EWG Members Visit Schacht Virtually

Posted June 12, 2021

On Saturday, June 12, 2021, 31 EWG members were treated to a virtual visit to the Schacht Spindle Company in Boulder, Colorado.

The staff at Schacht provided a history of the 50 year old company, gave a tour of the factory floor where we met the people who craft Schacht products. They highlighted their favourite weaving and spinning products and projects.  Project ideas are on their website. A number of fabulous door prizes were also won.

Shannon from Gather Textiles, our local Schacht dealer, shared with us some of her hacks of Schacht products and what is available at Gather. Thank you Schacht and Gather for an intimate and engaging presentation!

This online presentation is just one of the benefits of EWG membership!

Call for EWG Felters!  Spinners!  Weavers!  Knitters!
There’s a show coming, and you are in it!!

(That is, if you like your plans to invite textile fans to From Head to Toe…..We’ve got you Covered! Which is the title of the EWG display in September, and want to contribute some pieces).

SO, please send me notes about your work(s).   When?…….NOW!
So that your friends Marge, Arlene and I can get going on the particulars.  We would love to hang hats, scarves, shawls, mittens, socks, animals, wall hangings, rugs and anything that will fit in the exhibit space.  No jury, no judgement.  Just a celebration of our talents.

It’s not hard.  Just send me the name of the work, the dimensions, your contact information, a note about your piece that includes materials used, a title (I mean, if it is a shawl you could simply say “Plain Weave in blue and beige” or some such), its worth (an estimate), and any other comments on what you feel about the work.

The show will open September 2 of this year.  We three (Arlene, Marge and I) will collect the works on September 1.  Don’t worry about the address right now.  Please just COMMIT!

Thank you all.  We think Edmonton should see what we have been doing, and, of course it will be a great promotional opportunity for the guild.  We also feel pride in our work when then greater public can see and appreciate it.

Enough said?  Then DO IT!!  Please click here to go to the webpage with submission details. 

Carole N.

(posted June 3, 2021)

Kathy Buse Honoured at Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Posted May 31, 2021

33 members participated in the EWG AGM on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Kathy Buse was granted an Honorary EWG Membership for her many years of exceptional service. A member since 1980-81, over the past 40 years, Kathy has freely shared her time, knowledge and love of spinning and weaving. She has filled almost every position on the Executive – Vice President, President, Secretary and Newsletter Editor.  When the Guild hosted conferences, she was there to coordinate workshops, etc. She has led a number of weaving and spinning study groups, and today leads the More Than Four study group and Weaving at Strathcona Seniors.  Over the years she has given our Guild countless hours of her time. A big thank you to Kathy for all that she has done for the Guild!

Members also elected the 2021-22 Board of Directors.  Congratulations to the Executive:

  • President – Tara Nixon
  • Vice President – Allan Shemanko
  • Secretary – Carole Dodd
  • Treasurer – Mary Lou Hogg

 

Kathy at EWG's 65th Anniversary Show (2019)

From our Archives, here are three recent, pre-pandemic examples of Kathy’s contribution to the Guild.

Kathy presenting a workshop on how to identify unknown fibre (2019)
Kathy sharing with EWG members her experience weaving with the new fan reed (2018)

May Update

Updated May 18, 2021

Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

  • Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

Membership Renewal

EWG membership runs from April 1 to March 31 each year. You must be a member to vote at the AGM. Please join or renew your membership.

Membership Benefits

Although our facility is temporarily closed, there are many benefits to membership including participating in Study Groups and our newsletter.

Study Groups continued to meet virtually to provide opportunities to learn and and be inspired.  For example,

  • The Get Sett Study Group challenged each other this winter to make bags, and passed around looms to weave 8 shaft double weave bags.
  • The Master Wannabees Study Group focuses on the requirements for the Canadian Guild of Weavers Master Weaver Certification.  Congratulations to Conchita who passed the Basic Level with flying colours.
  • You can see more photos of Get Sett’s winter weaving – bread bags, more bags and towels, and Conchita’s submissions to the Canadian Guild of Weavers by clicking here.

Members can read the May 2021 newsletter for many more photos from Study Groups.

 

Kyla's cottolin bag stores her homemade bread.
Conchita's Overshot
Ev's crossbody bag.

Members can check out the Members’ Benefits webpage to read about:

  • We’ve Got You Covered! A call for submissions for a public exhibition in September 2021.
  • Group yarn orders from Brassard
  • Member Discount at Gather Textiles.

February News and Events

Posted February 13, 2021

Although Covid-19 Public Health restrictions have prevented EWG from meeting in-person, the Guild and our members are still active.

Upcoming Member Events

  • General Meeting, Saturday February 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.  via Zoom
  • Q and A with Jane Stafford, Saturday, February 27 2021 at 10 a.m. via Zoom
  • Focus on Fibre Arts Association (FFAA) Display Opportunity – As a member of FFAA, the EWG has an opportunity to display our work in the month of September 2021.  We are looking for woven, knitted, felted and other fibre work.

Other Updates

Members can read the February 2021 newsletter for the full Online Sale report and to see  more photographs of members’ works.

Online Sale – The Guild’s first Online Sale held in December 2020 was a success due to the hard work of Gather Textiles and many EWG volunteers.  A big thank you to Gather Textiles, everyone who volunteered and contributed sale items.  158 items were sold for a total of just over $9,000. Items were sold as far away as Halifax, Vancouver and Seattle! The report is also posted on the Members’ Forms web page.

Recent Members’ Weaving –  here are just three examples of the many works featured in the February 2021 newsletter.

Conchita's scarf
Joan's turned twill scarves
Kyla's deflected doubleweave shawl

Guild Members Inspire Each Other

Posted May 7, 2020

Although we are physically distancing, Guild members continue to inspire each other, sharing images of yarn stashes, home studio space and fibre creations.

New Classified Ads Webpage

Equipment for Sale notices are usually posted on the Guild bulletin board.  While the Guild is closed a new Classified Ads web page is now available for postings.

EWG Member Stashes, Studios and Projects

Junior member, Ava “wowed” us all with her sweater made with $10 worth of garage sale yarn!

Lyn's "Manly scarf"
Carole's Cushion Cover
Dyann's "Vibrant Virginia" towels
Edith's felted bag
Jo-Anne's COVID-19 felted bags

Guild Closed but Still Active

Posted April 1, 2020

Although we are not meeting in-person, Guild members continue to be active and are connecting with each other while maintaining their physical distance, and are taking advantage of their stashes of fibre, fleece and yarn to be creative and to inspire each other.

  • Study groups are sharing their projects with each other via e-mail.
  • EWG is sending out regular e-mails with photographs and descriptions of member projects.  Here are just some examples of members’ works. Please check Facebook and Instagram for more updated member projects.
  • Members are learning online.  For example, Warp and Weave: Color courage for weavers, learn to design with color, is a free mini course offered by Tien Chiu at https://www.warpandweave.com/
  • The Executive are meeting through video-conferencing.

EWG Member Projects

Deflected Doubleweave Challenge – Tara took Kathy’s Deflected Doubleweave class last year, and is challenging other Guild members to use their stash yarn to use the skills from the class.  From her stash Tara found Sweet Georgia Yarns Silk Lace and silk/merino.

Tara's warp for deflected doubleweave challenge
Jessica's rug
Tess's stash busting pink tea towels
Leslie's spun singles dyed in a dirty fleece indigo vat
Kathy's knitted shawl
Helene's bronson lace tea towels.
Conchita's 2 ply wool afghans

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, February 15, 2020

Posted February 21, 2020

Remembering Ilya Oratovsky

Jen shared her memories of weaving a blanket with Ilya in his basement workshop. She brought a sample of the hand dyed yarns that she used for the blanket.

Fibre and Dyeing Adventures in France

  • Carol Drasak did a special presentation on her recent trip to France to explore fibre arts communities and delve into the mysteries of woad.
  • Thank you Carol, for making your trip come alive for us, with your amusing descriptions and great photos!

See photos.

Tribute to Ilya Oratovsky
Jen's tribute to Ilya.

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, November 23, 2019

Posted November 24. 2019

Highlights of the November 23, 2019 General Meeting included a summary of the Annual Sale, a display from the Monday Morning Weaving Study Group, and a presentation from Gather Textiles, followed by conversation over coffee and baked goodies. See photos.

Emily Carr's painting "A Rushing Sea of Undergrowth" that inspired Monday Morning Weavers.

EWG Annual Show and Sale – Saturday, November 2, 2019

Posted November 2. 2019

Click here for more photos of our November Show and Sale.

 

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, September 21, 2019

Posted September 22. 2019

Diane Kozens’ Presentation on Colour and Inspiration

EWG member and Study Group Leader, Diane shared many examples of her weaving and talked about colour and what inspires her weaving. According to Diane,  “I like my next project best”.

See photos

Felted Animal Masks with Gladys Paulus – August 2-6, 2019

Posted August 21. 2019

EWG hosted UK textile artist Gladys Paulus for two felting workshops in July and August.

Read more and see great photos!

Tired but happy felters

Annual General Meeting and Potluck – May 29, 2019

Posted May 30, 2019

See more photos.

Exploring One Warp, Many Structures with Denise Kovnat

Posted May 26, 2019

EWG hosted Denise Kovnat from Rochester, NY for a fabulous 3-day workshop, May 24-26, 2019, exploring the magic of extended parallel threading or Echo threading. Read more

Burn Baby Burn!

Posted May 5, 2019

On Sunday afternoon, May 5th, EWG members benefited from the knowledge of Kathy Buse on how to identify unknown fibres.  In the 4th Master Wannabees session, Burn, Baby Burn!

Read more

Art in Ubiquity

Posted April 18, 2019

See photos of the April 27th opening of the Exhibition on the 65th Anniversary page.

To see earlier posts, please go to the Archives page.