Mid Island Weavers and Spinners (and other fibre enthusiasts) Guild

This is the Mid Island Weavers and Spinners (and other fibre enthusiasts) blog page. The group meets the first Wednesday of the month during the fall/winter/spring (September through to June). Meetings are now being held at the library downtown on Commercial St upstairs in their meeting room. Guests are welcome to come...bring your knitting, spinning wheel or other fibre addictions. Meetings usually consist of 5 minutes of business, show and tell (bring something), tea and cookies, and some sort of workshop, seminar or talk where you will learn something fibry and interesting.
We now have an email address: MIWSGuild at gmail.com

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hey, Lynette a knit designer (Mad about Ewe) WINS!

Lynette's winning design.
Photo by La Tissier from her Flickr site
Lynette who works at Mad About Ewe entered the Vogue Knitting Magic of Mohair Competition and received 1st runner up!!!!  What a beautiful design!  This means it will be published in an issue of Vogue Knitting.  WOW!  Check out her blog Le Tissier Designs to read all about it.  Congratulations Lynette.

Mad about Ewe spring classes and workshops

Felted tea cosy.  Pix from Mad About Ewe
Mad about Ewe has some spring classes and workshops scheduled including:
Classes (3 x 2hr sessions $55):

  • Beginner II
  • Basic socks
  • Lace scarf
  • Beaded slouchy beret
  • Felted tea cosy
  • Cabled baby blanket
  • Baby Faux Fair Isle Vest
Workshops (1 day $60):
  • Fear of finishing
  • Cleaning up the edges
  • Graph reading
  • Twined knitting
The whole schedule is online at this link: schedule.  Give them a call to find out dates and register 250.754-0785

Sunday, January 23, 2011

For those who missed this in Nanimo it is in Comox

Textile Art Exhibition in Comox

When: Wed Jan 19th to Mon Jan 31st, 1-4pm daily
Where: Pearl Ellis Gallery, B-1729 Comox Avenue, Comox BC

One Note at a Time

Description:

The beautiful “Turning the Tide” Textile Art for
Africa Exhibition returns to the Comox Valley!

The collection was launched in May 2010 and has
travelled throughout Western Canada and to
numerous communities in British
Columbia. Comments from viewers demonstrate the
impact this exhibit has had everywhere it’s been shown:

• “This exhibit is powerful, meaningful, and inspiring” (Sorrento);
• “A very poignant and intensely meaningful exhibit” (Winnipeg);
• “A very moving display, full of incredible
talent that reaches out to each of us in support of African Gogos.” (Richmond)

Now the Comox Valley is being given another
opportunity to view, and be moved by, the
creative and generous talents of the North Island
Quilters for Community Awareness, and others.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Weaving workshop

SPECIAL AMERIND LEARNING WORKSHOP!
NAVAJO WEAVING
with Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete
MARCH 14-18, 2011
includes meals and lodging (optional) at the Amerind Museum!
Refresh your spirit and creativity with the tranquil art of Navajo weaving in this workshop open to both beginners and experienced weavers. Barbara and Lynda, sisters and 5th generations weavers, are originally from Two Grey Hills, growing up learning the traditional tapestry weaving of that area. Barbara has won 2 Best of Show awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market and countless other weaving awards from various art shows, and Lynda has garnered 2 First Place Blue Ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market for
her tapestries. While instructing and demonstrating, Barbara and Lynda will share personal stories and experiences, giving participants fascinating insights into the world of Navajo weaving.
The sisters are also a lot of fun and they promise that you will have a great time! And, you will go home with a 12.5" x 16.5" rug!
DETAILS
The price for members staying at the Amerind is $950. This includes rental of a fully prepared loom. You will only need to purchase your wool for weaving (available at the class, approximately $24-$35 depending on the number of colors you use). Fee with meals, but no lodging is $800. Both prices include a $200 tax-deductible contribution to the Amerind. A $200 deposit is due at the time of registration. For questions and to REGISTER, please call 520.586.3666, or email amerind@amerind.org. Class size is limited to 12, so register early! (Non-members, please add $40 for an individual membership)
The Amerind Museum, founded in 1937, is a museum of Native American
Art, History, Culture, and Archaeology located in the Dragoon, Arizona.
Take I-10 to exit 318, Dragoon Rd, between Benson and Willcox, and
proceed 1 mile south of the interstate. Please check the website at
www.amerind.org, or call 520.586.3666 for more information.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Spinning Alpaca workshop on Saltspring

Two young male Suri alpacas,
Photo courtesy Wikipedia

 SPINNING ALPACA   With Cheryl Wiebe
Saturday, February 12 and Sunday February 13, 2011
10am to 4 pm each day
Lion's Hall, 103 Bonnet Ave, Salt Spring Island
Spend two days of bliss exploring the fibre of royalty. Learn what makes alpaca so special and how to spin to enhance these qualities. Add a touch of magic by blending with wool and silk, discuss problems you may have encountered working with alpaca, plan a future project [knit, crochet, or woven]. Using the natural colours and overdyeing for interest will also be part of the discussion.  Participants must have a basic knowledge of spinning and hand carding.

Registration Fee: $120
Fibre Fee: $50 [all fibres from local farms and suppliers]
*****Registration Deadline: January 15, 2011*****
Cancellation Policy: Participants will be required to pay the full Registration Fee if canceling after the January 15th deadline unless there is a waiting list. 
Please bring: your lunch, [coffee and tea supplied]
                    -spinning wheel
                    -spinning chair if you have a favourite - the hall has good ones
                    -hand cards or blending board  - must have medium to fine carding cloth
                    -drum carder, may be useful but not a necessity - must be medium to fine carding cloth
Anyone needing accommodation can take advantage off off-season rates at many of the fine B&B's, hotels and motels Contact Cheryl at woodboro@telus .net or 250-537-2656 and mail cheque to:
            
                             315 Old Scott Road
                             Salt Spring Island, B.C.
                             V8K 2L9
Registration Form
Name:
Address: 
Phone:                                                                            
Email:                 

Monday, January 3, 2011

Stiches - an inspirational blog

Arbutus, made by Susan at Stitches
Stitches on Saltspring Island has an inspirational blog with lots of ideas from knitting to fusion to quilting to spinning to sewing to tyvek to foils to.....and the list goes on and on.
Road trip anyone?  If there is something of great interest and we can get 6 people wanting to take a class, they will organize it for us.  Leave a comment below or we can discuss it at the next Guild meeting.