Cook News Herald, Cook, MN — Thursday, August 4, 2011
Peters Steps Down as National Chair Caning Guild President
TSWG President Cathryn Peters (2007-2011)
Angora chair caning expert and President of The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc., (TSWG), Cathryn Peters will step down from the head position of the guild at the 4th Annual Gathering in Noblesville, Indiana later this month.
Peters was first elected to her term as President at the founder’s meeting in 2007 in Nelsonville, Ohio. Cathryn was among the 19 chair caners that gathered from seven different states and Canada to organize the first chair caning guild in America. She was re-elected in 2009 for the second two year term, which ends this July.
The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc. (TSWG) is the first and only national chair caning guild in North America and currently has 70 members in good standing. Those members are now representing 30 states and Canada. TSWG is an all volunteer organization and since it was started as a national group, has encountered communicational obstacles along the way. However, with use of the Internet, all problems have been solved.
In the four short years since the founding meeting, the group has accomplished a lot. In 2007 they began emailing a newsletter, The SeatWeavers’ Journal, and in 2008 had their own domain website at www.TheSeatWeaversGuild.org, incorporated the organization in 2009 in Indiana, also in 2009, designed a fitting logo, and in 2011 they’ve just recently obtained their Federal non-profit arts educational status.
Each year the Events Committee chooses a special chair seat weaving theme. This year the theme of the Gathering is “Over the Rails Chair Seat Weaving,” which covers techniques and patterns such as: paper fiber rush, natural rush, corn shuck seatweaving, wide binding cane, rawhide, ash, oak and hickory bark splints and more.
All TSWG Gatherings offer a “Meet & Greet” social hour, chair seat weaving workshops where members can learn from each other and help others with their knowledge and the annual membership meeting of the corporation. The final day of the Gathering includes a variety of mini-workshops covering hints & tips, new tools, and a rarely presented chair seating exhibition.
“Chair Seat Weaving Through the Ages” is the theme of the chair seating exhibit this year and will include chairs with woven seats from all periods of time and with different weaving techniques, designs and materials.
New this year will be chair seat weaving demonstrations and the unique and rarely presented chair seating exhibition opened up to the public. This chair seating exhibit, “Chair Seat Weaving Through the Ages” will be free and open to the public. Perfect for all family members, antique dealers, museum staff, community clubs, art and history buffs, reenactment folks, and teachers.
Members of the guild will be presenting demonstrations of their chair seat weaving skills (including chair caning), on Sunday, July 31st from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at the O.V. Winks Building at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville, Indiana.
For more information on the craft of chair seat weaving, chair caning and the first and only chair caning guild in America, visit The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc. website at www.TheSeatWeaversGuild.org and Cathryn’s website and blog at www.WickerWoman.com