Open House 2021
Come join us for our annual open house!!
September 25th 2021
10am-4pm
Following several postponements related to COVID-19, we are finally able to host our favorite get together this September! At this year’s Open House we’ll have demonstrations in the following areas:
Cotton Spinning with Joan Ruane! Yes, the high priestess of cotton is in town and she will be talking about her decades of research, use and love of cotton from a hand spinner’s perspective. Joan will be talking with guests about the breed variations available to hand spinners from colored cottons to variations in staple length. She will also be demonstrating the spinning of cotton and present several examples of how the yarn may be woven, knitted or used any application a commercially produced yarn may be used.- The Rigid Heddle and small loom tent will be set up again lead by Lynn Van Assan & Debra Nyby. As small looms go, there are an ocean of option in our modern age. If you are even slightly curious about what all the buzz is about than feel free to stop by our information booth. Here you will find the place to see examples of looms from 8”- 48” wide.
- Join Red Stone Glen instructor Jen Weber as she shares her lifelong love of the art of Temari as well as a new-found obsession in creating Ojo De Dios, aka God’s Eye for grownups. Explore hundreds of Jen’s gorgeous samples, hear her story of how she came to art of stitching Temari and watch engaging demonstrations. It’s easy to get swept up in her enthusiasm for color and all things math!
- Jan Derry returns this year to discuss the amazing life cycle of the silk worm. Jan has many years of experience raising, processing and spinning her own “home grown” silk and a wealth of knowledge. Much to our excitement she will also be bringing with her a few specimens that guests can visit with. Bring your questions and get an up close look at the beginning process of how luxury fabrics are born.
- Knitting with Handspun Yarn will be demonstrated by Jane O’Hare. Take a look into the art of creating one of a kind knitted pieces use handspun yarns. No need to be a spinner to glean some helpful tips and tips in regards to knitting with yarns with unique characteristics commercially or handspun. Jane will be bringing with her some wonderful examples for guests to admire, ask questions and gain inspiration.
- Do you know the Triangle Loom? Amy O’Hare will be giving a live demonstration on her “tri-loom” and answering questions about this easy way to make a continuous strand weaving. With no, or little experience in weaving new weavers will be able to complete shawls with many different yarns for unique color play, use of texture and even patterning in twills and laces. Information will be given if considering this type of weaving on the different style variations and where to purchase your very own loom!
- Fiber Blending with Sue Huelsenbeck & Mary Jean Polaski. Guests will be amazed at the range of color applications available to the hand spinner with a few simple blending techniques using wool combs, drum carders and blending boards. But it doesn’t stop there, many of the techniques demonstrated can be used in felting and other craft applications.
- A demonstration of “Free Weaving” will be given by artist and instructor Nelly Smith, MSW. Nelly has a degree in fine art from Mary Baldwin College and has had her work shown in Art of the State and numerous galleries. Introduced to weaving by the late Tara Kiley-Rothwell, Nelly created the weaving education studio, Weft, as a way to continue Tara’s legacy. Weft provides fun, accessible weaving instruction as well as a place for more experienced weavers to experiment with free-form weaving. Weft uses Saori looms and provides instruction in the “wabi sabi” style, informed by a Japanese aesthetic and philosophy that imperfection adds both organic character and beauty to the work. The studio provides both one-on-one and group instruction.
- Overshot Weaving with author Susan Kesler Simpson.In celebration of the release of her 2nd overshot book Susan will be doing some live weaving demonstrations,talkingwith guests about thestructure, will be bringing samples from her collection of books for guests to examine, ask questions and have a chance to have your favorite book signed.
Special musical performance:
We’re so excited to announce that this year in celebration being able to be together once again, we will be hosting professional bagpiper Gustav Person. Performances will bounce off the mountain and resonate through the Glen between the hours of 12-2 for 15 minutes sets.
New Products in the store and silent auction!
It wouldn’t be open house without new products in the store that you normally wouldn’t find; hot new notions, books, kits from Lunatic Fringe and more.
This year we will be having a silent auction for some awesome gift baskets our staff and volunteers have put together featuring their favorite products and a few fun surprises.
Typically, at our open house we would have a demonstration on sheep shearing. However, because we moved the event to the autumn from our normal June event we will have to miss this fun demonstration. But no worries, we will resume again in the spring of 2022.
Food
Red Stone Glen will be providing complimentary light refreshments and pre-packaged snacks. If you plan to spend the day, please feel free to pack a picnic or charcuterie plater for you and your friends. Alcoholic drinks are permitted on campus, but please drink responsibly. Please look for receptacles to properly dispose of your waste and recyclables.
Parking
If you have not attended one of our events in the past, please note that all parking will be located in our lower meadow, and volunteers will help direct you. If you need assistance making your way to the Ridge or the main studio, please look for our marked pick-up locations where you can hitch a ride on one of the golf carts making the circuit around campus. Golf carts may also be used to help transport your small loom or spinning wheel, transport merchandise purchases to your vehicle or just feel the breeze through your hair as you tour the grounds in style.
COVID
Due to the small spikes in COVID cases in many areas of our country we are doing our best to keep everyone safe as we gather to celebrate. After surveying much of our customer and students base, we’re thrilled to find that an unusually high percentage are vaccinated compared to the general public, however we will be modifying our current operations in response to current trends. If you are a fully vaccinated individual, please feel free to enjoy our campus mask free. We do politely ask however if you choose to visit any of our indoor facilities including the classroom spaces, the retail store or the Ridge housing that you wear a mask to protect other guests with increased numbers in enclosed spaces. All of our demonstrators will be outside to help mitigate exposure in small, enclosed spaces and control numbers more easily.
Shopping
The retail store will be open for guests to visit, but we will be again be making some modifications moving a large percentage of the store outside, limiting the number of customers in the store at a time and asking folks to wear a face covering. Staff will be on hand assisting customers with questions and controlling the number of guests inside at a time. Don’t worry there will be books to browse on your way in to help bide the time while you wait.