ALPINE WEAVERS AND SPINNERS
February 2012 Newsletter
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
MAWS liaison
ANWG Representative
Historian
Librarian
Newsletter Editor
Julienne Valentine
Shelley Motes
Carole Baginski
Vicki Faulkner, back-up
Mary Warner
Julienne Valentine
Vicki Faulkner
Donna Carlson
Mary Warner
Teresa Knutson
Glenda Smith
Theme for the year:
Newsletter Distributor
Guild Program Book &
Membership Chairman
Publicity
Outreach committee
Workshop committee
Fair committee
Life is Good committee
Joyce Keeling
Sarah Safford
Donna Carlson
Sylvia Smith
Joyce Keeling
Teresa Knutson
Shelley Motes
Sylvia Smith
Judie Overbeek
Horse of a Different Color
February 1: Spinners meet at 10:30am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Hostess: Wendy Tolley
January 11: Weavers meets at Teresa Knutson’s home 635 6th Street W #4
in Kalispell at 10:30 am. Remember 6th Street W is a one way east from the high
school to Hiway 93, so the easiest is to turn off Hiway 93 on 4th Street W, turn left
on 6th Avenue W, and then turn right on 6th Street W. It is a white apartment
building with black wrought iron railings on the right side of the street at the corner
of 6th Street W and 7th Avenue W. Apartment #4 is in the left building on the
second floor at the back. Call 756-1388.
January 18: Guild meets at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 10:30 am.
Hostesses: Shirley Sullivan and Sarah Safford
Program: Assemble award ribbons for MAWS skein contest. Judie Overbeek will
demonstrate dying Matawa silk hankies.
Please Note: Meeting program changes
The March guild program will be a lap loom-weaving project. Everyone is
encouraged to make their own project to share with everyone. If you’d like to learn
more about lap looms please visit: lapweaving.info/.
The April 11 weavers meeting will be a field trip to see the Persian rugs at the
Bibler mansion led by Carol Bibler. We are scheduled to arrive at 10:30 and it will
probably take between one and one and a half hours depending on interest. All
guild members are welcome.
The April guild program will still be the knitted Mawata scarf program, but Judie
Overbeek will pre-dye the hankies.
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS:
Cindy Edstrom
580 Robocker Ln
Kalispell, MT 59901
471-2526
cindy.edstrom@gmail.com
Ann Keenan
PO Box 216
Kila, MT 59920
253-3990
pineneedlefarm@yahoo.com
ACTIVITIES
SPINNERS had approximately 15 people in attendance, including one new
member, Cindy Edstrom. In addition, some people had new wheels and/or were
working with new fibers, so Judie Overbeek and Irene Houston stepped in as
teachers.
WEAVERS met at Judie Overbeek’s home and there were 12 people attending,
including new member Cindy Edstrom. There were six inkle looms being warped for
the MAWS ribbons, and Sarah Safford taught everyone how to warp and weave the
ribbons.
PROGRAM Members were busy weaving inkle loom ribbons for the MAWS awards
and putting together 200 sett tools for the MAWS goodie bags.
BUSINESS MEETING:
Fair Committee: Joyce Keeling said the fair board needs to be informed if we are
to give an award this year. It would be for weaving, since last year was for
spinning. Judie Overbeek made a motion that we provide an award for weaving.
Sarah Safford seconded. The motion was carried by voice vote. There was a
discussion about what to give as an award. Teresa Knutson suggested a 2013
membership to the guild. Judie Overbeek volunteered to weave off the remaining
linen from the Jane loom as an award, if there is enough left. The guild would have
to reimburse Sarah Safford for the remaining linen. Teresa Knutson made a motion
that we award both a membership and a linen runner for the fair award. Judie
Overbeek and Sarah Safford seconded. The motion was carried by voice vote.
ANWG:
 There isn’t a current ANWG representative, so we need a volunteer. Mary
Warner, who was a past representative, said it is an easy position. You basically
get e-mails and pass the information on to the guild. You can have a proxy
vote, so do not have to attend meetings.
 Vicki sent out an e-mail request for instructors for the next conference which
indicates the scope for classes will be broadened to include other fiber
techniques than weaving.
MAWS:

In order to help with the expenses for the Tapestry Bag Workshop, a request
was made for a grant. Judie Overbeek will argue in defense of this grant for us
at the April board meeting.
 Registration for the June conference will be out as soon as the cost of room
rentals is finalized, but other information is available website at
http://www.mawsonline.org/conference.
Old Business:
 At the February meeting, we will assemble the MAWS awards, so everyone who
is weaving ribbons needs to bring them to the meeting. For everyone who also
has the rings, Shirley Sullivan suggests using sewing thread to sew the ribbons
together below the ring.
 Inspirational projects for the March meeting. Shelley Motes encouraged
everyone to use either the Hexagon looms passed out in December, or on lap
looms from JoAnn Fabrics, to make something new and creative.
 The guild received the ANWG grant for the Tapestry Bag Workshop to be held on
September 22, 2012. We have also requested funding from MAWS to help
decrease the cost of the workshop which includes a $75 kit. Information about
the bag will be added to the newsletter.
New Business:
 Mary Warner reported the extra expenses were because of the end of the year.
In addition, she has not paid MAWS for the memberships, and there will be a
$100 donation for the Bibler Mansion Rug Tour on April 11. All dues seem to
have been paid, so there was a discussion about the amount of income left, and
when it may become necessary to fundraise, increase dues, change expenses,
and/or take funds from the credit union. Mary also requested that Irene
Houston perform the yearly financial audit again this year.
 Shelley Motes encouraged everyone to pass out guild calling cards not only to
prospective members, but also to fiber artists who could visit our meetings. She
is going to send some to people she met at the Mission Mountain Spinners SpinIn.
 Teresa Knutson brought in a brochure for the Textile Society of America. If
anyone is interested in more information, see: http://textilesociety.org.
Show and Tell:
 Mary Warner was knitting a red and navy scarf as a sample for a class she will
be teaching at JoAnn Fabrics.
 Jill Reddig was wearing a purple variegated crocheted scarf which she made at
work!
 Joyce Keeling brought in a bright colored twining loom bag with a leather clasp.
She also brought in some “trash” yarn which she spun from colored carder
cleanings and then plied with a white yarn.
 Judie Overbeek was wearing a red and black metallic version of the Butin
necklace. She solved the clasp problem by sewing the ends together. She was
also wearing her curved knitted shawlette made from handspun and commercial
yarns.
Report on Mission Mountain Spinners Spin-In
by Shelley Motes
Thanks to Sylvia Callantine for coordinating “The Mission Mountain Spinners
Annual Spin In” on January 14, 2012 held at the New Life Christian Center in
Polson. What a great way to start the New Year by coming together and learning
and gathering new insights on fiber projects. There were several generous door
prizes which included hand crème, books, fleece, and rovings. A big thank you to all
who donated and I also want to acknowledge Donna Peck from Charlo who
contribute so much of her fleece for this event. As you all know I only have eyes for
my Coopworth fleece, but walked away with some Targhee that I’m excited to try.
The whole day was uplifting and informative in several ways. Here are
some of the inspirational points that I gleaned.
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I was happy to hear Jen from Knox say she is a process girl not a project girl,
that there is no wrong way of approach as long as you like the end results. Oh
that fits me to a tee. I guess I’m not crazy after all!
Jen was spinning an arts and craft batt. The batt consists of a mixture of fiber
and colors along with beads, sequence, and glitz. It was created by putting it
through a wool picker.
There were three to die for knitted shoulder wraps and demos on how to tie
them. I’m inspired to get the pattern from Rivalry and create one myself and oh
by the way the encouragement and desire to actually knit.
Michal Ann Stedje showed us a dress she made from aged old wool material
found at a garage sale. Did you know that you can tell if the flat fold material is
wool by putting a piece of it in bleach? The wool will disintegrate. What ever is
left behind is not wool. When testing the fabric make sure not to use the salvage
because it can be woven with non wool stabilizer.
Sharon Hamilton makes thick woven rugs in a process where the rug is doubled
in thickness with one side being darker and the other lighter for reversal
depending on the season. I loved how she braided her fringe then knotted them
off.
There were several inspirational pieces from a tiered knitted skirt, socks knitted
with a machine, a baby blankets done on a ridged heddle, and hand embroidery.
This is a must event to put on your calendars for next year.
Thanks also to the vendors this year which were:
Sharon Hamilton - www.RiverRunWeaving.com
Sharon has weaving creation for sale including saddle blankets and rugs. She also
has rug yarns for sale.
Brittany Wilson – http:// bohoknitterchic.etsy.com/
Brittany has beautiful colored variegated yarns and batts.
Mary Warner – bigskybw@montanasky.net
Mary has knitted hats from a pattern she created herself that rivals anything on the
market. She has kits available if you have the knitting skills to do it yourself. Also
for the spinner she has her own rovings from her sheep.
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 25, 2012 by 5 pm deadline for entries for Adorn the Form: New
Directions in Fiber and Jewelry, a biennial national juried exhibition at Larson
Gallery in Yakima, WA April 13 through May 12, 2012. Approximately $3,000 in
prize money will be awarded. Eligible work includes hats, shoes, bags, jewelry,
scarves, hair adornments, belts, etc in media such as metal, fiber, paper, plastic
and other materials. For more information, visit: www.larsongallery.org or call
(509) 574-4875.
March 5, 2012 deadline to apply for scholarships for October 21-27, 2012
SOAR 2012 at Granlibakken in Tahoe City, California. Submit your application via
e-mail as PDF or MS Word documents to aclarkemoore@interweave.com. You will
be notified of the decision by April 23, 2012 and will be updated you on pertinent
SOAR information, including registration and lodging. For more information,
contact: Amy Clarke Moore, SOAR Scholarship Administrator at
aclarkemoore@interweave.com.
March 16-17, 2012 Fibres West 2012 at the AgRec Buidling, 32470 Haida
Drive, Abbotsford Exhibition Park in Abbotsford, BC. Vendors, Classes, Speakers,
Demos and more. For more information, visit: www.fibreswest.com
March 19, 2012 Log Cabin Spinners Annual Spin-In from 9:00 am to 5:00
pm at the Red Lion Templin’s Hotel on the River in Post Falls, Idaho. Free
admission.
May 19-20
Snake River Fiber Fest in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
March 31, 2012 High Desert Wool Growers 15th Annual Fiber Market Day
from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville, Oregon. Fiber
vendors, demos, fiber sales, and free admission and free parking. For more
information, visit: www.hdwoolgrowers.com
April 28-29, 2012 NW Alpaca Showcase & Fiber Arts Festival at the TRAC
Facility in Pasco , WA. Hand-spun skein and fiber arts competition, including all
types of natural animal fibers and fiber arts classes. For more information, visit:
www.nwpacashowcase.com.
May 25-27, 2012 Handweavers Spinners & Dyers of Alberta : “Colour
Conspiracy" annual conference in High River, Alberta. For more information,
visit: http://www.hwsda.org/conferences/2012.
May 31-June 3, 2012 Northwest Regional Spinners Association (NWRSA)
Conference at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. For more
information, visit: www.nwregionalspinners.org.
June 8–10, 2012 Carousel of Color the 2012 MAWS (Montana Association of
Weavers & Spinners) Conference at the University of Montana Campus in Missoula,
Montana. The activities include weaving, spinning, knitting and more; postconference workshops, and a social event at the Missoula Carousel. The conference
booklet will be available on the website at http://www.mawsonline.org/conference
in January. The Facebook address is https://www.facebook.com/pages/MAWS2012_Conference/264975556848696?sk+info.
June 22-24, 2012 Black Sheep Gathering at the Lane County Fairgrounds in
Eugene, Oregon. For more information, visit: www.blacksheepgathering.org.
July 15-21, 2012 Convergence® 2012 at Long Beach, California. HGA’s
Convergence® features special lectures, work-shops and seminars, exhibits, tours,
special events, and a commercial vendor hall full of fibers, fiber-related equipment
and an artist market. Instructors, teachers, and workshop leaders are encouraged
to submit proposals for workshops, studio classes, hands-on seminars, and short
lectures. For more information visit: http://weavespindye.org.
August 15-19, 2012
Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell.
August 25-26, 2012 Great Basin Fiber Art Festival at the Salt Lake County
Equestrian Park at 2200 West 11400 South in South Jordan, Utah.
September 7, 2012
Trailing Of the Sheep in Ketchum Idaho.
Sept. 8-9, 2012 Fall Wool Gathering, Formerly Shaniko Wool Gathering with
new name and location at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madras, Oregon.
September 22, 2012 Tapestry Bag Workshop with Joan Contraman sponsored
by the Alpine Weavers and Spinners Guild in Kalispell.
September 21-23, 2012 Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival in Canby Oregon. For
more information, visit: www.flockandfiberfestival.com.
June 17-23, 2013 2013 Association of Northwest Weavers Guild Regional
Conference "Crossing Borders, Crossing Threads" in Bellingham, Washington.
For more information, visit: .http://www.anwg-conference-2013.com/
CLASSIFIED ADS
For Sale

Bitterroot Fiber Arts Studio carries the following products: Ashford and Majacraft
spinning equipment, a nice selection of Hatshapers hat forms, and needle felting
supplies. Private and group felting classes. Also BFL breeding stock. Call Judy
Colvin, 406-644-3042 or email judithcolvin@me.com

White oak inkle looms handmade by Rhonda McDowell-Rowen’s husband.
$75.00 each. For any questions, call Rhonda 261-1713.
(Guild Policy for ads: one business-card size ad for free per issue for members. Additional
ads $10 each. Please contact the newsletter editor about your ad:
tknutson@aboutmontana.net)