Guild Histories: Del Oro Spinners and Weavers Guild
By The Del Oro Guild
How can we know where we are going unless we know where we have been?
I love history and this is the first in a series of histories about our beloved guilds. If you would like your guild featured, call or email me. For this first history, I will focus on my own textile tribe, the Del Oro Spinners and Weavers Guild, loosely based in Sutter Creek, California but membership comes from Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Sonoma and Riverside counties, as well as Oregon.
On a warm summer day in 1982, a group of fiber artisans gathered at Maxine DalBen’s studio above the old post office in tiny Amador City. Among those 30 folks present were our first president June Bowman, Stephenie Gaustad, Alden Amos, Mary and Frank Parker, Marie Matsuda, Kathleen McPherson, and Carole Allen.
The focus of the group was to explore and promote all aspects of fiber arts and encourage others who are interested. Membership was and still is open with no jurying. This focus continues today and always with an open, welcoming and friendly approach.
In 1984 the guild applied for membership in CNCH and was granted in 1985 at the CNCH conference in San Jose. The guild continued to meet for a while at Maxine’s studio and then moved to the Methodist Church in Jackson. The old grammar school in Sutter Creek served us for a while, then the Senior Center in Jackson, where we currently meet. Some of the 30 founders are still with us, some have moved, and some have passed on.
With the exception of this year, the guild has participated in every Amador County Fair since 1983. The guild was heavily involved in Convergence San Jose in 1990. Stephenie Gaustad and Alden Amos were in charge of the entire spinning corral and competitions. The guild made rope with Alden’s rope making machine and participated in weaving the longest rag rug for a Guiness challenge held at the conference.
Inspirations have come and gone, but never forgotten. Alden Amos was always there for us, and we benefited from not only his skilled hands at producing tools and wheels for many of us, but also his vast textile knowledge.
Georgia O’Keefe once said, “Nobody sees a flower — really — it is so small it takes time; we haven’t the time and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” Stephenie Gaustad has gently tilled, weeded, and tended the members of our guild. She has helped us grow, pushed us beyond our comfort level, and watched us blossom in the sun. We thank her for helping us learn to take time and smell the flowers. We are better fiber artists because of her, and we are proud to call her friend.