Barbara Schutzgruber – Storyteller & Weaver

Dad played basketball in high school and the early years of his military service during WWII. Throughout his career as a high school teacher he ‘worked the clock & buzzers’ at all the home basketball games or tournaments. Come March college games would be on the TV in the background while he graded exams as the first half of the second semester drew to an end. I’ve never been a basketball follower but due to snow and ice storms in February several events were cancelled and rescheduled into March presenting me with my own ‘March Madness’ experience!

Weaving by Candlelight at Cobblestone Farm 
This event gives visitors an opportunity to experience what life during in the 1840’s was like during the dark winter months when the only evening light came from candles or oil lamps.

I was surprised at how much light actually was provided by a single candle next to the loom but was very glad the loom is in the hallway and modern safety standards require more lighting than just candles or oil lamps so I was able to see well enough to weave.

Juror Talk and Closing Reception for the Michigan League of Handweavers Biennial Exhibit
The weather on the closing day of the MLH exhibit was one of sunshine, mild temperatures and dry roads and made for a lovely drive from Ann Arbor to Owosso. The Shiawassee Art Center is located on the banks of the Shiawassee River in beautiful old house.

MLH made a slide show of the exhibit to post online [see February 2018 blog posting] so I had a glimmer of what the exhibit was like but each piece was much more impressive in person and I’m glad I was able to get a photo with my piece ‘Back When the World Was Flat’.

Next door to the Art Center is the amazing Curwood Castle – the fabulous ‘little writer’s studio’ of early 20th century action-adventure author and conservationist James Oliver Curwood. Built in 1922 the craftsmanship is amazing and wouldn’t it be nice to have a studio like this! (Hey… a girl can dream…..)

Weaving…. Weaving…. Weaving….
March has also been the month I’ve been weaving two sets of yardage to make garments to submit to the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild‘s Annual Fiber Feast – Fashion Show, Luncheon & Sale.

The weaving went fairly smoothly as I was working in a simple tabby/plain weave but designing the garments took multiple muslin tests and involved many a late night working into the wee hours to complete my Northern Lights Jacket (10/2 cotton warp–rayon slub weft) and When Crocus Bloom Spring Can’t Be Far Behind Vest (10/2 cotton warp–8/2 tencel weft).

This past Sunday was the jury session for the runway….

and it will be an exciting on April 21st as nearly 100 items from some amazing Michigan fiber artists will strut the catwalk!

But March Madness isn’t over yet! As I don my storyteller and author hat and head to Plymouth, MA for the Northeast Storytelling Conference Sharing the Fire where I will be presenting a workshop with Beyond the Sword Maiden co-author Dorothy Cleveland.