The Bozeman Weavers Guild is a 503c non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and teaching others about fiber arts. The BWG has a variety of outreach projects.
Montana Made Fair – Bozeman
BWG Beginners’ Weaving Class
Students learned to weave starting with using a warping board to sleying the reed, threading the heddles, tie-up to the warp beam, beaming the warm and tie-up to the cloth beam. Students were excited to begin weaving their projects.
Whittier Art Fest
During the 4 weeks of ART FEST the entire school’s students and teachers participate in a weekly variety of creative art classes taught by artists in and around the Bozeman community.
Random Acts of Silliness
A fanciful project first proposed by Diane and Warren Knipfer back in February, has come to fruition due to their foresight, determination, and wonderful imaginations. The Weaver’s Cottage has proudly been on display from August 26 to September 17 in the fairy village of Bumblewood Thicket, located in the Glen Lake Rotary Park.
“This delightful domicile is the home of Gwydion and Shaleigh Webestre, purveyors of fine fiber products. Their children Alette, Fergus, and Riona all pitch in to help with the family business. From fleece to fabric, the Webestres take great satisfaction in supplying the village with yarn, cloth, and rugs of the finest quality. As founding members of the Bumblewood Weavers Guild, they also teach others how to shear, card, dye, spin, weave, and knit wool and flax. You may have spotted their excellent handiwork in many of the houses you’ve passed so far. It makes them feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know they help their neighbors stay warm through the long winters.”
Museum of the Rockies – Craft Day at Living History Farm
July 22 was the Guild’s outreach day at The Museum of the Rockies living history farm. The Tinsley House is a Homestead era log home built in 1888 by the Tinsley Family. Over 500 people came through the Farm on the 22nd. I would estimate about half the visitors were children of various ages. The impetus behind this outreach was to show that crafts that the homesteaders practiced are still being practiced and are still useful today.