“Tromp as writ”, “Overshot”, “Throw the shuttle” “Tabby”, “Pickup” — these unusual expressions are just a few phrases to be heard in the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers Guild. Weaving is an age-old art of forming lengths of yarn into cloth. In early human society, weaving satisfied the need for clothing and shelter. Garments and dwellings were constructed from woven animal hair or plant materials. Today, the possibilities are endless with an array of threads, yarns, fabrics, dyes, animal hair, plants, and synthetics – and centuries of creative techniques to draw from.
Desert Sage members practice a number of skills including felting, spinning, dyeing, weaving, and knitting to create works of art. Anyone who likes to work with fibres is welcome to join! The Guild’s sixty members span the South Okanagan and the adjoining Thompson valley.
The Guild holds regular drop-in sessions every Thursday, September to June, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oliver Community Centre. The monthly business meeting is on the second Thursday of each month beginning at 10 a.m. (same location). There are frequent workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and sales.
We’re growing! Currently our membership sits at between 65 and 70 artisans. Between four and six new fabric art lovers join the guild per year. You might be one of them!
Desert Sage Spinners & Weavers Guild P.O. Box 1473 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0Our guild is a mixture of ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, skill levels, and artistic preferences. Our common thread is our keen interest in an unusual and somewhat obscure pursuit of yarn and fibre craft. Our crafts are an expression of human ingenuity, a sense of continuity with our past, and linkage with other cultures and generations. The pursuit of excellence in our projects forces us to slow down, pay attention to detail, and allow our creativity to flourish.
Photos by Penelope Johnson
Coming up for the Desert Sage Guild:
The Association of NorthWest Weavers’ Guilds Conference “Weaving Waves of Colour” May 29-31 Gonzaga University Spokane WashingtonVisit us at
Summer Studio July 6 – 11 Opening Reception: Monday 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Displays and Demonstrations: Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Kids Day Activities: Wednesday 10:00 – 12 noon Studio Building, Quail’s Nest Arts Centre