Sedona News – On Saturday, May 18th, the Verde Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild will hold their Annual Fiber Artisans’ Sale from 9 am to 4 pm at the amphitheater of the Sedona Arts Center at 15 Art Barn Road in uptown. Founded in 1973 by two talented weavers and spinners, Mary Pendleton and Betty Gaudy, the Guild’s mission is to encourage interest and education in fiber arts, including loom, basket and tapestry weaving, yarn spinning, knitting, crocheting, dyeing, needle and hand felting, and needle beadwork. Featured at the upcoming sale will be a variety of contributions, including wearable art, home décor and gifts expertly crafted by the more than 50 current members of the Guild, many of whom have won awards for their artistry and whose work is highly sought after by individuals who recognize the high caliber of their creations.
The sale has been an annual event of the Guild since the early days of the organization’s establishment. In recent years, the sale has been held in the fall, but this year’s event will emphasize the beauty of spring in Sedona, with many contributions inspired by colors of the season. Items for sale will range from small gift items to gorgeous detailed fashion items, some of which are upcycled from existing garments. Roving and hand-spun yarn, locally sourced from an alpaca/llama farm, will also be available. Christmas in May will also be a component of the sale, with crafted ornaments. There is no admission charge and throughout the sale there will be artist demonstrations of various fiber art forms. There is ample parking below the Arts Center, accessed by the driveway to the north of the building.
Membership in the Guild is open to anyone interested in a variety of fiber arts, regardless of skill level. The annual fee for becoming a member is $35. Monthly meetings are held at the Sedona Arts Center at 9:30 am on the third Thursday of each month. Most monthly meetings include presentations by esteemed artists on various topics, and these are often followed by workshops in which members learn new skills and gain practical experience in creating their own artistry. More information on the Guild can be found at http://www.verdevalleyweaversguild.com. Representative creations by Guild members can also be found on Facebook (https://wwwfacebook.com/verdevalleyweaversguild) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com’verdevalleyweavers). Specific questions regarding Guild membership can be directed to vvwsg1@gmail.com.