October 2017

Tell Me About…. Antique Canadian Spinning Wheels – Marjo Wheat

I volunteer at a local museum and got a wonderful surprise this last week.  A local family donated a spinning wheel that had belonged to the family’s grandmother.  It is a beauty and is in working order!  Here’s a picture of it:

As you can see, it is a double drive single treadle wheel.  Part of my excitement was that up to now I haven’t seen any evidence that pioneers in this area did any spinning.  There’s lots of evidence that they made carded wool quilt; there are hand and drum carders in the museum’s collection.  This is the first spinning wheel, and it is a working one! 

I put this picture out in a discussion group on Facebook to see if anyone could identify this wheel.  The first response was that was a Canadian Production Wheel.  These were made in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec and had some distinctive features.  They used a tilt tension system and had a metal treadle.  Here’s a picture of a typical one: 

This is not the same as the museum wheel.  I found another lead on the internet, that it might be a wheel made by the Bisson family, Louis or Joseph, also from Quebec.  I googled these names and found this picture of a Bisson Wheel.

Bisson Wheels typically had only 8 spokes and a steeply tilted table.  They also used a screw tension, unlike the Canadian production Wheels.  It looks like this might be the original maker of this wheel.  I’ll have to do some more digging and see if I can find out more.

This wheel has also had a good repair job done to the flyer.

If only this wheel could talk and tell me about its long life!  Do any of you have an antique wheel?  What have you found out about where and when it was made?    

This is only one of the many articles in Threads Along the Peace Newsletter available with membership to Peace Country Spinners and Weavers.

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 We received this email:

 

In May we led our fourth textile tour around the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia on board the Ombak Putih. The weavers and dyers in this area really do produce some outstanding textiles and our group visit is one of the highlights of their year. 

Six of the twelve cabins are already booked for next year’s tour. (Click on the web site)... which gives more details in case this is of interest to your members. Best wishes, Sue Richardson

www.asiantextilestudies.com/tour.html

***

Here are current group projects at Artspost in Fort St. John.

 This is Norma's shawl project in wool/acrylic.

 Cheryl has started the cotton bath towel project.

Alex is weaving the first cotton tea towel.

Spinners' and Weavers' activities:

• October 13,14,15, 2017 PCSW Fall Conference. Spinning Art Yarns with Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks, Lakeview Inn, 10103 98th Ave., Fort St. John. Class size is 15. Deadline for the spinning workshop is one week before workshop. A Weaving Retreat is the second option. No instruction, just bring lots of projects to work on at your own pace. There may be last minute registration for the retreat.  See registration form in June blog. Come to the Annual Meeting on Saturday at 4:30.
• April 7, 2018 PCSW exhibition at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre for the month of April.  Show opening is from 2:00-4:00.  Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:00-5:00.  Details of Spring Conference and how to enter work to be announced. Items can be for sale or not.  
• Remember to find Peace Country Spinners and Weavers on Facebook. 
• For more information contact peacecountrysw@gmail.com.

Happy Spinning and Weaving!

September 2017

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The North Peace Spinners and Weavers held a Sheep to Shawl Demonstration at the North Peace Fall Fair in August.  Other years at the Fair we would gather to spin in front of the log cabin that the quilters used.  We did share that building with the quilters at one time but it somehow became too small for both groups.  We now have our own small building, new to us this year, renovated by Rene and Kathy and husbands - also known as patrons of the arts.  With tents adjacent to the building for a working area and displays inside the building, there is lots of room. We have been asked to do a sheep to shawl demonstration next year at the Fair.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's event so successful. Way to go Fort St. John!  Here are some pictures of this event:

 Alex kept an indigo dye pot going all weekend.

 

Indigo dyed yarns and fabric and purple?

 

 Sheryl carded fleece for the spinning of the weft.

 Kathy and Rene inside the building with our display.

 Marjorie and Doug enjoying the day.  Marjorie helped to spin the warp which was done beforehand.

Cheryl was the weaver all weekend and the shawl was finished about 4:00 on Sunday and is beautiful.  More pictures can been seen on the North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' Facebook page.

Norma helped to spin the weft too.  It was a grand weekend of spinning and weaving.

***

Spinners' and Weavers' activities:

• September 2, 2017 Peace River Fibre Arts at the Station display and sale. 11:00- 4:00.  https://peaceriver.ca/event/fibre-arts-at-the-station
• September 9, 2017 North Peace Spinners and Weavers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with an open house at Artspost, 10320 94th Ave. Fort St. John. Come and see spinners and weavers in action, and displays of their work.  Come and join us celebrate and eat cake! 1:00-4:00. 
  
• October 13,14,15, 2017 PCSW Fall Conference. Spinning Art Yarns with Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks, Lakeview Inn, 10103 98th Ave., Fort St. John. Class size is 15.  A Weaving Retreat is the second option. No instruction, just bring lots of projects to work on at your own pace.  Deadline has been extended until a week before workshop. 4 spaces left in spinning course. Please register as soon as possible. See registration form in June blog.
• April 7, 2018 PCSW exhibition at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre for the month of April.  Show opening is from 2:00-4:00.  Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:00-5:00.  Details of Spring Conference and how to enter work to be announced. Items can be for sale or not.  
• Remember to find Peace Country Spinners and Weavers on Facebook. 
• For more information contact peacecountrysw@gmail.com.

Happy Spinning and Weaving!  Happy Harvest!

August 2017

Who knew that one acrylic striped warp could produce such a diverse range of beautiful blankets?!  This is a group project at Artspost, Fort St. John, the studio of the North Peace Spinners and Weavers.
See all of the blankets in the next issue of Threads Along the Peace Newsletter coming out in the Fall. This is one of the blankets woven by Alisha.

Alisha used a brown weft with white weft bold stripes.

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Alisha has moved to Victoria and we are sad to see her go.  She came to lunch with us (North Peace Spinners and Weavers) at the dye weekend in July at Mary's home and she showed us one of her place mats that she had just finished weaving. She came to our group as a beginner and was very successful in her various projects. We wish her well and hope she continues spinning and weaving.

Here are more pictures of the dye weekend. Emily is winding a skein of her hand spun.

 These are some of the results from the natural dye pots in July at Mary's home.  We used madder, cumfrey, tansy, rhubarb, onion skins, nettles, hemp nettles, goldenrod, beets, and more.

This is another lovely length of Saori fabric woven by Kathy. Could not get it all in one picture!

There was lots going on at this dye weekend.  It was fun!

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 This is Faye's wool blanket that just came off the loom at Artspost.  It is a wedding present.

These are needle felted designs on commercial felt key chains that Faye purchased at Charlevoix Pure Laine in Quebec City.

Peace Country Spinners' and Weavers' activities:

• August 18, 19, 20 2017 North Peace Fall Fair, north of Fort St. John.  Sheep to Shawl demonstration by North Peace Spinners and Weavers. northpeacefallfair.com
• September 9, 2017 North Peace Spinners and Weavers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with an open house at Artspost, 10320 94th Ave. Fort St. John. Come and see spinners and weavers in action, and displays of their work.  Come and join us celebrate and eat cake! 1:00-4:00. 
  
• October 13,14,15, 2017 PCSW Fall Conference. Spinning Art Yarns with Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks, Lakeview Inn, 10103 98th Ave., Fort St. John. Class size is 15.  A Weaving Retreat is the second option. No instruction, just bring lots of projects to work on at your own pace. August 30 deadline. See registration form in June blog.
• April 7, 2018 PCSW exhibition at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre for the month of April.  Show opening is from 2:00-4:00.  Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:00-5:00.  Details of Spring Conference and how to enter work to be announced. Items can be for sale or not.  
• Remember to find Peace Country Spinners and Weavers on Facebook. 
• For more information contact peacecountrysw@gmail.com.

Happy Spinning and Weaving!  Happy Summer!

July 2017

Here are pictures from recent travels.  It is always exciting and inspiring to find wonderful examples of fibre arts. 

Charlevoix Pure Laine-Vieux Quebec 61 1/2 rue du Petit Champlain, Quebec City www.charlevoixpurelaine.ca

***

Charlevoix Alpacas 77 Rue du Petit-Champlain, Quebec City www.alpagascharlevoix.com

***

 Our rented house in Charlevoix, close to Malbaie, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, was located in a field of flowering bed straw-a dyer's delight. The scent was wonderful. 

***

 The hat and jacket by Jessica de Haas, hand dyed and felted merino wool and silk, is shown in the Vancouver airport. www.funkshuifelt.com Funk Shui Atelier 1375 Railspur Alley Granville Island.

***

Peace Country Spinners' and Weavers' activities:

• July 23, 2017 Euphemia McNaught Homestead Open House, Arts Festival and I.O.D.E. tea, Beaverlodge 1:00-5:00. PCSW display and demonstrations and individual sales opportunity.
• July 21,22,23 North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' natural dye weekend at Mary T's home.  All types of dyeing.  Bring fibre and yarn. Come for the day or camp. 
• Artwalk 2017 Fort St. John. Ends August 19.  North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' display is currently at Old is the New New Consignment Shop 9512 100th St SW.
• August 6, 2017 Dunvegan Fresh Air Market.  PCSW display, demonstrations and individual sales opportunity. 
• August 18, 19, 20 2017 North Peace Fall Fair, north of Fort St. John.  Sheep to Shawl demonstration by North Peace Spinners and Weavers. northpeacefallfair.com
• September 9, 2017 North Peace Spinners and Weavers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with an open house at Artspost, 10320 94th Ave. Fort St. John. Come and see spinners and weavers in action, and displays of their work.  Come and join us celebrate and eat cake! 1:00-4:00. 
  
• October 13,14,15, 2017 PCSW Fall Conference. Spinning Art Yarns with Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks, Lakeview Inn, 10103 98th Ave., Fort St. John. Class size is 15.  A Weaving Retreat is the second option. No instruction, just bring lots of projects to work on at your own pace. August 30 deadline. See registration form in June blog.
• April 7, 2018 PCSW exhibition at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre for the month of April.  Show opening is from 2:00-4:00.  Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:00-5:00.  Details of Spring Conference and how to enter work to be announced. Items can be for sale or not.  
• Remember to find Peace Country Spinners and Weavers on Facebook. 
• For more information contact peacecountrysw@gmail.com.

Happy Spinning and Weaving!  Happy Gardening!

June 2017

This is the revised registration form for the Peace Country Spinners and Weavers' Fall Conference, including registration for the Weaving Retreat. 

FALL CONFERENCE 2017

October 13, 14, 15

Lakeview Inn & Suites Meeting Rooms 10103 98th Avenue Fort St. John

REGISTRATION FORM:

NAME:__________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________

Email or Phone: _____________________

REGISTRATION DEADLINE – AUGUST 30, 2017 –

- But don’t wait – register early and be sure to secure to your spot -

Please indicate your workshop choice with X

3 Day Art Yarn Spinning   _____    (class max. 15 participants)   

3 Day Weekend Weaving Retreat ____________ 

Please indicate fee enclosed with X

3 Day $350.00 member ____ Spinning materials fee: $95. Subsidized by PCSW

$400. Non- member _____ Spinning fee: $95. ____ (subsidy does not apply)

$200. Non-refundable deposit ______             

Weaving Retreat – number of days attending - ____1day  _____ 2 day _____3 day.

Member - $25. Per day. Non-member - $35. per day.   Total amount enclosed _____________

Email: mewalker@gpnet.ca

Please forward your registration via Canada post to:

Marion Walker (Treasurer)

RR2, Site 17, Box 2,

Sexsmith AB

T0H 3C0

Accommodations:

Lakeview Inn & Suites  - has offered the preferred rate for participants of $99. + tax  for  a double room.  $135.+ tax for kitchenette unit. Call to book for yourselves.

10103 98th Avenue  Fort St. John, BC V1J 1P8

Phone: 250.787.0779   Fax: 250.787.0709  Toll-Free: 877.355.3500

Limited billets available:   Email Cheryl if you need one.   cpeebles@telus.net
*********************************************************************

The Show and Tell was spectacular at the Peace Country Spinners' and Weavers' Spring Conference in Dawson Creek in April.  These pictures give everyone an idea of the scope of the work presented but do not do justice to the beauty of the woven items.  Weaving really needs to be experienced in person  to fully appreciate the colour nuances and the textures. And how can one really experience fully a textile without that essential touch of hand?

 Rene's lovely mat had a close encounter with some red dye, but the result is not too noticeable.  Life sometimes does present challenges when perfection is the goal. 😢

 Rene's lovely Saori fabric!

Rene's stunning tapestry.

This is a sample of Rene's home grown, hand spun cotton.  It is grown in a greenhouse in the Peace River Valley!

Ellen is reading Loretta's letter and holding the Saori woven results, explaining the variety of items from Australia, included in the Fibre Share box, received by Ellen. 

This is Jill's Saori woven piece.

Jill wove this curtain to cover a window in her apartment.  It is the sea shore and sea with beads, shells, fish and more. It has to be seen to appreciate the complexity of Jill's great talent in weaving and embellishment

Chanelle has several Saori woven projects to show.  Fun.

Marion is wearing a hooded scarf woven in Saori style.  Looks warm and comfy for our Peace Country winters.

Lorraine made a purse and pillow with her Saori weaving.  Quite delightful.

Great cape, Lorraine!

The Lake Saskatoon weavers' designed a tartan reflecting their area, as a group weaving project.  Lorraine made this great purse and below is Chanelle's bag.  Chanelle's Grandmother, Joan, a long time member of the Lake Saskatoon Guild and PCSW, years ago, had inspired us to design our own tartans representing the Peace Country.  If I remember correctly, Joan, George and Faye each designed a tartan.  It is a fun exercise and an interesting guild group weaving project.

Kathy is showing Doris' Saori scarf, samples from the Fibre Share box and she is reading Doris' explanation of her inspiration and designing process.  Lovely.

Kathy is showing one of her Saori woven yardages.  No doubt we will be showing a photo of the sewn garment soon.

This skein is Kathy's first spinning done at the North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' February retreat at Northern Lights College, on her Ashford Traditional Wheel.  Kathy enjoyed learning how to spin and with great success. 

This is Carolyn's bound weave mat.  It is such a fun weave structure and it is reversible

.

Carolyn experimented further with bound weave with great success.

Lorena is displaying part of her Saori weaving that is a wall hanging.  Nice!

More work with overshot by Lorena.  It is so fun to work in complex patterns with lots of colour changes.

Lorena made tea towels for a yellow kitchen and had fun with stripes and colour variations.  Who wouldn't want these?

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Peace Country Spinners' and Weavers' activities:

•  North Peace Spinners and Weavers chicken pincushion workshop.  See poster in April 2017 blog. This event was cancelled due to heavy snow and will be rescheduled.
• July 8, 2017 Textile Market, under tents at parking lot of North Peace Cultural Centre, Sales/Demo's from 10:00 - 2:00.  Fibre Artists can book a table through Fort St. John Arts Council. North Peace Spinners and Weavers will be there.
• July 23, 2017 Euphemia McNaught Homestead Open House, Arts Festival and I.O.D.E. tea, Beaverlodge 1:00-5:00. PCSW display and demonstrations and individual sales opportunity.
• July 21,22,23 North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' natural dye weekend at Mary's cabin on Charlie Lake. Natural Dyes only.  Bring fibre and yarn. Come for the day or camp.  25 colours from onion skins. Start saving onion skins!   
• Artwalk 2017 Fort St. John. Ends August 19.  North Peace Spinners' and Weavers' display is currently at Old is the New New Consignment Shop 9512 100th St SW.
• August 6, 2017 Dunvegan Fresh Air Market.  PCSW display, demonstrations and individual sales opportunity. 
• August 18, 19, 20 2017 North Peace Fall Fair, north of Fort St. John.  Sheep to Shawl demonstration by North Peace Spinners and Weavers. northpeacefallfair.com
• September 9, 2017 North Peace Spinners and Weavers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with an open house at Artspost, 10320 94th Ave. Fort St. John. Come and see spinners and weavers in action, and displays of their work.  Come and join us celebrate and eat cake! 1:00-4:00. 
  
• October 13,14,15, 2017 PCSW Fall Conference- Spinning Art Yarns with Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks, Lakeview Inn, 10103 98th Ave., Fort St. John. Class size is 15.  A Weaving Retreat is the second option. No instruction, just bring lots of projects to work on at your own pace. August 30 deadline. 
• April 7, 2018 PCSW exhibition at the Fairview Fine Arts Centre for the month of April.  Show opening is from 2:00-4:00.  Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:00-5:00.  Details of Spring Conference and how to enter work to be announced. Items can be for sale or not.  
• Remember to find Peace Country Spinners and Weavers on Facebook. 
• For more information contact peacecountrysw@gmail.com.

Happy Spinning and Weaving!  Happy Gardening!