SHOW AND TELL

The guild’s monthly meetings include a casual opportunity to permit members to share their projects, their recent purchases and acquisitions from foreign travels. It is both a ‘brag’ session and a learning opportunity for everyone.

Captions for above…. At the May 20, 2017 meeting, WoO members presented their recent projects.  Upper left, Bev Tavel shares weavings done in recent demonstrations by students and by visitors to the guild’s booth at the St. Johns River Art Fest….  Berna Lowenstein shares a recent addition to her library: a purchase of Ian Lawson’s special edition publication, entitled, “Harris Tweed, From the Land Comes the Cloth”, a richly bound treasure of 432pp, 282 full-plate photographs. Jennifer Williams shows her basket weaving project….. Karen Simpson shares her background information for her towels:  “The fabric I showed at the May meeting is actually a set of towels.  I had wanted to weave this from the time I found it in Handwoven March/April, 2002.  The draft is by Joanne Tallarovic, and was published in the magazine when she published her Rep weave book.  It has since been republished in at least one Interweave e-book.”  Karen continues….”Yarn here is 8/2 cotton and some 8/2 cottolin, both in warp and weft. Most yarns are from Lone Star Loom Room, but a couple are Silk City from before most members were born and some miscellaneous.  I actually had suggested this draft for the liturgical stoles I wove about 2 years ago, but the pattern was not one selected then.  Colors here are in purples, blues and greens.  Purples=Lent, Blues= Advent and Greens are for the Ordinary Days, most of the remaining year.”  Are details…”Structure is Warp Rep and it is a 4 shaft draft!  The 8/2 yarns are the thick and the thin is sewing thread or 20/2 cotton.  It is not difficult to weave as one just follows the treadling as written.  I wove this on my 36″ Schacht Floor Loom as the Baby Wolf was busy.  I added a 6th panel to the magazine draft….so the original towel could actually be woven on any loom that has about an 18.5 to 20 inch available weaving width” …. Mary Schmute shows her diamond weave napkin created for the guild’s diamond jubilee. It is an eight-shaft Huck lace design using 10/2 pearl cotton warp and weft sett at 30 epi….  Marilyn Frew shows her recent project done after attending a Blazing Shuttles workshop….  Judy Smathers shows off fabric projects. The first is a white rayon sarong from Dharma which Judy tie-dyed. The colors in the project reflect the turquoise waters and the pink bougainvillea found widely in the Caribbean. The second, a white cotton wrap dyed aqua acquired during a recent trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas, shows the outline of the island province produced using the batik technique.  All items were assembled and displayed for members to inspect during and after the meeting.   JG

(caption, above, L-R) WoO Members Berna Lowenenstein, Barb Cabral, Mary Schmutte, Anne Nunnally, & Diane Click presented their recent projects at the April 2017 meeting…. Guild president Pam Welton showed the members a great article on Jim & Gloria Corbet’s  volunteer accomplishments.  She also presented the ribbon the Guild won at the Florida Tropical Weavers Guild Conference in March for best Guild display table, our theme was “Diamonds are a Guilds Best Friend”  for our 75th Anniversary

(caption, above, L-R, top to bottom) WoO Members Karen Simpson, Sandy Lazarus, Mimi Smith, Rudell Kopp, Mary Ann Gilbert, Bev Tavel, Jane Coon, Alice Ann Ferderber and Margarete Griffiths present recent projects at the January, 2017 meeting.

( Captions above, L-R:)  At the November, 2016 meeting, Jody Cosby shows off her hooked rug…. Barbara Cabral (L) shares her blanket she purchased while visiting Cambodia ….. and Berna Lowenstein models her sweater project.

(Captions above, L-R:) Alice Ann Ferderber poses with her jacket project to illustrate the use of a soft-box in photographing garments…. Jennifer Williams shows her inkle weaving…… A beautiful woven shawl….. Thelma Collier shows her zipper purses.

(Captions above, L-R: Jane Coon shares her color gamp. Jewel Bledsoe proudly shows her Kente jacket.

Below, WoO member Anne McKenzie proudly shows the award presented to her for her Kente cloth jacket. The guild recently presented a workshop on weaving Kente cloth designs which Anne participated in.  She won best in show in the home crafts category at the Lake County, FL Fair with her handwoven jacket. Ann reported:  “The color scheme is taken from the South African flag. We have taken three holidays there. There are several motif inlays, both front and back.”  She continues, “The guild is a marvelous learning venue for the fibre artist. I love to show my articles for other people’s enjoyment and encouragement,” said Anne. “To me, it does not matter if I win a prize or not…. however, it is still encouraging to receive such awards.”

The photo on the right is Anne’s stole completed last year, trimmed in emu feather. “The pattern,” said Anne, “was  Karen Richard’s of Southern Australia which was written up in Handwoven.  I used a 16/2 linen for warp on 6 harnesses.  The feather edge of the stole was 20/2 pearl cotton placed closer together than the rest of the warp.  This helps hold the shaft of the feather in place. The balance of the weft was 10/2 pearl cotton.”   Anne further describes:  “The emu feather is placed in every fourth shot and the quill is turned back on every third shot.  Shots one & two help hold the feather secure and it should not come lose.  There is approximately 8” at each end for fringe.”

ANNUAL MEMBERS’ PICNIC

Every March we gather to enjoy a potluck meal at one of our members homes. This particular year, the guild enjoyed the camaraderie of the group, great potluck lunch and included discussions regarding selections of weaving samples for a display on the book, ‘Bark Twill.’ This project was led by WoO member, Berna Lowenstein.

ANNUAL MEMBERS’ AUCTION

Every year, Weavers of Orlando members donate items to sell in order to raise money for the guild’s general operational funds. Items come from members’ personal collections of rare or limited edition books and publications, yarns, woving, spinning wheels, looms, and other assorted tools. Some very unique and valuable items can be purchased at very affordable prices. The bidding becomes very lively.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

Each December, members gather to enjoy the holiday season with their fiber friends and families. Here are images from the 2016 Holiday luncheon, held at the Mount Dora, FL United Methodist Church.