Midsummer Musings
Words Cathy M Koos
MLWS Remembers Jeanne Daney
From member Thomas Denney: Jeanne and I became acquainted at a MLWS Beginning Weaving class. Jeanne was a rookie and I the lapsed weaver with a 40-year gap in learning since college. Jeanne and I were randomly chosen to share a loom and paired again in a Two Shuttle class where I began to call her “Partner.” Because Jeanne bravely volunteered to serve as president of the guild, I volunteered to be equipment chair. Our acquaintance became a friendship which continued through her cancer diagnosis, Covid, and her death. I committed to be a sounding board until the end. Her bravery trumped mine.
— Thomas Denney
Poke Sallet Annie
As I start this column it is nearing Memorial Day and here on the west slope of the Sierra, we are anticipating some weather. Actual, wet weather! Likely to be the last precipitation until autumn rains are welcomed once again. It was a rather disappointing spring as far as wildflowers but out my front window I can see the pokeberry and elderberry leafing out.
(UCANR, Scott Oneto)
Also variously known as dragon berries and poke sallet, Phytolacca americana is an opportunistic, herbaceous perennial shrub often found growing in disturbed land. While it is sometimes eaten in a salad (think: Poke Salad Annie), all parts of the plant are considered toxic due to concentrations of saponin and oxalates. With its bright purple berries, pokeweed adds some color to our landscape and while it is a food source for many birds, please don’t eat any parts of the shrub.
During the Civil War, soldiers crushed pokeberries and used as ink for letters home. Pokeweed was also used as a less-than-satisfactory natural red dye. So, I will be watching for those berries and hoping the birds will share some for some dyepot chemistry.
Creative Resilience Conference
From Rebecca Salstrom of the Humboldt Handweavers Guild:
Planning for CNCH 2022 is well underway, with
DATES (May 19-22, 2022)
a VENUE (the marvelous San Mateo Marriott)
and now TEACHERS! We will unveil the list of teachers on July 1 on the CNCH2022 website, https://cnch2022.com.
It’s not too early to book rooms for the conference and knowing the list of teachers makes it that much more appealing. In past years we’ve kept the next year’s conference details secret until the liaison meeting in September, but with all the disappointments associated with the pandemic, from the outright cancellation of CNCH 2020 to the postponement of CNCH 2021 to 2023, we thought a little hope and excitement was in order.
This gives you some time to get the word out to your guild members to be ready to take a peek into the future, a future where we can once again weave together, laugh together, take in the sights at the fashion show and galleries, and buy supplies from our vendor hall – together! Get ready to show your Creative Resilience as you Spring into your weaving destiny.
Continuing the Creative Resilience theme…
Share with us how you and your guild have managed (or not managed) during these past 18 months of lockdowns and isolation. My guild, Del Oro Spinners and Weavers, is excited to have the Amador County Fair returning to its late summer venue this year. Running even during World War 2, last year was the first time the fair was cancelled. More like a family reunion, in the November issue Kathy McPherson will be sharing her words and photos on this great, family-friendly annual event.
(Del Oro Spinners & Weavers Guild July 27, 2021, “Back in the Saddle Again”, courtesy Rose Justi)
Natural Fiber Fair, Arcata, California
Out of an abundance of caution, the NFF team decided to once again cancel the live 2021 Natural Fiber Fair. However, they have come up with a plan to hold the NFF virtually. Virtual Fiber Circles via Zoom for spinners, weavers and knitters. New this year, we will be offering workshops with some of our favorite teachers. Check out the virtual instructors and their workshops here: http://www.naturalfiberfair.com/
(courtesy NFF)