After some housework, I spent the day studying the Adobe Dreamweaver manual, trying to learn this new web design software. I took on the job of web master of the Frances Irwin Guild’s website, and I want to do a new presentation/seminar on web design to coordinate with my Photographing Your Work seminar. I believe I am debuting the Web Design seminar at the Michigan Conference in August.
Speaking of Conferences…
This is the summer of the regional conferences, if there is one close enough to you, consider attending, great opportunities to exhibit, to learn, to serve, to benefit from hanging around a group of really creative people. I’m sad I can’t attend my own regional conference, because the one in Colorado is the same weekend, and I am scheduled to teach there. I’m going to try to add the list of conferences where I’m teaching in the Upcoming Events Widget on the side bar, meanwhile here is a brief outline…
June 22-27, 2009 Midwest Weavers Conference, Grinnell, Iowa http://www.heartland2009.org
July 3-6, 2009 Peters Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ http://www.petersvalley.org
July 10-12, 2009 New England Weavers Seminar Northhampton, MA http://www.newenglandweaversseminar.com
July 30-August 2, 2009 Intermountain Weavers Conference, Durango, CO http://www.intermountainweavers.org/
August 4-9, 2009, Michigan League of Handweaver’s Conference 2009, Holland, MI http://2009workshopsandconference.mlhguild.org/
August 22-30, 2009 Felters’ Fling, Williamsburg, MA http://www.blacksheepdesigns.com
September 20-25, 2009 Sievers School of Fiber Arts, Washington, Island, WI http://www.sieversschool.com
In the meantime, you can visit my website to see what I’m teaching (I’m working on updating that as well) or visit each venue to see their complete offerings.
If you are looking for an early fall retreat, a trip to Sievers School of Fiber Arts in Wisconsin is about the best you will find. Once you are on Washington Island, you can only leave by ferry, you forget life, and dive in head first, and it is one of those experiences that will bring you back every year. It is the only place I offer a full five day garment construction workshop, first time students will make my classic jacket, but returning students (and there are quite a few) can bring their own patterns and agenda and really immerse themselves into the sewing experience. This is open to all, not just handweavers. Check out the other course offerings as well, they start classes in mid June, and run through mid October.
And finally, a BIG call for help! I alluded to the fact in my blog from Thursday, that I was voted Vice President in charge of programming for the Jockey Hollow Guild for 2009-10. Sharp reader Nancy noticed it right away and commented, she had the distinguished job of program coordinator for the Ann Arbor Guild, and did a fabulous job coordinating my trip there last fall. As a matter of fact, over the years I have been in awe of how organized and enthusiastic all the program chair persons have been in coordinating my workshops for their guilds over the past 15 years or so I have been teaching and traveling. So it is with great trepidation that I attempt to follow in their footsteps, and come up with programs and workshops for my guild. Any ideas are really really really appreciated. What was one of your favorite programs? I’m especially looking for ones that can be done locally with guild members. Is there a site or blog where guilds can share this sort of information, like, “Wow, we just had the most interesting program!” Sounds like a job for HGA… For now, feel free to click on the comments section and share your memorable programs. (Am I cheating by asking for help?)
Thanks for listing the regional conferences. I’m not sure enough people realize how exciting and stimulating a few days with people who speak ‘weavereze’ can be. Hope everyone will take advantage. If traveling, try a conference out of your area. There are scholarships availabale for the Midwest Conference (see the website). It’s fine teaching like yours, Daryl, that makes the conferences so valuable.
Well thanks Judy! There are other conferences I didn’t list, ANWG, MAFA, Florida Tropical, Texas, is there a place where all the conferences are listed for the summer? That would be really helpful. And you are right Judy, if you can swing it financially in this economic downturn, try to get out to your local conference, or better yet, travel out of your area, there are so many guilds and flavors just waiting to be sampled.
Hi Daryl,
New England Weavers Seminar will be at Smith College in Northampton, not Amherst, MA. I just want to be sure you know that so you’ll be in the right place, since I’m signed up for two of your classes! :>
Diane
Thanks for the clarification Diane, I was going by my contracts, all of which say Smith College, Amherst, MA. Go figure… I guess they want the instructors in one place and the students in another? I went to the website, and yes, they list the town as Northhampton, so I’ll change the blog to reflect that. I think the two towns are near each other, as I recall, the college may straddle both towns.