Sunday, July 28, 2013

Summer Update

The Qualicum Weavers and Spinners are "on holiday" until September but that does not mean we are spending all of our time at the beach.  We have been out and about giving demonstrations and showing off our work.  In June we joined in the 100th celebration of the MacMillan School House in Parksville.  Our display included antique coverlets, old lace and rag rugs from the turn of the century. 

In June a number of guild members attended the Association of North West Weaving Guilds conference in Bellingham.  It was a wonderful opportunity to take workshops from top notch instructors, to see the works of artisans from across the north west and to meet up with members of other guilds.   Shopping was also involved of course.  Congratulations are in order to the Nanoose Guild (a close neighbour to the Qualicum guild) for their guild booth.  They demonstrated that a small group can still put on an impressive display.  Congratulations also to Pat who took home an honourable mention award for her iridescent shawl.
In July, we were out demonstrating again.  This time we participated in the Art in Action event sponsored by The Old School House Gallery in Qualicum Beach.  This event brings together artists and crafts people from the mid island region who get to show off their works and encourage people to share in their interests.  Hopefully we inspired a few people to consider weaving and spinning as a hobby. The warp on our demonstration loom finally ran out at this event with all the enthusiastic apprentices that tried their hand at weaving. 


Meanwhile, back at the guild studio in the train station a group created a mix warp and set up the Gilmore loom under the direction of Myrtle.  That warp has now been turned into a lovely piece of yardage that will appear as a Hapi wrap at our November sale.
NEXT:  WATCH FOR US AT THE LIGHT HOUSE COUNTRY FALL FAIR AT THE END OF AUGUST.