Fiber exhibit in GV shows fine craftsmanship

A miniature Arizona ranch created by the Spinning Study Group of the Tucson Handweavers and Spinners Guild was the centerpiece of a fiber exhibit at the Joyner-Green Valley Library on Saturday.

Two years in the making by 25 weavers and spinners, many from Green Valley and Sahuarita, created “El Rancho de Rociante” and plans are in the works for the hand-loomed, handcrafted pieces, which include cactus, rocks, javelinas, other desert wildlife, an adobe hut and even a vineyard to be featured in fiber magazines in the coming months.

Contact person for the Spinning Study Group Jill Holbrook said “El Rancho” debuted in July 2007 at a Southwestern spinners retreat in Cloudcroft, N.M. A major hit, she said the local spinners and weavers now find it’s more fun to work collectively rather than individually and wanted to show the project locally.

“This is the first official public viewing…when we display it like this, it makes people smile,” Holbrook said.

Greeting visitors at the entrance to the exhibit was a myrtlewood spinning wheel owned by event coordinator Wilma Myers. Inside, guild members sat spinning while Yvonne Steinbring showed her handiwork at “twining” on a loom.

For a type of weaving that’s also used in basketry, Steinbring, of Green Valley, works with two-inch wide pieces of cloth and by going over and under and working from the ends toward the center creates colorful handcrafted rugs and other pieces.

The ultimate in recycling in today’s eco-friendly environment, one large rug she displayed was made from old, softened denim and old flannel shirts.

A Southwest Fiber Festival is being planned by the Southwest Fiber Arts Guild for October and will be held at Amado Territory Ranch.

The Green Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild meets monthly on the second Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bank of America.

Information: Contact Guild president Cyndi Sorenson at 625-9639.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.