Oct 2025 Minutes posted on the website
The minutes for the October meeting are now available in the Members Only section of the website. You will need to login to access it.
2026 Dues Reminder
Please pay your dues for 2026 before the end of November to help your friends on the Budget Committee.
Pay either online using the PayPal link on this site (found here) or send a check to Suzanne and earn a RAAM point!
Karen
WRSW Holiday Party
Get your party hats on! This year's Holiday Party will be on Saturday, December 6th from 11:30 to 1:30 at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Chagrin Falls, 6295 Chagrin River Road, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022. https://maps.app.goo.gl/NTB7Ss53WqMLPK7T6
Chicken and vegetarian main courses will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side or dessert to round out the feast. Cost will be $15 each.
As in years past, there will be a gift exchange of handmade items. To participate, bring your well-wrapped fiber gift with a value of approximately $15; the gift can either be made by you or someone else. The game of the exchange is great entertainment, whether you are participating or just watching!
Please RSVP before December 1 whether you will attend and the category of your contribution (appetizer, salad/side, dessert) to karen.gerken@gmail.com
See you there!
It’s a Celebration!!
50 Years of Western Reserve Spinners & Weavers Guild
“Meet” our 14 Founders and learn about some of the history of the Guild’s early years, enjoy refreshments, and enter a chance for door prizes, all in the company of fiber friends.
You will also learn more about our new website.
Note: This in person only event will be held in the cafeteria.
Nov. 18 at 6:30 PM
Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland
More Information on Mayan Textiles
So nice to receive a thanks from the speaker of the program on Mayan textiles Tuesday evening. What fun we all had admiring the details of cloth woven on a back-strap loom.
From Laura Martin:
“Joan, thank you so much. It was a pleasure to hang out with so many textile enthusiasts and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to get them excited about Mayan weaving.
Here is the information about the books I had with me, in case you think some in the group will be interested. There are lots more, of course, but these all coincide with the period in which I did most of my own collecting.
Guatemalan Textiles Today by Marilyn Anderson, 1978 (Watson-Guptill). Very detailed and heavily illustrated account of all aspects of Mayan weaving, including fibers used, dying, spinning, techniques such as looping (crocheting) and netting, and both back-strap and floor loom equipment and techniques.
Living Maya by Walter F. Morris, Jr., 1987 (Abrams). Beautifully illustrated account of life among the traditional Maya communities of Chiapas, Mexico, with special attention to weaving from ancient times to the present.
The Textiles of Guatemala by Regis Bertrand (photographer) and Danielle Magne (writer), 1991 (Studio Editions Ltd.). Valuable for its many close-up photographs of textiles designs and techniques. (Unfortunately uses the term “tribe” to describe Maya communities!)
Threads of Identity: Maya Costume of the 1960s in Highland Guatemala by Patricia B. Altman and Caroline D. West, 1992 (Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA). Town-by-town descriptions of individual components of men’s and women’s traditional dress, linking textiles to geography, history, society, and language.”
Here is some additional information on Weave A Real Peace
Tuesday is Election Day for WRSW
Guild Meeting & Elections on Tuesday, October 28th, 6:30
Lake FarmPark
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd, Kirtland
Persistent Threads: Maya Culture in Maya Weaving
Laura Martin will draw on her vast knowledge of Mayan language, culture and art, both past and present, to acquaint us with the richness of Mayan textiles.
Laura plans to bring several wearable items and reference materials with her and will make those available for the audience to see up close.
She encourages members to attend the program in person to fully benefit from the experience of Mayan weavings.
Please also make every effort to attend the October business meeting either in person or via Zoom, in which we will elect our officers for 2026. The slate is follows: Karen Gerken and Quinton Dybo for Co-President, Sharon Baird for Vice President, Suzanne Paquin for Treasurer and Donna Mueller for Secretary. Many thanks to all who have agreed to step up and guide the Guild through another year.
Note, it you wish to request that an 2026 demonstration event be eligible for RAAM points, the forms are due October 31st, and you may bring it to the meeting.
Zoom Info:
Topic: WRSW October Meeting
Time: Oct 28, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting via link on Members Only page
October Guild Meeting Info
Guild Meeting & Elections on Tuesday, October 28th
Lake FarmPark
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd, Kirtland
Persistent Threads: Maya Culture in Maya Weaving
Laura Martin will draw on her vast knowledge of Mayan language, culture and art, both past and present, to acquaint us with the richness of Mayan textiles.
Laura plans to bring several wearable items and reference materials with her and will make those available for the audience to see up close.
She encourages members to attend the program in person to fully benefit from the experience of Mayan weavings.
Laura Martin holds a PhD in linguistics and retired in 2005 after more than three decades at Cleveland State University with appointments in Modern Languages, Anthropology, and Health Sciences. Her research and teaching have been focused primarily on language and culture in Maya communities, based on extensive field work in Guatemala and Mexico. Since 2007, she has been a volunteer docent at the Cleveland Museum of Art, has been making and exhibiting art as a member of Art Books Cleveland, and has continued to deepen her knowledge of the still thriving culture of Maya people.
Please also make every effort to attend the October business meeting either in person or via Zoom, in which we will elect our officers for 2026. The slate is follows: Karen Gerken and Quinton Dybo for Co-President, Sharon Baird for Vice President, Suzanne Paquin for Treasurer and Donna Mueller for Secretary. Many thanks to all who have agreed to step up and guide the Guild through another year.
Note, it you wish to request that an 2026 demonstration event be eligible for RAAM points, the forms are due October 31st.
Zoom Info:
Topic: WRSW October Meeting
Time: Oct 28, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting via link on Members Only page
New Website Update
The Website Committee needs your help to complete their work for the new website launch at the November celebration! Please visit and complete the following links BEFORE October 15th
WRSW Guild: Photo Release Form, Read Me First, Member Photo Folders
Your photos and contributions will take the new website to the next level.
A Request from the Program Committee
The Program Committee wants to thank those of you who responded to a request to add your voice to the 50th Anniversary celebration that is occurring in November.
The October 15th deadline is approaching, and there is still space available to be included in the evening’s presentation
Specifically:
Please reflect on your time with the Guild, and what it has meant to you.
Thinking ahead, What do you see in your fiber arts future and how does that involve the Guild?
Feel free to include one or two photos.
All this can be sent to JoEllen Salkin by October 15th.
Thank you,
The Program Committee
Oct/Nov Newsletter has been posted on the website
The newsletter can be found on the Members Only page of the website. You will need to log in to access it.
Sept 2025 Minutes posted on the website
The minutes for the September meeting are now available in the Members Only section of the website. You will need to login to access it.
Handouts from Sept Guild Meeting
The Handouts from Gigi Matthews presentation can be found here.
September 23 Guild Meeting
Guild Meeting on Tuesday, September 23rd
Lake FarmPark
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd, Kirtland
From Plant to Cloth
For thousands of years, leaves, stems, and even bark have been made into various forms of cloth.
Learn the how's, why's, and when's of plant fibers all over the world. Plus, discover what's in the pipeline for new and sustainable textiles!
by Gigi Matthews
She states: Decades of travel to over 30 countries has given me a deep appreciation for textiles and their history. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, I have lived in Australia, the UK, and now reside in New York City.
I have taught handspinning for guilds, the MidAtlantic Fiber Association, and the John C Campbell Folk School and have published articles in Ply Magazine and Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot.
I’m a member of the New York Guild of
Handweavers and I’m on the board of directors of the Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) and the MidAtlantic Fiber Association (MAFA). I co-host the monthly “MAFA Movie Night” via Zoom with Kate Ohara.
As always, we will be gathering at Lake FarmPark for this presentation, and you are encouraged to bring any items you have been working on to share with others.
6:00 Informal socializing
6:30 Intros and Show and Share
7:00 Program
8:00 Business Meeting & Announcements
Zoom info
Topic: WRSW September Meeting
Time: Sep 23, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting via link on Members Only page
President’s message
Dear Guild,
I hope your summer has been filled with all good summer things (and of course a nourishing dose of the fiber arts as well). Fall approacheth however, and I just want to quickly grab your attention in regard to some of the upcoming events:
- In August I will be calling for members to be part of the Ad Hoc committees that we need each year: the Nominating Committee, Budget Committee and Audit Committee. The Nominating Committee makes calls to gather candidates for 2026 officer positions for the October vote; the Budget Committee creates a draft for consideration in October as well and the Audit Committee does its work in January 2026. These are not huge time commitments. Really. Please consider!
- Our 50th Anniversary as a Guild will be celebrated as a party in November. Please note that this is ONE WEEK EARLIER than usual, scheduled for November 18. As part of the celebration, please bring along a favorite fiber work to share with the rest of the Guild. This is a great chance to celebrate our evolution both individually and as a fiber arts community.
- Finally, a gentle nudge to take part in the President's Challenge which will be showcased at the February 2026 meeting. The challenge could follow one of two paths - either to create a series of work that illustrates your own personal evolution in the fiber arts or alternatively, embed a coded message in your work. Whatever you choose, have fun with it!
Best regards,
Karen
Nominating Committee 2025
Nominating Committee
At the August 2025 meeting Karen Gerken solicited members to volunteer for the Nominating Committee. I (Mo Doerner) volunteered and would like to have two others on the committee with me. Our Handbook requires that the nominating committee members cannot nominate themselves for office and must have been a guild member for at least one year. I can be reached at 216-269-5849 or madknits669@gmail.com.
The slate of proposed officers for 2026 is due at the September 23rd meeting. Karen Gerken our President, and Yvonne Harrold, our Vice President, are not seeking reelection. Sharon Baird and Suzanne Paquin graciously offered to continue as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Therefore, the committee will be contacting guild members to ask if they would be willing to volunteer for either the President or Vice President positions. Our WRSW Jobs and Responsibilities Handbook is in the Members section under the Documents tab which has a link “2023 Handbook.” The Handbook contains a detailed description of the duties of the President and Vice President. If you are interested in either position, please contact me at my above contact information.
Thank you,
Mo Doerner
New Website Coming soon
Over the summer Suzanne Paquin and Rachel Wilson have been busy creating a new website. After some initial beta testing, it is anticipated that this new and improved site will be available by the end of the year. Here are some updates:
Photos from the current website will be transferred over, and you will be able to add additional photos. However, your permission is needed for any photos that are 'public'----that is, not just in the Members Only section. Suzanne & Rachel are requesting that you complete the Photo Release Form. This is particularly important if you do not want your photo displayed. If you do not complete this form by September 30th it will be assumed that permission is given.
Here is some information about how to upload any photos: Read Me First.
Each WRSW member will have a folder to upload photos: Member Photo Folders; this is available now if you wish to use it.
Have questions? Contact Rachel Wilson at rwsunshine60@gmail.com (440) 313-1601 weekdays between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm or Suzanne Paquin at slrp9999@gmail.com .
Prepare to Celebrate!
As you may have heard, this is the 50th year the Western Reserve Spinners & Weavers Guild has been in existence. To celebrate, the Program Committee is planning a celebration at our November 18th meeting, and I am asking each of you to provide some remarks for the slide show that will be presented (along with the cake and ice cream).
Specifically:
Please reflect on your time with the Guild, and what it has meant to you.
Thinking ahead, What do you see in your fiber arts future and how does that involve the Guild?
Feel free to include one or two photos.
All this can be sent to JoEllen Salkin by October 15th.
Thank you,
Karen Gerken
Meeting reminder
Tuesday, June 24th 6:30PM
Lake Farm Park
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd, Kirtland
Next week’s meeting will convene as usual at 6:30 for sharing and social time. Our meeting speaker will be:
Felice Dahlhausen will be joining us and speaking on quilts
After thirty-two years as a high school art teacher Felice retired and moved into a new artistic path. She now explores possibilities with fabric and thread creating art quilts. As a high school art teacher she loved exposing her students to varied art experiences and she continues to explore different techniques herself.
The meeting will again take place in the cafe, at the end of the hall past the theater.
Please also review the posted minutes from the last meeting for approval at the brief business meeting which will follow.
Zoom info:
Topic: June WRSW Meeting
Time: Jun 24, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting via link on Members Only page
Updated 10/4/2025