November, 1999
A couple of weeks ago, during a visit to the west Kootenays of British Columbia, I was fortunate to visit the annual Christmas show and gift sale presented by the Selkirk Weavers Guild. The Kootenays are located in the southeastern region of British Columbia, Canada, east of the Rocky mountains, and north of the United States border. The three towns of Trail, Castlegar and Nelson are surrounded by the rugged Selkirk, Purcell and Bugaboo mountain ranges and the pristine Kootenay Lake and Columbia river system. If you are planning a trip to this unique region of BC, About.com's Canada for Visitors Guide, Elke Mairs can provide you with more information about travelling in the Kootenays.
The Selkirk Weavers Guild held their exhibit in the Kootenay Gallery of Art, History and Science, located in Castlegar, on the shore of the Columbia River. There was a delightful variety of handwoven gifts to choose from: fine linen table runners, colorful towels, soft and woolly blankets, shimmering silk scarves, purses, bags and clothing.
Participants in the show were:
Nancy Penner Vivian Jagersten Dar McDowell Mabel Verigin June Bell Ingeborg Thor-Larsen Sandra Donohue Ruby Marsh.
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The most creative and fun use of recycled fiber, IMHO, was a fur rug. Ingeborg Thor-Larsen cut a seal-skin coat into narrow strips and used them as weft. The warp was hand-dyed cotton. |
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