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The Art of Warp and Weft
Huronia Handweavers Guild Challenges 2009-2011

June 3 to July 10, 2011
Opening Reception June 9, 7 - 9 pm

The annual Guild Challenge provides a creative nudge and shared experience in what is essentially a solitary pursuit. It often draws weavers into unexplored territory – and the ‘reveal’ is always great fun. This show highlights the work from three Guild Challenges.

2009 - works inspired by the painting 'Sophia' by Helen Will (see below) 2010 - any weaving incorporating 3 colours, magenta, apple green, and teal, plus grey, white or black if desired 2011 - tea towel exchange, any colour, yarn or structure

The results range from the practical to the whimsical and show the breadth of possibilities that weaving affords.

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The Orilllia Museum of Art and History presents
Uncommon Threads:
Recent Works from the Huronia Handweavers
August 31 to October 30, 2010

On the invitation of The Orillia Museum of Art and History, Huronia Handweavers have mounted a showcase of works to demonstrate the broad range of talent and inspiration of our members.

	Some of the many handwoven works on display

Included in the show are intricate handwoven scarves, table runners, clothing, blankets, wall hangings and much more. We invite you to see for yourself these beautiful locally handcrafted works of art. A truly inspired collection! The opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday September 9, 2010.

Museum Announces Dates for
Simcoe County Quilt Rug and Craft Fair

September 17, 18 and 19, 2010  is the date for this wonderful showcase of heritage crafts from throughout our region.  Beautiful quilting, embroidery, spinning, handweaving, and rug hooking will be for sale and on display by the guild members who handcrafted them. The Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association Members Boutique is also a must see with folk art painting, knitting, beadwork, and more for sale.  Discover new skills at one of our hands-on demonstrations, talk to the experts and get advice, or simply shop for a unique gift. 

Stop by the Merchant Mall to purchase your own supplies to take home, and visit the Museum grounds to view some of our permanent displays and heritage buildings.  Stay for lunch at our Concession Stand and enjoy a fresh made sandwich and an amazing piece of pie! 

Show hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Regular Museum admission rates apply:  Adult $6, Student/Senior $5.00, Child $4.00, Preschoolers - free. The Simcoe County Museum is located at 1151 Highway 26, minutes north of Barrie.  For more information, please phone 705-728-3721 or visit their website at museum.simcoe.ca for further details.

Huronia Handweavers is Recipient
of 2010 OHS Guild Scholarship

We are very excited to be the successful applicants for the 2010 OHS Guild Scholarship which will help fund a Retreat Weekend for our members. Our principal goal is to establish strong membership bonds in a Guild that has seen a number of changes over the past few years, so a members-only retreat was seen as an excellent way to foster friendships and learning between established weavers and new weavers. The activities during this Guild-led weekend retreat will focus on the interaction of colour, with specific reference to Deb Menz’ Color Works.

Looms will be pre-warped with samples to explore iridescence, simultaneous contrast, the contrast of proportion, split complementary, triad, tetrad and hexad harmony, in a variety of weave structures on 4 and 8 shafts. At the end of the weekend each participant will have a colour wheel with overlays and a documentation package with yarn samples, and a full set of 7 woven samples.

Integrated into the weekend will be a design game as an ongoing mixer. A presentation by a Guild member on the interaction of colour and culture will be included. As a follow up to that, other members will be encouraged to share textiles that define their ethnic background.

We are very grateful to the OHS for their generous recognition of the value of this event. For more information about Guild and individual scholarship, visit the OHS website.

Museum Exhibit Showcases 2008 Guild Challenge

In December 2009, a new exhibit opens at the Simcoe County Museum which highlights the work of the Huronia Handweavers. All the articles in the display were created by the members of the guild in response to our annual guild challenge.

	Sophia by Helen Will

In 2008, the Guild Challenge was for each member to use one painting as the inspiration for a woven or fibre-based project. All participants were to use the same painted image, but beyond that there were no restrictions on the materials, structure or design.

Two members of the guild, Gayle Wheeler and Pamela King, set out to choose the painting, and with very little consultation, both arrived at the same conclusion. They chose an intriguing watercolour entitled Sophia, by Vasey-based artist Helen Will. Each weaver was given a colour copy of the painting and set out to use it as inspiration for a work of fibre art.

The result is a wide range of woven objects, from practical to whimsical; from delicate pieces of jewelry to big comfy pillows. In many cases, the weavers have written a description of how they used the painting to create the final design of their work. The Museum has arranged all the woven objects, along with a reproduction of the original Helen Will painting, in an exhibit that will be on display until September 2010. It is a fascinating examination of the creative process.