The Weaver’s Bag
Mary Meigs Atwater Weaver’s Guild of Utah • October 2 0 1 4 • Vol. 60 No. 2
October Guild Meeting
What: “54 Years and Counting: An Overview of My Weaving Journey Since 1960,” by Bonnie Tarses
When: Thursday, October 16, 2014, 6:30 pm
Where: South Valley Unitarian Church, 6876 South Highland Drive
Many of our lucky Guild members will have the privilege of taking a three-day workshop from Bonnie Tarses about
creating the “ultimate color gamp.” The workshop will be held on October 16, 17, and 18, at the Unitarian Church where the
Guild meetings are held. All of us will have the chance to hear Bonnie at the Guild meeting on Thursday evening, and we will
be able to see what the workshop participants have accomplished. Please plan to bring any show and tell you have to share. If
you have any color studies, please bring them!
Bonnie Tarses will present an overview of her weaving
journey that will be of great interest to all fiber artists. Bonnie is a
textile designer specializing in one-of-a-kind and custom
handwoven textiles since 1960. From the time she began her
weaving journey, she was drawn to the color symbolism in all ethnic
textiles. “I continue to be amazed by the fact that weavers of old
attached special meaning to the placement of every thread.” In
search of a set of personal symbols, Bonnie developed several
techniques that have become her trademarks—Color Horoscope
Weaving, Woven Words, and Turned-Weft Ikat (a twist on a
traditional theme).
Originally from the East Coast, Bonnie first learned her
craft at Rhode Island School of Design. She later moved to
Montana, where she had a brief stint as a weaving shop owner. In
1980, Bonnie settled in Seattle, where she operated a colorful
weaving studio. She moved back to Montana in 2010, where she
now resides, exploring the boundaries and complexities of
plainweave, with a strong focus on color. Here you can see her
getting ready to cut off her latest color warp, her own horoscope in
tencel, which she plans to wear to Salt Lake City, so we get to see it
live!
Bonnie specializes in private commissions—working closely with the client to co-create a unique fabric that reflects
the spirit of the individual. Since 1993, Bonnie has been teaching workshops and presenting lectures to numerous fiber
organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
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President’s Message
Hi Weavers,
I hope everyone is enjoying these beautiful days of autumn, and finding inspiration for their
weaving. All one has to do is look at the tree leaves on the mountainsides for a wonderful
palette of colors mixed by the hand of Mother Nature. As weavers we have many directions
that our inspirations can lead us. For me, beholding the mix of seasonal colors helps me to
organize a color way for a project.
When I am in Southern Utah and out hiking among the rock formations I think of ways to incorporate what I see
into weave structures. Where an ordinary person would see a series of holes in the rock – I see honeycomb weave
structures. A beautiful view becomes for me a dream to be realized in tapestry weaving and using freeform shapes to
depict the strata of the rock in a canyon face.
I feel very fortunate to have come upon weaving in my journey through life. Weaving has given me a new way to
express my inner world of imagination. I love to hold a piece of cloth that reflects these dreams because it gives me a
way to share them with others.
Happy weaving and creating!
Sonya
Summary of September Guild Meeting
Warp Dyeing at Jeanette Tregeagle’s Home
On Saturday, September 13, we had a wonderful start to the new Weaver’s Guild year. Jeanette Tregeagle arranged for a
wonderful workshop at her beautiful home and in her backyard. She had gone to a great deal of work to wind linen warps for all
of us, using beautiful linen that Julie Schwartz had bought at an estate sale. We had dyes to mix the colors that we wanted and
additional linen yarn to put with the dyed warps for our weaving pleasure. We started out with a wonderful show and tell, as
usual. Isn’t it fun to see what our Guild friends have been weaving? And then we got to eat! And you can imagine how good that
was.
We were able to spend time in Jeanette’s weaving studio, which is filled with beautiful equipment and yarns and evidence
of her lovely personality. It was a day filled with relaxation, learning, and friendship. Thanks so much to Jeanette, to Julie, and to
all who helped with the day.
I hope everyone who came had as good a time as I did and I want to invite you all to enjoy the great programs and
meetings that we have scheduled this year.
-- Deanna Baugh 
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BOOK REVIEW: Weaver of Worlds: From
Navajo Apprenticeship to Sacred
Geometry and Dreams; A Woman’s
Journey in Tapestry. David Jongeward.
1990.
the golden rectangle and logarithmic spiral to
find new ways to express herself through
symmetry. I heartily recommend this book to
all who seek meaning in their creativity.
-- Sonya Campana 
(Members, you are encouraged to submit book reviews,
including those books in the Guild Library.)
“David Jongeward brings to life the artistic journey of
master weaver Carolyn Jongeward, beginning with her
apprenticeship to
Navajo weavers in
Arizona and
extending to her
studies in sacred
geometry and
number symbolism,
Native American
philosophy, Jungian
psychology, and
creation mythology.
Fiber Arts Roundup
NORTHERN UTAH FIBER ARTISANS
8 oz fiber challenge display
October 1-31, 2014
NUFA, Logan City Library
255 North Main St., Logan, UT
SILVER CITY FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL
November 15-16
Grant County Conference Center, Silver City,
NM
http://www.fiberartscollective.org/festival.html
From her Navajo
teachers, Carolyn
learned the meaning
of “sitting-stillwithin-the-harmonyplace” while
pursuing her craft
and artistic vision.
The dreams that came to her- many recorded here from her
journals – inspired her designs and weavings in precise
geometric and symbolic detail. “I weave because I want to
use the means of interlacing threads to find something higher
and larger than myself,” she writes. Together with David
Jongeward’s evocative text, the reproductions of Carolyn’s
weavings – many in full color- reveal her art to be the focus
of vast creative energy and a multifaceted search for
knowledge.”
TNNA WINTER TRADE SHOW
The National Needlearts Association
January 10-12, 2015, Phoenix Convention
Center, Phoenix AZ;
www.tnna.org
INTERMOUNTAIN WEAVER’S
CONFERENCE
Try Something New
July 23-26, 2015,
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
Registration begins February 1, 2015 for IWC
members
www.intermountainweavers.org
OK, I just got the info above off the back cover
of the book. But it drew me in and I had to read to
whole book. Carolyn taught me how to lead a purpose
driven artistic life. She looked for meaning in everything
from her dreams to the landscapes she inhabited to give
her tapestry weaving direction. Being a visual creature –
I was happy to see the color pictures of her work as she
grew and developed as an artist. What surprised me was
her search for inspiration. She turned to ancient
mathematic traditions, such as the Fibonacci sequence,
-- Jill Dahle 
(To contribute to the “Fiber Arts Roundup,”
send information to Jill Dahle at
[email protected].)
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The Guild Show Is Coming in January!
This beautiful picture, taken by Guild member
Margareth Lauer, shows off many ethnic woven bands
that are owned by Guild members. This picture will be
on the postcard that is created by the Utah Cultural
Celebration Center to advertise the Guild show that will
hang in the center from January 15 to March 4, 2015.
Jo Stolhand and her helpers are gathering very
special ethnic textiles owned by Guild members, and
these will be on display as part of the show. This will
add beauty and inspiration to the show.
Then, we are looking forward to seeing the
new textile creations that will come from members of
our Guild and other fiber Guilds throughout the state. Please see the Call for Entries in this newsletter and on the
website. If possible, please create a textile that is based on a traditional handmade textile. You can display the original
textile, a picture of the textile, or you can just explain your inspiration on the label beside your piece.
Much information will come in the next newsletter, so watch for that.
Swedish Art Weaves Workshop
Joanne Hall, a nationally known weaver and owner of
Glimakra USA, will be teaching a three-day workshop in connection
with our show. The dates of this workshop have changed to January
22, 23, and 24. Joanne will also make a presentation to our Guild on
January 24.
So that means we will have a show opening on January 15 and
a Guild meeting with Joanne Hall on January 22. January will be a
good month to be a weaver!
Joanne will teach Swedish Art Weaves, and much more
information will be in the next newsletter. Here is a picture of some
of what we will be weaving, just to get you interested!
Registration will begin after the November newsletter comes
out.
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Call for Entries
Inspired Fiber Art
Contemporary Fiber Art Inspired by Traditional Textiles
The Mary Atwater Weaver’s Guild is pleased to announce a show of hand-made fiber art to be
displayed at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center from January 15 to March 4, 2015. Textile
artists of Utah are encouraged to create pieces for this show using any form of textile art.
Artists are encouraged to create contemporary fiber art that is inspired by traditional ethnic
textiles—including the textiles’ techniques, styles, colors, and designs. The contemporary fiber
art can be inspired directly by the ethnic textiles, or the inspiration can be more general. The
show will also include examples of traditional handmade textiles from around the world. (The
contemporary fiber art does not have to be inspired by traditional textiles to become part of
the show.)
Artists will write brief labels for their pieces that explain the source of the inspiration. If
possible, the textile that was the source of inspiration can be submitted with the contemporary
piece, and the two textiles will be hung together.
Dates: January 15 to March 4, 2015
Location: Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 West 3100 South
Show Opening: January 15, 2015, f r o m 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Artwork: Up to three pieces may be submitted; $15 entry fee
Delivery of Artwork: January 8, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at UCCC
Further Information: mmawg.org
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Shuttle-Craft Guild Bulletins on
Household Weaving and Small Patterns
This month’s article addresses household weaves,
particularly those woven in small patterns. Mary appears to
differentiate household weaves from, say weaving drapes or
curtains, by the combination of pieces from one warp. These are
from Bulletin Number 15, December 1925 and the November
1933 Bulletin. In 1925, Mary wrote about weaving portieres or
drapes, a couch cover, table runner and pillow covers all from
the same warp, in complementary, not the same pattern so the
room furnished with these fabrics would look coordinated, but
not overwhelming. She explains how a weaver may warp a very
long warp of 18 yards in the middle 24” of a sectional beam, and
14 yards on either side. One weaves off the middle narrow
section for the table runner and pillow covers, ties up additional
sections of a 14 yard warp on either side to weave the width
needed for the drapes (28” wide or so) and couch cover. Can
you picture it in your mind? It took me 2 readings to get it, but
it is a clever way to warp once for the 4 separate pieces of
household weaves.
Mary talks about the planning for the projects, the
pounds of yarn needed and the hours it might take at the loom
to finish it off. She says if a weaver could weave 2 hours a day, it
would take a month to finish it all, or allowing for 3 hours per
yard, depending on the experimenting, or sampling needed to
determine the appropriate fabric.
She touches on appropriate patterns for the project.
She recommends considering the size and proportion of the
room in which the pieces are to be used and suggests that a small
formal pattern is desirable for a large room, while a large pattern
and lavish use of color are good for a sun-room.
Mrs. Mackenzie Pattern #1, 1933, shown without tabby.
Mrs. Mackenzie Pattern #1, woven as crackle
Mary recommends a number of patterns from
the John Landes book that she has just published, (see
https://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/books
/ncwg_lan_1.pdf) and gives additional ones on the
back pages of both bulletins. Diagrams of a few of
them are seen on this page.
Mrs. Mackenzie Pattern #2, shown without tabby.
Tips from weavers are also included in these 2 issues, including,
applying a warp dressing with a sprayer, rather than a cloth or brush,
taping the ends of each section warped on a sectional beam to secure
the threads, weaving in a rod to cut off a piece before the entire warp
is woven off and Mary includes her own preference of threading
heddles without a hook and sleying with a dull kitchen knife rather
than what she calls a “drawing-in hook”. --Maureen Wilson 
Draft a, 1925
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Mary Meigs Atwater
Weaver’s Guild of Utah
October 2014 • Vol. 60 No. 2
Newsletter editors:
Susan Hainsworth, susanhainsworth@
gmail.com; Maureen Wilson,
[email protected]
The newsletter is published 10 times a
year. Any articles or information should
be to the editor by the 5th of the
month.
To join the Guild send $30.00 ($35.00
to receive the newsletter by mail) to
Kira Masnica, 1042 Fort Union Blvd.
#138, Midvale, UT 84047, kira.spins@
gmail.com, 801-671-4496
To join the Guild e-mail list:
[email protected]
Guild web page: www.mmawg.org
Guild meetings are g e n e r a l l y held
the 2nd Thursday of the month at the
Unitarian Church 6876 South Highland
Drive (2000 East)
2014–2015 MMAWG Board
President: Sonya Campana, 801-7335888, [email protected]
Vice President: Jeanette Tregeagle,
[email protected],
801-568-9645
Secretary: Deanna Baugh, 801-9663642, [email protected]
Treasurer: Kira Masnica, kira.spins@
gmail.com, 801-671-4496
Hospitality: Ping Chang, 801-545-0512,
[email protected]
Librarian: Joanne Spotten, 487-9133,
[email protected]
Equipment Contact: Jane Roos,
801-572-9997,
[email protected]
Grants Officers: Mimi Rodes,
mimirodes@ comcast.net; Susan
Hainsworth (Guild Show 2015
Chair),
[email protected]
Newsletter: Susan Hainsworth, 801-2921169, [email protected];
Maureen Wilson, 801-485-5241,
[email protected]
Website: Judie Eatough, 801-375-5535,
[email protected]
HGA representative: Jill Dahle, 801-4465581, [email protected]
Guild Calendar
2014–2015
October 16, 2014
“54 years and counting: An overview of my weaving
journey beginning in 1960.” by Bonnie Tarses
October 16–18, 2014
Color Horoscope Weaving workshop by
Bonnie Tarses
November 13, 2014
Shadow Weave, Deanna Baugh
December 18, 2014
Christmas party and gift exchange, Mimi
Rodes's home
*Note, this is the 3rd Thursday
January 15, 2015
Guild Show Opening: Inspired by
Fiber Art
*Note, this is the 3rd Thursday
January 22, 2015
Swedish Weaving presentation
Joanne Hall
*Note, this date takes the place of our February meeting, so we
can all learn from Joanne Hall
January 22-24, 2015
Swedish Weaving Workshop
Joanne Hall
March 12, 2015
To be announced
April 9, 2015
To be announced
May 14, 2015
To be announced
June 2015
Date to be announced