Great offer on new memberships. Between July and September, for a small increase in the usual subscriptions, you get an extra year's membership. Our membership year runs from 1 Nov to 31 Oct so this membership will run to 31 Oct 2016 and cover Braids 2016 (not the conference cost but the ability to apply as soon as applications open). Click on Join us on the menu.

This weekend is one of the big wool festivals in the UK.    The Braid Society are attending Woolfest, Cockermouth in the beautiful lake district.    The show starts on Friday 26th and continues on Saturday 27th June.   There are a wide range of suppliers as well as sheep, alpacas and rabbits to see the fleece in the flesh!   There are also equipment suppliers, lots of fleeces for the spinners out there, yarns and other accessories.  

Two weeks ago, we demonstrated at Helmshore Textile Museum in Lancashire.   This is an old cotton mill that is now a museum and was holding a weekend of textiles.    It was fun and it is always interesting showing people the range of braids and narrowares that we make.    Is there somewhere you could demonstrate braid making to people who may not have seen it before? 

To all Braids enthusiasts everywhere! Prepare to make an adjustment in your calendar . . . Braids 2016 is being moved up a week to July 24-30, 2106. It will still be at the same venue in Tacoma, WA. This adjustment in the schedule was made in order to avoid overlapping with the dates recently announced for HGA's Convergence 2016.

By adjusting the dates, participants, instructors, and vendors will have the possibility of participating in both events. Additional information about Braids 2016 will be available in The Braids Society June newsletter.

Robyn Spady and Giovanna Imperia - Braids 2016 co-chairs

We have welcomed our 400th member.  She lives in Northwest USA and is interested in all aspects of braiding.   As always we welcome new members to the Society.   For you membership, you receive four newsletters a year as well as our journal, Strands.   In addition, if you are a full member, you can get involved in braiding swaps and exhibitions.    Anyone, members or otherwise can attend any Braid Society days or meet us at shows where we are demonstrating. 

We currently have 395 members.   Who will be our 400th?   The Council have decided to give a prize to our 400th member - a copy of Threads that Move which is the book produced as the proceedings of Braids 2012, a wonderful conference.  Threads that Move is also available for sale via books for sale on our website and has details of all the workshops that were held in 2012 as well as the talks that were given.   It is a great resource for anyone interested in braid and bands. 

Last Saturday we had the spring meeting of the Braid Society Council.   We have three meetings a year at which the Council discuss and take actions relating to running the Society.    The Council members are all volunteers who have agreed to take on roles to keep the Society running.   We are always looking for new members and with technology, we can include international members of the Council to join the discussions.   

Between meetings, we keep in contact via email.   We can be contacted with any issues/suggestions/improvements to the council at council@braidsociety.com or directly to the Chair, Shirley Berlin at chair@braidsociety.com.   Do get in touch either via email, through Facebook or via this website.

All members, that can be identified and who are on Facebook have  been invited to be a friend of Debbie Braids and a member of the closed group, Braid Society Members.   Please contact me via Facebook or treasurer@braidsociety.com if you would like to join.

We have a busy weekend ahead for the Braid Society.   Tomorrow, 11th April we are holding our first braiding day in the Netherlands.   Good luck to them and I hope it goes well.  

In the north west of the UK, in Frodsham, the Braid Society have a come and try day in the same premises at the World Textile day so we are looking forward to meeting lots of new interested people and on Sunday, we have the regular braiding day in Aldbourne.    Members from all over the south of England and Wales meet at Aldbourne to socialise, make braids and learn new techniques. 

**** Just a reminder that this courses has started on the Braids and Bands discussion group ****

Sami Weaving Course in March.  Susan Foulkes is running another online workshop on Braids and Bands, the Yahoo discussion group of the Braid Society. The workshop starts on 28 Feb.

This online workshop will look at weaving the special Sámi bands that have one or two groups of pattern threads that are lifted or lowered together. Technically this is called supplementary
warp pick up but 'jumping' pattern threads is so much more evocative. For more details go to Susan's blog at Durham Weaver http://durhamweaver64.blogspot.co.uk/
 

The 2015 Travelling Exhibition will be displayed at the Heritage Centre, Knutsford, Cheshire from 3 March until 12 March.   It is a great opportunity to see the exhibition.

 

We are currently updating the list of Tutors for 2015.  Any Braid Society Member who offers tuition in any aspect of braids or bands anywhere in the world can ask for their details to be included.  Many Tutors on the 2014 list have already confirmed their new entry.  If you are a Tutor but are not yet included on the list, please contact us before Sunday 1 February with your details via membership@braidsociety.com