The close knit community of the Verde Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild operating since 1973, changed its name over the summer to The Verde Valley Fiber Artisans — the change is in order to be more inclusive to other types of artists across Sedona and the Verde Valley.
“We have modernized the group,” executive board Secretary Marge Schwartz said. “Because of the name weavers and spinners [those were] the only types of people that were interested in the group. But there’s not many people who spin their own yarn or have looms and weave. But there’s lots of other ways to make art with fiber. So, we opened it up to other fiber arts, and it includes things like hand knitting and crocheting. [We] have a subdivision called the upcyclers. They take different pieces of clothing and redesign them into … beautiful items all made out of scraps and pieces of other objects. … Revitalized is the best description of the group.”
VVFA has continued the group’s tradition of community outreach with their hand crafted “nap caps” for cancer patients at the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood and mastectomy recovery pillows for Sedona Breast Care patients.
“Twenty five years ago, before I moved here, I had a good friend [Eileen Ionnatta] who had cancer, and through her treatments, she lost all her hair,” Schwartz said. “She would complain that when she turned over in bed that the pillowcase was cold on her bare skin, and so I made her a lightweight hat. She loved it so much, she stopped wearing her wig when she went out.”
Schwartz said it inspired her to bring that project to VVFA to carry out for local cancer patients.
“We’re calling them ‘nap caps,’ because … as soon as you put it on you want to go take a nap,” Schwartz said. “They’re comfortable and lightweight and warm and so we’ve donated over 100 [caps], and that’s just since the spring. … Our upcyclers are also making what are called ‘bosom buddies’ and their mastectomy recovery pillows.”
VVFA can also be frequently seen at the Sedona Hertiage Museum in Uptown doing regular programming and has maintained its work with the Rainbow Acres community of people with developmental disabilities in Camp Verde.
“Rainbow Acres is so cool hey bring some of their residents to our meetings. And they bring their newest projects to show us what they have learned to make and we have a [VVFA] member that teaches a looming class to the residents of Rainbow Acres,” Schwartz said.
VVFA’s monthly meeting takes place from September through June on the third Thursday of each month at their new home at the Church of the Red Rocks, 54 Bowstring Drive and the meeting runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
“Each meeting begins with a presentation by local or nationally recognized fiber artists, offering members a chance to learn new skills and explore emerging trends in the fiber art world,” according to a VVFA press release. “The presentations are followed by a brief business meeting and a lively ‘show and tell,’ where members proudly display their latest creations. In addition to monthly meetings, [VVFA] frequently offers hands-on workshops to help members delve deeper into specific fiber arts.”
Camp Verde artist and VVFA member Nancy Wilson is presenting at the group’s next meeting, which guests are always welcome to, on Thursday, Sept. 18 about her time en route to Alaska aboard a knitting cruise. Wilson’s greatest artistic pride is how she spins and creates her own fibers from the wool of her 13 llamas and one alpaca she raises at her home.
“I’ve only been a member for two years,” Schwartz said. “I can’t believe that I didn’t know about them sooner. … I wish I had met them earlier. Joining the group is a great way to get you excited about making things. I’ve seen a lot of people perk up when we have new fibers. … When you have a new bag of yarn, it’s like candy, and I [have] got back to doing a lot more knitting since I’ve joined [VVFA].”
Membership is $35 per year, with a key benefit being access to the VVFA’s only fundraiser through the year, the Fiber Artisans Sale that is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Church of the Red Rocks.
To learn more about VVFWSG visit verdevalleyweaversguild.com or contact vvwsg1@gmail.com or call Schwartz at (928) 821-1346.
