Not weaving, and not my own work, but a workshop I am anxious to take this summer.
mycopigments.com dyes from mushrooms. A workshop I would love to take this summer!
Test post to the website.
Basket Making highlights
Guild members had a great time making baskets at our 2 December meeting. 
Everyone was surprised at how difficult it was to make them! Krista found the kits online, and they were paid for through an education grant that the guild received from a past member. Carol made a prototype and prepared all the materials for the evening. Mine is a little lop-sided, but recognizable as a basket none-the-less.
Soldiers’ Angels blanket
Soldiers’ Angels blanket closeup
Several years ago, guild members wove this blanket during weaving demonstrations at Fruitlands Museums. It was intended to go to the organization called Soldiers’ Angels (http://www.soldiersangels.org/), who provide various services to people serving in the Armed Services, including blankets for wounded soldiers. We finally finished it this year. The photos are from the Guild potluck in June 2014. I sent the blanket off and got this response from Soldiers’ Angels:
OhMYGOODNESS!!! I have never seen a blanket quite like that…it is a work of ART!!!
I am so very thankful!!! Your GORGEOUS Blanket will go to one of our 45-50 Veterans of the Menlo Park Veterans Hospital, specifically in the PTSD Recovery Program.
These Veterans come from all over the USA to participate in this intense 3-4 month program. They all live in Dorms and they are far away from the support of family and friends. It is especially difficult for them a Christmas time, which is when I will be distributing them at our annual Christmas Dinner.
I promise you that whoever receives this very Blanket, they will treasure it and know in their heart, hat someone who they have never met, truly cares and supports them.
Believe it or not, some of these Vets with PTSD have tried to take their own live before they entered the program, because their heart were so scarred from war, acts of extreme kindness like this, especially at a very emotional time of the year, helps them to HEAL and to be at Peace, because they are remembered and appreciated.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!
North Brook Farm Open House
North Brook Farm Alpacas is having an open house December 6th & 7th, noon to 4:30. Meet the alpacas face to face, then warm up by the fire in our Holiday Shoppe and see what Laura has going on the triangle loom! 96 South St, Berlin MA. Holiday Shoppe also open thru Christmas each Thurs thru Sun, noon to 4:30.
Hands-on meeting on Tuesday 2 December
Our next meeting is planned for Tues, December 2nd, at The Fiber Loft. This is our combined Nov & Dec meeting, so as not to conflict with holiday schedules. Fellow member Carol Vales will conduct a hands on program on basket weaving. Everyone will be able to make a small “ornament style” basket to take home.
Here’s what you should bring:
paper towels or cloth to keep your space dry (The reeds will be soaked in water. )
Pencil
Awl
Scissors
Small weight or canned good, to hold spokes in place at the beginning.
Also at this meeting, member Dorothy Solbrig will have an assortment of items available for sale from Mayan Hands, a fair trade organization. Mayan Hands makes some wonderful woven and beaded items, great for holiday gifts! http://www.mayanhands.org/
Judith Shangold at our 28 October Meeting & Program
Judith Shangold presents her new book
Weave-Knit-Wear
at the Fiber Loft, Harvard, MA
Join us as our own Judith Shangold presents her new book Weave-Knit-Wear, and talks about weaving clothing on a rigid heddle loom. You don’t need a large loom to make garments! Judith will be bringing along some of the items featured in the book.
Social time, refreshments and time to view guild library items begins at 7 pm. A brief business meeting, followed by the evening’s program will begin at 7:30pm.
Dorothy in Handwoven x2!
Our own Dorothy Solbrig is featured not once but twice in the Sept/Oct 2014 issue of Handwoven!
First, in page 26, she is credited with the inspiration for a dozen towels.
Then in page 46, she has the by-line for an article about her double weave color block tea cozy.
Of course, we are all also famous, by association. 😉
Big congratulations to Dorothy!
If you don’t subscribe to Handwoven, it is available in our guild library.
Dues are due!
If you haven’t already sent your dues, you can send a check to NVWG for $25 to PO Box 50, Harvard, MA 01451, or 96 South St, Berlin MA, 01503. Either address is fine.
We’ll be sending our membership list to NEWS very soon. Only paid members will receive the NEWS mailing.
What’s on your loom?
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September Meeting – Field Trip!
SATURDAY, September 27, 2014 is our first meeting of Fall
Please join us for a tour of della Luxa Studio and meet artist Lyn Christiansen! A tour will begin at 10am.
144 Moody St, Bldg 4, Fl2
Waltham, MA 02453
A sample of Lyn’s work
Lyn uses many materials but most of her work involves fiber, stone, or glass. She uses ancient interlacing techniques such as cord twisting and kumihimo braiding. With these complexly patterned braids of hand dyed silk, she forms exquisite wall hangings . She positions, cuts, and shapes stones and glass to make symbolic mosaic patterns on walls, floors, and free hanging panels. She textures marble and forms sculptural substrates to add shape and depth to her mosaic murals. She incorporates water, light, turned wood, wire or found objects to create special effects or add an element of surprise.
Lyn’s art works have been shown in juried shows nationally at venues including: H&R Block Art Space, Kansas, City; Museum of Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX; Wayne Stark Gallery, Texas; Acadianna Center for the Arts, Louisiana; The Goldstein Museum of Design, St. Paul, MN; Hansen Memorial Museum, Kansas; Art Windows, Waltham, MA; and the Hoffman Gallery, Portland, Oregon. Her work also was shown at the Attleboro Art Museum, Attleboro, MA and the Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA. She has taught workshops Finding Your Voice Through Braids, Manchester, England and Mosaic, Small Things Add Up, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
Lyn will talk about her journey, and about the history of kumihimo and other forms of braiding. She
will have a range of samples, finished and on-going work of various types, books, etc. She has a range
of kumihimo stands and will demo on the big taka-dai which doesn’t travel and is a type of loom many people haven’t seen.
Headcount is required. Carpooling and lunch in Waltham can be arranged if there is enough interest.
We also have the option to tour “A Place to Weave”, Beth Guertin’s studio in Waltham, in the afternoon.
Please let Penny know if you plan to attend, would like to carpool and/or join us for lunch and the
additional tour of A Place to Weave. weaver39@gmail.com
We’ll get back to our regular meeting schedule next month, with a meeting 7 p.m. on Tuesday 28 October at the Fiber Loft.