There have been some really good program ideas described in the "organizing" thread, but I thought it would be good to have them all in one spot. That way, if people are looking for ideas or wanting to share them, well, here they are.

Please feel free to just list the titles if you want, or include a description of the program. Whether it was a lecture, slideshow, demo, hands-on project, or ongoing round robin, I'm sure there will be lots of ideas to share.

Some of our guild's recent programs: Surface Design (hands-on printing with paint and dye), A demo of the same, Silk Fusion, Woven handbags, Collapse weaves.

Got ideas? Need some?

Comments

Sat, 05/15/2010 - 16:25

jeanne (not verified)

Here is something our guild did this year. Keep in mind we're a small, very small group... We had a series of 3 programs, in January, March and May. The first was a session where members brought in cloth or a project that didn't meet expectations. We had a lively session-moderated to keep on track- where we discussed alternative uses, fixes, and general ideas about how to make a finished piece. The second related session was on surface design, a hands-on workshop for painting, stamping, etc., with thickened dye and commercial fabric paints. The third session was devoted to making bags with some of our recycled/rescued fabrics; it was also a hands-on session with lots of sewing ideas and tips.

Our biggest challenge location-wise was finding a space with a sink/running water for the dye workshop. The other two times we used a library meeting room.

Now we're "off" for the summer, but a few of us are going to be working on a bookbinding project using handwoven cloth- a bit of exploring since none of us has done this before. Paper, yes. Handwovens? We'll see! We're going to try not to get  that "puffy" result!  I'll try to post some photos when we're done.

Jeanne

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 20:37

jemwork (not verified)

Your programs sound fun. I'll pass them on to our program people.

Our group decided to go back to basics this year (we meet March - Nov, to avoid the snow problems) March is always an organizational meeting & one to whet our whistle, so to speak.

April was a guild sponsored 1 day program "Weaving Your Yarn Stash" with Jan Towsley. I love Jan - she has no kinks in her. We raised the money for this with Chinese auctions and a 10% donations on other sales. Took a couple years.

May was Inkle Weaving with one of our members, Karen. Its amazing how many Inkle looms are out there, all with a unique path to warp.

My goal so far, as president, is to keep business meetings as short as possible, even during lunch. Last one was 35 minutes. But then the "talky" ones were not there.

We've had good turn out. About 25 + gained some new members, including two Emilies.

 

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 20:40

jemwork (not verified)

Please understand. The "takly" ones are my best friends. I've already passed it on to Dar, who realized she was one. I can talk too much as well sometimes.

This is a good thread.

Joan

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 22:20

jeanne (not verified)

Jan,

I agree totally with doing as much business as possible before or after the monthly meeting-- and also with building some "social time" into the meeting!

When you do sales, are they an annual, established part of your program? Do you use your meeting space? Do you do them independently, or with other organizations? We'll be doing a sale during National Spinning and Weaving month, which I think is October. We'll be able to get a spot at the local Arts Market and will be demo-ing on whatever equipment we bring with us. Last year everyone got to doing Kumihimo on maru dai and on discs. There were also spinners and we had a small loom set up. We made a bit on sales. That was our October program.

Jeanne

Sat, 06/05/2010 - 12:01

jemwork (not verified)

We do our Chinese Auction in conjunction with our annual Christmas meeting in November. The earliest xmas meeting ever, before T-day! This is very well attended and the bidding is hot on some items.

We also have an annual picnic, at the July meeting. Here members can bring things they wish to sell, giving the 10% to the guild. Members often bring things to other meetings & we hope they give us the 10%, but we don't police it.

This all helps to keep our dues low ($20) There is a group that does an annual demo & sales at a town historical days & we get a donation from that, I think. Not much is sold. It would be a good idea to make small items for sale for the guild - like bookmarks, keychains, potholders, etc. But that hasn't caught on. Most of us want to weave something more substantial & people don't want to pay $15 - 25 for handmade when Wal-Mart has it for $2.

Some members like to demo, most don't. I've found I can't horse around a loom for this anymore. Last few times I've taken my small tapestry loom, with its basket of yarns. Plus some examples of my weaving - I can cover a big table!

Wed, 08/11/2010 - 13:13

sally orgren

Our guild does a lot of hands-on programs, and when Sharon Alderman came, she was surprised at how often we bring looms, even if we don't have a speaker. Even if just one person goes to the trouble to bring a table loom to demonstrate a structure or technique, it is really helpful and spins off a lot of related topics of interest.

When I joined the guild, there were less than 20 on the member list, and 10 (give-or-take), that regularly attended the meetings. Now we are at 50 on the member list, with about 25 active weavers at every meeting!

And yes, keeping the business meetings efficient and moving along is ALWAYS a good idea.

 

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Small guilds: surviving in the 21st century