Beadwrangler Special Feature
March 27, 1997

	Ileana Somerson's Weave World
	March 1997

"The Shuttle Scuttle" of the Rocky Mountain Weavers' Guild has both a weaving and a spinning sample. The latter, by Rosmarie Amstein, is a soft-spun and a tight-spun mohair plied together and dyed afer spinning. It is a lovely celadon green and has a gentle sheen.

The weaving sample by Terri Veragen is 8/2 unmercerized cotton at 20epi, sleyed 2-3 in an 8-dent reed. It's a kind of huck that almost looks like waffle weave. Made for a towel, it might look good for a baby blanket. I'd watch the floats, though.

The cover of the new SHUTTLE, SPINDLE & DYEPOT, Winter 1996/1997, bespeaks Bauhaus, and sure enough the major article is Spanning Time and Space: Textile Art from the Bauhaus. Adapted from Sigrid Weltge's Converence 96 keynote address, the article draws on Sigrid's book, Women's Work: Textile Art from the Bauhaus and her position as professor of art history at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.

I knew Sigrid when I was in the Philadelphia Guild, and respected her weaving and her knowledge. In its museum, the PCT&S has a fine collection of Anni Albers' work. Sigrid has put into perspective the role of women, their struggle to learn and produce new work, and the marvelous effects today of what started in the twenties. Please read this article carefully. It's great!

Marcy Patrini, President of HGA, writes in her editorial that spinning, being central to the mission of HGA, should come to the forefront and be recognized. The ensuing dialogue, she maintains, "must involve every member of our fiber community."

The Gallery shows six weavings whose type is never seen in the Pinellas Guild. They are innovative and interesting.

The Book column reviews Potomac Craftsmen: Fifty Years of Fiber in the Washington D.C. Area, edited by Verna Suite. This could be good reading for guild members. The review of Masako Kinochita's Study of Archaic Braiding Techniques in Japan is enthusiastic in its praise. Another great review is for Arline M. Fisch's Textile Techniques in Metal, which I saw at a bead workshop in January, and can vouch for as a terrific book to have. Speed Warping by Janet Nyquist has been revised and reprinted at a very nominal cost. New weavers should get this one. The last review, Hemp! For Textile Artists, by Charyl Kolander, sounds like the beginning and last word on that fiber. Would someone buy me all these books?

Verna Suite, who edited the Potomac book (above) writes of Margaret Roach Wheeler: Recapturing the Spirit of Creativity. A Native American designer, she started in clothing, went on to sculptured pieces, still concerning clothing and is still recapturing the joy of creativity in the Mohatans (which you'll have to read about).

Betty Hancock Smith, in Right from the Start, stresses the need to create fiber activities for children. HGA is committed to encouraging young people to participate in the fiber arts, and several suggestions are given. Listen, up weavers!

Rosalie Neilson used her inspiration from Ann Sutton's keynote address at Convergence 94 to spark a daring new exhibition at Convergence 96. As director of exhibits she called for three to twenty-five yards of fabric, which would be suspended from armatures and hung high, and a piece for touching, because it is known that weavers are touchie feelies. The article, Lengths of Time, shows many of the wonderful pieces.

Victor Jacoby: Tapestry Weaver is the subject of Micala Sidore's article. A self-taught weaver, Jacoby progressed to enormous heights . Read his comments for inspiration if you're concerned with the passing of time.

Learning Exchange 20 is important for all weavers and includes participation, complete with applications, in all four of the vital areas shown. Patricia Zilinski admits she is a color addict in Wrapping for Color Studies. She has a wonderful suggestion using colored net for instant results in total effect.

For the spinners, Sue March offers Polwarth, a bouncy,lacy, lustrous, lofty fleece. Every facet of preparation and spinning are given, Many samples are shown.

Jerie Lucas writes of Summer & Winter, a weave I'm always interested in reading about. I'd like anyone planning to attend my Block Weave classes to study this one.

The Fourth Learning Exchange is in Knot Yarns by Nancy Kahrs. A Floridian, Nancy displays her skills in creating designer yarn in the plying. Her description is excellent.

Other interesting articles include a thorough description of the Ontario College of Art and Design: Thinking Hands by Ted Hallman. The SS&D Shopper discusses yarns and wheels. Test &Report tells of Magic Dishtowel Kits in naturally colored cotton from the Lunatic Fringe. There is also a description of the Earth Guild's new cotton yarn, Dragon Tail, that sounds absolutely great.

Make sure you go all the way to the final article, The Russian Old Believers in Woodburn, Oregon, by Kathe Todd-Hooker, a tapestry weaver in Salem Oregon who has been researching Russian Old Believers since 1979. These religious dissenters left in several migrations, starting over 300 years ago. Their dress is carefully delineated.

SS&D brings us information in so many areas. While it is not a recipe book, it is an important adjunct of any weaver's library.