Zumba classes at the first annual Spin-in in Osoyoos 2014

​2007 - 2017 the fourth decade

It was a busy decade with more exhibitions and large fibre events than ever before.. They had a show at the Penticton Gallery and true to their brand it involved both exhibition and demonstrations and they gave the show a great name "We're Warped - What's Weft." Over the decade they also took part in shows at the Handwork’s Gallery in Oliver and the Osoyoos Art Gallery.

Two more ambitious felting projects were undertaken - “Felted Skies,” a nine-panel wet-felted project representing the life cycle of a star and “The Cottages”, two delightful little houses. The star panels were created for the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory open house in the fall of 2007 and were featured at the Rotary charity auction the following year. The Cottages were widely exhibited at events including at the Association of Northwest Weavers Guild conference, the Summerland Gallery and the Fall Art show at Festival of the Grape.

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The Cottages were first exhibited in 2013

The Guild moved house again in 2008, but this time just across the courtyard into a larger space at the Oliver Community Centre. They were offered permanent storage for the equipment including the Yurt, the looms and the library. The bigger space was much needed as the membership had doubled over the past ten years. Meetings and drop-ins were always well attended, as the Guild’s membership had topped over sixty by this  time.


​Though they continued to do many workshops led by their members, they also were inviting instructors well known in the spinning, weaving and fibre arts communities. Jane Stafford, Karen Selk, Sarah Swett, Robyn Spady, Terry Olsen and even the international renowned eco printer India Flint came to Oliver to give a week-long workshop for the Guild.
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They started a Fibre Fest event in Summerland in 2010 which included demos, vendor booths, workshops, and even a fashion show. The following year they moved to a larger venue in Penticton calling the two-day event the Slow Fibre Festival. After a year or two the public attendance began to fade,and the Guild started looking at a new idea for an annual 3-day Spin-in in at a local resort hotel. In 2014 they launched the event inviting vendors and spinners from guilds up and down the Okanagan Valley. It was a great success and they ended the decade with a Ruby Tea for their 40th Anniversary.

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Previous Decade

NEXT DECADE 2017-27

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Weaving workshop in 2008 with Jane Stafford

Terry Irvine with her freeform knit blanket for Show and Tell in 2016

Marion Hutterli with her Ikat woven scarf in 2015

Stash Sale at the Guild with Marg Harkness 2014

Ilona Schneider demonstarting Kumihimo in 2008

Ivy Michels at a Guild workshop

Barb Hicks, Ilsa Brake, Donna Arneson and Celia Newman in Donna's workshops in 2016

The Blue Vests - though all woven with the same tones of blue fibre, each member cut and fashioned their vest individually 2017

Margie Sylvester and Nell Vande Guchte at one of the Guild's looms

Eco-printer India Flint conducting a workshop for the Guild

​GUILD PRESIDENTS DURING THE DECADE

Barb Levant 2007-08-09
Gail Erickson 2009-10-11
Hilary Robertson 2011-12-13
Karen Bennett 2013-14-15
Klaudia Deschenes 2015-16-17​

Gail Erickson and Doreen Mayne at the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds Conference in Spokane 2009

Klaudia Deschenes on the new loom purchased in 2014

Karen Bennett, standing with Linda Woronko 2016

Hilary Robertson at ANWG conference in Spokane in 2009

Here's a small sampling of the many photos the Guild has kept in their archives and albums
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Marie Richardson at the Guild's Fibre Festival in 2010

Randie Ridgewell working on a Colour Gamp 2016

Slow Fibre Festival's fashion show in 2011 with PJ Mohr modeling her woven shawl.

Lydia Baumbrough at a workshop

Helene Godin at a Guild workshop