
Home \| Yarns \| Kits \| Patterns \| Books \| Tools \| Spinning \| Specials

Cotton Lover's E-News | celebrating the natural fibers you have

January 29, 2015

Irene Schmoller Shadow Weave Shawl

When I think of how I can connect with my wider community of men and women engaged in the fiber arts, WARP, Weave A Real Peace, immediately comes to mind.

When WARP founder, Deborah Chandler (author, Learning to Weave) first came to me over 3 years ago with a request to market the Friendship Towel Kit for the women of San Rafael, Guatemala, I knew that I could make a difference in these women's lives. I, however, had no idea how it would change my own life!

The weaving community has overwhelmingly shown their support by purchasing over 200 of these kits, increasing these women's fair trade living wage, ten-fold.

My community of natural dyers, weaving designers, graphic artists, marketing experts and the staff of Mayan Hands have all come together and volunteered their time to make this project a huge success.

That's the kind of community that excites me. While I haven't traveled to Guatemala, I've felt like I've been there every step of the way as these women work so hard to produce the Friendship Towel Kits. See Rocio Mena' s blog and video of her 8 weeks stay in Guatemala working with these women.

This is just a very small example of the connections made through WARP. Members travel all over the world (and bring back their stories to the annual meeting) helping to connect with fibeartists striving to earn a fair wage through the sale of their textiles.

The WARP Annual Meeting is such a fun time for me to connect with my "tribe" of like-minded fiber artists who believe in "raising awareness of the importance of textile traditions to grassroots economies." Come join us

May 29-31, 2015 in the San Francisco Bay Area. I can't emphasize enough how rewarding it is to gather in a relaxed setting and network with WARP members.

My further network of connections will be extending to Rocio from Mexico City both at her slide presentation about her experiences in Guatemala and then when she and I travel to Meridian Jacobs farm where she will be giving a "Dyeing with Cochineal" workshop. Dates and times TBA.

I love connections. I love connecting with fiber artists. I love feeling that I can make a (small) difference. I love connecting with you. So please email me an share your favorite fiber art connections with us!

Irene & Jodi

Weave A Real Peace

Creating A Connected

Textile Community

Mission

To foster a global network of enthusiasts who value the importance of textiles to grassroots economies

Purpose

Exchange information
Raise awareness of the importance textile traditions to grassroots economies
Mobilize textile enthusiasts
Create conversations that result in action

Core Values

Textiles are an important component of the human experience.
Networking and sharing information creates an environment for constructive action.
Making Connections between textile artisans worldwide promotes positive social change.
Interacting with people who have similar values enriches our lives.

Weave A Real Peace

"To foster a global network of enthusiasts who value the importance of textiles to grassroots economies."

Connect with the women of Guatemala

from the comfort of your own loom!

Friendship Towels with Tintes Naturales

direct from the natural dyers of San Rafael, Guatemala

Weave four gorgeous, naturally dyed cotton towels in shades of

indigo, osage orange, cochineal, madder and help make

a difference in the lives of these women--and yours!

Click HERE to order now!

Travel to Guatemala with Roc�o Mena

Come along with Roc�o on her two month adventure with the women of San Rafael, as she guided, inspired and advised them in perfecting their natural dye skills, producing over 200 Friendship Towel kits! It's a great read!

Friendship Towel Connections

Travel behind the scenes of the
Natural Dye Project with Rocio Mena Gutierrez

Click HERE to join