Community Outreach
Community outreach is one of the missions of the Handweavers of Bucks County.
Each year the Guild participates in several events with the goal of educating the community about fiber arts. Guild members conduct demonstrations and give non-weavers the opportunity to try their hand at weaving and spinning.
Our goal is to promote a greater interest in the fiber arts and weaving by inspiring new weavers and educating the general public of the importance, beauty, and utility of handmade textiles
Exhibits and demonstrations are held annually at the following events:
The Garden State Sheep Breeders Annual Sheep & Fiber Festival, Ringoes, NJ
The Handweavers of Bucks County Annual Show & Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church, Buckingham, PA (SHOW & SALE PAGE)
Members demonstrating their craft
Sheep & fiber festival, ringoes, nj 2023
Congratulation’s to our member Barbara Hohenwarter! 👏👏👏👏
Barbara won“Best in Show” and many other ribbons at the Middletown Grange Fair in Wrightstown, PA this past weekend (August 2023). photo below
MEMBER EXHIBIT
HWBC Member Sue Reynolds currently has some of her work displayed at Pine Run Community Center, located at 777 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA. This exhibit will be available through the first week of July, 2023. The photo’s below show Sue’s loom and her woven pieces in the exhibit plus a blue/white Summer & Winter coverlet from 1881 that was woven by another Villagers great grandmother.
Sue Reynolds Bio
I was introduced to weaving at the U of MN as a pre-rec for the Occupational Therapy program. The course featured weaving a variety of samples on table looms already threaded in various patterns. I lived in fear of ending up in a clinic with a loom that needed warping as we only executed one complete project. Fortunately, that never happened.
When we retired to North Carolina, we bought a house with a 45” 4S Schacht loom. I took lessons offered by Asheville Parks and Rec and learned that warping was not a big deal. After a year, I began my adventure at Haywood Community College in their 5 semester Professional Craft Program - Fiber with Catharine Ellis. It was a comprehensive curriculum which included craft and weaving history, marketing, design, and surface design along with weaving. The program was lots of work but also lots of fun.
Handweaving Demonstration
Member Carlana Sargent demonstrates handweaving at Howell Living History Farm during Sheep Shearing and Herding Day in Hopewell Township, NJ on May 6, 2023.
2023 TWIST Sheep to Shawl Event
On Saturday, April 22 several members of HWBC took part in the Twist Sheep to Shawl Demonstration Event. This is an event that member Debby Brady and her team have held for several years (with a few years hiatus for the pandemic). On Saturday, we enjoyed the beautiful weather while we carded, spun, and wove the shawl. The spinners and carders were Lesley Ewing, Debbie Faehner, Barb Hohenwarter, and Judy Lehrhaupt. The blue, tan and white shawl was warped and woven by Lynette Greenwald. $150.00 was raised via the auctioning of the finished shawl. This contributed to a larger total that was raised as part of a silent auction along with the shawl created by the Twist team. All money was donated to the Delaware Valley Food Bank in Lambertville, NJ.
A special thank-you to Jean West who helped us acquire a beautiful fleece. This fleece was generously donated to the guild by Sue Posbergh of Windswept Farm (173 White Bridge Road, Pittstown, NJ). Sue is a member of the New Jersey Fibershed. The quality of this fleece was amazing, and we are truly grateful for her generosity.
The HAndweavers of Bucks County - helping the community
Our Community Outreach Chair, Marilynn Cowgill, and HWBC members Judy Walker and Debbie Faehner visited the South Hunterdon High School AP Art class for a second time. They demonstrated and helped the students with weaving on a floor loom, weaving on an inkle loom and spinning. During their previous visit, our members taught knitting as well. Enjoy the photos and video below, taken by their teacher, Marissa Sozio.
“Thank you so very much again for donating your time today and bringing all of the amazing resources with you! You are all truly inspiring with your talents. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge with my students and they are very grateful to have this experience.”
Marissa Sozio
Charitable Donations
Doylestown Hospital is requesting donations of handmade prayer blankets for patients at the end of their lives. The size that works best for bed-bound patients is approximately 4.5 by 2.5 feet, woven, knitted or crocheted, of bright or comforting colors, particularly shades of blue. Blankets can be put in a bag labeled “Pastoral Care Department” and dropped off at the Main Lobby front desk at the hospital. Please include your name and address. Should you have any question about any of this, please feel free to contact them at the number below. Thank you so much for considering this need.
Cindy Castor
Administrative Assistant, ArtWalk Coordinator
Pastoral Care Department
Phone: 215-345-2269
Before you drop off your blanket please take a photo and send it to Debbie Faehner. Photos will be part of our monthly show & tell and be counted toward our goal of 70 blankets.
Crocheted by Carol Van Sant