Rotoiti Retreat - Part 2

Marlborough Guild was well represented at Retreat:

Seen here from left to right are our Mary Neal, June McKenzie, and Jen Smith with new Area Delegate Beryl Hunter

Win Currie, Denise Cleghorn (who now lives in Canterbury but we still claim her, Nancy Taylor and Cherie Maffey

Jan Hannay about to don a felted slipper. Along with Nancy, Janwas doing her bit to promote Hats for Hope

Our President, Pam Hilliard, in a pensive moment

Noeline Gratton and Tricia Jane watching a demonstration. Tricia knitting non-stop.

Yvonne Burns and Josie Butt kept their needles flying

Cherry Mitchell debates whether stripes and flowers all go together

Lyn Clark is concentrating on the Show and Tell

New member Nola McKenzie fitted right in with a big smile

by Rose Pelvin

Rotoiti Retreat - Part 1

The annual winter Retreat at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park was held on 5-7 August. As expected, the weather was cold but a wonderful log fire ensured the Lodge was warm. Members came from all over the Top of the South Island and also the West Coast. Activities were many and varied, several traders appeared to be doing brisk business, meals were fortifying and delicious, friendships were renewed and new ones begun.

by Rose Pelvin

July Meeting at Win's, Part 2

Win was showing and telling but I had my eye on her magnificent felt beads!

Like the albatross and penguins on her wall.

This was Win's tapestry just off the loom. Birds and shorelines are among her favourite subjects.

These are the colours she dyed in the microwave oven, ready for her next work which will be similar to . . .

Jenny's interpretation of a group challenge. Well done Jenny. I'm sorry if the photo is upside down or sideways!

New member Jen has been learning to weave under June's tuition. She's wearing her first scarf. Lovely colours Jen.

And this is her first bag. Sorry it's not a good photo - too much sunshine!

A close-up of the weave on the front of the bag.

by Rose Pelvin

July Meeting at Win's, Part 1

We enjoyed Win's hospitality on a lovely sunny day. Pumpkin soup and homemade bread added to the general well-being. Thank you Win. We welcome two new members, Jen and Cathie.

Tricia tucks under the ends of Joan's just-finished floor rug; another reincarnation of the curtains.

Is this how much weaving Chris does each day? Or is she talking fishing?

One of Rose's scarves. Who knows what the fibre is? Who cares!

Three scarves from the same warp. Three different wefts.

Joan and Win inspect an ikat scarf from the Philippines.

And we are all intrigued with the way the fringes are tied.

by Rose Pelvin

Peg and June Catching Up, by Rose

Peg and June have a rare catch-up with each other. Here they are checking out some of Peg's latest work. Happy 94th birthday on 9 July Peg!

by Rose Pelvin

June Meeting: Reviewing the Maryanne Stamford Workshop

Winter weariness (or over commitment) seems to have set in, so it was a small group who enjoyed the June Weavers' meeting. It was an informal, cosy, round-table meeting with plenty of time for conversation. Win gave a summary of the Maryanne Stamford workshop and those who had attended added their comments and observations. All who had attended had found it a challenge and more complex than expected, but had learned a lot and were glad they had taken the opportunity to attend.

Win's first sample is now off the loom. She has tried various background patterns and even a small amount of pick-up.

Chris had several pattern variations to choose from that Maryanne had printed out using the PCW sotfware. This one appealed and is looking good on the loom. Keep up the good work Chris.

Although not at the meeting, Meg was overjoyed that tie down did need not be in tabby, though it took some time and energy to figure out why her "twills" didn't show up as well as Win's. 

Show and Tell was rather thin on the ground but Rose showed off her recently made Jacket. The fabric is from 'way back' and when asked when she had woven it, Rose thought is was one of her 'more recent' pieces, maybe from about five years ago. She fibbed! Research into the archives shows it was woven in June/July 2001! And no, there is no moth damage (and yes, there's more where that came from.) Lots of helpful ideas were forthcoming about buttons/fastening etc, and brownie points were awarded for the Thai silk scarf.

A closeup shows the 8 shaft twill blocks (2-1-2-3) woven as a goose-eye. The warp and weft are the same, a VERY fine wool singles, used double and still set at 24e.p.i. (My friend Sue Broad challenged me with this yarn.) The warp was 33 inches in the reed and 6 yards long. A supplementary warp at the change of direction is a boucle knitting wool with a metallic silver thread through it.

Conscious of the Festival coming to Marlborough in 2012, it's time to start getting serious about wearing our work. Remember, YOU are the FASHION!

by Rose Pelvin

Granddaughter's Cape, by Rose

This is the cape I made for my granddaughter to help her through the Christchurch winter. It is woven in 2/2 twill in some sort of wool blend. The yarn is from my 'way-back' stash and had no label. It produced a very lightweight soft fabric that drapes well and is very warm.

by Rose Pelvin

June's House

When I was in Blenheim in April for the block weave workshop, I had the great pleasure of visiting June McKenzie at her home.  The house itself is a lovely old villa with a rambling garden, but what was so exciting was every room was full of June's woven work, not just scarves and fabrics, but garments and even upholstered pieces. 

So, may I suggest you make yourself a nice cup of something lovely, and "walk" with me?

 Possibly my most favorite piece of the day was this foot stool. 

Rain got heavier and the light very bad, so the colors in the photo above and below are not representative of these fabrics, but I knew you'd want to see the texture and the design.

Thank you for a lovely time, June.

You can see more of June's work here.


by Meg Nakagawa