Sponsored spin

We were all so busy spinning that we did not take photos! Thanks Gill for these. Thank you to our validators, Paul Davies from Morriston Hospital and Clive Giles (above) from Pontardawe.

We managed to raise £300 in sponsorship - a great boost for the Guild. Thank you to everyone who came and supoorted the event at the Swansea Grand Theatre.

Newsflash From the Assn W,S & Ds.

On behalf of the Association I would be grateful f you would bring
your members attention to the forthcoming Spring Workshops 2009, an
advert for which will appear in the December issue of the Journal.

Please send any queries direct to Margaret Parker at
convenor@wsdworkshops.org.uk.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Mary Carbert

Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

Spring Workshop 2009 www.wsdworkshops.org.uk

For a number of years the Association has run residential spring workshops. On a trial basis in 2009 these are being offered on an online basis. The Online Guild has been conducting workshops like this for over 6 years and is drawing on its resources and expertise to present workshops in this new manner.

All students are welcome whether members of a Guild or not and whatever their level of expertise. Access and familiarity with email and the internet is essential. Students will have to provide all their own materials but there will be no other charge.

Three parallel workshops will be offered

• Gutter Dyeing with Jane Deane
• Peruvian Pickup with Sylvia Glenister
• Spinning Designer Yarns with Tricia Weatherston and Barbara Scott

each running from Thursday 16 April to Thursday 30 April.

At the start of the period each tutor will upload the first lesson via a new website, www.wsdworkshops.org.uk. Students may then download and print off the material in order to work at their own pace. They are welcome to email comments and queries to the tutor via this website and replies will be sent in a similar manner. Photos of work in progress and completed items can similarly be uploaded. As the workshop progresses further lessons will be uploaded by the tutors.

Whilst the Online Guild has run workshops like this very successfully for its own members, offering them on an open basis is very much a trial both in terms of the number of possible students and technical and other issues involved. Please be understanding if things do not run as smoothly as everyone hopes they will. In particular all posts will be moderated before publication and if volumes become high some selection process may be invoked.

It is not expected that any specialist equipment or materials will be required. All should be available from your “stash” or easily obtainable in your locality. Kit lists will appear approximately 2 weeks before the workshops.

Further detailed instruction regarding the use of emails and photos will be published on the website approximately 2 weeks before the start of the workshops.

Any immediate queries please contact Margaret Parker on convenor@wsdworkshops.org.uk