July 5
Hello Mother, Hello Father,
I arrived at Camp Convergence 2018 late this afternoon. Wow!! This gathering is huge. And they’re friendly. At registration I got to meet fellow campers from Alaska, Wisconsin, and New York. When I registered they gave me a big bag of swag – coupons from Market Place vendors, mug rug, games, and more. I’m in the Peppermill Tower. The hall is frighteningly long!! I’m sure it’s from “The Shining”.
The long hall.
I wonder what my workshop tomorrow will be like.
July 6
Today’s camp counselor is from Australia (Elizabeth Calnan). The workshop is “Exploring Shadow Weave”. At first I was worried that I wouldn’t understand. “Profile Drafts”, sure I knew the word and what they looked like, but create one? Could I? “Weaving on Opposites”, opposite what? Thank goodness for the patient counselor. I had at least three “Ahaa” moments. It was as if several pieces suddenly fell into place and it all made sense. Maybe I can create a profile draft and even create threading and treadling patterns from it!
July 7
Well guess what. After the 2nd day of exploring shadow weave, I can now create a profile draft and create my own threading and treadling patterns. What an informative and inspiring workshop. I can’t wait to get home and begin playing with my own shadow weave drafts.
There are fiber artists everywhere. And they are so easy to talk with. I’ve met people from Wisconsin, New York, Ontario Canada, and North Carolina. We all speak the same language.
July 8
OMG!! 39 looms in one room! Today I started my second workshop, “Parallel Threading -the Weaver’s Playground” with Robyn Spady as our leader. It’s in a large conference room that can hold all of us. It’s full but it works. We got a really neat “handout”. At 93 pages, it’s really a book. Now I know how network drafting works and can even do it myself. Another Redwood Guild of Fiber Arts member is in this workshop with me. There are several of us here. A group of us got together for lunch today and are going to the Keynote Presentation tonight. It’s interesting to compare notes with each other about our impressions and experiences. It sounds like we are coming home with ideas for a couple of local workshops and presentations.
SEND MORE MONEY!! I went into the Marketplace after today’s workshop. There are so many weaving tools, fibers, books, equipment, looms and more on display. I hardly knew where to start. I could touch and handle all those items I’ve only seen in catalogs. I met the delightful Melissa Parsons who I have talked with so many times when I place my fiber orders with Yarn Barn. I had to find a new pen to finish my wish list as the first one ran out of ink. And of course I had to buy several items on the wish list. Good thing I drove here. I can get these things back home without packing or shipping.
Jason Collingwood was the Keynote speaker this evening. What a large audience, estimated at 640. He gave us an amusing look at a reluctant weaver, a weaver who weaves for his livelihood rather than his passion. The talk was very entertaining. What a different perspective on weaving
July 9
This is the last day of my workshops. Good thing because I’m not sure my brain can hold much more. Both workshops were intense with an amazing amount of knowledge, ideas, and inspiration in a short period of time. Today I learned so many designing ideas as well as several functions of the Fiberworks weaving design software. There are functions that I didn’t really know how to use or how to apply them to translate inspiration ideas into a weaving draft. A couple of the functions I didn’t even know existed. The software can really give a good idea of how an idea will look without spending a lot of time warping a loom and weaving a sample.
I had the most delightful dinner at the Bimini Steak House in the Peppermill Resort with other RGFA members and new acquaintances as well. This was a laugh filled, jovial evening. Today I met weavers from Montreal, Hawaii, and Florida.
July 10
Finally I have a day to relax. No scheduled workshops. Went to the Fiber Art Exhibitions. There were so many: “Certificate of Excellence” – works from weavers who have earned HGA’s Certificate of Excellence; “The Playa” – a mixed media display; “Great Basin Basketry Exhibit”; “Leaders Exhibit” – works of leaders in the world of hand weaving; and my favorite “Truckee River” yardage exhibit. I was so impressed with Nancy Peterson’s (from Norman OK) “Water is Life”.
Water is Life
Four additional exhibits were also on display in different venues around Reno.
July 11
My last day at this delightful summer camp. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to attend Convergence 2018. I learned so much about designing weaving projects, developing drafts, using computer software, and more. Seeing other weavers’ works gave me many moments of inspiration. I’ve come away with a list of ideas to try in my future weavings.
It is hard to put into words all of the benefits of meeting other weavers from around the world and exchanging ideas with them. I discovered so many paths to take on my weaving journey. I got to drink my fill from the incredible well of inspiration that is Convergence.
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Bill Jackson lives and weaves along the Russian River in Guerneville, CA. His first encounter with weaving was while a senior at Ohio State University (OSU). He took a class in weaving at a local community center and was hooked. After graduating from OSU he set weaving aside for 40 years. Six years ago he stumbled across an old dismantled 45” Leclerc counter balanced loom. He has been weaving passionately ever since and is now the owner of three Leclerc looms. Bill is a member and the new president of the Redwood Guild of Fiber Arts. He considers time spent weaving as play time.