Events

MAWS 2018 will have an exciting selection of events including:

Conference Exchange

Check in items when you arrive at Firehole registration desk

We will have two exchanges at MAWS 2018:  a skein of handspun yarn for the spinners, and a handwoven tea towel for the weavers.  You may participate in either one, or both.  Items will be on display during the conference, and then randomly distributed to other exchange participants at the conference close.

Is there a new (to you) weave structure you’ve been thinking about trying?  A color combination you’ve been dreaming about?  We’d encourage you to play, experiment, stretch your borders, and bring the resulting tea towel or handspun skein to the 2018 conference exchange!

Exchange guidelines:
Tea towel:  a new, handwoven tea towel in any color or weave structure
Yarn skein: any type of handspun yarn in a skein of approx. 50 – 100 gr.

A tea-towel exchange display at ANWG 2017
A tea-towel exchange display at ANWG 2017

Big Sky Barbeque:  Meet the Instructors and our MAWS Living Treasures

Thursday evening, June 14, at 6:00, our main conference will kick off with a special dinner in the Huntley Dining Room. Meet and mingle, get to know our instructors and look for our MAWS Living Treasures, those wonderful fiber artists who have given so much of themselves to their own guilds and the MAWS organization. We all have a lot to learn and our instructors and our Living Treasures have a lot to share. Watch for their special nametags and introduce yourself!

Living Treasures Ceremony

Thursday evening, June 14, 7:00   This biennial event honors the latest inductees into the MAWS Living Treasures, an award designed to recognize and honor MAWS members who have made outstanding contributions in the field of fiber arts.  The award is bestowed on a fiber artist who has demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship, provided leadership or has been a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, or who has contributed to the betterment and development of the fiber arts at the local, state, regional or national level.  It is these Montana “treasures” to whom we wish to pay tribute.

Vendors Grand Opening

Thursday evening, June 14, 7:30- 9:30  Vendors are a special part of any MAWS conference and some of your old favorites (and some surprises!) are already planning to be there.  Join us in the vendor hall (Gallatin Room) to see all the wonderful items you can’t live without.  For website:  Check HERE (LINK) to see the vendors who have already contracted for space at MAWS 2018.

Business Over Breakfast with Jane Patrick

Friday, 7:00 a.m., North Huntley Dining Room  All main conference registrants may attend this special session with Jane Patrick, co-owner of Schacht Spindle Co.  If you are interested in the business of fiber, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to chat with Jane.

Open Show, 2018 —Reach for the Stars: Fiber Artistry in the Big Sky

Friday and Saturday, all day; Cheyenne Room   All MAWS members are invited to participate in the Open Show – hosted by the Helena Weavers and Spinning Guild. The 2018 show will be entitled Reach for the Stars: Fiber Artistry in the Big Sky. Through this theme, we want to expand on our conference theme, “The Sky’s The Limit”, and encourage all to reach beyond personal boundaries to learn, grow, experiment, and shine! Bring your fiber works, created since the last MAWS conference in 2016. Show categories and guidelines can be found HERE.  The show will be open for viewing all day Friday and Saturday in the Cheyenne Room at the Huntley Lodge.

Guild Booths: “Up, Up and Away”

Friday and Saturday, all day; Cheyenne Room  The chosen theme for the 2018 Guild Booth Show is Up, Up and Away, also building on “The Sky’s The Limit” conference theme.  We hope all our member guilds will take up the challenge of interpreting the show title in their unique ways, and showing off their members’ latest work!The Guild booths will share space with the Open Show in the Cheyenne Room of Huntley Lodge, and will be open for viewing all day, Friday and Saturday.

Instructor Showcase

Friday and Saturday, all day   Our many talented instructors will be bringing pieces from their own collections to display in a special instructors showcase.  Enjoy the astonishing possibilities of the fiber arts!

Keynote Address:  “Weaving an Adventure,” Doris Florig

Friday evening, 6:45; Amphitheatre in Yellowstone Conference Center  Doris Florig, a self-described “Nomadic Contemporary Weaver,” has been chosen to give the keynote address on Friday evening, June 15, at the 2018 MAWS Conference.  Doris exemplifies the conference theme of “The Sky’s the Limit!” with her adventurous spirit and amazing variety of fiber interests and expertise.  Doris has been weaving, teaching, writing and exhibiting her work since the 1970’s. We are delighted to welcome her to MAWS 2018.

Special dessert:  strawberry shortcake

Friday evening, after keynote address, Lower Atrium  Enjoy socializing as you indulge in the season’s best dessert!  Doris Florig will be available to sign copies of her recently published book Weaving An Adventure, as will our other published conference leaders.

Top Ten Fiber Tips with Collingwood, Hartshorn, and Patrick

Saturday evening, 5:00, Amphitheater  Three of our nationally – and internationally – known conference leaders will share their best tips covering their wide range of practice.  Open to all conference registrants.

Awards Dinner

Saturday evening, 6:00, Madison/Jefferson Ball Room  At our final dinner of the 2018 conference, we will acknowledge the amazing and diverse talents of our members.  Award winners of the Open Show and Guild Booths will be lauded.

Fashion Show:  “True Colors of the Big Sky”

Saturday evening, 7:00, Madison/Jefferson Ball Room  The MAWS 2018 fashion show, hosted by the Billings Weavers and Spinners,  will be an open show, without categories or competition. All MAWS members are invited to submit garments for the show.  This is a delightful event.

To help the show flow and to be well-organized, the Billings Weavers Guild would like entries to be submitted by June 5th. The entry form is attached below. A limited number of on-site entries will be accepted.  Only the form needs to be submitted prior to the conference, the garment will stay in the possession of the entrant until the day of the fashion show.  You may model your own garment or request a model to show off your piece.  We are anticipating some wonderful, colorful garments representing the Big Sky in June.

True Colors of the Big Sky Fashion Show Entry Form

Last Chance to Shop!

Vendors open late: Saturday evening after the Fashion Show, until 9:30  Pick up that special item you’ve been eyeing before it’s too late, and don’t forget gifts for friends and family who weren’t able to attend the conference!

Spin In!

Saturday evening, 8:00  till ?  Upper Atrium  The Spin In is a MAWS conference must!  Have a relaxing chat with all those MAWS friends as you create your latest and greatest yarn.  Bring your wheel and fiber and dive right in!

Community Day

All day, Saturday, June 16  All community members, from Big Sky, Bozeman, and beyond, are invited to Big Sky Resort on Saturday during the conference to enjoy the many fiber arts exhibits, watch demonstrations of spinning and weaving, and shop the vendors.  This event is free and open to the public.