 Oliver's old CPR Station
1987-1997 the second decade
The move, in 1990, from the Community Centre to Oliver’s old CPR Station expanded the Guild’s offerings from one Thursday drop-in each month to one every week. At first, they had spinning every 3rd Thursday and meetings every 2nd, but eventually that merged into a Thursday drop-in for everyone, every week. The CPR Station became their home, they wove new curtains and started the practice of Soup Days once a month. Like most homes, their storage space filled up with an ever-growing library and equipment, which now included an assortment of table looms, bobbin winders, wool carders, warping boards and a full-size 8-harness loom.  "Summer and Winter" weaving workshop in the Old CPR Station 1993
Throughout the decade, teaching and learning remained at the centre of Guild’s activity. Workshops ran the gamut from the most complicated weaving patterns to more homely tasks like darning socks. Beginner’s classes were offered regularly and the other fibre arts such as felting, knitting, rug hooking, even wheat weaving, had workshops.
The Station was shared with several other local groups including the Community Arts Council. The Guild participated in the Council's summer open-studio events through much of the 90s. They were also a part of Family Days, High School Culture Days, the Fairview Spring Sale, Rock Creek Fashion show and amongst many other projects they worked together on woven Friendship Quilts. The archives contain a surprising number of newspaper clippings with stories and photos from local dailies and weeklies throughout the South Okanagan. In addition to publicity and community outreach they had standing committees for organizing the workshops, taking care of the library, the equipment and the annual craft fair. Organizationally they were also evolving – moving towards two-year terms for the volunteer positions on the Executive and discussing in the meeting minutes putting aside a small surplus into their first term deposit to save up for another loom. GUILD PRESIDENTS DURING THE DECADE
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Sampling of the Workshops offered during the early decades Twill Tie-up Double Weave Coil Basketry Spinning on specialty yarns Overshot weaving Felting Basic Warping Driftwood – off loom weaving Rug weaving Natural Dye workshop 4 harness weaving Rag weaving workshop Pine needle basket weaving Embroidery workshop Felting fruit with mohair Weaving garments Finishing fabrics Weaving with Silk Basic weaving Lace weaves Knitting lessons Weaving grape vines Hoop weaving Tapestry workshop Wheat weaving Silk spinning Woven Quilt squares exchange Weaving Sherpa Jackets Weaving Transparencies Pattern Drafting Novelty Spin Colour Workshop Waffle weave Crackle Weave Denim rug workshop Ikat Dyeing Double weave rugs Twice woven rugs California Rag Weaving Knitted Dolls Advanced Inkle Weaving Beginners Weaving Sock Knitting Double Weave Bead knitting Inkle Loom weving Shadow weaving workshop Felting tea cozies Here's a small sampling of the many photos the Guild has kept in their archives and albums
Founding President Daphne Malins at a Guild party celebrating her birthday in 1989
Terry Irvine at a tea towel exchange party
Lynn Bremmer and Joyce Thomson at the loom
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JOIN US THURSDAYS - OLIVER COMMUNITY CENTRE HALL
SEPT - JUNE 10AM - 2PM
The Guild gratefully acknowledges that we work and play on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Osoyoos Indian Band of the Okanagan Nation. We honour and pay our respects to the Osoyoos Indian Band and its people.
Copyright: Desert Sage Fibre Arts Guild 2024