Monthly Archives: November 2015

Seasons

29 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in creating, Nostalgia

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“Sunrise, sunset…
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears.”

Snowfall in the trees

Snowfall in the trees

This song from “Fiddler on the Roof” came to mind as I’m looking out at a grey, drizzly afternoon.  Seasons change, cold winds blow, gardens now lie fallow.  We close the window on one season and focus on another.

Thanksgiving sometimes gets lost in the hoopla over shopping, decorating, and baking. Each year, the stores seem to open earlier and longer. However, at our house, we try to give Thanksgiving its full due—a 1:00 turkey dinner complete with all the traditional trimmings, often followed by board games in the afternoon.

I actually look forward to this time of year. There is a rare quiet in a December afternoon if I just listen, a quiet of the soul. The earth has pulled up a blanket over the sleeping soil, and if we allow ourselves, we too can share that peace.

I’ve often thought of handweaving, spinning, knitting as quiet meditation. We all need that. The rhythm of the wheel, the quiet thud of the beater help soothe our busy minds and remind us that quiet is good.

Of course, as I get older and our family spreads out, quiet is more common. It wasn’t always so. Seasons. Each one has its purpose, its gift.

May you find peace in your season, whatever it is.

Another Sale for the Books

17 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Weaving Inspiration

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Felted Bird House Ornaments

Felted Bird House Ornaments

What a weekend! Lots of work, but oh so worth it!

The 26th Annual Holiday Exhibition and Sale for the Columbia Weavers and Spinners Guild is over. We had a great turn-out and lots of laughter and camaraderie throughout the three day event.

It’s an exhibition because we enjoy showing the community at large what we do and how we do it. There are demonstrations for two of the three days and we invite people to try their hand at the loom and the drop spindle. And it’s a sale because we want to share the work of our hands. It is so important to pass along the fiber passion to others.

Towel Display at the 2014 HES

Handwoven towels sorted by color

Over the years, the popularity of various crafts has waxed and waned. When I began weaving in earnest, in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, weaving was very popular and we were blessed to have a weaving store in town for classes and supplies and a dedicated weaving school not too far away. There were numerous weaving publications and books available, and weaving yarn was relatively easy to find.

Rugs Felted and Twined

Rugs Felted and Twined

The store has since closed and the school moved to the west coast. Conferences are still enthusiastic but smaller in scope. Knitting and crocheting are now the crafts du jour, and while I miss some of the availability of weaving events, I appreciate other fiber arts too! And it makes me value those exciting opportunities when I do get to talk about weave structures, fiber twist, yarn sourcing, and finishing tricks.

We are heading into the busiest time of the year for many. I hope you get an opportunity to enjoy a fiber event in your neighborhood before the end of the year, and a chance to share your fiber passion with a new learner.

Counting Down

09 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in creating, Weaving Inspiration

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CWSG Holiday Exhibition and Sale

CWSG Holiday Exhibition and Sale

This is always an exciting time of year. Not only is fall my favorite season, but the upcoming holidays hold the promise of family get-togethers and the warm memories of past celebrations. And of course, as a weaver, it’s the fruition of a year at the loom.

Many groups sponsor art and craft sales ahead of the holidays. My local guild, Columbia Weavers and Spinners Guild, has been putting up a Holiday Exhibition and Sale for over 25 years now and it affords us the opportunity to ooh and ahhh over each other’s artistry.

I am always amazed at the breadth and variety of items that come in, everything from luscious camel handspun, delicate beaded jewelry, baskets that speak of the grasslands from which they came, and of course handwoven shawls, scarves, towels, table coverings, and rugs. There are always surprises and submissions that take our breath away. What inspiration!

CWSG Holiday Exhibition and Sale Details

CWSG Holiday Exhibition and Sale Details

This event is the culmination of a year’s worth of work for many of us. Some of our members participate in multiple sales, but some just do this one event. The community is so supportive each year and it charges our creativity for the next year.

So I invite you to come join us if you are in mid-Missouri next weekend! Submerse yourself in fiber art and be inspired! Contact me for more information. I’d love to meet you there!