The Verde Valley Weavers & Spinners Guild kicks off a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The monthly programs and workshops as well as the award winning skills of members keeps the guild an integral part the long-standing craft of fiber arts thriving and growing in the Verde Valley.
“We are focusing on Celebrating the Past while Creating the Future. The theme for our activities from September of 2022 through June of 2023, will be Sustainable Style using of sustainable fibers, natural and recycled materials, we will be creating up-cycled sustainable creations.”
The guild meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, from 10 a.m. to noon.
On Sept. 15 was a stash buster sale. Gloria Brown present her program Knitting Without Borders, volunteering to make teddy bears for needy children worldwide including an upcoming delivery to Ukrainian children by Sedona resident Mark Cary.
Other programs this year include the following:
- Oct. 20: Stranded knitting with Navajo knitwear designer by Jennifer Berg
- Nov. 17: Layered Fabric Assemblage with Vicki Assegue.
The guild also hold artists demonstrations at the Sedona Heritage Museum on the fourth Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
National award-winning weaver and fiber artist Betty Gaudy started the guild in 1973.
She and Mary Pendleton led the founding of the guild and were the leaders for many years.
Gaudy is one of only 25 people in the United States to have earned the Certified Excellence in Weaving award and is the first recipient of this honor in Arizona.
Gaudy is still active in the guild and examples of her work are on display at the guild’s monthly meetings. People can also view her work at the Sedona Public Library show in September, at the Camp Verde guild display in December.
Join the guild at the Fabulous Fiber sale being held at the United Methodist Church off State 179 from Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find information about meetings, membership, programs and workshop at our VerdeValleyWeaversGuild.com website.
Izzy Simmer is the Program Coordinator of the Verde Valley Weavers & Spinners Guild.
