I Made It On My Schacht Contest

The contest finalists are pouring in, as you can see from the photo above.

We are completely overwhelmed, overjoyed and in some disbelief over the tremendous response to our I Made It on My Schacht Contest. If you entered, you should have heard from us by now, whether you are a finalist or not. I want to say a few words about this because it has been heart wrenching to not accept every entry. For the record, this was not easy.

I want to try to express what I felt as I looked through the photo entries, stories, and photos of you working at one of our looms or spinning wheels. First, it was a wonderful feeling to see our products being used--it really connected you to what we do, and vice verse. Your stories, which I hope to somehow share over time are equally engaging. What resonated with me was the deep commitment and joy weavers and spinners find in their involvement, as well as the integral part tools play in what you do. The show will open October 8th and will close December 1, 2009. So, if you live close by or your travels bring you to Boulder, I hope you'll stop by to visit the show.

Thank you one and all for your efforts and enthusiasm!

Schacht bulky flyer plyer sneak preview

Man O Man O Man. We are close, close, close on the Schacht Bulky Plyer Flyer... You can say you saw it first on my blog. You've got the scoop, let me tell ya cuz I haven't even alerted my significant other (aka BMS) that I'm passing the word. This baby is sweet, and, I know, I know, it's taken awhile (like way long), but it's the bulky head (The Big BH) that I've wanted...and I hope that you'll be pleased as punch too.

A few more details in the production and parts, and we should have a price, plus a shipping date. Still looking at a Bulky Fall Release!

BTW, hope you all are putting the finishing touches on your entry to our "I Made it on My Schacht" contest. Yes, it's good enough. Have confidence. Sometimes it's the timid that win the BIG prize--and we have loads of super great prizes. There's no way to loose...! Just by entering you've challenged yourself and perhaps stretched in ways with your work you might not have otherwise. Deadline (and that is a firm one) is September 1 (2009 in case you're wondering).

Two months and counting

Two months and counting, plus notes from Midwest Weavers Conference

Today marks two months until the due date for the I Made It on My Schacht Contest. I’ve been hearing from all over that people are excited about our contest and are working away on their entries. This is the time to focus on completing your projects and entering our contest. It’s easy to do. Just visit our web site at www.schachtspindle.com and click on the contest for entry details! Also, don’t forget the You Tube challenge!

We have fabulous prizes, including a cherry Wolf Pup and a Cherry double Treadle Matchless. The show opens during spinning and weaving week, the first full week in October. We’ll have a 40th anniversary celebration and show opening on Thursday, October 8th. So get your wheels and looms going. There’s no time to waste.

Midwest Report
This year’s conference was held on the beautiful Grinnell College campus in Grinnell, Iowa with about 300 attendees. I had fabulous students in both my rigid heddle patterns and textures class and my beginning inkle weaving workshop. Madelyn VanderHoogt, editor of Handwoven magazine, presented the keynote address which was both entertaining and informative.

A reoccurring message throughout the conference was urging guilds to reach out to younger crafters to encourage them in weaving and spinning, as well as to join their guild. Guilds, generally, are aging, and without new members and younger weavers and spinners, it won’t be too long before membership will dwindle and with it our weaving and spinning traditions.