November 2023 PHG Newsletter

Send your news items to Tim Prins by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.

In this newsletter...

Guild Calendar

Thursday, November 9, 2023 – November Meeting

Multnomah Arts Center + Zoom, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787

10:00 am Day Meeting – Auditorium
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 – Room 30 (in senior center)
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: set up, social and library browsing time
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Meeting

Thursday, November 16, 2023 – Board/planning meeting

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Zoom

Saturday & Sunday, November 18-19, 2023 – Fall Sale!

10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Multnomah Arts Center Gym, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787

President’s Message

Let me start this month with a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the weftover sale. In around 5 hours we raised over $1700 for the guild! This was truly a group effort, with lots of people donating some wonderful items, and others helping to organize, sell, and then pack away the remaining items for another day. Thank you all. The remaining items will come back out for our next weftover sale. We’re still trying to figure out when that might happen, but don’t be surprised if we try to do this again in the spring.

We’re not the only ones celebrating a success. This weekend Fiber Rhythm, Portland’s own local fiber shop, celebrated 9 years of being in business. I stopped to chat with Dawn who was happy to share stories of challenges over the years, and the ups and downs of the business. They’ve got a nice little crafting area now with floor and table looms, knitting machines, and all sorts of things to try. They also carry coned fibers, small looms and other fiber equipment. If you haven’t been to their store, or haven’t been recently, I encourage you to check it out. They’re at 2505 SE 11th Avenue, Suite 124 in Portland.

Of course, the next big thing for us is the fall sale. If you haven’t already marked your calendars it’s November 18 – 19 in the Multnomah Arts Center gym. Please come out to see the wonderful work being done by some of our members, and support them by telling everyone you know about it. We’re hoping for a big turnout this year, so please help spread the word.

I hope to see you there, and as always at a monthly meeting soon. And speaking of meetings, the board has been talking about our meetings and spaces, and I’m wondering how everyone feels about our meeting rooms, so I’ve put together a quick little survey. Just 3 questions, and a chance to tell us what you like and dislike about the places where we meet. The survey is available here: https://forms.gle/8DikjEeAvFRKRzLE6. Please take a second to let us know your thoughts.

Dan

Upcoming Programs

Image: Innerwork, Ahnika Wood, handwoven cotton, wool and elastic, three 10×10″ swatches, 2018. Image courtesy of Karina Rovira.

November 9th: Woven Color Theory – Ahnika Wood

There are many ways to approach color choices while designing and weaving woven structures. In this presentation, local artist Ahnika Wood will present underlying color theory specifically tailored to weaving. We will discuss phenomena such as color relativity and optical mixing, and how these can present both challenges and exciting opportunities for visual effects. How do you approach color while weaving? The goal of this presentation is to assist you in realizing your own distinct approach and consider other possibilities for play when making woven color decisions.

Guild News

Fall Sale

November 18 – 19 at the Multnomah Art Center

Planning for the fall sale is well underway! All the booths have been sold. Contact Judilee (judilee.fitzhugh@gmail.com) if you want to be added to the waiting list. The lineup is looking very exciting! We have some new vendors and some old favorites and there is a good mix of items…something for everyone on your holiday gift list!! We’re still looking for one or two folks to help with publicity, so if you’re contemplating that or have suggestions for advertising, please let us know. The more shoppers through the door, the merrier the sales!!

More information is on the website: https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/sales/fall-sale/

Volunteer Opportunities

I’m sure the reds, golds, yellows and oranges of the changing leaves inspire you all to think of new weaving projects! But I am hoping it also inspires you to think of the PHG Fall Sale on November 18 and 19 at the Multnomah Arts Center.

We are looking for some willing volunteers to help out in front of the sale to act as a greeter to the sale, demonstrate weaving, and answer questions about the Guild. Besides supporting our members who are selling their wonderful fiber projects, you will be helping to put a face on the Guild as you answer weaving questions and invite those interested to come to a Guild meeting as a guest sometime. This is one of the ways we increase our membership! (Volunteers will need to dress warmly for this event as we will be outside under cover in front of the gym at MAC.)

Click this link or contact me at cookimessmer@comcast.net if you want to sign up or have questions.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0948ACA929A1F85-45455272-handwovens

Also, DaVinci Arts Middle School is starting up some of their weaving classes in their fiber arts program. If you might be interested in helping out by warping up looms and or helping students as they weave, send me an email. Volunteers will have to fill out a Portland Public Schools volunteer application and give permission for a background check. www.pps.net/volunteer

Happy Fall!

Cooki Messmer

PHG Retreat

Hello, PDX Handweavers Guild Members and Fiber Friends –
Here we go again!!! February 22-25, 2024 at Cedar Ridge Retreat and Conference Center in Vernonia, OR.
It’s time to start thinking about the Annual Portland Handweavers Guild Spring Retreat 2024! The sign-up for the Retreat begins now and we’d love to include YOU!! You do not need to be a member of PHG and there is no surcharge if you’re not but as a PHG Member, you will get first dibs on signing up. Here’s what you need to know and what you need to do:
What Do We Do at the Retreat?

The short answer is, “Anything fibery that you’d like to do.” We also have a great time socializing with other interesting Guild members, eating lovely food with NO preparation before or clean up afterwards ☺, and having dedicated time and space to work, learn, and share with other like-minded, wonderful people.
It is an ideal place to bring any UnFinished Object (UFO) from the back of the closet to finish up. Or, maybe you’d like some dedicated time to work on items for the Gathering of the Guilds Sale (April 19, 20, & 21).
There are no scheduled things like classes or activities except for meals and Happy Hour. ☺ On the other hand, there is a LOT of sharing of knowledge, techniques, ideas, conversation, inspiration, and good times.
And, the Sharing Table is a great place to swap out some items you no longer need for something new-to-you for your stash. We’re returning to Cedar Ridge Retreat and Conference Center The Cedar Ridge Retreat and Conference Center has been our go-to place for many years. Last year was our first time with the new owners and management and everyone liked it very much.

Registration is open now! See https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PHG-2024-Spring-Retreat-November-Newsletter.pdf for costs, logistics, day trip options, and to register. We need a minimum of 15 to make this a go (We already have 4!). For those in doubt, it’s simply a great weekend that is much anticipated and enjoyed. Registration Deadline is Thursday, February 1, 2024 but we need to have commitments now.

Library and Rental News

Guild Baby Wolf Renewal

If you have been helping with the guild demonstrations at the Gathering of the Guilds or Art in the Pearl, you know that the guild Baby Wolf can lead a hard life. With lots of hands on it, things can get loose or lost. It doesn’t get the same type of care and consideration that the looms that dwell in our own homes get. There were concerns with the brake not working properly.

Sarah McCully-Posner, member and Director of Membership, volunteered to take the Baby Wolf home in September to give it some tender loving care. She went above and beyond anything expected. The Baby Wolf was thoroughly cleaned and with all screws and bolts tightened. She and her husband even fabricated new levers with a 3D printer to replace the knobs on the sliders on the sides of the loom! Thank you, Sarah!

Book Highlight

Weaving with Wire: Creating Woven Metal Fabric by Christine K. Miller

If you have ever been curious about weaving with wire, you will need to pick up Christine Miller’s new book Weaving with Wire. It has all the information that you need to get started. This isn’t a project book. This book gives you knowledge necessary to bring your own ideas to life. And it has a lot of pictures of the author’s work to provide plenty of inspiration.

The book begins with a discussion of the loom, wire, yarns and tools necessary to get started on your foundation project. The author recommends the wire that you should begin with for your warp and why she suggests it over others. She continues on to discuss your weft yarn choices, which seem limitless. She follows with a discussion of tools and provides multiple options for setting up your warping station. Wire has a mind of its own.

The next chapter has you warping your first foundation project. Each step in the process is clearly explained and includes a picture for clarity. She begins with the special care needed to wind your warp and tie your crosses. You then move on to beaming your warp, threading the loom and tying on with the special care needed to keep the wire tamed. At the end of the chapter, the author provides a checklist of the steps so that you don’t need to go through the pictures to find your next step or see if you missed something.

The next two chapters build upon the foundation project. She expands upon it with the use of other setts and weave structures and how to use a wider warp. Then you are on to applications for your woven metal fabric. She discusses using and handling your metal fabric to make basketry, jewelry, sculpture and wall art.

The last section of the book provides a framework and questions to get you to think in an artistic and creative manner to expand your creative uses of your fabric.

Overall, this book does an excellent job at presenting the material. Christine Miller has been offering online workshops for many years and knows what is needed to get started weaving with wire. I was inspired to warp my table loom for the foundation project. The foundation project has the option for warp widths of 3/8”, 1/2” and 1-inch so even at 60 epi it isn’t many ends. Even if you don’t go on to warp your own loom, the pictures of the author’s projects are amazing.

Workshop Wrap-up

Several of us participated in a delightful and instructive workshop on Supplementary Warp Patterning, taught by Barbara J Walker. We were each assigned a different draft, and wove them all on each loom. In between weaving, Barbara presented several lectures and exercises on turning drafts, embellishing drafts, and analyzing fabric.

Everyone but Jackie, because she took the picture

Latest ANWG Newsletter

The Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds has posted their July 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

The next Complex Weavers seminar will in Wichita, Kansas in 2024 alongside Convergence.

If you have received Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot from Handweavers Guild of America you have the list of presenters for Convergence already. Unfortunately Ladella has already taken many of the offered seminars already so not able to attend anyway!

If any questions please feel free to talk to me at the next meeting or reach out. Ladella Williams LadellawilliamsCZZ@gmail.com or text message to 503 729 1704

Bulletin Board

Pictures from the October Meeting

Stephany Anderson shared her own ravenstail robe weaving at the end of the meeting. John was her first ravenstail teacher.

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.”

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

Artstra Clark County Open Studios Tour
November 4-5, 2024 10:00am – 5:00pm
Clark County, WA

Clark County Open Studios Tour is a free self-guided tour as local artists open their studios to the public and share how, why, and where their art is created. This is a unique opportunity to visit artists and artisans, view diverse works, and buy pieces specifically created or made available for this event.

This event includes Patty White who invites all to come visit her feltmaking studio during the event. More information is available at https://artstra.org/about-open-studios/

Convergence
July 11-17, 2024
Wichita, Kansas

More info: https://weavespindye.org/convergence/

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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