South Jersey Guild of Spinners and Handweavers

Meetings and Programs

General Meetings

The Guild's season runs from September through May with most meetings scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of the month. General meetings serve as a forum for guest speakers who present a spectrum of programs. We have hosted nationally prominent spinners, weavers and basket makers, museum and gallery curators, textile professors and producers of specialty fibers. With their enthusiasm for their work, they both inspire and inform our members.

General meetings are free and open to the public, and visitors are welcome. Meetings are held in the Medford Leas Busy Hands Room, Medford, NJ (directions to Medford Leas and the Busy Hands Room), beginning at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise announced. The Weavers' Study Group follows the General Meeting. See the Weavers' page and Spinners' page for information on specific study group sessions.

For more information, contact us at: mail@sjgsh.org

2009 Schedule of Meetings & Events

September 12: Spinners' spin-in 10:30 to 1:30
See Guild Challenge for more information.
October 1: Profile Drafting Block Design Workshop
The Guild hosts a workshop by Bettes Silver-Schack at Medford Leas. See the Weaver's page for more information.
October 10: Spinners' spin-in 10:30 to 1:30
See Guild Challenge for more information.
November 7: Spinners' spin-in 10:30 to 1:30
December 5: Spinners' spin-in 10:30 to 1:30
January 9, 2010: Rock Day 10:30 to 4:00 at the Mount Holly Library

Spinners Spin-ins/Study Group Sessions

Spinners' spin-ins are the first Saturday of each month (except May, July and August), 10:30am-1:30pm at the Mount Holly Library. Contact Mary Conte for more information. Note that due to other events at the Library, we'll meet on the second Saturdays during September and October, 2009.

The Spinners' Study Group is suspended at this time. Bring your ideas to the regular meetings.

Demonstrations/Special Events

Demonstrations

Throughout the year our members demonstrate at area craft fairs, festivals, schools and historic sites. This is a time for the public to meet guild members and see first hand how we practice our crafts. Interested visitors of all ages learn from the visual and tactile teaching exhibits about spinning, weaving and dyeing, and can try their hands at weaving on a sample loom or spinning on a wheel or drop spindle.

We are committed to educating the public about fiber arts and welcome opportunities to demonstrate and answer questions. Please contact us if your group or school would like to schedule a demonstration, exhibit or talk: mail@sjgsh.org

SJGSH 2008 Show & Sale

The Apple Festival, Saturday, October 11, at Kirby’s Mill, sponsored by the Medford Historical Society, will again be the site of our annual Show and Sale. The booth will display items for sale, showcase other exhibits of interest to the public, and offer hands-on weaving and spinning demonstrations by member volunteers.

Items for sale usually include hand-spun yarn or items made from them, handwoven scarves, garments, belts, household textiles, wall art and basketry.

Kirby's Mill is located in Medford, on Church Road near Fostertown Road (directions). The Apple Festival includes more than 80 Colonial arts and crafts booths, including a blacksmith shop and craft demonstrations. Apple butter, apple cider doughnuts and ice cream will all be made on site. There will also be a bake-off, a food court and apple desserts of all types. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Upcoming Demos

September 20: Burlington County Farmers Market, Centerton Road, Mount Laurel, 8:30 am-1 pm.

September 27: Griffith-Morgan House Open House. Pennsauken, NJ