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.

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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!