Due to Covid 19

ALL meetings have been CANCELED

until further Notice!!

Weavers of Orlando (WoO), an active non-profit organization, promotes and encourages interest in the fiber arts such as weaving, spinning, basketry, dyeing, felting, and beading through monthly programs.
When:  The 3rd Saturday of each month (see monthly schedule below)

• 9:30  – 10:30 Social Hour

• 10:30 – 11:00 Meeting

• 11:00 – 11:45ish  Show and Tell

• 11:45 – 12:00 Break

• 12:00 – 1:00ish Program

• 1:00 – 2:00 Project Hour

Please Note : Starting in April enjoy fellowship with other members as you work on that project, get questions answered, or design your next weaving piece.

Where:  We will be meeting at:

LEESBURG CENTER OF THE ARTS

429 West Magnolia Street

Leesburg, FL 34748

Programs 2020

March 28, 2020 !!!CANCELED!!!

!!STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE!!

Annual Picnic Note 4th Saturday of the Month

April 18, 2020-

!!!CANCELED!!!

!!STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE!!

BORUCA INDIAN BACKSTRAP by Constance Blackmon Lee
Traditional Backstrap Weaving by the Boruca Natives of Costa Rica will be presented. We will explore the history of the Borucans as cultural artisans preserving their traditional mask-making and textile techniques for hundreds of years. This presentation will be an up close and personal account of what it is like to eat, sleep and weave with this indigenous people, while expericing village life high up in the Telamanca Mountains of Costa Rica. Textiles will be on display.
BIOGRAPHY
CONSTANCE BLACKMON LEE, Costume Designer, Fiber Artist, Certified in Permaculture Design
For as long as I can remember, I have had a love affair with fiber, particularly the whole cloth. I have been sewing for more than 50 years, and costuming for 22 years. I’ve worked in film, network television, commercials, theater, live entertainment productions and for Disney World Creative Costumes.
After living two decades in Los Angeles, and retiring from the IBM Corporation, I returned home to Orlando Florida. Then, I joined a local quilting guild and produced a few award winning quilts. Mostly, I made quilts to just give them away. So of course, that meant buying more fabric to add to my stash.
Presently, my artistic expression encompasses art weaving, quilting and doll making. And most recently, I am learning to spin (stumbling along!). However, my most interesting lesson thus far, was at a recent “fleece washing” i.e., how to remove poop out of sheep’s fleece. I think I went home with more poop on me than the sheep.
But most of all, my passions have been fueled and largely supported by like- minded women I have met along this journey. And for that, I am GRATEFUL!

May 16, 2020 –

Deflected Doubleweave By Clara Carroll

Clara will discuss deflected doubleweave, which may be the most versatile weave structure that we have today, able to create striking and surprising geometric patterns, three dimensional fabrics, and even multiple, completely independent but interlaced fabrics. It’s easy to design and weave, yet the possibilities are endless, and it’s fun!

June 20, 2020 – Zanshiori.  Why Knot? 

Join Berna Lowenstein at the June meeting to learn about weaving with thrumbs (thread crumbs).  The bits and bobs of leftover yarns are knotted together and used as weft to create amazing textured cloth.  Learn the traditional Japanese techniques plus the inventions that Berna has created to use yarn that she would have thrown away a couple of years ago.  Berna will also show the clasped weft technique, plus a loom controlled interlock technique, to use two different wefts at the same time.
Berna Lowenstein has been knitting since she was five years old, and has been a rabid fiber artist ever since.  She is an award winning spinner and weaver for over 30 years.  She also loves inkle weaving, kumihimo, tablet weaving, dyeing and hoarding books.  After taking a workshop with Tom Knisely on Zanshi and Sakiori weaving, Berna became enthralled with Zanshiori.

July 18, 2020 –

Turning Handwoven Yardage into Tote Bags

Mercedes DiNatale will give us a Presentation with tutorial after the meeting on how to use our handwoven fabrics to make tote bags etc.

Bio: Mercedes DiNatale interest in weaving was sparked at a craft fair in North Carolina, where a Weaver let her sit at a loom and weave. Learning plain weave on rigid heddle then joining Weavers of Orlando in 2018 where a Harrisville Loom found a new home. Mercedes enjoys learning weave structures, experimenting with different yarns, color combinations and finding ways to use woven fabrics.

August 15, 2020 –

TEMARI: Japanese Embroidered Balls 

Ellen Turner will give a Presentation: Temari balls are a form of folk art that originated in China and were introduced to Japan in the 7th century. The carefully hand-embroidered balls often made from the thread of old kimonos were created by parents or grandparents and given to children on New Year’s Day as special gift.
We will discuss the history of Temari, see lots of colorful examples, and describe the process by which contemporary Temari are being made.

Mini-workshop: Temari is a 1000 year old craft from Japan producing a kaleidoscopic patterned ball by stitching with colorful threads. In this class, we will first cover a styrofoam ball by winding with yarn, then sewing thread. Lovely cotton and metallic threads will be used to create the embroidered patterns.
The materials fee will cover all supplies necessary to complete one Temari. Students should bring scissors.

Maximum number of students: 10 
Space requirements: tables 
Materials fee for each student: $15

Ellen Turner: Almost 2 decades ago I went to The Mannings and learned to stitch Temari so I could teach it to my Weavers’ Guild. The kaleidoscope of geometric designs is so intriguing I was immediately hooked. Since then I have taught at a number of Weavers Guilds, FTWG and for several years at Springwater Fiber Workshop in Arlington, VA.

September 19, 2020 –

WoO Annual Fund Raising Auction

October 17, 2020 –

Color Fundamentals for Fiber Artists by Linda Hartshorn

Color is enriches our lives and is of primary importance to the fiber art we create. Color is not only fundamental but FUN! A Power Point slideshow will guide us through the basics of color and show inspiring examples in fiber art. Using what we have learned, we will make yarn wraps in a fun, hands-on exercise.

Provided for students: cards for wrapping and some yarns.

Materials for students to bring:  scissors, tape, and a few colorful pictures from a magazine or elsewhere for inspiration. Please also bring bits and balls of yarn leftover from your projects to share with the group.

November 21, 2020 –

Kumihimo Arts of Japan

Jennifer Williams will do  A Brief History Presentation

Bio: Jennifer Williams is an enthusiastic educator and passionate weaver. From embroidery, crochet, kumihimo, cross stitch, quilting and weaving, she has explored fiber arts since childhood. Her fiber arts journey led her to inkle band weaving in 2007. In weaving she has found her true creative calling. She loves spreading weaving into the world. Jennifer teaches inkle band weaving and basket weaving to individuals and small groups and can be found weaving on airplanes and other public places to entice someone to ask, “What are you doing.”

December 12, 2020 –

WoO Annual Holiday Luncheon