The purpose of the Santa Cruz Handweaver's Guild is to encourage the fiber arts, exchange weaving, spinning, and dyeing ideas and promote the spirit of friendly cooperation among those who practice the various fiber arts.
The Guild meets on the second Wednesday of the month, usually in the Aptos Village Park Club House, September through June (no meeting in December). The annual schedule of meetings for 2009-2010 consists of both sharing meetings and program meetings. Visitors are always welcome to attend. Visit the Programs page for more detail.
The September meeting is often special meeting which is held at the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville on the Wednesday that coincides with the dates of the Fair–either the first or second Wednesday of September. This year, 2009, the county fair is later in September so we will have a regular guild meeting. Many guild members will be participating each day at the fair in the handspinning and handweaving area of the Yesterday's Farm located in the Agricultural History section of the fairgrounds. Check our home page close to September for information. Members participate in an exhibit at the Fair and demonstrate spinning and weaving techniques.
Membership dues are $35 per year, payable at the September meeting. Associate or fixed income memberships are available for $20 per year, sustaining memberships are available for over $35 per year and couple/family memberships are available for $40 per year. If you wish to become a member, email the Membership Chair or contact her at a meeting.
The Guild publishes a Newsletter three times a year, keeping members up-to-date with Guild events. In addition, textile related events in the local and San Francisco Bay areas are listed, such as exhibits, lectures, workshops and classes. Through both the Newsletter and the Web site, we provide textile related classified ads, Web links and travel opportunities. For a copy of the newsletter, email our Newsletter Editor A copy is available via e-mail or a hard copy via USPS.
Each year the Guild publishes a membership roster, which provides contact information for members of the guild as well as resources for furthering the textile arts.
A Guild library is housed at Martha Stanley's studio, and available to all Guild members for browsing and borrowing. Contact Yonat Michaelov our Librarian, or Martha with donations and questions.
Our Anne Blinks Textile Study Collection consists of study samples of techniques Anne pursued over her weaving lifetime, 1949-95. Seven members of the Guild have documented the Collection and study boxes are available for a small fee to be borrowed for up to three months. Visit the website http://www.santacruzhandweavers.org/anneblinks for more information.
We keep an archive of activities of the guild and its members: participation in exhibits, photos from special events and workshops, newspaper articles, CNCH participation, etc. Our historian Laura Rider may be contacted for information. Our archives go back to the beginnings of the guild in the 1940's.
"Shuttle Throwers", a weaving study group, is available to members wishing to explore specific weave structures and improve technique. This group meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 11:45am at Fresh Choice in Capitola. For information on the next meeting please e-mail Shuttle Throwers. .
A Rug Study Group meets the Friday of the week following the Guild meeting, at 9:30 am at Martha Stanley's studio. for information contact Martha or Jeantte Gross.
The Braids Study Group meets the 4th Wednesday of the month, 10am - 2pm. All weavers of narrow wares, at any level of experience, are welcome. Contact Nora Rogers for information.