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Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild Newsletter

January 2016

For Auld Lang Syne,

Before our Els van Dam passed, she had warped and woven some of a double weave wool blanket on the great counterbalance loom that Otto built. This mid January, we made good our promise to finish that blanket. When we first gathered to plan the project, we delved into the huge stash of yarn, that Els had drawn from, and resolved how we could blend our own techniques and resume the weaving. Then bit by bit, the weaving was done. Evid wove most of the remaining warp, with: Alison, Cynthia, Karen, Terry and myself taking a few turns. When it was time to cut off and fringe, we made a day of it and with so many hands, we even had time to full it. The blanket, all wool and alpaca, a full 10 x 7 feet, was wonderful to gather up in all its glowing enveloping woolly warm. A closure, no doubt for the van Dams, but for us it was the continuum of “passing the thread” that Els always promoted. It really felt less like a closure, than an opening.Happy Weaving, Cynara

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Photos thanks to Karen and Cynthia

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Hi everyone,

After our meeting earlier this month, you've received a couple of e-mails about next year's ANWG conference in Victoria and our plan to create a booth for it.  Since some of you are relative newcomers to the weaving world, you may not be familiar with the Association of Northwest Weavers' Guilds.  To fill you in on just what the organization is and does, here's the link to its website:http://northwestweavers.org/anwg_news/On that page you'll find the link to its most recent newsletter (Fall 2015 - Winter 2016).  In it you can read reports by member guilds who have taken advantage of ANWG grants to bring in instructors to teach workshops.  Thanks to this program I've been invited by the Desert Sage Spinners & Weavers Guild in Oliver to present a pick-up workshop (page 3, #16).  That course will take place either this fall or early next year.

Years ago our group used to set up one member's floor loom with enough warp for several blankets.  At that time we held an annual raffle and the prize was one of those blankets.  In 2011, long time member Carol Jensen's goal was to weave off her share of the last Friendly Blankets warp in time to enter the finished project in the Cowichan Exhibition.  In beautiful shades of blue (see photo below), those wool threads had been waiting patiently on her 12-shaft loom for the better part of two decades!  She made it and the blanket, a prize winner at the fair, is stunning! 

On page 12 of the newsletter, the Shuswap Guild shares its more recent experience weaving a number of similar blankets.  Take note of how they handled the fringes and how they fulled the blankets.

Enjoy the newsletter, and continue to record your thoughts on what we can do for our booth at the 2017 ANWG Conference.  Keep in mind the theme for that part of the event is 'West Coast Natural Wonders', and do bring those ideas to our meetings in February."The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas!"   LINUS PAULING

ANWG

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On Tuesday, when Diane and Lois asked for suggestions on how to interpret the 'Gumboots and Grassroots' theme and 'green' colour challenge at this year's Cowichan Exhibition, it was wonderful to listen to the ideas that came out of that short discussion!

I'd like you to put your thinking caps on again and this time pull out your pencils.  Now jot down your thoughts on what the Tzouhalem Guild can do for its booth display at the 2017 ANWG Conference.  Perhaps pictures or an article in a magazine will inspire you or you might see something online.  Bring your scribbles and sketches to our meetings next month (daytime - February 9 and evening - February 23), and we'll brainstorm some more.

Here are important details to keep in mind:• the theme for the Conference as a whole is 'Treadle Lightly'• the Conference will take place June 27 to July 3, 2017 at the University of

Victoria • the theme for the Guild Booth component is 'West Coast Natural Wonders'• there are seven Conference colours - grey plus six hues (first image below)• the Conference logo is being used in any one of those six hues for the top four

bars plus grey for the bottom four bars (second image)• the size of the booth is 8' x 10', and it will have a cloth backdrop (referred

to as 'pipe and drape' - the Cowichan Exhibition uses black drapes for some of its events)

• there are several awards available:◦ Best Interpretation of Conference Theme◦ Best use of the Conference colours◦ Best Interpretation of Guild Booth Theme◦ Best display of booth items◦ Best co-ordinated guild display◦ People's Choice Award

Alison

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Distaff Day, January 9th

Another wonderful day of spinning, visiting, sharing, learning...and storytelling..72 spinners strong!

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Marion shared her colourful cotton baby blankets,and Michele shared her black and white shadow weave blanket that she tied onto the burgundy napkin warp. Also, in butterfly cotton, some twill place mats.And, a wonderful blue snood that Barbara D knit for her forays to the barn! No donkeys are going to get this off Michele’s head!

Show and Tell

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Cynara brought her block weave towel, and fabric woven from carbonized bamboo handspun, and merino silk - to be sewn into a kimono jacket that willbe designed around the Veronica Lynn Graham pin.Toni shared her first rug - woven with handspun on a linen warp. Beautiful!Carol A shared the beautiful woven cowl and crocheted scarf that her daughter Leona made.

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Alison shared her Christmas treasure knitting -fair isle ball decorations, and ever so tiny hats.

and beaded snowflakes - of course no two alike!

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Tammy brought the cowl she knit from the first spinnings she made last month. And, two beautiful skeins that she spun from Michele’s dyed Romney.

Sandy R brought samples of alpaca roving, the spinnings from them and the test knitting of them.

Evid brought her drop spindled yarns that she’s been working on while her studio is locked up in storage.

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Cherry shared her toasty warm lace mitts,Barbara B, her cotton cardigan made good design work from various odds and ends of lovely cotton. And Pat shared her Cowichan sweater that she wore as a child, and the one she herself knit.

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Kazuko’s show and tell was the orange alpaca scarf that her kids got her - full knowing that Kazuko is a red girl, Not orange! Pat shared her sensational Kaffe Fasset quilts. Talk about colour play!And Cynthia shared her first knitting machine experiments - beautiful tencel mobius and shawl.

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Books, books, books! Here is some inspiration and how to.

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January Textile Evening

While the guild loom was being dressed for the doubleweave sampler, Joanne and Cherry got to the serious work of arm knitting! Cherry’s Cast on!..

Photos thanks to Leona

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Home Farm ShetlandsFleeces, rovings & batts in beautiful natural coloursfrom my small farm to your spinning wheel.Kathy Millar2881 Mountain Road,Duncan, BCV9L 6N4250 748-0487homefarm@telus.net

Purebred Angora GoatsMohair fleecesDevon Stringer2109 Ida Avenue,Shawnigan Lake, BC250 361-7816hummingbeefarm@hotmail.comhttp://www.hummingbeefarm.webs.com/

Dunedin FarmRomney Marsh sheep growersJan and Dave Loop1677 Baldy Mountain Road.Shawnigan Lake, BC,V0R 2W2info@dunedinfarm.cahttp://www.dunedinfarm.ca/Home.html

FOR SALE:Raw Black Welsh Mountain Sheep woolfairly clean and in good condition$10.00 per fleeceContact:Rosalie PowerGill-Power Hobby Farmwww.gillpowerhobbyfarm.vpweb.cagillpower@shaw.ca250-743-1990

Local Fibre Sources

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Pacific Sun AlpacasJennifer & Alex Apostoli3791 Cavin RoadDuncan BC V9L 6T2Tel: (250) 748-5088japostoli@shaw.cawww.pacificsunalpacas.com

Herb Wise FarmsPurebred Cotswold fleeceScott & Karla Henderson3060 Mount Sicker RoadChemainus, BC,V0R 1K4250 246-3606Westholme, BChoneybee1@shaw.ca

http://www.herbwisefarms.com

Alpaca Farms Koksilah/GraycottArden Jenkins3450 Kingburne DriveCobble Hill BC V0R 1L0Tel: (250) 743-7177arden@alpacafarms.cawww.alpacafarms.ca

Woosterville Miniature Llama Fleece RovingPat & Leslie Morgan4135 Hillbank RoadDuncan, BC V9L 6M1www.woosterville.weebly.caleslielyn63@yahoo.caplmorgan@shaw.ca

New!

<www.earthues.com>Michele Wipplinger5129 Ballard Ave NWSeattle WA 98107206.789.1065info@earthues.comearthues@aol.com

http://www.dharmatrading.com/newsletter/

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Buttonladys Gallery3733 Frigate RoadRR # 2 North Pender IslandBritish Columbia , CanadaV0N 2 M21-250-629-6205<http://www.buttonladysgallery.com/>info@buttonladysgallery.com

Jane Stafford Textiles142 Richard Flack Rd.Salt Spring Is., B.C.V8K1N4250 537-9468http://www.janestaffordtextiles.comOpen Monday to Thursday 10-4 andweekends by appointment.A great mail order source for a wide variety ofyarns in a beautiful colour selection.Books, Yarn, Weaving and SpinningEquipment and lots of information.Weaving Retreats throughout the year: checkout our retreat page on the website.

Leola’s StudioThe studio is located behind the Loom atWhippletree Junction.3705 Trans Canada Highway,Duncan, BC.V9L 6E1250 701-7340witnie@shaw.caClasses will be offered in Textile arts,Weaving, 4&8 Harness, Woven Tapestry,Spinning, Dyeing and Felting.

Textile Sources

Treenway Silks2060 Miller CourtLakewood, CO, 80215, USAToll free: 1.888.383.7455Email: info@treenwaysilks.comToll–free 1.888.383.7455 • T: 303.233.SILK(7455)F: 303.223.3411Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 9amto 4pm (Mountain time).

maiwa@maiwa.com><http://www.maiwa.com/>© Maiwa Handprints Ltd6-1666 Johnston Street,Granville Island, Vancouver, BCV6H 3S2

The LoomWhippletree Junction3705 Trans Canada HighwayDuncanV9L 6E1250 746-5250theloom@shawbiz.ca

Ingrid’s Yarn & Needlework133 Craig Street,Duncan, BCV9L 1M8250 709-9699ingrid@ingridsyarn.comhttp://www.ingridsyarn.com/

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Equipment available for Guild members’ use

Ball winderAshford spinning wheelDrum carder- Fine clothDrum carder- Coarse ClothEaselFloor Inkle loom with foot treadles /warping boardLarge Stainless steel Dye PotLouet 40 8-shaft table loomMcMorran yarn balancePickerLouet wool combsTable clothsFirst priority for the use of the Louet table loom will be for study groups andworkshops. Next in line, Guild members for personal use, with a damagedeposit for a period of one month.Damage deposit of $25 for the louet table loom and $10 deposit for all otherequipment. Deposits will be repaid upon return of equipment in clean andgood order.For more information or pickup of equipment please contactValerie Rennie-Bell <valeriejbell@live.com> 250 748 3756Michele Pace <mpace13@shaw.ca>

Note: From January 10, 2012, The TSWG Equipment will be stored inSt. Peterʼs Church Hall. All items will be catalogued. Equipment needsto be signed out, and deposits need to be made before any piece can beremoved from the Hall.

Member’s WebsitesJennifer Apostoli: Alpaca fleeces etc.: <http://www.pacificsunalpacas.com/>Anne Fulton: Hand knit Lace, Felted clothing and Felting supplies, Classes. <awfulton@shaw.ca>Cynara de Goutiere: <www.cynaradegoutiere.com>Alison Irwin: Teaching textiles techniques: <alison@cow-net.com>Bonnie Murray: Natural dyes, mordants, embroidery floss, linen thread: <caileans@gmail.com.>Rosalie Power: Black Welsh Mountain Sheep: <www.gillpowerhobbyfarm.vpweb.ca

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Administrator:Alison IrwinTreasurer: Diane Lee.Recorder: Carol AvonLibrary: Kathy Wilkinson with Jan McKinnon LoopCard Sender: Sandi Doerksen.Guild Mail: Diane Lee and Jan McKinnonMembership list: Marion WilkinsonWeavers Show and Sale 2015 Linda PorteCobble Hill Fair Demonstration coordinator: Cathy JohnsonCowichan Fleece and Fibre Festival contact: Joanne RobilliardCowichan Exhibition chairpersons: Diane Lee and Lois CoshNewsletter: Cynara de GoutiereGuild Equipment:Cherry NettletonDistaff Day for 2014 coordinator Marion WilkinsonKathy Wilkinson has Keys to the hall.

TSWG meetings are held in St. Peterʼs Church Hall on the second Tuesday of each month, except during the months of July, August.Meetings are held from 10:00 to 2:00.Note: June and December are Potluck Textile evenings are held on the fourth Tuesday from 7-9 pm at the hall.TSWG business year runs from June 1st to May 31st.After a short business session, the rest of the time isspent sharing show and tell textiles, and at times we runtextile demonstrations or bring in a speaker.

TSWG mailing address is:P.O. Box 676, Duncan, BC V9L 3Y1For additional information contact:Alison Irwin<alison@cow-net.com>250-746-6330

Scent-Free EnvironmentJust a gentle reminder that our meetings are scent-free, due tosensitivities and allergies of several members.Hope you understand.

Library news up date

Kathy and Jan would like to remind you all that librarymaterials need to be returned in time. Please check yourbookshelves for overdue TSWG-library books, magazines, videosand DVDs, and return them at the next meeting.

TSWG ADMINISTRATIVE WORKING GROUP