PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
A much anticipated activity at guild meetings is sharing by members of their weaving and fiber arts creations. I know I find inspiration in seeing what others have created and hearing about their processes and yes, even problems encountered, are instructional. Mary Ann Straight facilitates our monthly sharing time as well as tantalizes us with an annual challenge project (do something you have not done before, for example) and a chance to win chocolate!
I have always appreciated learning from, and with, Mary Ann and wanted to know more about her fiber arts journey and her steadfast commitment to learning. Here is what I learned: Mary Ann was married for 47 years, had 4 children, and early on attained a nursing degree. While working as a nurse and raising her kids, she learned to spin from a neighbor. Later, she wanted to use her hand spun yarn and true to form, successfully taught herself how to weave. Having many looms throughout her excursions into weaving – Rasmussen, Leclerc, Baby Wolf, Glimakra, Louet Spring, Gilmore – Mary Ann is one of our go to people for loom knowledge as well as weaving ergonomics. She weaves mostly on her 30 year old Baby Wolf now and has demonstrated how to get closer to the heddles for threading by taking off the breast beam, and to more easily tie up the treadles by tipping the loom onto a chair to bring them closer.
Mary Ann recalls a couple of completed weaving projects that she was particularly proud of. She took part in Whidbey guild group aiming to weave a wool coverlet. Each member wove an overshot square with the idea to sew them together in the end. As it turned out the squares ended up all different sizes. The fun solution was to make teddy bears instead and forget the coverlet! The other project was two turned twill gamps using brilliant colors of 10/2 yarn from Lunatic Fringe - one 6 feet long and the other 3 feet long.
Continuing her quest for learning, Mary Ann joined the Whidbey Weavers Guild (30 years ago now) and attended meetings on her day off from her full time job. She believes that it is essential to give back to an organization of which you are a member. She served as an officer (president and vice president) and volunteer leader for workshops for a total of 6 years. Joining the Skagit Guild she has also served as an adviser to the executive board, a contributor to the program committee, and a member of multiple study groups including mentor for beginning weavers, eco printing, and rep weave.
I can attest that Mary Ann lives the philosophy of investing in yourself though education. When she wanted to learn about eco dyeing she pursued classes through a renowned Israeli expert. She has built a home weaving library of books she consults widely and generously shares with others. She takes advantage of workshops that are affordable and close to home. This philosophy is something she enthusiastically wants to impart to all new weavers and spinners. The guild is your community, she says. It is your avenue to involvement in big or small ways, and to years of collaborative learning. Try new things, she advises. You may fall in love and find an unrecognized and fulfilling creative avenue.
