The Basket Case and Leola's Studio

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.  We will continue to feature some of our outstanding merchants on our blog. 

This week we are featuring 2 Marketplace Mall merchants  -- The Basket Case and Leola's Studio.

the Basket Case

This is what I do . . . My handmade baskets are to picked up and used. Some baskets are made with gathered materials such as birch bark, vines, driftwood and antlers. The main material I use is reed, a vine that grows quickly in tropical regions. Reed is a wonderful product to dye with natural or commercial dyes, and stain. I also enjoy incorporating other mediums with reed such as clay, wood and yarn.

I've been in the basket making business since 1978. This has been a passion that have woven in and out or raising four children, with pets, while being the Art Instructor at a couple of local elementary schools. I've taught all ages to weave baskets and always enjoy the excitement they get out of the finished product. I'll never forget the young boy taking an after school class that looked at me with amazement and said, "Out of all these straight things you can make this!" while holding out his basket in his hands. He couldn't have said it better. I feel the same way.  

All step the steps of basket making are fun for me: receiving a large order of reed; dyeing as many colors a possible; finding or collecting 'treasures' while out and about; forming clay pieces to combine with basket weaving; loom weaving 'basket cloth' from my stash of yarn.

Among my basket weaving I’ve incorporated, fabric dying, basket structure watercolors with paint or coffee, and being a dabbler of fiber arts.  Sharon Gunter

Leola's Studio

“Tromp as Writ” People are drawn in to Leola’s Studio to discover and experience the textile arts. 

Leola’s Studio is located in two beautifully restored buildings from the 1900s bursting with energy, ideas, textiles, looms, and friendly conversation. People wander in and out, from experienced weavers working on individual projects, to students just discovering the world of textile arts.

Leola’s love of weaving began when she ordered her first loom at 16 years old. She studied and apprenticed with a renowned Swedish weaver and went on to study with weaving masters from around the world. Her journey into teaching began 38 years ago and included establishing a textile arts studio at Shawnigan Lake School before opening her own studio. 

"I don’t see creating and running this studio as a lot of work,” she says. “I experience it as a process that I engage in, step by step. Every fibre I touch, every fibre someone else touches, serves to connect and create, and day-by-day, a community is woven.” 

Over the years, her community has grown significantly. Leola offers classes to students of all ages and incorporates the rich textile history of the Cowichan Valley into her practice.

“This studio is a place where people can come, take creative risks, reconnect to their expressive side, and share and be supported by others,” says Leola. “Almost everyone lights up when they walk through the door I never know what I’m going to learn from people. Every day is different. How fun is that?”

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be:

·         Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.

·         Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

·         Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lunatic Fringe and E-Weaving

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.  We will continue to feature some of our outstanding merchants on our blog. 

This week we are featuring 2 Marketplace Mall merchants  -- Lunatic Fringe Yarns and E-Weaving.

Lunatic Fringe

Cotton, cotton and more cotton is what you will find in the Lunatic Fringe Yarns’ booth.  Our own Tubular Spectrum yarns: luxurious Mercerized cotton in 20 brilliant colors evenly spaced around the color wheel, black, white and 5 shades of gray.  Available packaged in kits or cones to let your imagination soar. The Tubular Spectrum colors are now available in 3 sizes: 5/2, 10/2 and 20/2.

Especially exciting is our new American Maid line of natural cotton.  These yarns are sustainably grown in the United States, and the farmers that produce the lint use at least 13 fewer chemicals and far less water than other commercial growers.  The American Maid yarns are better for the environment and the communities where they are grown and processed: our communities, right here in America.  These lovely yarns are available in several sizes and shades of naturally colored Green and Brown.

And if that wasn’t enough, we also have Unmercerized Cotton in fabulous colors, Bleached white and natural Mercerized cotton yarns as well as some interesting hemp, linen and silk yarns.   These are all brought to you by weavers with a sense of humor and a love for our craft.  After all, you are dealing with the Lunatic Fringe! For more information about these great products, visit www.LunaticFringeYarns.com. Or better yet, to see and feel samples of the yarns and handwovens made from the yarns, stop by the Lunatic Fringe Yarns booth at ANWG!  Hope to see you there!

E-Weaving

4 – 8 . . . Weave! focuses on e-design for 4 and 8-shaft weaving. Why, you may ask, should we bother using a computer? Isn’t that for those who weave on 16 shafts? 32 shafts? Maybe even more?

Somehow an erroneous impression has evolved—that sophisticated weave design software is for weavers with sophisticated looms—4 - 8 . . .Weave!'s aim is to dispel notion.

Certainly the techniques the book introduces apply to designing for looms of as many shafts as you have, but that is not its focus.  The step-by-step tutorials of 4 - 8 . . . Weave!, cover in-depth such topics as snowflake twills, crackle blocks, double weave, network drafting, turned taqueté, and turned summer & winter.  Intriguing designs we could barely imagine when we had to use graph paper, pencils, and erasers (lots of erasers) for designing.

4 – 8 . . . Weave!  is not a duplication of program manuals.  Its focus is decidedly not on what the program "does" (though certainly that is included) but what we can do with it. How computers enable us to weave in a way we could never have envisioned in the past.

Come, see what all the excitement is about!  Booth 6. Visit our website at www.e-weaving.com.

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be:

• Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.
• Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Fibers Etc

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.  We will continue to feature some of our outstanding merchants on our blog. 

This week we are featuring Marketplace Mall merchant  -- Fibers Etc.

Fibers Etc

Fibers Etc, a South Sound resource for textile supplies is pleased to be part of the 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace.

As a special offering for this Conference, we will present an assortment of Mixed Warps in exciting colorways, one of our specialties at Fibers. These are 7 yards long, enough for two scarves 8” wide, featuring ribbons, boucles, hand dyed yarns, metallics etc. They are ready for the loom and will be easy to weave in plain weave for wonderful accessories.

We will also feature an extensive collection of Habu Yarns, including their stainless steel line, raw silks and paper yarns. We will show you some ways we have used them.

We are also dyers at Fibers and will offer a collection of naturals in varied weights and fibers for the natural weaver or dyer.

Our collection of buttons is well known We cannot bring them all but will choose some of special note to share with you.

At Fibers we are all about color and texture so a collection of interesting yarns will fill out our display. Gorgeous colors of linen including some handpainted from Prism and some singles from Sweden, subtly hand dyed fine wools and cashmere blends.

We look forward to sharing our treasures with you.

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be:

• Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.

• Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Bluster Bay Woodworks

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.  During the next few weeks we will continue to feature some of our outstanding merchants on our blog. 

This week we are featuring Marketplace Mall merchant  -- Bluster Bay Woodworks.

In the woodshop at Bluster Bay Woodworks the sawdust is flying and the tools are whirring as we busily make shuttles for the 2013 ANWG conference. Typically, we custom-make shuttles, one at a time, as orders are received. But, in the months preceeding an event such as ANWG we make batches of shuttles for our vendor booth display.  (Check out the photos below!)

A vendor display gives us the welcome opportunity to offer shuttles made out of beautiful woods that we acquire in very small quantities – quantities too small to list them on our website. So, shoppers at conferences always get to choose from shuttles made out of woods not ordinarily available from us! 

We also will have several Bluster Bay umbrella swifts for sale in Bellingham. The demand for our shuttles has increased our workload in the woodworking shop. Although our swifts are quite popular, we now can only make them if and when time allows. This spring has afforded us a bit of time, so a few will be available at 2013 ANWG!

We are looking forward to seeing old friends as well as meeting new ones in Bellingham. We are always glad to take along items to fill special requests, so if there is something we can take to ANWG for you, call us at 208-263-4600 or email blusterbay@gmail.com and let us know!

See you in Bellingham!  Terry Lavallee & Kristie Sherrodd

Blocks of beautiful hardwoods on the Bluster Bay woodshop workbench. These are in the early stages of evolving into “Super Slim” shuttles.  Below are newly made Bluster Bay shuttles ready to be wrapped, boxed and taken to this spring’s events, including the ANWG conference.

  The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be:

• Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.
• Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.





Bell, Hook & Spindle, Berlin Braids and Spinning Forth

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.  During the next few weeks we will continue to feature some of our outstanding merchants on our blog. 

This week we are featuring our three Marketplace Mall merchants  -- Bell, Hook & Spindle and Berlin Braids along with Spinning Forth.

Bell, Hook & Spindle

At Bell, Hook & Spindle, Rick and Lindy Weber believe in dreams. And in following those dreams have found themselves on a woolly road. 

Lindy began by dyeing some fleece in quart jars and Kool Aid*. That was fun, so she needed more wool. An acquaintance offered several wool batts that had returned from commercial processing with a lot of vegetable matter still intact. Ignorance is truly bliss when you say “yes” to free wool without knowing what vegetable matter is...

Dye, dye, dye became Lindy’s mantra. Rick found a 1940's era drum carder online. After hours carding and picking the wool clean Lindy signed up as a vendor at an Art in the Park. The wool was a hit!

At this show a dedicated spinner chatted with Lindy and was appalled to find a vendor of wool who did not know how to spin! This generous person went straight home and brought back a bag of spindles and lessons began!

The woolly bug had irrevocably bitten. Rick searched online for antique spinning wheels. They started arriving in boxes from Lithuania, Estonia, and Idaho. These were the abandoned in barns, forgotten in attics, tossed into chicken coops variety of spinning wheels, so very in need of TLC. He put together his dream wood working shop, restoring the wheels, and manufacturing missing parts as authentically as possible, after historical research.

History, wool, wood… that’s Bell, Hook & Spindle. Dyed by hand. Crafted by hand. Restored to use and beauty, by hand! Lindy Weber, Bell, Hook & Spindle

Berlin Braids & Spinning Forth

Berlin Braids.

Shirley learned kumihimo in England in the 1980s.  When she began teaching kumihimo, there were very few instructions in English; so she wrote her first booklet presenting eighteen patterns for kongo gumi.  Her second book went further, introducing eight different braid structures, also for braiding on a card without extra adjustment moves.  She produces a wide range of affordable kits to help people dive whole-heartedly into braiding. 

Since 1990, she and her husband Peter have divided their time between houses in England and Victoria, B.C.  When she needed equipment for workshops, her woodturning husband applied his skills to the task.  Their beautiful marudais are made of fine hardwoods:  purpleheart, maple, walnut and more. 

 

 Spinning Forth.

Ruth started spinning in 1981.  Shirley introduced her to braiding and tablet weaving, and when classic weave structures beckoned, she learned to weave with multiple heddles on a rigid heddle loom.  A natural tool-maker with a passion for small looms, she dreamed of a frame loom with TexSolv heddles, and consequently developed her Semi-Rigid Heddle.  More recently, the Squared Circle spindles were born.  Her living room is home to 9 spinning wheels, a drill press, a belt sander, dyed silk, looms, and a plethora of cat toys.  

 

When you visit our stand, make sure you meet Mary – a longtime weaver with a strong practical streak.  Besides her unquestionable depth of knowledge in both weaving and braiding, she provides essential troubleshooting to both Shirley and Ruth when they get stuck in whatever they are trying to do.

  

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be:

• Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.
• Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vida Nueva and Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington Univeristy, Bellingham, WA.  During the next few weeks we will be featuring some of our outstanding merchants on our blog.

This week we are featuring our Marketplace Mall merchant  --Vida Nueva and Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design.

Vida Nueva Women’s Weaving Cooperative

Vida Nueva is a group of Zapotec women from Teotitlán del Valle, an indigenous Mexican community in Oaxaca with centuries of weaving history. Their patterns and techniques have been passed from generation to generation, and each tapete (rug/weaving) expresses their culture. The area was known for cotton textiles before the Spanish introduced wool and large wooden looms. 

At first only men were permitted to weave, but since the era of intense migration women have also become highly skilled weavers. Despite their numerous creative, social, and political contributions, it is still difficult for women to gain equal respect and recognition. Therefore, in 1996 this women’s cooperative was formed to provide economic opportunities, serve the community with environmental and social projects, and preserve Zapotec heritage.

Despite a very labor intensive daily life and many religious and community responsibilities, each member finds regular time to weave on her own loom at home. Members gather, grow and use native plants and insects to create natural dyes. They buy raw wool from nearby towns and wash, card, spin and dye it, boiling it in large vats over a wood fire, working together to share the cost and lighten the load.

Designs are generally based on ancient patterns depicting forces of nature, animals or geometric forms that represent such concepts as liberty, protection, continuity, strength.

Ginny Darvill helps Vida Nueva by buying at full fair price and selling at cost in the Northwest. She is happy to host them at the conference.
 

 

Fiber Rhythm Crafts & Design

Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design is the creative outlet of Dawn Seymour, knitwear designer and owner. Dawn discovered her love of Bamboo yarn while working on her TKGA Master Knitter sweater. In 2006, Bamboo yarn was found mainly as a cone yarn and wasn't widely available. To work the project Dawn purchased six 20-oz cones of the yarn. Even after doubling, most of the yarn remained for 5 out of the 6 colors. It begged the question, “Why can't you buy just the amount you need?”

That is when the custom cone was conceived.  

Custom cones are purchased by the ounce. We wind off just that amount of yarn onto cardboard cones or cores. You save money. Custom cones are offered in Bambu 7 and Bambu 12 and have been very popular with hand weavers.

Another popular item is Retroglo, a reflective tape yarn that is manufactured by Metlon Corporation (it is a 3m product). It consists of thousands of tiny glass beads glued onto a nylon strip and comes in three widths. Use it to add a safety element to your project. 

We won't have our winding equipment at ANWG, but will have cones “as is” for weight at the booth or will take orders for smaller amounts to be delivered after the show. (Free shipping over $25.)

For pre-show orders, please contact us at info@fiberrhythm.com and we will make every attempt to accommodate! 

Visit us online and at booth 29 and have a great conference!

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be  Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.,  Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teresa Ruch Designs

The 2013 ANWG NW Weavers Conference Marketplace Mall will be June 20-22, Carver Gym, Western Washington Univeristy, Bellingham, WA.  During the next few weeks we will be featuring some of our outstanding merchants on our blog.

This week we are featuring our Marketplace Mall merchant  -- Teresa Ruch Designs.

Teresa Ruch Design

I have a passion for color. I express this in hand dyed yarn that can be used in weaving, knitting and fibers for spinning. I started dyeing yarns because I could not find full saturated colors that I wanted to weave with.

I found that I enjoyed the instant gratification I received with dyeing while weaving takes longer for the end results. I soon had more yarns that I could weave so I started selling. 

I specialize in dyed tencel fibers. Tencel is a fiber from junk trees that grow in poor soil with little water and uses a chemical to process. This chemical must be filter and reused to qualify for the tencel/lyocell name. It is considered to be renewal and environmental friendly product. I import this white yarn from Canada in bulk, skein and dye it in my SE Portland, OR studio. I carry several weights, 3/2, 5/2, 10/2 and 20/2 (for knitters this is DK/Sport weight to a lace cobweb). 

My yarns are painted/dyed in shades of one color or multiply colors that create a dappled look in knitted lace or an ikat impression when woven. As a special introduction I am offering 6 yard warps that can be woven into 2 scarves and weft that will blend with them. Living in the Pacific Northwest I feel we need color in our lives. I also have bamboo, silk, wool and various spinning/felting fibers. Come join the fun.

The public is invited to shop during all Marketplace Mall open hours.  The Marketplace Mall open hours will be  Thursday, June 20 - 12 noon—6 p.m.,  Friday, June 21 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 22 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.