Boundary Spinners and Weavers Guild

Preserving the Heritage Arts of Spinning, Weaving, Dyeing, Felting, Kntting, Basketweaving, and other traditional fibre arts.

* Annual Workshops with professional fibre artists
* Monthly learning opportunities -- miniworkshops and demonstrations
* Community networking with other arts and culture groups
* Fellowship
* Expanding guild library
* Equipment rentals and loans
* Skill building and mentoring in weaving, spinning, knitting, felting


Weavers, spinners, rug hookers, knitters, basket weavers, felters, dyers and other fibre artists are welcome.

People of all skill levels will find a place of learning and friendship. Our members range in age from 12 to 92. We have both male and female members.

 

2009 International Year of Natural Fibers

We are celebrating with events planned for the whole year.

Our first event is a joint venture with the Grand Forks Art Gallery and the Grand Forks Museum -- "Our Daily Threads" (March 3 to April 18) will feature contemporary work by our members featuring natural fibers -- cotton, wool, linen, mohair, silk.

This will culminate in a 2 day workshop with Veteran Weaver Laura Fry -- "Magic in the Water I".

The concurrent Museum show (March 2 to September 7), "The Thread of our Heritage" will feature, never before displayed, historical textiles from the Dukhobor heritage of our area. Weaving, Knitting, embroidery, most of it made with hand spun yarn in the Kootenay Boundary area. Also learning centres for natural fibers, spinning, weaving, natural dyeing and live fiber animals will be part of this museum show. There is a natural dye display with modern textiles dyed with natural dyes.

A community weaving project, "A Peace Banner" is set up on the friendship loom. Come weave a lasting legacy and add your thoughts, hopes and prayers for peace into our banner.

 

Another 2009 International Year of Natural Fibres Event:

July 25, 2009 1pm to 4pm Natural Indigo Dye Workshop/Demonstration at Joybilee Farm.

No admission charge and farm tours available for a small fee.

Natural fibres call for natural dyes. The Boundary Spinner and Weaver Guild, in conjunction with Joybilee Farm, will host a natural indigo dye workshop/demonstration.

Come to Joybilee Farm on Saturday and witness the magic of the natural indigo vat. Both woad dyeing and natural indigo dyeing will be featured.

See hand woven shibori textiles dip dyed in a natural indigo fermentation vat. Purchase a silk scarf to dye, for a nominal charge, and witness the magic of the natural indigo vat.

Sale of indigo dyed scarves and shawls, indigo dyed ikat yarns and natural dye kits. No admission charge.

 

Another International Year of Natural Fiber Event:

August 8, 2009 10 am to 5pm -- "2nd Annual Linen Festival"

in partnership with Joybilee Farm.

What do Egyptian mummies, Viking sails, M'Lady's corset, linseed oil, flax bread and linen towels have in common? Come to the Linen Festival at Joybilee Farm on August 9th and find out.

This will be a fun and educational day. The fiber flax field will be harvested. Every step from field to finished cloth will be explained and you can participate in breaking flax and hackling it ready for spinning. Spin some linen and even try your hand at weaving.

Linen was an important crop in the Boundary area as recently as the 1950s. Several locally grown, hand spun and hand woven linen textiles are on loan to our guild, for your enjoyment, as part of this exceptional event.

Petting zoo with baby llamas, goats and sheep. ART sale and artisan studio open. Live music.

Nominal Admission charge.

 

Boundary Spinners and Weavers Guild is a members of:
* The Association of Northwest Weavers Guild
* Guild of Canadian Handweavers
* The Boundary District Art Council

The Boundary Spinner and Weaver Guild was awarded the BDAC Volunteer Award of the Year in 2007 for 25 years of service to the Boundary District Art Council.

Call Mary for more information.