During December and January The Heritage Weavers and Spinners Guild was asked to participate as the Artist-in-Residence at the Creative Kids’ Museum in Calgary. We spent the fall getting looms, volunteers and children’s activity kits organized for the three plus weeks.

The room consisted of a spinning demonstration area, a 4 harness floor loom, two 4 harness table looms, an inkle and primitive loom, and a display of our members’ work. Forty members volunteered over 80 hours during the period to demonstrate carding, spinning, weaving on the various looms, and running a half hour children’s activity. On two occasions, the Guild Spinning Groups came and spent the day sharing their passion for spinning with the public.

Over 785 people passed through our area and many took the time to try their hand at anything and everything! Custom Woolen Mills send 3 of their staff down for the day, and used 100 of their needle felting kits. In addition, over 150 kids left with their own creations of weaving on various recycled looms, kumihimo, wet felting, weaving, and even God’s Eyes. They took home fluffy samples of carded fleece, fleece they had dyed with Koolaid, and even cutout sheep covered in fleece!

Thanks to everyone who was involved, donating time to dress the 3 looms, helping with setup and takedown, donating fibres for us to use at the museum and in the kits, and demonstrating and teaching at the museum. Thanks also to new member Fen Roesing for bringing Custom Woolen Mills staff for the day, and the several husbands who helped with the project. Everyone involved had a great time and agreed that it was a worthwhile project and a superb public relations opportunity!