MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

COMMUNITY LOOM RAISING

You have heard of a “barn raising party”? it is where the community comes out and helps a farmer get his barn built, well one of our members, Chrysalis, needed a LOOM RAISING PARTY! She received a huge new Glimakra, countermarch loom that was a surprise gift from daughter, and she thought it would be fun for some of the new weavers to spend an afternoon helping her put it together. Below are pictures of everyone helping to put Penelope (yes she named her loom) together.

Piecing Penelope together

Snack Break

Adding the heddles...hanging the shafts

Penelope ready for balancing!

New Zealand Bound!

Here we are in a New Year of fiber! We are starting this year off with our member Kathy Martin taking a trip to New Zealand! below you will find a short version follows with a longer slide show in the works after others on the tour add their photos.

A trip of a lifetime to an amazing country with friendly people!

20 hours of travel seems extreme and the cancellations/delays tried to put a damper on this surreal coastal odyssey arranged by Wild Fibers Magazine and Heritage Adventurer small ship cruises. The excursions during this 11 day expedition weren't all fiber related. New Zealanders are serious about their ecosanctuaries and preserving their flora and fauna. A birder's delight for sure. We explored the North, South and Stewart Islands.

The Maori people treated us to musical welcomes and opened up their village that utilizes the geothermal geysers for all their heating and cooking. Flax, wood and corrugated metal were some of their craft media.

Sheep abounded: Perendale, Romney and Blackface Valais crosses. One farm was a 4 wheel drive access across a rocky stream. It was a Penguin nesting refuge along with the Valais sheep.

The one yarn shop/mill we visited was Skeinz which claimed fame from the Penguin Rescue effort of several years ago after a nasty oil spill. Penguin sweaters flooded the store from all over the world. Further down the switchback road was a weaver's studio which opened up for us on the South Island. Her view of the bay with crashing waves was amazing.

Many of the excursions were via Zodiacs taking us to inaccessible areas and cruising the shore lines up close. My biggest thrill was on the last day when my Zodiac was visited by a pod of Dolphins for 10-15 minutes.

Have I come down off my cloud yet after visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud? Might never happen!

Kathy Martin, Wynham Farms
http://gotmygoat.com

Trip to Sweden!

one of our members, Barbara Brumagim, who took a wonderful trip to Sweden and has graciously shared photos with me and I am passing them along to you. Looks she enjoyed all there was about Swedish weaving and their looms.

Silk Mill Loom

Hi guild friends! I am on a trip to Sweden! During my stay in Stockholm, I visited the K A Almgren museum. You can see all the original silk mill machinery still in use. Punchcard Jacquard (sp?) loom, etc. it was Amazing!

Gotland Sweden

It is so beautiful here in Gotland. Gotland sheep known for their unique curly coats. Bought skein to try! I also visited Faro Island — want to find out the relationship between Faro Swedish yarn and island name!

Viking Loom

Here is a Viking loom form 800 AD. It is located on Birka Island in Sweden .

Working Weaving House

These pictures are from the Marta Mass-Fjetterstrom museum —
working weaving house Near Halmstad, Sweden.

These pictures are for the rug weavers especially — Inspiration abounds!

Weaving Fair

I visited a delightful Weaving Fair in Halmstad, Sweden.

Fiber Maniac

Bring color and beauty to the world, one fun project at a time!

"The life of an artist isn't alway an easy one but sometimes that struggle is exactly what a creative spirit needs! Much like a Phoenix I have come into my own and realized my artistic passions. Fiber, felt, buttons, yarn and more. It is my pleasure to share my work in this shop. I hope you find all your looking for and more."

— Lauralee

Lauralee Deluca is one of our more "colorful" members and I felt she needed sharing! Being sort of a fiber maniac, she loves creating luscious blends for yummy yarns and felted projects. She teaches and sells her goods at events and local yarn shops.