Date:
Monday, March 25, 2024 at 9:30 am Pacific time
Program:
Works in Progress
Members shared their in-progress works.
Show and Share
March 2024 Meeting
Category: Spinning
December 2023: DWS Annual Challenge Show and Share
Reveal Date:
Monday, December 18, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time
History:
Desert Weavers and Spinners has had an exchange every June for many years. In January, a theme or an object is chosen and members make an item based on that theme. In June the items are exchanged, either at the June meeting, or by mail, if the member is out of the Coachella Valley.
In December 2023, we had a challenge instead of an exchange.
How it Worked:
In June 2023, a challenge bag was given to members who signed up. Their task was to make something with the items that they found in the bag. It was not an exchange as we got to keep the item.
What were the rules? Make something using the challenge items and individuals keep what they make. That’s the only rule.
Special Thanks:
Special thanks to Mariellen B. and Paula D. for their work on making this challenge happen. Mariellen Boss organized the event, and Paula D. donated six pounds of fiber that was divided by DWS members:
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
July 2023 Meeting
Date:
Monday, July 24, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time
Program:
Susan Thomson: Brainstorming on Small Things One Might Make as Holiday Gifts
Susan Thomson presented a power point as a guide for discussion as the group brainstormed about different gift ideas.
Pre-Meeting Background from Programs Co-Chair Susan Thomson:
“For our July meeting, we are doing an interactive program on the topic of small holiday gifts/crafts. And, because the focus is on small items, this is also an opportunity to think about how you might make use of your thrum scraps.
“Inspiration for this program:
“Last year, closer to the holidays someone mentioned at either a guild meeting or a board meeting ‘why don’t we have a program earlier in the year about holiday gifts?’ So, I’ve had that on my mind ever since. And rather than focusing on the bigger gifts, such as scarves, towels etc., I thought we might try focusing on smaller items, that you might make in multiples for ‘gifts to have on hand.’
“What I would like to do is present a power point as a guide for discussion and brainstorming about different ideas for things.
“YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
“Please gather up any examples and/or photos of projects you’ve previously made that are smaller, and quicker projects that you’d be willing to share. I will be organizing the power point to have similar projects together. So, if you will be attending in person, feel free to bring your projects. However, if you have time, please also send me a photo so I can put your project with similar ones.
“Please send any photos to me. I will reply to confirm that I received your photo, so if I don’t reply in a day or two, please assume you need to resend.
“If you feel inclined, you can also send me photos of ideas that you run across that you’d like me to include.”
Show and Share
April 2023 Meeting
Date:
Monday, April 24, 2023 at 9:30 am Pacific time
Program:
Joan Ruane: How Important Industrial Hemp is to our Environment
Joan has been teaching spinning for almost 30 years. As a graduate from Springfield College, she taught in the Tucson public schools before going to New Zealand in 1971. In New Zealand at that time were 3 million people and 30 million sheep, she learned to spin from Ruth Reid. Returning home to the U.S. a year later, she brought with her two fleeces, a Pipy wheel and a flick carder.
In time, Joan’s focus turned to industrial hemp which is the topic of her presentation entitled How Important Industrial Hemp is to our Environment.
Joan informed the group how to spin and weave industrial hemp.
Show and Share
2022 Fiber Challenge & December 2022 Show-and-Share
In May of this year we started a Fiber challenge. The same fiber was given to every one who signed up to take part in the challenge, we had around 20 people sign up. We showed off the projects as our December program. Here are the guidelines that were given:
You can combine it in any way you choose to create something unique to you: spin it, knit with it, incorporate it into a weaving, felt with it, wrap it, …you name it, you do it. We are asking everyone to take a few notes as to how you decided to create what you did and take a few pictures as you go along to document how you got to your finished masterpiece! We will share it at the December meeting as the program. It will be fun to see what we all come up with.
Thanks to Martha Lumia for organizing the challenge.
Here is the fiber, pre-challenge:
Here are some of the Fiber Challenge creations:
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.
Photos from Demo at Coachella Valley History Museum
From left to right: Maggie Aguirre, Mariellen Boss, Linda Bohlinger, Jane Edgett, Frances Westlund, Pam McSmith and Joyce Kleckner
On Saturday, Dec. 7, several members of DWS demonstrated spinning and weaving and sold fiber arts at the Coachella Valley History Museum .
Linda Bohlinger wove a rug on the 100 year old floor loom the guild renovated.
Pam McSmith
Jane Edgett
Cabot Pueblo Museum – Demonstration Feb 10, 2019
Around 60 visitors stopped by the DWS booth at the Cabot Museum in Desert Hot Springs at their Artisans at the Pueblo event Sunday, Feb. 10.
Linda Bohlinger, Mariellen Boss, Robin Johnson and Ellen Finan participated in demonstrating weaving and spinning techniques.
Linda showed a spinning wheel and fleece combs, Mariellen worked with a peg loom and Robin with a rigid heddle loom.
Ellen Finan at her own booth.
Still Time to Enter the County Fair
The Riverside County Fair will be held from Feb 15 thru Feb 24. Our Guild was instrumental in creating additional classes and divisions in the Clothing & Textiles category. We hope to better reflect our fiber arts in the revised classes of 229, 230 & 231; Rigid Heddle & Other Looms Weaving, Multi Shaft Weaving and Other Fiber Arts. Here’s a link to the Handbook of guidelines:
https://datefest.org/Information/Competition-Handbook Go to the Clothing & Textiles section for the guidelines, the list of divisions and classes and the details of the additional awards you can earn. The Guild is sponsoring some prizes internally to our members who enter and there are additional outside sponsor prizes, as well as county “money” prizes at stake.
What have you brought to “show and share”? Why not enter a few items in the appropriate classes and receive feedback from a fiber expert? The Guild wants to see an increase in entries, so now is your chance.
The last day to submit your entry on-line is Saturday, January 19, 2019. Please do not wait until the last day to enter. Pam McSmith is willing to take your entries to the facility for you if you can’t get them there yourself. Bring your entries and a copy of the registration form to the Jan 28 meeting.
See Linda Bohlinger or Pam for more details. Based on the skill levels of our members, your chances to win cash prizes and ribbons are very high. Good Luck to all our Fiber Artists!