Send your news items to Sylvia Emard by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.
Guild Calendar June 2022
Thursday, June 9, 2022
7:00 pm Evening Meeting Only
Multnomah Arts Center + Zoom
7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787 – Gym
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: set up, social and library browsing time
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Meeting
6:15 pm – Special Event: Pop Up Yarn Sale
Find the Zoom link under Programs, below.
President’s Message
Hi everyone!
I have 4 things to let you all know about or remind you of this month.
1) First off, we are having a POP UP YARN SALE at our June Meeting!!! WOOT!!!!
Along with our regular end of the year meeting on 9 June we will be featuring a BIG sale of lots of very high quality, and beautiful yarns (trust me, they are really nice!). A generous, anonymous donor who can no longer weave has given our guild his entire stash of high quality yarns including wool, alpaca, silk, and cotton rug warp. Everything is in wonderful, clean condition and some of it is still wrapped in its original plastic packaging. Come for great deals with the sales benefitting PHG! Doors open at 6:15 pm for browsing and the cashier opens after our votes for the board and budget. Cash and Cards will be accepted. Get there early for the best selection of the yarns. We are hoping our members who usually attend our day meeting due to not driving in the dark, will be able to join us for this evening meeting with the sunsetting much later. We would love to see you there!
2) We still have several positions available for members to serve our Guild for the 2022-2023 year. If we don’t find people to fill these jobs we won’t be able to provide the services we have come to be known for. For instance we need a Program Chair to organize our speakers. Is there someone you have been wanting to have come and speak? Now is your chance to make that happen! Please let me know if there is a job you would like to take on for us!
Here is a list of the current jobs available:
- Program Chair
- Spring Sales Director
- Communication Director
- Google Groups Admin
- Newsletter Editor
- Website Admin
3) For those who are not going to be at our June meeting, I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who served the Portland Handweavers Guild this year. The year wasn’t as smooth as we hoped but a lot got accomplished and we have come out the other end in better shape than we went in. We are on our way to becoming a 501(c)3, we are meeting in person again, we had amazing speakers and fantastic workshops, community outreach has been out inspiring new weavers, we had our first Gathering of the Guilds in 2 years, and we are starting to see life slowly return to a little more of what we are used to. We could not possibly have done it with out the help of Dan Steves, Lynne Fitzsimmons, Lynette Peterson, Dan Steves, Judee Moonbeam, Amy Belgan, Sylvia Emard, Dan Steves, Maggie Patterson, Cooki Messmer, Linda Edquist, Dan Steves, Jessica Bardsley, Robin Korybski, Nora Fairley-Parker, Bertha Avery, Dan Steves, Ladella Williams, Sue Walsh, & Jane Wilson. You may have noticed I listed Dan’s name multiple times, and I did that as a joke, but in all honesty, he served in so many roles this year and really helped to keep everything afloat, from picking up that Spring Sales Director job to being ANWG Rep, Communications Director to Program Chair. He also spearheaded the move to the 501(c)3 so I wanted to give him an extra shout out! I also want to thank Janis Johnson and everyone who served on the GOTG Sales committee for a successful return to GOTG!
4) Just a quickie reminder that it is time to renew your membership for next year! You are welcome to mail in a check to our PO Box or you can register even easier online!
https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/portland-handweavers-guild-membership/renew-my-membership/
Lastly, I just wanted to say a thank you to the entire guild for accepting me as president this year and for helping me find my way. It was an honor to have been president and now that I am in the last weeks of the job, I finally feel like I am figuring a few things out. I appreciate your patience as I stumbled through meetings and rambled in these newsletters. I am looking forward to serving the guild in different capacities next year so I can learn even more.
If I don’t see you at the June 9 Meeting at 7:00pm in the Gym at the Multnomah Arts Center, I wish you a very happy, safe, and enjoyable summer and I will see you in the Autumn!
In humble gratitude to all,
Sarah McCully-Posner
PHG President
Programs
Our final program before the summer break is the annual meeting. We’ll be meeting the the gym at the MAC and voting on next year’s budget and a slate of officers for the board. Also, don’t forget to bring your stash busting projects for this year’s “Stash Management” theme. What have you been working on that’s helping to manage your stash? We want to see!! And for those in the ’stash building’ phase we’ll be selling some of the materials contributed to the guild over the last several months. Help us make room in the closet and fill that hole in your stash at the same time!
For next year, we’d like some feedback on programs and thoughts about what you want to see next year. Please take a short survey on this year’s programs and let us know how we did and what you want next year. It’s just 3 questions, so it shouldn’t take more than a minute. Your responses will help us plan for the fall. You’ll find the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGymlbgndLu9lV0oxnKH8iIz36KXs2lQ156dKdGnMZ_-_YPA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Lastly, we’re looking for someone who can assist with programs. If you have a little time available to help us line up next year’s speakers please let Dan or Linda know.
P.S. We’re planning a summer time program for July or August. Details coming soon.
Pop Up Sale!!!
Along with our regular end of the year June meeting, we will be featuring a big sale of lots of high quality yarns! A generous anonymous donor who can no longer weave has given our guild lots of quality yarns including wools, alpacas, silks and cotton rug warp. All in wonderful condition. Come for the good deals, with the sales benefitting our Guild.
Sorry, there will be no strawberries this year – feast your eyes on the sale yarn instead!
We will try to have a Zoom connection to the June meeting, but the wifi reception in the gym is poor. Your patience is appreciated in the event of technical difficulties.
Join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6742517131?pwd=Q2dlQkpaeFVQbGhieS8rTndTdTNidz09
Share your work with the Guild. Please send photos of your recent work to Dan Steves at dansteves@gmail.com for inclusion in the Show & Tell portion of the June meeting. Deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Workshops
We just finished the last workshop of 2021-2022, One Warp Many Structures presented by Denise Kovnat. Our brains are all very full! Look for lots of glorious Show and Tell over the next few meetings!
Workshops scheduled to date for 2022-2023 are:
Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving taught by Patty Huffer, September 10-11, 2022, at Ruthie’s Weaving Studio at 3131 SE 50th and SE Kelley. This is being underwritten by WeGo, and has a maximum of 6 participants.
Deflected Doubleweave taught by Natalie Drummond, via Zoom, October 15-16, 2022. Natalie’s work can be seen here: https://www.nataliewoven.com/.
Neither workshop is priced yet, so registration is not open.
Fiberworks Lessons with Jerry Swick
The Fiberworks tutorials by Jerry Swick have been recorded and are viewable online by logging in and clicking here.
Guild News
Vote on PHG Proposed Budget for 2022-2023
Please review the proposed budget for the coming year and be prepared to vote at the June meeting.
Library and Rental News
Due to a catastrophic cart failure, only one library cart will be available from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm in the hallway in front of the guild closet at the upcoming meeting. The available library sections will include New Items, More than Four, Structures, Miscellaneous, Simple Looms, Spinning & Felting, Rug Weaving, World Textiles and Native American Weaving. There may be some of the more recent acquisitions from other categories on the new shelf. Most periodicals are also available. VAV will not be available as it was on the damaged cart.
Our carts are old. The door jams on the way to the gym were steep. The one cart took some damage on the way into the Gym for the May meeting. Trying to get out was just too much for it. The bottom literally fell out of the cart. That left those of us still there scrambling to take the books off of the cart, putting them into wagons, pulling them to the closet and stacking them where ever we could find space. Thank you Lynne, Linda, Judy, Hillary, Tim and Denise Kovnat, our speaker, for all your help that night. If I missed someone, thank you too. It was a bit stressful.
We are currently researching permanent replacement options. Hopefully, everything will be reset by the September meeting, supply chains willing.
Summer Volunteers Needed
Thanks to all who volunteered to demonstrate weaving at the Troutdale Arts Fair in May. We had wonderful weather, a nice setting by the Sandy River and live music all weekend! Demonstrating at a fair or farmers market is a fun way to get to know some of your fellow Guild members better.
There are many more opportunities to volunteer this summer in June, July and August at farmers markets. In August I’ll put out more sign ups for September, like for Art in the Pearl over Labor Day weekend and more farmers’ markets. So watch for fall sign ups later.
Remember you can bring your own project to weave, or use our small looms. Table, chairs, and canopy are provided, but bring a favorite chair if you prefer…. What a fun way to spend a couple of hours in the summer, answering people’s questions about weaving and our Guild, and chatting with other weavers!
Here are the links to sign up online, or email me if you want. cookimessmer@comcast.net
Cedar Mill Farmers Market (June 4, August 13)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948aca929a1f85-cedar
Gresham Farmers Market (June 11, July 16)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948aca929a1f85-gresham
Woodstock Farmers Market (July 10, August 7)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948aca929a1f85-woodstock
Weaving Guilds of Oregon Relief Fund
The WeGO Relief Fund was established in response to Oregon’s devastating 2020 fire season in which several weavers lost their homes and studios. This fund is intended to assist any member of a WeGO guild who is a victim of a catastrophic loss. A member of a WeGO Guild who is a victim of a catastrophic loss, fire, theft, flood, other natural disaster may apply for Relief Funds to assist in the replacement of fiber and/or fiber-related accessories lost.
Read the Relief Fund Guidelines here and download the Application here.
Theme of the Year – Stash Management
Weavers tend to acquire a yarn inventory over time, their stash. A stash is a wonderful thing. It can consist of yarns left over from completed projects but too nice to discard, yarns that were gifts, or yarns that were just too pretty to leave behind at the fiber festival. There are bread-and-butter yarns like carpet warp and 8/2 cotton and, sometimes, yarns lovingly adopted from a weaver’s estate sale. But without stash management, a stash can outgrow its storage space or is frozen in time, with fiber content, grist, colors, and textures the weaver no longer uses.
There are three main stash management categories: Builders, Swappers, and Depleters.
Stash Builders tend to be those new to weaving. They are excited to build their stashes to have a variety of yarns readily available for projects they hope to weave in the future. They may be weavers without resources to build a stash quickly, who want to get a range of colors in basic yarns, or who want to explore different yarns without a major cash outlay. They can also be weavers who are looking for small quantities of a special yarn, discontinued yarns, or yarns that are difficult to find.
Stash Swappers are weavers who already have a stash but want it refreshed. The stash can have yarns that no longer reflect their weaving preferences, where the weaver is learning and evolving and needs their stash to evolve with them. There are lots of partial cones of this or that (usually left over from completed projects) and/or plenty of fiber that is not their “thing” anymore. The desire to have a stash is still strong, just a “stash of a different color.”
Stash Depleters are in downsizing mode. They have more stash than they can ever use – a Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy (S.A.B.L.E) as described by Laura Fry in her Handwoven magazine essay.
Most of these stashes have been years in the making and include such treasures as Willamette Valley linens, cotton bouclés, and vintage colors and textures. These weavers would rather sell or donate some of their stash to other fiber artists rather than see it go to the dump or leave it to a family member to figure out what to do with it in their absence.
This year, PHG proposes Stash Management as our Theme of the Year. Here is a chance to build, change, or deplete your stash. Are you a depleter? Post a picture of what you’re are willing to sell or donate on the GoogleGroup email. Are you a builder? Tell others what you’re looking for. Do you want to change it up? Let others know what you want to swap. In the meantime, weave articles using your own stash, or using materials you acquired from someone else’s stash. At the end of the year, we can share what we wove and what we did to manage our stashes. We’ll have more to say in the months to come, and hope that sharing of our stashes and our Stash Management strategies helps to bring us together in this ongoing difficult time of isolation.
PHG Special Projects Grant Program
Have you been thinking about an aspect of weaving, dyeing, or spinning that you would like to explore? After being cooped up for a year with these ideas floating around, isn’t it time to act on them, and would the incentive of a little cash help?
PHG is here to help with you with that!
The Guild has a grant fund available to members for just that purpose and all you need to do is fill out a simple application form and submit it the Director of Education. REALLY this is not some LONG government form and it does not require a COVID test so please think about applying. Go to the website and look under education/special projects or just click on the link below and get started.
This is an opportunity for new weavers who are interested in experimenting with a new type of weave or yarn, experienced weavers to finally research a topic more in depth or attend a workshop that otherwise would not be within the budget. All that PHG asked is that you share your experience with us sometime in the future!
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Linda Edquist
Director of Education
https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/education/special-projects-fund/
Your purchases can benefit PHG! Click on one of these links before buying and PHG will earn a commission from your purchase.
The Woolery is the place for weaving, spinning, felting, dyeing, rug hooking and knitting. Established in 1981, our extensive inventory of products, excellent customer service and in-house fiber arts experience make us the ideal source for all your fiber arts needs. We have one of the largest selections of weaving loom and spinning wheel floor models for you to test drive. Your Fiber Journey Starts Here!”
ANWG 2023 Conference: Fiber Connections
The 2023 ANWG Conference is a GO for June 11-18, 2023 at the Riverhouse Convention Center and Hotel in Bend. Portland Handweavers Guild is weaving the name tags. If you are interested in weaving some name tags, we can provide you with the draft, pre-made warp, weft, and instructions. Please contact Sue Walsh at sugar2311@comcast.net if you’d like more info. If you’d like to know more about the conference, or wish to sign up for the regular blogs, go to https://anwgconference2023.com/ Thanks in advance!
It’s Time to Renew Your Membership
Your membership runs from July 1 to June 30, and all memberships are up for renewal on July 1. The only exception is new members who joined after March 1 of this year. For more information or to renew online go to https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/portland-handweavers-guild-membership/renew-my-membership/.
Latest ANWG Newsletter
The Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds has posted their April 2022 newsletter. Check out the creative ways other Northwest weaving guilds are getting their members together for fiber activities. Click here to read the newsletter.
A Message from Your Complex Weavers Representative
Have you ever considered joining Complex Weavers? Membership is open to those weavers who venture forth on 8 shaft looms, or more. However if you only have 4 shafts right now, we also would welcome you. Complex Weavers gives one the chance to meet like minded weavers, and to share and learn from each other.
Complex Weavers offers many study groups on a variety of weaving topics. We also have an extensive library one can use for their own study purposes. Complex Weavers hosts Seminars, every even numbered year, and this is a chance for members to meet up in person, and enjoy the learning opportunities at that conference.
Additionally, Complex Weavers members have the opportunity to enter a juried show, Complexity, held in connection with Complex Weavers Seminars.
Registration is open now for our Seminars 2022. The information regarding accommodation and classes is up on our Website, (www.complex-weavers.org) We hope you will be able to join us in Knoxville, TN, July 10-13 for a wonderful 2022 Seminars gathering, just prior to Convergence.
We continue to welcome new members to Complex Weavers. It is so exciting to see those new members joining, and our long term members returning to share their talents with us. www.complex-weavers.org.
If you would like to join Complex Weavers or would like more information, please send an email to LadellawilliamsCZZ@gmail.com, text her at 503-729-1704, or write to Ladella Williams at:
16539 SE River Road
Portland Oregon 97267-4504
Handweavers Guild of America
Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) is our national weaving organization whose mission is to educate, support and inspire the fiber arts community. Many of us think of Convergence, the biennial international conference, when we think of HGA. The next Convergence will be in Knoxville, Tennessee July 15-21, 2022. Registration is open now.
Membership also entitles you to receive the quarterly Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot magazine, guided study opportunities, grants to study or take workshops, fiber resources such as textile kits and multimedia rentals, travel excursions and eligibility for Small Expressions exhibit and the HGA Award given to more than 30 deserving artists each year.
Please go to the HGA website www.weavespindye.org for more information.
Sale News
PHG Fall Fiber Arts Sale
Stay tuned – more info coming soon.
Bulletin Board
SELLING ALL – Maureen McNulty’s STUDIO SALE
June 3, 4, 5 – 10 am – 4 pm
Weaving, Spinning, Dyeing, Fiber Crafts
Mac Loom, Columbine wheel – Large and Small tools
YARNS, YARNS, YARNS
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
AND MUCH MORE !!!
7835 SW 136th Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97008
Not handicapped accessible. So Sorry.
Masking indoors will be appreciated.
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, Now-December, 2022
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.
More info here.
Lucious Handwovens to Wear
Now-June 19, 2022
Lincoln City Cultural Center Fiber Arts Studio Gallery
Karen Gelbard, The Oregon Weaver, is the Featured Artist at the Fiber Arts Studio Gallery at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, with an exciting show of luscious woven and embellished coats, scarves, jackets, vests, pillows, and her latest creations for show and sale.
More info here or LCFiberArtsStudio@gmail.com
Fiber Fusion NW
June 4-5, 2022
Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe, WA
More info here.
MAWS 2022 Visions In Fiber Conference
Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners
June 21-26, 2022
Carroll College, Helena, MT
The conference is scheduled for Carroll College in Helena June 21-26, 2022 (including pre-conference workshops). The Conference Theme is “Visions in Fiber”. More info at https://www.montanaweavespin.org/ and https://helenaweaversandspinners.org/
Black Sheep Gathering
June 24-26, 2022
Linn County Expo Center, Albany, Oregon
Black Sheep Gathering is back for 2022! More info here.
Handweavers Guild of America-Convergence 2022
July 15-21, 2022
Knoxville, TN
Convergence® is heading to the Smoky Mountains for 2022!
Convergence
The Exquisite Gorge Project II: Fiber Arts
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA
Featuring 13 regional fiber artists working with communities along 220 miles of the Columbia River from the Willamette Confluence to the Snake River Confluence, culminating in a Festival of Fiber Arts.
Find more info here.
Pacific Northwest Fiber Exposition
October 1-2, 2022
Port Angeles, WA
Marketplace, demonstrations, workshops, and hands on activities for all ages.
More info here.
Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival
October 15-16, 2022
Linn County Expo Center, Albany, OR
More info here.
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.” A prospectus for submissions is available now and we hope to have a large response from participating guild members. The WeGO Traveling Show has been well received in the past, so now is the time to begin to plan your Filaments project.
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
Call to Artists
Portland Audubon Wild Arts Festival
The 2022 Portland Audubon Wild Arts Festival has begun accepting applications! Once again, the Wild Arts Festival will be at Portland State University Viking Pavilion’s Peter S. Stott Center. Please note that the Festival will be on the weekend of December 10 and 11, 2022.
For more information about the Wild Arts Festival, and to complete your application, go to ZAPPlication. Application Deadline: June 12, 2022.
All art must include one or more of the following elements:
- Nature or wildlife as a subject
- Natural materials as medium
- Art promoting environmental sustainability
More info here.
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.