Bend, OR.
There are a few Marketplace vendor booth spaces available at the upcoming ANWG conference. The conference board would like to give WeGO guilds an opportunity to purchase the unused booth space for selling handwoven and fiber-related articles. WeGO guilds and/or guild members have priority; if WeGO members pass on the opportunity, we will offer the space to groups outside WeGO.
The fee is $550 per booth. If your group is interested, it would be responsible for manning its booth and accepting any payments as there is no central check-out. There will be volunteers patrolling the vendor area as security.
Contact Charlene Virts Charlene.anwg@gmail.com for full details.
Latest ANWG Newsletter
The Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds has posted their January 2023 newsletter. Check out the creative ways other Northwest weaving guilds are getting their members together for fiber activities. All ANWG newsletters are available here.
News from Complex Weavers
All CW members should have received a copy of the CW Journal by now. That copy is a 2022 copy with tulips on the cover. If anyone has not received this copy and not received the CW newsletter from Karen Donde please get on touch with me.
There will be a Complex Weavers meeting in Bend Oregon. The next Convergence and Complex Weavers Seminars will be in Kansas in the future. See you in Bend
If any questions please let me know. Ladella Williams LadellawilliamsCZZ@gmail.com or text message to 503 729 1704
Bulletin Board
Summer Camp Fiber Arts Opportunity
Willowbrook Arts Camp Is a summer day camp that meets in Browns Ferry Park in Tualatin. Thanks to Debbie Ellis, the program director, Mari Gardner, reached out to PHG to try to bring in some weaving. I will organize a day with her during camp to demonstrate some simple weaving projects with the campers and their counselors. But I also told her I would spread the word about a six week job opening she has for a camp counselor who will work with some fiber projects. Here is the link and you can contact her about more information.
Specialist Job Description 2023.docx (willowbrookartscamp.org) Mari@willowbrookartscamp.org
More outreach volunteer opportunities will be coming up over the spring and summer. Check the newsletter for scheduling.
Cooki Messmer
Outreach
DaVinci Middle School- Weaving Program
As an outreach project of PHG we have started working with a new fiber arts teacher at DeVinci Middle School. Years ago many members from PHG helped start a weaving program there. Unfortunately, with personnel changes the program died out. The new teacher, Neressa Bennett is trying to bring it back, but is only halftime. Eventually she will be moving out several large floor looms which she doesn’t use and which take up her working space with students. (I’ll let you know if there is a big sale in the future.)
In the meantime, she could use some small table looms in good working order and does not have much of a budget. Small two or four harness looms, an inkle loom, or small rigid heddle looms would be more usable in her space. If you have one of these lying around your house, are feeling generous and would like to donate it, please let me know. She really does not have space for anymore large looms.
Also, if you are interested and have time, volunteers could go in and help during her weaving classes in the mornings, help organize her huge yarn stash, or help warp up the looms. You might also be able to warp one of the small looms at home then get it back to DaVinci.
Please contact me if you have questions, time to volunteer, or possible donations.
Cooki Messmer cookimessmer@comcast.net
Damascus Fiber Arts School Summer Schedule
The Damascus Fiber Arts School has published their summer schedule and registration is open. Classes include 3-Day Beginning Tapestry, Weaving Words in Tapestry, Painting with Yarn: Soumak Tapestry, Beginning Spinning, Natural Dyeing Using Local Mushrooms, Lichens and Plants, Hachure in Contemporary Tapestry, and Spinning: Beyond the Basics.
Looking to Buy or Sell Weaving Equipment or Materials?
Check out the Items for Sale page.
Fiber News and Events
Handweavers Guild of America
Textiles & Tea
Tuesdays
The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) exciting new program, Textiles & Tea, takes place every Tuesday at 4 PM (ET). We’ve invited some of the most respected fiber artists in the field today to join us for an hour long conversation where we will discuss their artwork and their creative journey. Make a cup of your favorite tea and join us as we talk about fiber, creativity, inspiration, process and so much more.
The Weaving Guilds of Oregon (WeGO) committee is delighted to announce that the traveling show will take place beginning in January of 2023. This show travels around the state of Oregon showcasing the fiber arts in our communities. The Title of the show is “Filaments.”
Weaving Data Winter Exhibition
January 24 – April 29, 2023
Portland, OR
More info: https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/weaving-data/weaving-data
Fiber in the Forest
May 19-21, 2023
Myrtle Point, OR
More info: Fiber in the Forest
Fiber Fusion Northwest
June 3-4, 2023
Monroe, Washington
More info: fiberfusion.net.
ANWG Conference – Fiber Connections
June 11-18, 2023
Riverhouse Convention Center, Bend, OR
Click the link below to read all the news for the ANWG Conference 2023.
anwgconference2023.com
Black Sheep Gathering
June 23-25, 2023
Albany, OR
More info: blacksheepgathering.org
Threads | Þræðir Intertwined in Iceland: Textiles and Book Arts
July 8 – November 5, 2023
Nordia House, Portland, OR
This exhibition showcases artists’ books and textile pieces by Icelandic artists and visiting artists who have been inspired by the country’s landscapes, people, language and textile traditions. The works in this exhibition are connected through stitching, weaving, knotting, tying, binding, pattern and storyline. The artists have found parallel lives in each other, unintentionally approaching art and life in similar fashions across oceans and between generations.
More info: https://www.nordicnorthwest.org/exhibits
Intermountain Weavers Conference
July 27-30, 2023
Logan, Utah
More info: intermountainweavers.org
Conference of Northern California Handweavers
August 3-6, 2023
San Luis Obispo, CA
CNCH 2023 will be located on the campus of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Attendees will enjoy apartment-style lodging on the campus and 16 retreat-style classes in subjects including weaving, spinning, dyeing, felting, kumihimo, sprang – and more.
Registration opens on April 29, 2023, and students are urged to register early because classes are expected to fill up quickly. More info: https://www.cnch.org/
Rental Equipment
PHG has equipment available for rent to current PHG Members. Click here for more info.
PHG Board and Chairs
Please click here for a list of PHG Board Members and Committee Chairs.
Your purchases can benefit PHG! Click on one of these links before buying and PHG will earn a commission from your purchase.
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