Back at Work or is it Play?

 

Lighthouse Fall Fair

 We finished off our summer activities with a visit to the Lighthouse Country Fall Fair.  It was a beautiful day and our display attracted a lot of attention.  Above the spinners are taking a break amongst the quilt exhibition while the weavers work on their braiding.

stash for sale

We then started our "return to work" activities with a stash sale and celebration to mark the successful conclusion of our Loom to Zoom project.  As part of this project we introduced our new web site where you can follow our activities, learn about and register for a workshop or join the guild. Check it out at qwsg.ca

 The second part of the project involved developing on-line/in-person communications systems so that members can participate in real time without having to travel to meetings.

The 60 inch Lecerc loom is warped for thows.  This textured warp will be woven with mohair to produce three different throws.  One or more may show up at our Elegant Threads sale in November.  The studio looms all now have their own double weave accessory bags that were woven before the summer.  Wonder what the next studio project will be?

The workshop committee has lined up a series of workshops including felted bowls, illuminated vases and a back pack basket.  Spinning level 2 and Beginning Weaving are also in the line up.  See the side panel for the times and go to the web site for more information.  

And finally we had a show and tell exhibit of what people had been doing during the summer.  Below is a sampling

Sylvia's capelet

Sandra's overshot

Linda's wool rug

On September 21 we will launch our Loom Unity project as part of the BC Culture Days.  Look for our exhibit at the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre from Sept 21 to 29th.  Come and try your hand at "weaving a community".  

Our Studio

In 2017 the Qualicum Weavers and Spinners moved from our tiny attic space in an old Via Train Station to Qualicum Commons, a repurposed elementary school in the heart of Qualicum Beach.  There we were able to expand our programs and our memberships.  We now have well over 80 members.  Our programs include studio projects, study groups, group learning activities, public demonstrations and a variety of workshops.

fancy socks

The studio has been home for our guild.  It has been place were we can strut our stuff and share experinces.

rovings rug

It has been a learning centre for informal and formal workshops where we welcome both members and non-members who share our interests.  It is where we've learned to spin, knit and weave.  We've felted slippers, knitted hats and made baskets in our studio.  We've also hosted events for seniors and school age children.

market basket class

warping on a square

We come together in our studio to work on projects, whether it is warping one of the studio looms, weaving blankets on the 60 inch Leclerc or preparing samples for the Canadian Guild of Weavers.

hand dyed blanket warp

samples for CGW program

And so it is with some sadness that we learned the school board is considering shutting down Qualicum Commons.  The building needs costly repairs.  The school board does not have the funds to cover the repair costs so they feel they must shut down the site.  They will make their decision in November.  In the meantime we are looking at options for a new home as of June 30th 2025. 

We'd be great tenants!  No pets! We don't hold late night parties or have rowdy overnight guests.  Lots of laughing but no loud music. Many of us are mothers so we clean up after ourselves.