The Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild Prepares for its Signature Holiday Show and Sale
While many Prescott locals are sheltering with their computers and phones, members of the Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild (MSWG) are busy spinning and weaving on the same kinds of spinning wheels and looms that have been used for centuries.
Part of the attraction, in addition to reliving history, is making something unique from scratch. For those in the Guild who raise sheep, llamas, or alpacas, the process begins with the care of the animals and the removal of their fleece to spin and dye yarn and can end with cloth crafted into runners, towels, scarves, shawls, and garments such as jackets and skirts.
Right now, members are preparing for the annual Holiday Show and Sale, which happens at the Grace Sparks Center on the second Saturday of November and showcases a dazzling array of more than 1,000 handcrafted items for the public to purchase. It’s also an opportunity for locals to meet the artisans and view demonstrations.
The MSWG began 43 years ago when several women met to share their love of the fiber arts and to inspire and motivate each other. Over the decades, this small group has grown into a guild of more than 100 members. While enthusiasm for spinning and weaving has remained constant from the very beginning, the goal of the guild has broadened to include community enrichment and education in the fiber arts. Members volunteer at the Folk Art Fair at Prescott’s Sharlot Hall Museum and Pioneer Days at Del Rio Elementary School. This change in focus—adding volunteer involvement in the community—has enabled the MSWG to be registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
At the monthly meetings, a fiber-related program follows the business meeting. The presenters are local or nationally known fiber artists who, additionally, often offer a two- or three-day workshop. In addition to the monthly meetings, small, informal groups gather to pursue the specific interests of members.
The Guild also provides venues for members to sell items ranging from fleece, roving, yarn, rugs, wall hangings, towels, runners, and woven jewelry to clothing such as scarves, shawls, hats, jackets, and skirts. Guild sales also include knitted, crocheted, and felted items.
Again, the Guild’s Holiday Show and Sale is on the second Saturday of November at the Grace Sparkes Center in the Prescott Armory. The Guild also has a May sale at the Prescott Farmers Market and an August sale on the courthouse plaza.
Learn more at www.mtnspinweave.org or on Facebook @MSWG.Events.