Community Guild Studios at Slater Mill

Knitting Weekend 2011

I am very pleased to be able to tell you all about the 3rd Annual Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill, which will be held the weekend of January 21st - 23rd.  I think that Bernadette has done a most excellent job selecting classes full of different techniques any knitter should be pleased to add to their arsenal of knitting skills .

You can download the brochure (pdf file) right here -  Download Knit weekend brochure_2011

You can also head over to the Classes/Events page to pay for your classes using paypal, or feel free to contact Bernadette at bernadette@slatermill.org.

Hope to see you all there!

Wearable Art Show and Rose Ann Hunter Workshop

Hello Folks!  I've got a few things to share with you, and few more to remind you about.  

First of all, Bernadette wants to let you know about the Wearable Art Show! 

From the press release:

The Slater Mill Community Guild Studios invites local artisans of all (fiber) mediums to submit 

imaginative and thoughtful creations for the human figure.  This is an opportunity for estab- 

lished and emerging (fiber) artists to showcase their work in a setting intimately connected to 

textile innovation. These pieces should be handcrafted and one-of-a-kind.  Items can be submit- 

ted in the form of clothing, jewelry and accessories. This is a perfect opportunity to gear up for 

the upcoming holiday season! 

 

A panel of jurors will review the submissions and select those entries that will participate in the 

Wearable Art Show & Sale.  The submission form can be found  by emailing  

wearableart@slatermill.org or at www.slatermill.org. For more information about the exhibit, or 

to learn more about sponsorship, contact Bernadette Vaughan at 401-725-8638 ext.108 or

bernadette@slatermill.org.

The show will be in the Slater Mill Gallery and run November 4th 2010 - January 2nd 2011.  

You can download the application form  -  Download Wearable art_submission form_2010 

and the waiver form -   Download Wearable art_waiver form_2010

 

ALSO - Don't forget that Rose Ann Hunter will be here on November 14th.  In a class titled "Wool on Wool", you will "learn to transform your old wool garments into heirloom pieces by using simple 

sewn stitches. Ms. Hunter will demonstrate adapted rug making techniques from 

1790 and center shirr a garland with wool beads and button shirred flowers. Stu- 

dents will also create a small assortment of ornaments with these techniques by 

manipulating fabric into holiday folk art treasures to enjoy for years to come. "

Class is 10am - 1pm.  The fee for this class is $40 for members of Slater Mill Museum, $45 for non- 

members. The instructor will collect a $5 from each student for shirring supplies. 

Students are welcome to bring old wool clothes that have been washed and dried 

to “full” the wool. Registration is required for this workshop as space is limited!

 

 

Handmade Marketplace Rescheduled!!!

As most of you have probably already heard, the workshop and book signing with Kari Chapin that was supposed to happen this weekend has been postponed until August 7th.  This is good news for me because now I can actually GO to this event!  Here's the email folks on the listserve received from Bernadette:

The book signing at Slater Mill by author Kari Chapin is postponed to August 7, 2010. However, she has also added a workshop to this event. This workshop will focus on product branding and marketing. from her website:

"What the heck is branding and how can you get some? And Marketing! Isn’t that all about pie charts and surveys? No! I will share with you everything I know about both topics (and I know a lot!) We’ll be able to look at your current efforts, and see where you can go from where you are. And if you’re nowhere with your branding or marketing – don’t worry! I’ll help you figure out what works for you, and we’ll discuss all kinds of things you might want to try. Everything from tag lines to writing copy will be covered. "

The workshop will be held in the Blackstone Valley Visitor’s Center, across the street from Slater Mill (175 Main Street). Please let me know if you are interested, as space for the workshop is limited.

 

Handmade Marketplace Workshop: 12:00-2:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $55
Please contact bernadette@slatermill.org to register, or call 401.725.8638.

Handmade Marketplace Book signing: 3-5 PM

Books will be for sale.

Kari is a marketing and publicity savvy crafter who has sold her goods online as well as managing a bricks and mortar store. She has worked in marketing and publicity for a variety of arts and non-profits organizations and managed a retail store featuring artisan goods. “The Handmade Marketplace ” is a comprehensive guide to successfully navigating new opportunities for selling handmade crafts and targeting selling venues.

Upcoming Events and Various Goings-On

We have so many things to discuss!  Where to start?  Well, first of all, if you haven't had a chance to go see it, the Rowan 30th Anniversary Exhibit is going away on June 25th, so you'd better go asap! 

Don't forget there are 2 fabulous classes going on this Saturday on Workshop Day!  Embroidery with Brenda Devine will be from 11-2.  I've got a couple project pics from this class to share with you all.  Here's the beginning of the project -

And here's where it will end up -

I'm told this is a completely addictive process. 

Also this Saturday is Journal Quilting with Pat St. Germain, offered from 2-5.  No quilting experience required!  Here's an excuse for those non-quilters to play with some cloth!    

Weavers - as always, feel free to come in and work on your projects from 10-5. 

And Hey!  Calling all Knitting Guild Members!  Margery Winter, Editor-in-Chief of Verena Knitting Magazine will be our special guest for our Wednesday, June 30th meeting, so please come and bring a friend!

Want even more up-to-date info about Slater Mill?  You can see the Mill's new twitter page at http://twitter.com/TheSlaterMill, or, if you have a twitter account, you can simply follow TheSlaterMill.   

Handmade Marketplace

I always love getting email from Bernadette, because it's usually about some awesome thing she's got planned at the mill, and her latest email did not disappoint!  As someone who has started selling wares at the occasional craft fair, with no real clue as to what I am doing, I am beyond thrilled that Slater Mill has invited Kari Chapin, author of Handmade Marketplace, to conduct a workshop and book signing!

Here's what the publisher has to say about Kari Chapin's book:

“Turn your craft into a successful business! Even the most expert crafters may find it challenging to market and sell their wares, but with Kari Chapin you have an experienced guide at your side. Learn to determine your cost of goods, set prices, identify the competition, and understand the ins and outs of wholesale and retail sales. Explore the various sales venues available, including independent craft fairs, Web sites such as Etsy, and traditional stores, and learn to maximize your visibility and sales in each one. Want to start your own Web site? Chapin shows you how to style and prop your crafts for photography and explains how the most popular Web marketplaces operate. You’ll find everything you need to turn your talent into profits.”

The workshop and book signing will be held on July 17th, at 1pm at Slater Mill, and I'll let you know exactly where it's being held and if you should bring anything with you in the next few days! 

Journal Quilting at Workshop Day

If you have been wanting to try quilting, but feel like you just don't know your way around a sewing machine well enough to tackle it just yet, or you like scrapbooking but want to try something new, then may I suggest Journal Quilting?  No quilting, or even sewing, experience required.

  

Here is an example - the class instructor, Pat St. Germaine, was inspired by these two images to create the Spring Journal page below:

        

                    
  

Here's info from Bernadette about the class, as well as a description of the original inspiration behind Journal Quilting.  

 

Intro to Journal Quilting

Instructor: Patricia St.Germain

Saturday, June 26th

Workshop meets 2-5PM

Fee: $25

 

Diaries in cloth! Students will discover the creative freedom of design and self expression of journal quilting by making their first  8x10” journal page from an assortment of fabrics and embellishments of their choice. They are a great way to try new techniques in fiber and art without a large commitment of time and materials. That are small scale art quilts that can tell the story of your life, a memorable experience or capture elements of your spiritual journey. No sewing or quilting experience needed.

Inspiration for the class:

Artist Jeanne Williamson-From January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2005, Jeanne made one small quilt a week, completing a total of 365 quilts. The purpose of this project was to play and experiment, and to give herself the time to create at least one quilt each week, no matter what else was going on in her life. The rules were: Each year she changed sizes, as a new challenge. The quilts ranged in size from as large as 8"x10" one year to as small as 4"x6" another year, and they would always be whole cloth. Each quilt could be made any time during the week, from Sunday through Saturday, and as she worked each week, she could not throw out the orginal piece and start over with a new one, even if she didn't like the result. There were no limits on what techniques or materials she could use.

In 2003 Karey Bresenhan, president of Quilts Inc., organized the first ever Journal Quilt Project one of the most popular exhibits ever shown at the International Quilt Festivals. Since then, hundreds of artists from around the world have participated in the Journal Quilt Project every year, making small, 8" x 11.5" quilts every month to explore new techniques, express fresh ideas, and experiment with the myriad of resources available to quilters today. Whether quilters officially participated in the Journal Quilt Project or not, thousands of quilters new and seasoned have been inspired by the Project and are using page-sized quilts as visual journals for self-expression and discovery.

Harrisville Designs Trip

Harrisville Designs is a name that weavers, knitters, spinners, and other fiber folks associate with quality woolen yarns and fleece.  Since 1971, Harrisville Designs was created with "a goal of preserving the textile heritage and economic vitality that had sustained the village [of Harrisville] for almost two hundred years. 

And now's your chance to see it for yourself!  Sign up for the Harrisville Designs Tour, leaving from Slater Mill in September!  See the email from Bernadette below - and if you're not already on the mailing list, email her Bernadette@slatermill.org to be added asap!

September 9,  2010: Harrisville Bus trip from Slater Mill

Join us as we travel to historic Harrisville, NH to visit Harrisville Designs. Harrisville, nestled in the scenic Monadnock Highlands of southwestern New Hampshire, is a village whose tradition in textiles dates back more than 200 years. Harrisville Designs is a small family owned and operated business continuing that tradition by producing high quality yarn, looms and accessories. Harrisville Designs also offers a custom wool spinning service. For the past 30 years, The Knitting and Weaving Center at Harrisville has been providing fiber arts students with workshops instructed by acclaimed textile artists.

· Bus departs Slater Mill at 8 AM, returns 5 PM

· Trip includes roundtrip transportation from Slater Mill to Harrisville Designs, tour of Harrisville Designs, weaving demonstration and driver tip. Harrisville Designs is kindly offering our group 10% off in their shop for the day!

· Trip fee: $50 members/$80 non-members (join Slater Mill now and you are immediately eligible for member price)

· Register before July 1^st and receive 5% off

Please contact me with any questions and I hope to see some of you attending our workshops and  trip .

Best,

Bernadette     

Rowan Exhibit at Slater Mill

 

In case you haven't heard, the Rowan 30th Anniversary Exhibit opens at the Gallery in the Visitor's Center at Slater Mill this week!  We are very, very lucky that this international tour is visiting us here in Pawtucket, RI.  

 In case you missed the email Bernadette sent out:

Rowan 30th Anniversary Exhibition at Slater Mill Gallery May 6-June 25, 2010

PAWTUCKET, RI: Slater Mill and Community Guild Studios partners with Rowan Yarns to bring world renowned exhibit to Rhode Island. Rowan is known as the U.K.’s leading premium yarn company. This Exhibition showcases vintage designer garments tracing three decades of design in the hand knitting industry. This touring exhibition has already appeared in several European countries as well as Australia.

The Exhibition features a selection of iconic designs and profiles the key designers who have helped create the individuality that is the Rowan brand, designers like Kaffe Fassett, Kim Hargreaves, Annabel Fox, Louisa Harding, Jean Moss, Brandon Mably, Marion Foale, Erika Knight, Sarah Dallas, Sasha Kagan, Martin Storey and Marie Wallin. The exhibit showcases a wide range of garment styles for women and men: cardigans, jackets, sweaters, coats, dresses, vests and shawls. The work involved in the exhibit garments is evident. An outstanding knitted garment on view in the show will be Kaffe Fassett’s Long Leaf Coat with some knit rows requiring over 30 color changes. This amazing coat is made from over 70,000 stitches and is a testament to what hand knitters can achieve. In all the exhibit’s thirty-three garments span the years from 1983 to 2008.

The opening reception will be held at the Slater Mill Gallery on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 5:30-7PM. The gallery is located in the Visitor Center at 175 Main Street, downtown Pawtucket across from Slater Mill. Guests are invited to wear or bring garments that they have knit from Rowan patterns.

For information, contact Bernadette Vaughan, Coordinator, Community Guild Studios at Bernadette@slatermill.org

You can download the flyer here - Download RowanFlyer2010.  Please feel free to print it out and share it with friends!

Another important thing to note is that Fresh Purls will be there selling Rowan yarns and books, including the 30th Anniversary Magazine.  What can be better than seeing all the sweaters you've drooled over in person, AND shopping for yarn?  See you all Thursday at 5:30!

Deb Newton Canceled

Unfortunately, we got some bad news today.  Bernadette sent this out this morning -

Hi Folks,

 

I have some disappointing news. Poor Deb Newton is very sick and will not be able to present tomorrow night. She called me this morning sounds terrible and is running a fever. She will definitely reschedule with us when she is feeling better. Thank you to all who volunteered their time to help with check in’s  and refreshments.

 

We will still hold the meeting and perhaps we can find a guest speaker in the next 32 hours.

Please send good vibes Deb’s way!

 

Thanks,

Bernadette

 

This is really too bad, I know many of us were looking forward to tomorrow night!  We will reschedule as soon as we can.  In the meantime, Jan Doyle has graciously agreed to present for us (as she was forced to cancel herself last time due to flooding) so we will indeed still have a program, it will be about shibori dyeing instead. 

Thank you for your understanding, and please spread the word!

Knitting Guild Needs Volunteers

Bernadette has put out a call for volunteers for our next Guild meeting, April 28th with Deborah Newton.   Just in case you missed the email, here's what we're looking for:

One person to sit in Gift Shop and direct people upstairs. You will not miss any of the talk!

Two people to sell food - again, this is before and after the talk, you won’t miss out.

One person to help me sign people in.

Please let me know if you are interested!

Thanks!

Bernadette

bernadette@slatermill.org