Thank You Fiber Connections Conference Attendees and Sponsors

We hope you all are home now and getting some rest.  It was quite a week of activities, learning, gathering with friends, and shopping! The Weaving Guilds of Oregon would like to thank all of you who participated in some part of the conference in Bend.  We had attendees from all over the US and Canada.  It was a wonderful experience to see all of you in the ballroom for two nights enjoying our banquet and keynote speaker, Jeanne Carver, and the fabulous fashion show and Noh coat parade.   

A special thank you to all who volunteered some time during the week to help make the conference run smoothly.  Vendors are particularly appreciative of all the help they received with unloading and loading out again from the Marketplace.  We had lots of hands to help unload cars into the Convention Center and Deschutes rooms during the week.  It makes conference attendance and loom moving a lot easier when we all have another hand to help out.  Thank you so much.

Another huge thank you to all the guilds who donated to sponsor the show cash awards.  And special thanks to vendors who donated door prizes. Lots of contributions made it fun.

The 2023 Conference website will migrate to the ANWG website we’ll provide an update there when that happens.  Dan will also add something to the 2023 conference website when we get the 2025 site started.  You can find ANWG at https://northwestweavers.org

We did end up with what we believe is one of the red wagon fold-up cart pouches in lost and found, unclaimed.  If it is yours, please email Linda Gettmann at lindag@bendbroadband.com and we’ll make arrangements to get it back to you.

I washed four soiled aprons in warm water and then dried in a med. dryer.  They shrank about 1” all the way around when I laid one on top of a non-washed apron.  So you might try cold water wash and air dry if you don’t want any shrinkage.  They are still just fine, need ironing, but will be good as new once I do that ~~ Linda

We are working on an evaluation form and will have that emailed out to all attendees and also appreciate private comments.

If you have more photos of the conference events and classes, please post them to the website here Conference Photo Submissions .  And the conference photo gallery can be found here Conference Photo Gallery.

Check the breaking news section on the home page for the listing of award winners.

See you all at the Washington Conference in 2025!

Saturday, June 17, Fiber Connections Conference

Wow, Day 6 already, last chance to participate in all conference activities.  We hope you’ve enjoyed your stay in Bend and at the Fiber Connections Conference sponsored by the Weaving Guilds of Oregon.  We’re sure glad you joined us. Have a wonderful weekend and a safe trip home.

Remember to wear your conference nametag all day to all events; it’s your entry identification.

Important Notice:  Please vacate all Cascade classrooms right at 4 PM today to allow the Convention Center staff to convert these rooms into our ballroom for the Fashion Show.

Wifi password:  River

Previous Days’ Blogs:  https://anwgconference.org/archive/2023//blog/  Check the blogs from earlier in the week for additional conference information.

This morning we have the Complex Weavers Meeting in Cascade G, 7:30-8:30 AM

Registration is open today only from 8-10 AM.  Last chance to purchase a fashion show ticket for this evening.  The Info Desk in the lobby is open 8-6.

Seminars run today 9 AM-Noon and 1-4 PM.  Schedule and room locations for all seminars

The Marketplace is open today from 9-5, last chance to shop our wonderful vendors. Thank you to all of them for transforming the Exhibit Hall into a colorful sensory overload!

Book signing by Rebecca Winter at the back table and Jennifer Moore at the front table will occur this morning in the Marketplace from 9-11 AM.

ANWG historical weaving study group and tapestry study group meet-up 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM in Cascade G.

Dianne Totten will be in the Marketplace front table selling her DVDs from 3-5 PM.

Demonstrations will be taking place all day in the Cascade Garden, outside at the south end of the Convention Center.

Pick up your new towel at the Towel Exchange in the Convention Center lobby from Noon-5 PM.  Bring your ticket and collect your new towel.

Tonight is our spectacular Fashion Show and Noh coat parade in the ballroom at 7:30 PM.  The dessert reception and no-host bars will be in the Convention Center from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.  Join us on the back deck and back hallway for refreshments and a special treat.

We have an attendee, Renate Rathonyi-Reusz who is looking to share a taxi to the Redmond Airport about 11:30 AM on Sunday.  If you are interested, please leave your name and phone # at the Info Desk by 5 PM today.

Show Entry Pickup will be in Deschutes rooms tomorrow morning from 7 AM-11:30 AM.  Please be there to gather your entries during this time, or your designated recipient.

Door Prize winners are:  Maryann Straight, Polly Sutton, Tina Butler, Beth Doyle, Laura MacCary, Deborah Staehle, Lisa Krebs, Marsha Phelps, Genevieve Jimmerson, Maureen McNulty, Michelle Lee, Roxie Rochat, Ann Frischkorn, Gail Trotter, Sheryl McCulloch, Barbara Walker, and Susan Schmieman.  Pick up your certificate at the Registration Desk by Noon today.

Friday’s Wine Winners:  Perry Drevo, Diane Gordon, Betsy Ellerbroek, Marlene Lloyd, Eileen O’Connor, Diane Pigg, Sheri Ward, and Susie Werner.

We hope you have enjoyed your time at the Fiber Connections Conference, and we’ll see you in the summer of 2025 at the Washington conference, planning is underway!

Friday, June 16, Fiber Connections Conference

Day 5 and we’re still upright!  That’s a win in my book – hope you’re having fun, learning a lot, and visiting with friends.  That’s what a fiber arts conference is all about.

Remember to wear your conference nametag all day to all events; it’s your entry identification.  Please remember to bring your banquet ticket if you purchased one a la carte, and also your meal ticket if you have a vegetarian meal or any meal with dietary restrictions.  The server will collect those and bring you the right dinner!

Important Notice:  Please vacate all Cascade classrooms right at 4 PM today and tomorrow to allow the Convention Center staff to convert these rooms into our ballroom for the evening events.

Wifi password:  River

Previous Days’ Blogs:  https://anwgconference.org/archive/2023//blog/  Check the blogs from earlier in the week for additional conference information.

This morning we have the ANWG Annual Membership Meeting 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM, Cascade G, ANWG Reps given priority.

Registration is open today 8 AM – 6 PM, as is the Info Desk in the lobby.

Seminars run today 9 AM-Noon and 1-4 PM.  Maps are on the website.  Schedule and room locations for all Friday-Saturday seminars

Book signing by Linda Kubik will occur this morning in the Marketplace from 9-11 AM.

Demonstrations will be taking place all day in the Cascade Garden, outside at the south end of the Convention Center.

Win a $50 gift certificate to Eugene Textile Center! The first person to find someone with a nametag pouch that exactly matches their own will win a $50 gift certificate to ETC (sharing is strongly encouraged). If you think you have a winner, wearers of the twin pouches should see Sue Walsh at the Registration Desk on Friday from 8 AM-6 PM. If the prize isn’t claimed by then, it will be awarded at random to a conference attendee. Good luck!

HGA-COE Weaving Applicant Meeting is in Cascade G, 12:00 –12:45 PM today.

The Marketplace is open to the public today as well as all of you from 9 AM – 6 PM.  Guild booths are in this same exhibit hall, lower level of the Convention Center.  Come and see them, shop, and sit and knit or spin.  We have a wide variety of vendors for your shopping pleasure – take advantage of it!  Shop, shop, shop – No sales tax in Oregon!!

Deschutes rooms are open from 9-6 PM today and contain all the show exhibits:  Juried Show, Instructors Show, Open Show, and Conference Colors Exhibit.  This large room is located behind the restaurant in the main hotel bldg. at the opposite end from the hotel lobby.  The entries in these shows are stunning.  Talk about inspiration, you will find something you just love and want to weave/spin/felt in this room.

Drop off your tea towel at the exchange booth in the Convention Center lobby between Noon-5 PM.

Tonight is our Banquet in the Convention Center Ballroom 6:00 PM, no-host bar 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Remember to wear your nametag and bring your meal ticket if you have dietary restrictions or a vegetarian meal.  Requires admission through a conference package purchase or an a la carte ticket. Keynote Speaker Jeanne Carver, Shaniko Wool Company – 7:30 PM. Requires admission through a conference package purchase or an a la carte ticket.

Take some photos of your class and the events this week and Submit them here and we’ll share them on our conference photo page .   Then everyone can see what fun you’re all having this week!

Stoller Wine Raffle tickets are available in the Convention Center lobby – put your name and cell phone # on the back of one ticket, drop it in the Hot Pink box, and keep the other half of the ticket.  Drawings will be held this week for a lot of bottles of Stoller Chardonnay.

Thursday Wine Winners! Pick up your bottle at the Info Desk in the lobby.

Sharon Allen (OR)
Patty Beckmann
Marya Bolyanatz
Mary Davis
Margaret Marcusen
Jeanne Miller
Stephanie Peterson
Dean Potter

Thursday Door Prize Winners!  Pick up your certificate at the Registration Desk in the lobby.

Mina Ossiander
Leonidas Lucey
Leslie Verts
Catherine Christo
Judith Rees
Cheryl Siard

Door prizes will be drawn again on today.  Winners are posted on the easel in the lobby near the Tea Towel Exchange.  Check and see if your name is up there!

Thursday, June 15, Fiber Connections Conference

Day 4 sunrise in Central Oregon at Fiber Connections — Welcome to all new arrivals!

Reminder:  All classrooms and the convention center are open at 7:30 AM.  Rooms are locked up as the last student and teacher leave between 4:30 and 5:00 PM. 

Remember to wear your conference nametag all day to all events; it’s your entry identification.

Wifi password:  river

Previous Days’ Blogs:  https://anwgconference.org/archive/2023//blog/  Check the blogs from earlier in the week for additional conference information.

Lots of 1-day workshops today – and our Opening Reception and Shopping Extravaganza sponsored by Heddlecraft Magazine, Robyn Spady.  Don’t miss all the fun in the lower-level exhibit hall with a reception and no-host bar from 5- 7:30 PM and shop till you drop 5-9 PM.  Open to conference package and ticket holders only today.

The Marketplace will be open to the public Friday 9-6, Saturday 9-5.

Zoom Links were sent to registrants on Wednesday for all of the Virtual Seminars, Zoom Access.  Each seminar has its own zoom link, so be sure you have the ones you purchased.  Check your spam box, if you don’t see it, please email Janis at registrar@anwgconference2023.com

Take some photos of your workshop and the events this week and Submit them here and we’ll share them on our conference photo page .   Then everyone can see what fun you’re all having this week!

Stoller Wine Raffle tickets are available in the Convention Center lobby – put your name and cell phone # on the back of one ticket, drop it in the Hot Pink box, and keep the other half of the ticket.  Drawings will be held this week for a lot of bottles of Stoller Chardonnay.

Wednesday Wine Winners! Pick up your bottle at the Info Desk in the lobby.

Mikie Morris
Tracey Stuart
Jennifer Pryor
Kelly Drake
Janis Thompson
Cindy Kew
Rosie Kerschbaumer
Carol Causey

Vendor and Guild Booth set ups continue in the lower level exhibit hall from 8 AM – Noon.  Then all attendees are invited to shop and view the booth exhibits.

Show set ups continue in Deschutes rooms from 8 AM – Noon.  Open for viewing Noon-6 PM.

Workshops and seminars schedules and room assignments are available below.  You may want to download these and save to your device or print them.  Your registration packet will also have your schedule, times, and the room assignments.

Schedule and room locations for all workshops

Schedule and room locations for all Friday-Saturday seminars

The Registration desk will be open today from 8 AM – 8 PM.  The Info desk will be open all week 8 AM – 6 PM; both are in the Convention Center lobby.  Thanks for supporting ANWG and WeGO by attending this Conference.

Wednesday, June 14 Fiber Connections Conference

Another beautiful day in Central Oregon at Fiber Connections!  Welcome to all new arrivals and safe travels for those of you about to depart for Bend.

Reminder:  All classrooms and the convention center are open at 7:30 AM.  Rooms are locked up as the last student and teacher leave between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.  Today the convention center will be open until 8 PM and you can bring your looms into those classrooms.

Remember to wear your conference nametag all day to all events; it’s your entry identification.

Wifi password:  river

Previous Days’ Blogs:  https://anwgconference.org/archive/2023//blog/  Check the blogs from earlier in the week for additional conference information.

Currents restaurant is also offering our conference attendees a breakfast buffet special each morning for $16.  And a lunch offering “Pick 2” from a short menu for $12, in addition to the regular breakfast and lunch menus.

Take some photos of your workshop and the events this week and Submit them here and we’ll share them on our conference photo page .   Then everyone can see what fun you’re all having this week!

The Alpaca Ranch Tour has 3 seats available in the vans leaving from the Riverhouse Convention Center entrance at 1 PM today.  Time at the ranch will be about 1 hour, and then return to the Convention Center around 3 PM.  Transportation is $15 per person, exact change cash.  Please pay Ila McCallum as you enter the vans.  Also remember we are asking for driver gratuities when you return to the Riverhouse.  They do a great job for us and we want to thank them for their timely and friendly service.

Guild Booth and Vendor Booth move-ins begin after the booths are set up in the Exhibit Hall, lower level, Convention Center.  We anticipate this will be approx. Noon, but it could be a little later.  Please be patient to drive to the lower level and unload your vehicles.  It is a tight space, but we have “road monitors” to direct traffic up and down the access lane on the north side of the Convention Center building.  An alternative is to unload at the front entrance and move your items downstairs in the elevator at the end of the lobby.  Thursday morning move-ins are also encouraged from 8 AM – Noon.  Beginning at Noon Thursday, the Marketplace will be open to all conference attendees to shop and view the guild booths.

Wool Town conference special shopping night 5-7 PM today in downtown Bend.  See the advertisement in your conference booklet.  Have dinner downtown and visit Katie’s wonderful shop at 115 NW Minnesota St., between Wall and Bond Sts. in the heart of downtown.  She is offering refreshments and a special conference attendee discount.

Stoller Wine Raffle tickets are available in the Convention Center lobby – put your name and cell phone # on the back of one ticket, drop it in the Hot Pink box, and keep the other half of the ticket.  Drawings will be held this week for a lot of bottles of Stoller Chardonnay.

Keynote Address and Fashion Show Tickets are available at the registration desk for $25 each.  Cash only for fashion show tickets.  There are a limited number of banquet and reception tickets also available due to last minute cancellations.  Check with the Registration Desk to get in on a super deal for these Thursday – Saturday evening events including great food and drink.

Drop off tea towels for the exchange 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Convention Center Lobby, Conference attendees only.

Marketplace Vendor setup 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the lower level exhibit hall.

Guild booth setup – 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the lower level exhibit hall.

Workshops and seminars schedules and room assignments are available below.  You may want to download these and save to your device or print them.  Your registration packet will also have your schedule, times, and the room assignments.

Schedule and room locations for all workshops

Schedule and room locations for all Friday-Saturday seminars

Wine Winners! Monday:  Pick up your bottle at the Info Desk in the lobby.

Sara Alvarado
Jean Cockelreas
Tina Cowles
Patty Crane
Barb Harrison
Ed Lomas
Kathy O’Hern
Sheryl Small

Tuesday Winners

Ilze Tomsevics
Allison Harding
Tina Butler
Debbie Ellis
Marty Lemke
Mimi Dillman
Terry Olson
Claudia Gahagan

Have a great day! The Registration desk will be open today from 8 AM – 8 PM.  The Info desk will be open all week 8 AM – 6 PM; both are in the Convention Center lobby.

Tuesday, June 13, Fiber Connections Conference

Day 2 and the sun is shining!  Coffee info for you – Currents Riverhouse restaurant will provide to-go coffee on request.  There are several coffee offerings close by:

Perk Ave Coffee – across from iHop and Macy’s, 0.3 miles

Delish Donuts – across from the hotel in shopping mall

Dutch Bros – 62995 N Hwy 97, .5 mile north

iHop – NE Bend River Mall Dr, .3 mile north

Currents restaurant is also offering our conference attendees a breakfast buffet special each morning for $16.  And a lunch offering “Pick 2” from a short menu for $12, in addition to the regular breakfast and lunch menus.

Take some photos of your workshop and the events this week and Submit them here and we’ll share them on our conference photo page (coming soon).   Then everyone can see what fun you’re all having this week!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 14 we have a special Wool Town shopping night for conference attendees in Downtown Bend, 5-7 PM.  See the advertisement in your conference booklet.  Take this opportunity to have dinner downtown in one of the dozens of restaurants and stop in to Wool Town and see this great local yarn shop Katie Ketchum created.

Workshops and seminars schedules and room assignments are available below.  You may want to download these and save to your device or print them.  Your registration packet will also have your schedule, times, and the room assignments.

Schedule and room locations for all workshops

Schedule and room locations for all Friday-Saturday seminars

Have a great day! The Registration desk will be open today from 8-10 AM and again 2-4 PM.  The Info desk will be open all week 8 AM – 6 PM; both are in the Convention Center lobby.

Monday, June 12 Fiber Connections Conference

Welcome to the Fiber Connections 2023 ANWG Conference!  We’re so happy you’re here or are on your way.  Today is the first day of workshops which go on through Thursday.  Half-day seminars are Friday and Saturday.  Virtual Seminars and their zoom option also happen Friday and Saturday in the Riverhouse Convention Center classroom Cascade B, right off the lobby.

We visited several local restaurants and advised them of our conference and increased business.  Most area restaurants are still struggling to hire and retain staff.  Please be patient with all restaurant servers and staff throughout the week.  They all assured us they will do their best to serve our attendees.  Reservations are a very good idea for all meals this week.  Many local restaurants have online ordering, so you can order ahead and pick it up later.

Today from 5:30-7:30 PM we are hosting the Marg Johansen Tapestry Exhibit Reception for Conference attendees at the Central Oregon Community College Barber Library.  This is a must-see exhibit that will be open in Bend until August 29.  Vans will make round trips between the front entrance of the Convention Center and the library during these 2 hours. Please provide a cash gratuity to the driver upon returning to the Riverhouse.  Take this opportunity to view a wonderful exhibit and be inspired to try tapestry!  If you want to drive to the exhibit later in the week, it’s just 4 miles up Mt. Washington Drive from the Convention Center.  Signs will direct you to turn left onto Regency St., and then a right into the library parking lot.

Workshops and seminars schedules and room assignments are available below.  You may want to download these and save to your device or print them.  Your registration packet will also have your schedule, times, and the room assignments.

Schedule and room locations for all workshops

Schedule and room locations for all Friday-Saturday seminars

Stoller Wine Raffle tickets are available in the Convention Center lobby – put your name and cell phone # on the back of one ticket, drop it in the Hot Pink box, and keep the other half of the ticket.  Drawings will be held this week for a lot of bottles of Stoller Chardonnay.

Banquet Tickets are in your packet if you have a chicken entrée with a dietary restriction, and if you have a vegetarian meal, with or without dietary restrictions.  Regular chicken entrees have no tickets.  Please keep these meal tickets in a safe place until Friday’s banquet.  They will be picked up by the servers as they bring your meals.

We hope you have a great day and are settling in and enjoying the area.  The Registration desk will be open today from 8-10 AM and again 2-4 PM.  The Info desk will be open all week 8 AM – 6 PM; both are in the Convention Center lobby.

Conference Info, Updates, Great Weather Week

It’s looking fabulous for conference week in Bend, mid-70’s-low 80 temps all week.  Bring a jacket or sweater for cool mornings and the outside dye workshops.

We have a couple seats available in the vans for the Crescent Moon Alpaca Ranch visit on Wednesday afternoon – 1:00-3:00 PM.  Transportation fee is $15 per person; please bring cash in exact change.  It will be collected as you board the van in front of the Riverhouse Convention Center entrance.

For Guild Booth and Vendor Booth set up beginning Wednesday around Noon, Charlene will have “road monitors” at the north end of the Convention Center to direct traffic down to the lower level exhibit hall for unloading.  We ask that you follow these directions; it is a steep downhill lane and there is not a lot of room once you get there with the deck posts in place along the entire east side of the building.  We have volunteer help for unloading your cars into the building and then ask that you drive up the lane and park either in the Convention Center parking lot above the south end of the building, or across the street in the Riverhouse hotel parking lots.

Fashion Show tickets are available at the Registration Desk starting June 11 for $25 cash only.  This ticket is limited to the fashion show only. The reception begins at 6 PM and the Fashion Show at 7:30, so purchasers of these tickets will be admitted immediately following the reception, so entry time is approximately 7:15-7:30pm.  Tickets for the reception are no longer available.

Keynote address tickets are also available for $25 during conference week.

Virtual Seminar ZOOM Participants:  By Wednesday, June 14, individuals who are participating remotely via Zoom (i.e., you are not at the Convention Center in Bend) will receive an email with links to the Zoom seminars purchased.  If you don’t see them in your email, please check your spam or junk file.  If you have not received them by noon on Thursday, June 15, contact Sue Walsh, sugar2311@comcast.net .  Please note that each seminar has a different link, so be sure to use the correct one if you have signed up for multiple Zoom seminars with our virtual presenters.

Each seminar will be introduced by a seminar assistant in the conference room in Bend, where those in the virtual version will participate.  Virtual participants will be able to ask questions live; there will be a wireless microphone for them.  Zoom participants will be put on mute but will be able to ask questions through the chat feature, monitored by the assistant.  Please note that we will do our best to make sure all questions are addressed during the allotted time.

If you have entered items in the Open Show, and did not mail them to Anne Kramer, please bring them to the Deschutes South room in the hotel main lobby building during the day on Wednesday.  Anne will be there all day.

Workshop and Seminar Class Assistants

After you have checked in at Registration and picked up your conference packet, please head over to the Info Table and check in there as well to confirm your Class Assistant assignment.  We will answer any additional questions you may have about your duties. Thank you for being willing to help out your instructor and fellow participants!

MAPS of the Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center are available online.  You may want to print these or download to your device.

Workshop classrooms are available Sunday, June 11 from Noon-8 PM for students to set up looms.  Monday and Tuesday the rooms are open from 7:30 AM – 6 PM. Wednesday – Saturday the rooms are open from 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. They will be locked up after the last student and teacher leave.

We look forward to seeing you all next week.

Conference Updates, See You Soon !

The Conference Week Schedule is online, please review it as you make your travel and conference plans.  It contains the hours the Registration Desk is open each day in the Riverhouse Convention Center lobby. A copy of the weeks’ schedule will be in your conference booklet. A copy of your schedule will be in your registration packet.  Maps are also available on the website that show the entire Riverhouse complex, the hotel, the convention center, both main floor and exhibit hall lower level; Deschutes N & S rooms, and the 3 Sisters 2 classrooms.  These maps can be downloaded and printed.

Volunteers:  Please look out for an email from Michelle Lee in the next few days regarding your volunteer activities. There will be instructions for the job and where to check in before your shift. Thanks again to everyone who signed up for a shift or two. It definitely takes a village to put on a conference!

Workshops & Seminars – Q: How do I know what to bring for my workshop/seminar?  Will the instructors be emailing us with details?  A: Each workshop and seminar description on the website lists the materials and equipment items that students need to bring, as well as the materials fee and details.  Materials fees will be collected by the instructor during class please bring cash.

Students in on-loom weaving classes have already been notified of warping instructions.  If you have not received warping information from the instructor, please email Ginger Kaldenbach, Education Co-chair.

Registration closed May 22^nd and all instructors now have complete lists of students.  Instructors with additional instructions will be emailing students by June 3^rd.  Please let the instructor know that you’ve received their emails.

A list of workshops and seminars that will be available for late enrollment beginning June 11 is now available on the Late Enrollment page.

Classrooms in the Convention Center bldg. are the Boardroom, Cascade A-J, Exhibit Hall (lower level) inside and outside on the patio, and the Cascade Garden outdoor tented area for John Marshall and Julie Beeler’s workshop.  Demonstrations will be in the Cascade Garden tent on Friday and Saturday.  See the Maps online.

Classrooms in the Riverhouse hotel bldgs. across the street from the Convention Center, are Deschutes N and S, Monday-Wed.  This room is located in the main hotel lobby bldg. behind the restaurant.  Beginning Thursday Noon – Saturday at 5 PM the Juried Show, Instructor’s Show, Open Show, and Conference Colors Exhibit will be in the Deschutes rooms.  3 Sisters B & C classrooms are located in the Sagebrush bldg. across the Deschutes River from the restaurant/lobby bldg.  Accessible via a foot bridge from the restaurant deck, or from the Sagebrush bldg. parking lot, north end.  See the Maps online.

All classrooms at the Riverhouse hotel and Convention Center will be open daily at 7:30 AM. The rooms and convention center entrance will be closed and locked at different times during the week to accommodate the exhibit hall set up as well as the evening events Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Monday and Tuesday the classrooms and convention center will be closed at 6 PM. For arrivals on Sunday, June 11, the Convention Center, Sisters B & C, and Deschutes N & S will be open from Noon – 8 PM for loom/equip./supplies drop offs.

The Element Hotel classroom will open at 8:30 AM each day and locked at 5 PM, Monday-Thursday with Linda Kubik’s workshops.  The address is 1526 NW Wall Street, Bend.  This hotel is approx. 1.3 miles south of the Riverhouse complex, and 4 blocks north of the core area of downtown Bend.  This hotel does not have a restaurant on site, but snacks and drinks are available for purchase in the lobby.  There are no hotel shuttles and students are responsible for their own transportation.  See if you and your classmates can carpool.

Fashion Show entries are to be brought to Karen Sieradski’s room at the Riverhouse. Those entering garments in the show will receive an email message with her room number on Sunday, June 11. If you missed the email, send a text message to Karen at 541-914-8454. Please bring your garments as early in the week as possible, thank you.

Fashion Show models are asked to review their assigned garments before the show. Garments will be delivered during the week to Karen Sieradski’s room at the Riverhouse. Models will receive an email message with her room number on Sunday, June 11. If you missed the email, send a text message to Karen at 541-914-8454 to make arrangements.

Open Show entries can be dropped off Wednesday with Anne Kramer and her committee in the Deschutes S room of the Riverhouse hotel between 8 AM-4 PM.

Conference Colors Exhibit entries can be dropped off with Catherine Cooley on Sunday, June 11 in the Riverhouse Convention Center Lobby from Noon- 4 PM.  They can also be dropped off with Diana Purkey on Monday and Tuesday at the Info Desk in the Lobby from 8-10 AM, or 4-5 PM.

Meals during Conference Week are on your own.  The Riverhouse has a large, nice restaurant, Currents, with inside and outside seating on the deck next to the Deschutes River.  They also have a separate bar area.  Reservations are necessary at all restaurants in Bend for dinner during the summer.  Breakfast and lunches can usually be drop in but inquire at the restaurant if they take reservations for those meals as well.  We are going to talk to the managers at nearby restaurants next week and let them know that we will have 400-500 Conference attendees in town for the week and they should expect to be busy.  We will also see if any of them can or will have quick to-go food available; salads, sandwiches, etc. and we will let you know.  Blogs will be posted Monday, June 12 at 7 AM, and daily thereafter through Saturday, June 17.  We have met with and emphasized the full restaurant scenario to all the Riverhouse management team this past week.  Lunch breaks are 1.5 hours Monday-Thursday and 1 hour Friday and Saturday.  There is a WinCo grocery store about a ½ mile north of the Riverhouse complex.  Review the Conference Week Schedule for times and locations of all events; we’ll see you soon, safe travels.

Last Chance for Classes, Tickets; Choose to Volunteer; Demonstrations

The 2023 ANWG Conference is just 24 days away!  This is your last chance to register for workshops, seminars, evening events, the alpaca ranch tour, and meetings.  Registration closes on Monday, May 22, midnight.  Seats are still available for all the evening events and many workshops and seminars.  Check out these classes:

Allison Harding – Intro to 3D Needle Felting – My Lil Gnomies

Judilee Fitzhugh – Poetic Thrift: Drawstring Bag from Precious Scraps

Julie Beeler – The Mushroom Color Atlas

Linda Kubik – Fiber-Yarn-Fabric

Mary Berent – Weaver’s Whimsey: Weaving for Fun

Melissa Dunning – Ethnic Spinning: Slides from Norman Kennedy’s Scrapbook

Polly Adams Sutton – Cedar Crossbark

Robyn Spady – Diving into Double Two-tie

Tylar Merrill – Elegant Nuno Stole

Tylar Merrill – Soft, Supple & Stylish ~ Thimbleberry Felt Designs

The only items that will be available to purchase Conference week are available seminars that require no preparation, the Thursday Shopping Extravaganza and reception, Friday Keynote address only ticket, and Saturday dessert reception and Fashion Show.

The Volunteer daily schedule is now in the registration system.  Please go in and select your time slots to volunteer your time in assisting with all aspects of the Conference.  We need your help and appreciate that so many of you are willing to volunteer to make the conference run smoothly and be a successful, fun event for everyone in attendance.

Maps are available online under the “Places” tab at the top of every webpage.  Please look at these before you head out.  Check the FAQ pages, under the “About” tab at the top of every webpage for answers to many questions about the conference and Bend.  Google maps has information on routes, restaurants, and other information you may be looking for.

Marketplace Vendors at Fiber Connections

We’re happy to welcome these vendors to our Marketplace in the Riverhouse Convention Center exhibit hall, lower level.  The Marketplace will be open to conference attendees only on Thursday Noon-9 PM with the Shopping Extravaganza 5-9 PM and the Opening Reception 5-7:30 PM. (Ticket required) Don’t miss this opportunity!  The Marketplace is open Friday 9-6 PM and Saturday 9-5 PM to everyone.

Above the Fray
AVL Looms
BerlinBraids
Central Oregon Spinners and Weavers 12
Eugene Textile Center
Fancywork Yarn Shop
Flying Dutchman Alpacas
Glimakra USA
Happy Hounds Alpaca Ranch
Imperial Yarns
John Marshall
Lunatic Fringe Yarns
Rock N’ More Accents
Shuttle Creek Weaving
Snuggly Toes
Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill
The Sojourn Collection
Teresa Ruch Designs
Thimbleberry Felt Designs
Unraveled Handknits

Demonstrations will take place outside in a large tent at the south end of the Convention Center Friday and Saturday.

Friday 10 am – Noon

Central Oregon Spinners & Weavers Guild spinning study group
Terry Veragen – Spinning on a Charkhra 10 – 11am
Diana Purkey – fiber prep bast fibers
Debbie Ellis – Electric spinner
Susan Savage – Electric spinner
Sheryl Small – Electric spinner
Elizabeth White – Electric spinner
Kathleen Painter- Spinning dog hair – 10–11am
Julie Beeler -Mushroom Dyeing discussion/examples
Jean Cockelreas – Floor loom weaving
Leslie Verts – Kumihimo and Inkle loom weaving 10 – 1pm

Friday 1 – 3 pm

Donna Wilson – Complementary warp pick up on Inkle loom

Saturday 10 – 11 am

Dawn Ahlert – Spinning Wheel
Lucy DeFranco – Card weaving
Reba Siero – Inkle Weaving

Saturday 12 – 2 pm

Carrie Rohn – Spinning Great Wheel
Susan Favro – Tempo Weave software 12:30
COSW Rigid Heddle Study Group 1:30 – 3pm

Saturday 2 – 3 pm

Ila McCallum – Tapestry 2:30
Jacey Faulkner – Spinning
Betsy Bruce – Weaving
Ruth Griffiths – Electric Spinning

Saturday 3 – 4 pm

Donna Kaplan – Sprang
Lori Remz – Felting
Kim Farner – Card Weaving
Lynn Hart – Card Weaving

There will be daily blogs during conference week beginning Monday, June 12 at 7 AM to update you on any changes and other reminders and suggestions for the day.

See you soon in Bend!