The Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers
2007-2008 News & Events

Programs

March Meeting - Saturday, March 29, 2008, 9:30am
Pine Needle Baskets with Freddi Felt

Freddi had everyone stitching the start of a little basket in this hands-on class with extra-long pine needles and raffia. Extra materials are in the guild room. Thank you Freddi!

Angela shared a collection of small looms and some projects they can do.

• Potholder can do color & weave patterns and twills! Plus they're great for starting kids in weaving.
• Weavettes are tiny hand-held frame looms that come in several sizes. They can make flowers, small purses and cases, or squares and rectangles can be sewn together for larger projects.
• Small tri-looms let you weave with a continuous strand of yarn with no pre-warping required! Little triangles can be sewn together for larger projects.

 MGHW Workshops 

The Red and White workshop presented by our own Debbie Todhunter included 20 different structures and color & weave patterns in just two colors.

April Meeting - Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9:00-4:30
Natural Dye Workshop with Mary Lessman

Ten weavers chose or designed their own color recipes using dyes from nature on wool, silk, mohair, or angora. Each participant took away a notebook with a set of 24 colors, the recipe and a sample of the undyed fiber from each dye pot. Some participants overdyed half of their samples in indigo, revealing even more color variations. The end result was a fun day and a reference of 288 natural colors.

 Class offerings 

Weave a Scarf in a Day! This popular workshop Was held October 13, November 19, December 1, January 19.

 Exhibits & Shows 

Member Felicitas Sloves was one of the artists featured in the Holiday Artist Market by Wings Cancer Foundation
Artist Reception and Sale – Friday, December 7th from 5:00 – 7:00
Full Holiday Artist Market – Saturday, December 8th from 10:00 – 4:00 - stop by after the holiday luncheon!
Wings Cancer Foundation is located at The West Clinic – 100 N. Humphreys Blvd (map).

St. John's Community Celebration - Saturday, April 26, 2008, 10am - 3pm
St. John’s United Methodist Church, 1207 Peabody Avenue at Bellevue, Midtown Memphis

MGHW had a booth at St. John's Community Celebration. We had a demonstrating weaver, small looms for the public to try and handwoven items for display and sale. The public came by to see the process and try weaving.

Make it Red The annual exhibit by the North Mississippi Fiber Arts Guild (Senatobia), the Chimneyville Weavers and Spinners (Jackson, MS) and the Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers had a theme of women's heart health. The show included painting, pottery, glass, weaving, and knitting, all with red. Several MGHW members participated.

The show was on display at the Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS March 17 - 31, 2008.

 Events

May Fiber Feast Luncheon - Saturday, May 10, 2008, 11:00

We had a lovely time visiting Alice's historic 108-year old grand home in Brownsville TN. We toured the home that is filled with antiques and Alice's fiber arts' accomplishments. Her three vegetable-dyed and hand-woven woolen blankets, and two cotton coverlets were masterfully designed and executed. We were all in awe of her skills. Luncheon was served on the front porch and screened back porch, and we were able to enjoy the wonderful landscaping and peacefully setting in the spring weather. Time was too short and we all hated to leave! Many thanks to Alice for sharing her home with us.
-Roni

 News

MGHW has purchased two new books for the guild library:
Sheila Hicks: Weaving as Metaphor - a catalog of small works by contemporary American textile artist Sheila Hicks.
Handloom Weaving Technology by Allen Fannin - examining the materials, tools, and processes of weaving, asking why they work they way they do, and how they can work better.