Send your news items to Sylvia Emard by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.
Guild Calendar May 2022
Thursday, May 12, 2022
10:00 am Day Meeting
Multnomah Arts Center + Zoom
7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787 – Gym
9:30 am – 10:00 am set up, social and library browsing time
10:00 am – 12:00: Meeting
7:00 pm Evening Meeting
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
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Board/Planning Meeting
Zoom
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Find the Zoom link under Programs, below.
President’s Message
Hello everyone!
It is that time of year when we start recruiting for our open positions on the board for next year. If you are interested in helping out with any of the positions listed below, please feel free to send me a message and we can get you started in the approval process.
A couple of quick notes before you dive into the list:
- A few of these positions do require you to attend our monthly board meeting which will continue to be held on Zoom for the foreseeable future. That seems to work best for all of our board members. If you have to miss one to two here and there, that isn’t a problem, but we would like you to be there if possible.
- We do have a couple of potential candidates identified for a couple of the roles, but if you have an interest, please let us know. If this year has taught me anything, it is that it is good to have back ups because things don’t always work out like we hope.
- Please make a note in regards to the Newsletter Editor that Sylvia is willing to help this next year until a new editor is up and running in the job.
- At-Large Director is generally someone who is willing to be president the following year and this role gets them in the door and helps them learn the job before stepping into it. We have been working without someone in this role for a while, but would really love to start having people fill this job so it is easier to step into President.
- If you would like to read the job descriptions for each role, you can find them here:
https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/members-only/the-drafts/job-descriptions/ - Please feel free also to reach out to folks who are currently in the jobs you are considering to get an even better idea of what it looks like.
Here is a list of all of our current open positions:
- President: VACANT (Potential Candidate identified)
- Treasurer: VACANT (Potential Candidate identified)
- At-Large Director: VACANT
- Newsletter Editor: VACANT
- Website Admin: VACANT
- Exhibits Chair: VACANT
- Program Chair: VACANT
- Membership Director: VACANT
- Sales Director: VACANT
- Spring Sale Chair: VACANT
Some jobs only require a small time commitment and others will require more but we are a helpful and thoughtful bunch and I am sure we can make something work if you are willing to volunteer.
I look forward to hearing from many of you as you volunteer for these positions. Please remember that we can not do any of what we do without your help and support. If we don’t fill roles, we won’t be able to offer as many services as we have in the past. Plus, volunteering is great way to get to know other weavers better and I can tell you from my relatively short time weaving that it makes a huge difference in having these connections – it helps on a personal front and it helps on a weaving front. I am grateful to know so many of you now. You inspire me!
Thanks so much and we’ll see you at our next in-person meeting on 12 May, either at 10:00 am or 7:00 pm at the MAC in the Gym.
Sincerely,
Sarah McCully-Posner
PHG President
Programs
Program News 2021-2022
It was great to see so many people turn out for our April meeting at the MAC. Looking forward to seeing more of you in the coming months. In the meantime we’ll continue to use Zoom for all meetings to allow those not able to join us at the MAC to participate. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6742517131?pwd=Q2dlQkpaeFVQbGhieS8rTndTdTNidz09 and works for all meetings, both for the regular monthly meetings as well as the monthly board meetings.
Recordings of past meetings are available to members via the members-only page. You’ll find the meeting recordings at https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/members-only/recordings/. Please note that we are working with presenters to ensure access to all while at the same time respecting the time and efforts of presenters. When requested, we will be redacting presentations from the recordings after allowing a reasonable amount of time to allow members the opportunity to view the recordings.
We’re nearly done with the 2021-2022 meetings, and I’ve started thinking about next year’s programs. If you have an idea for a program or would like to help or maybe take on the role of Program Chair please email Dan at dansteves@gmail.com.
In the meantime, here’s what we have on the schedule for the next couple months. Both meetings will be in the Gymnasium at MAC.
| Month | Speaker | Topic |
| May | Denise Kovnat | Once Upon a Warp: From the Loom to the Runway |
| June | PHG Board | Strawberry Social |
May Program – Day and Evening Meetings In-Person at MAC Gymnasium and on Zoom
May 12, 2022
Denise Kovnat
Once Upon a Warp
“This one-hour lecture traces my weaving journey from concept to completion of a garment, followed by a fashion show of the garments themselves. Every year since 2008 I have set myself a challenge: Weave a garment (or two) that will be juried into the Convergence fashion show, part of the biannual conference of the Handweavers’ Guild of America. To date, I have been able to meet the challenge – but there’s more to the story, with some ups and downs along the way! Anyone who weaves or creates fabric or designs garments will relate.”
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 April meeting. Deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
Coming Up!
June 9, 2022
2022 June Meeting & Strawberry Social
No day meeting in June. The evening meeting features the annual strawberry shortcake banquet, approval of the 2022-23 spending plan, and election of 2022-23 officers and board of directors. Come socialize, and show what you’ve been weaving to clear out your stash!
This meeting is being held in the gym.
Workshops
One Warp, Many Structures
Denise Kovnat
May 13-15, 2022
There are still seats left in the IN PERSON One Warp, Many Structures workshop, May 13-15. The workshop is suitable for those with looms with 4-12 shafts. The warp required is a 10/2 400-end, 2 color warp wound alternately (ABABAB…), 3-5 yards. The warp does NOT need to be a painted warp, as that is not the focus of this workshop. Read all about it here: https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/events/one-warp-many-structures-explorations-in-extended-parallel-threading/?occurrence=2022-05-13
September 10-11, 2022, Patty Huffer will present a Beginning Rigid Heddle workshop at Ruthie’s Weaving Studio at 3131 SE 50th and SE Kelley. This is being organized by WeGo, and has a maximum of 6 participants. More information coming soon.
What else can you do with your warps, painted or otherwise? Deflected Doubleweave! Natalie Drummond will be teaching a workshop on Deflected Doubleweave via Zoom, October 15-16, 2022. Natalie’s work can be seen here: https://www.nataliewoven.com/. Pricing and registration are not yet available.
And finally, thank you everyone who contributed to the “what workshops would you like PHG to offer” discussion on the mailing list! Lynne is working through that and eventually putting out a survey to determine which ones have the most appeal guild-wide.
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
501(c)(3) Update
Our application to the IRS for 501-c-3 status is nearly complete. The last piece to be done is approval of our new bylaws. They are largely the same as our current bylaws, but with a couple of important changes.
First, board positions will be 1-year terms with a limit of 5 consecutive terms, except for the treasurer which will be limited to 3 consecutive terms. The other big change is that the entire board will be elected at the annual meeting in June instead of just the officers. The board hopes that election of the entire board and the introduction of term limits will help bring more attention to these important positions and hopefully encourage more participation.
More information will be forthcoming at the May meeting. If you have any questions about the proposed bylaws please reach out to Dan Steves.
Library and Rental News
March 17, 2022, was the last separate library pick-up day, as we have gone back to in-person meetings in April. The board has scheduled larger rooms for both the daytime and evening meetings. Not only are we able to see each other (with or without a mask, as you choose), but you will be able to browse the library shelves a half hour before each meeting and during the break period. Many of the books added over the past couple of years have been placed on the new book shelf. Not all – there isn’t enough room. If there is an item that you are interested in looking at, be prepared and check for its shelf in the library catalog before attending the meeting. The first tag listed for the book in the catalog is the book’s shelf category. Being prepared will allow people to move in and out of the shelf area without overcrowding.
Return policies were fairly lax over the extended break from in-person meetings. However, any item checked out in 2020 or 2021 is due back at the May meeting. If you have items checked out, you will be receiving email with a list of the items. Please be respectful of other members by returning items in a timely manner.
Book Highlight
Jan Shenton’s Woven Textile Design is one of those books that deserves more attention than it receives. The pictures of her woven textiles provide plenty of inspiration to try different structures and techniques. Looking more closely, you will find that she is not just using the standard weaving yarns but monofilament and copper wire. The book is organized by types of cloth, including plain weaves, twills; color; and weave, warp and weft distortions such as honeycomb, textured weaves including seersucker, and doublecloth with directions for doing pleats. She gives good descriptions of the structures. Illustrations show how the warp and the weft interact to create the structure. There are many tips on using different yarns and colors to make your design take shape.
The reason this book doesn’t get much traction may be that she doesn’t present the drafts in the manner that we are accustomed to seeing them. They are presented as liftplans, which is useful if you are using a table loom or a dobby loom. It takes a bit more time to think in the different format. This can be overcome by entering the liftplan into Fiberworks and then converting it to the tie up plan that we are more familiar with.
This is not a project book. However, if you are looking for inspiration to expand your weaving horizon and create your own designs, this book is one that you should definitely pick up. And it isn’t just for those who have 8 or more shafts. This book is just as relevant to those who have four shafts.
Have you read a book or watched a DVD, new or new to you, that is available through the PHG library? Submit a review to publish in an upcoming newsletter.
Volunteer Demonstrations for PHG Outreach
Here are some upcoming opportunities besides the Gathering of the Guilds to reach more folks in our community to educate them about weaving and resources in the area. Please give some of your time to help us spread the word!
The Troutdale Arts Fair is being held Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, 10 to 6, at Glenn Otto Park. You can click on this link to sign up online and read all the details.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0948ACA929A1F85-troutdale
If you prefer to email Cooki or have questions, it’s CookiMessmer@comcast.net. Or you can look up her phone number in the member directory.
Also, we will be demonstrating at the Cedar Mill Farmers Market, in the Safeway parking lot , Saturdays, June 4 and August 13, from . The link for this one is below, but again if you have any questions, email or phone Cooki.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0948ACA929A1F85-cedar
This spring, summer and early fall, there will be other Farmers Markets, events, and Art In the Pearl over Labor Day weekend but those links will come out later.
Thanks for supporting the goal of PHG to promote weaving and other related fiber arts in the community!
Cooki Messmer
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!
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/.
Please reach out to Membership Director Jessica with any questions or concerns.
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:
4254 NE Flanders St.
Portland OR 97213-1636
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 Spring Fiber Arts Sale
PHG Spring Sale with Gathering of the Guilds
May 6-8, 2022
Oregon Convention Center
For more information visit https://gatheringoftheguilds.com.
URGENT – HELP NEEDED!!
PHG Booth at Gathering of the Guilds
PHG will have a booth at this year’s Gathering of the Guilds. We’re asking members to help us create a booth that’s both engaging and informative. The goal of the booth is to tell people about the guild and its history, and to showcase the broad range of work done by our members. We expect there to be a lot of interest in the booth as we’ll be displaying some of the PHG mannequins. But we need to have member works to display alongside the mannequins. If you’d like to offer a piece to exhibit please email Dan with a photo and a short description of the piece. We’re looking for as wide an array as possible – from simple bookmarks and scarves to tapestries and garments. Both old and new items are welcome and encouraged. Please share your work with the public and help tell the story of PHG!
- In addition, we will be selling some Ukrainian inspired works to benefit Ukraine relief efforts. For more information check out our Ukraine Relief page.
- Volunteer to help out at the sale. There are still plenty of ways to help – click the link below to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FA5AF2FA6F94-phgspring3
Bulletin Board
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
April 29-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 in the Forest
May 13-15, 2022
Camp Myrtlewood, OR
Fiber in the Forest is coming back in 2022!
More info here.
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). More info coming in the Fall MAWS newsletter. There is also a fashion show, towel exchange and skein exchange planned! 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.
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
Calls to Artists
Wilsonville Festival of Arts
This Moment on Earth
Wilsonville Arts & Culture Council (WACC)
Deadline: May 7, 2022
Submission fee: NONE (submit up to 3 pieces)
Exhibition dates: June 2 to 4, 2022 (in-person festival);
June 5 to July 31, 2022 (virtual gallery)
WILSONVILLE FESTIVAL OF ARTS: This Moment on Earth
Info: https://www.wilsonvillearts.org/calls-for-art
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.