Events
IAWW is dedicated to preserving the historic art of wheat weaving and
sharing the craft with future generations. Meetings are open to both
members and visitors wishing to learn more about the art of wheat
weaving. Visitors are encouraged to contact us at info@illinoiswheatweavers.org prior to attending a meeting to get additional information about the event.
Meetings of the Illinois Association of Wheat Weavers are held 3 times
a year, generally in February, April and November. Additional
gatherings may be scheduled throughout the year. Meetings are usually
held somewhere in Bloomington or Metamora, although the location
changes periodically. These 2 day sessions feature workshops to learn
new designs and share techniques, a meeting to discuss association
business and social activities such as dinners and pot-luck lunches.
Note: The next regular meeting for IAWW will be:
November 4-5, 2011 at Brenden Gardens
Springfield, IL
Visitors Welcome
Lakeview Museum:
SPIRIT OF THE HARVEST -- STRAW ART IN ILLINOIS
IAWW has had such a wonderful experience in the summer of 2010
A year and a half ago
we got an email from the Lakeview Museum asking us if we would be interested in
putting together a wheat display at the museum. What an honor and such an
unexpected opportunity. After talking
with our group and meeting with the museum representatives we decided to do it.
We visited the museum to see what it was like. Lakeview museum is a wonderful little
museum. It has a gift shop and library, a
used book shop, planetarium, a discovery area, classrooms, and about 5 gallery
areas- some are permanent, some are changeable within the museum system and
some are changeable displays showcasing current interests. They have a host of programs for the
community. It was just the right fit for
us. The displays are clean and clearly
marked but not over whelming.
During the year we
talked over plans for what we wanted to share.
We have so much to share about wheat weaving! In May we assembled our
ideas and wheat items and took them to the museum. They have a person in charge of putting
together the displays. He repainted, and
selected items that would give the best showing and would represent everyone in
our group. The museum personnel took our ideas and created explanation cards to describe the
items selected and tid bits of wheat information. Together they created a beautiful wheat
display showing marquetry, plaiting, Swiss work, antique hats and baskets, international
straw work, quilling, dolls, and mobiles. They even had a large Harvest Maiden
that several members put together in field while
harvesting wheat from an Illinois farm several years ago. They talked about the items and told some of
the history of wheat weaving and some about the techniques of straw work. They really packed a lot into a small area.
We put together plans for three wonderful wheat
weaving classes. The first class was in
May. They learned the Arrow Plait and
were able to make several favors using this plait. During the June class they learned to make a
doll and to dress it using several different plaits. The third class in August was a Harvest
Favor. We incorporated several kinds of wheat and oats and several
different plaits. The class members were
all pleased with what they learned and took home wonderful projects.
We also gave wheat weaving demonstrations each month, and
on class days.
IAWW is proud of the begining project book we produced called
“Wheat Weaving Plaits and Projects Made Simple”. We were able to offer it for sale in the museum
gift shop. Several of the members also
had wheat items for sale in the shop.
We are so proud of this opportunity to display our Wheat
Weaving in the Lakeview Museum and to share with the public our enthusiasm and
interest in Wheat Weaving and Straw art.
The Illinois Association of Wheat Weavers’ “Spirit of the
Harvest; Straw Art in Illinois” was on display at the Peoria Lakeview Museum
May 21 through September 19, 2010.
National Convention:
Members of IAWW are encouraged to join the National Association of
Wheat Weavers in an annual convention, generally held each April. This
convention brings together wheat weaving groups from across the country
for a 5 day event. Location rotates between the Eastern, Central and
Western Districts of NAWW. IAWW is part of the Eastern District.
The next NAWW convention will be held in 2012 in Portland, OR. For more details, visit http://nawwstraw.org.
Past convention locations:
2011 - Boston, MA
2010 - Wichita, KS
2009 - Mexico Cruise
2008 - Peoria, IL
2007 - Tulsa, OK
2006 - Albuquerque, NM
2005 - Hershey, PA