Dyeing Archives - Desert Weavers & Spinners

January 2024 Meeting

Date:
Monday, January 22, 2024 at 9:30 am Pacific time

Program:
Robyn Spady: Thirty-Six Techniques to Make Your Weaving Easier and Happier

Robyn spoke about her history, process and work. Here is a program description from Robyn:

“Would you like to learn a great method for repairing a broken warp end, tracking your treadling while you weave, making your own repair heddles, or just make weaving easier and more pleasurable? This gizmo-and-gadget centric presentation looks and feels like an interactive show-and-tell and will introduce over 36 offbeat tools, techniques, or tricks to assist weavers in all phases of weaving.”

Show and Share

Sandi Wollin: *Warp for Scarves for Winners of Manhattan Amateur Classic Amateur Ballroom and Latin Champions. Cashmere, Silk, Merino Blend 2/28.*

November 2023 Meeting

Date:
Monday, November 27, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time

Program:
Stephanie Metz: From Needle Felting to Human Sized, Felt Sculpture!

Stephanie spoke about her history, process and work.

Statement from Stephanie Metz:

“I’m a person who notices subtle details in the physical world and human interactions around me, and I pay close attention to the things that draw my attention. My artwork grows out of a sense of curiosity, play, and the desire to explore meaning.

“I’m particularly interested in the tension created when opposing qualities coexist. I work primarily in wool and industrial felt, humble materials that embody contradictions in both the physical and conceptual realms.

“I process my life through the act of transforming tangible materials into satisfying forms, which occasionally resonate with kindred spirits. I define myself as a sculptor first and foremost who happens to work primarily in fiber, but I’m not opposed to the label of ‘fiber artist.’”

Show and Share

Mariellen Boss: *Bengara Dyeing and a Dog/Wolf Hybrid*

September 2023 Meeting

Date:
Monday, September 25, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time

Program:

Mary Egbert of Camaj Fibers on Scouring and Spinning Consistent Singles

Mary Egbert spoke on her experiences in this area.

Show and Share

Jeffery Pinkston: *Point Twill Scarf*. 8/2 silk, 24 EPI, doubled floating selvedges.

August 2023 Meeting

Date:
Monday, August 28, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time

Program:

Denise Squires: Raising Fiber

DWS Member Denise Squires led a discussion on her journey from how she acquired her first sheep at the age of 13 to her present day work with Shetland sheep, Angora goats and Angora rabbits. She also shared what she does with her sheep; experiences at various county and state fairs and shows; her work with 4H kids; and her fiber art work.

Show and Share

Bren Ahearn: *School Shootings in the USA: March 31, 2011-January 30, 2019*. Wool felt, ink; 72″H X 216″W, 2023 (Model: Doug Brown)

Bren Ahearn: *School Shootings in the USA: March 31, 2011-January 30, 2019* (Detail). Wool felt, ink; 72″H X 216″W, 2023

February 2023 Meeting

Eco-Printing on Silk Scarves + Show and Share

Date:
Monday, February 27, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time

Program:
Eco-Printing on Silk Scarves: From Plant to Print
by Suzanne Chappell & Nettie Roberts

Nettie and Suzanne shared their eco-printing journey of discovery. They explained that eco-printing is the transfer of plant images onto cloth, paper or leather, and it can be done with or without the use of mordants. The natural juices and tannins present in plant leaves and flowers magically produce different colored prints on, in our case, fabric. They also gave a demo.

Nettie Roberts is an artist who likes to experiment with anything fiber.

Suzanne Chappell is primarily a weaver who likes to dabble.

Nettie Roberts (foreground), Suzanne Chappell (behind Nettie), Tech Person Jeffery Pinkston (with striped shirt)

Joan Ruane Workshop 1-27-20

Participants enjoying the fabric dyeing and cotton spinning workshops provided by Joan Ruane after the general meeting on 1-27-20.

Photos by Carol Listenberger.

September 25 Meeting Photos

Our President, Linda Bohlinger shared this beautifully woven multi-shaft fabric that she will make into a garment (photo by Julie Roy) during our “show and share” portion of the meeting. After that, Carol Loch presented a program about Inkle Looms. Here are some photos taken by Sandra Wolin during the program and more photos of the many talents from our members. Continue reading “September 25 Meeting Photos”

July Monthly Meeting

Escape the heat on July 24^th and come spend the day in the shade of the cool pines in Idyllwild. (Usually 30 degrees cooler than the desert.)

Our July 24 DWS meeting will be held at Julie Roy’s Mountain Cabin Retreat. The meeting will start at 10 am and lunch will be hosted by the Guild. Bring a fiber project you are working on and spin/weave/felt, etc. We plan to have a scarf “ice dyeing” hands on activity for those that are interested. Continue reading “July Monthly Meeting”

“Fire and Ice” Dye Day.

Our June 26 meeting begins at 9:30 am with a business meeting followed by Show and Share. The June program will be “Fire and Ice” Dye Day. Each attending DWS member who makes a reservation will get a skein of wool/silk blend yarn to sun dye and a silk scarf to dye in a pile of ice. Continue reading ““Fire and Ice” Dye Day.”