Summertime is usually slow around the guild house. Most of the study groups take a hiatus since many people are vacationing and we pause our monthly meetings for the same reason. But we have had some fun classes and still have some events and classes ahead.

This coming Saturday, July 23, we are having a Christmas in July Open House for our Marketplace. The Online Fiberarts Marketplace is open year round 24/7, but we know how people love to see things in person before they buy. After a well attended Open House in the spring we decided to do it again for early holiday shopping in person! It will be 10 am to 2 pm at the Guild House, 4870 Gray Rd. If you want to shop ahead and pick up your items in person on Saturday to avoid shipping charges check out our Online Marketplace here. The next chance to shop in person will be our Fall Fiber Arts Sale in November.

We have had a steady stream of classes this summer. Most recently we had a dye class using hammered flowers and greenery from our dye garden that was a real hit (pun intended).

Coming soon on August 6, 2022 is a class that still has some space in it for Painting on a Canvas Tote. In this class you will learn about abstract art from local professional artist and Guild member, Debbie Canntella. She’ll introduce you to the elements of design and composition in abstraction. Then you’ll put your new knowledge to work designing and painting your tote or bag. There will be several sizes to choose from. Click on the classes tab or the link above for more info and to register. Registration for this lass closes August 1.

We have just a couple spaces left in Gathering Blue: An Indigo Course. This three-class course begins September 17 and will explore a variety of techniques working with the ever-fascinating indigo plant. Students will learn the science behind the process, fresh leaf dyeing applications, how to extract pigment, and how to ferment two different indigo vats, in addition to using resist-dyeing techniques with clamps, intricate folding, and woodblock printing. Participants will go home with four cotton quilt quarters (10″x10″ squares) to use in their future projects, each demonstrating a different technique.

Now is a good time to join as a guild member. Our membership year runs July 1 to June 30 so we are at the start of a new guild year. This is going to be our 75th anniversary year and we have some exciting things planned. We have a yarn dyeing class just for members coming up offsite at the Weavers Loft nearby in Indiana on August 12. So if you are interested in that, join us now!

As a member you receive a discount on classes taught by guild members and early enrollment and a reduced rate on multiday Workshops taught by nationally renown fiber artists. Members have access to our fabulous library of fiber art books and DVDs. Study groups where members with common fiber art interests form their own small groups for in depth study, mentoring, sharing and social purposes are free to members.

All this happens at the Guild house, so if you are interested in shopping our Marketplace and meeting some of the artisans, want to check things out before joining, or just curious about us and what we do, stop in this Saturday, July 23 from 10 to 2!