Pottawatomi Spinners & Weavers Guild Celebrate 50 Years of Making in Grey-Bruce
Current and former members are invited to a private anniversary celebration on April 8, 2025.
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In 1975, our Guild began when Elinor Bartlett placed an ad in the paper, and six people who shared a love of spinning and weaving replied, forming the Pottawatomi Spinners and Weavers Guild.
Enthusiastic about sharing their love of fibres with the public, the Guild has prospered over 50 years, often demonstrating and teaching at community events. Our group consists of weavers, spinners, knitters, basket-makers, lace-makers and dyers.
We are hosting a PRIVATE EVENT to reunite former and current members, gathering at the New Life Centre, 201 4th Ave West, Owen Sound, on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 from 1-3 pm.
The highlight of every monthly meeting is Show and Tell, where new projects are displayed and discussed. This 50thAnniversary celebration will feature the Ultimate Show and Tell with new or old handmade items from members. A brief history of the Guild will be presented along with displays of past events and an Honorary Life Membership will be awarded.
One of the collaborative projects created by the Guild, under the leadership of Ruth Arnsberger, was the 8-panel woven tapestry hanging in the auditorium of the Owen Sound Public Library. It was created over a year to commemorate our 10th anniversary in 1985.
In anticipation of our 50th anniversary celebration, former Guild president Harriet Boon offered to snow clean the tapestry, using a traditional Scandinavian technique of spreading the piece in clean snow, allowing abundant snow to accumulate and finally, beating it with a willow rug beater. We will have the Guild tapestry on display at the New Life Centre for our 50th Anniversary Celebration.
If you were a member of the Pottawatomi Spinners and Weavers over the last 50 years, please join us and of course, new members are always welcome!
For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact Audrey Armstrong at 519 376 3959 sweetwateraudrey@gmail.com Visit us on Facebook and see @pottsguild on Instagram.