Dear Friends,


When you read our last newsletter we were preparing to run our final weaving class in Marshfield. Now, as you read this newsletter, we’re in the middle of our first weaving class in Newbury. When we began the move we knew that the school’s geographic location would change. What we didn’t know was how much the school itself would change. Our new position, smack dab in the middle of Newbury village, surrounds us with community. With the windows and doors wide open we’re enveloped by the sounds of the school kids as they have recess out front on the common. Short walks to the village store keep us supplied with coffee and lunches that we share on the front porch. Curiosity brings visitors who poke their heads in and catch their first glimpse of the magic we know so well.


The move itself was an overwhelming display of the support that makes the school so much more than a place to weave. Coming together to disassemble, carry, and load up our collection of looms and tools, some of which are pushing 300 years old, was a tangible display of the love we share for the past and the future, for making, and for each other. Seeing all of that not only relocated, but expanded in Newbury has opened this new chapter in the school’s story with signs of good things to come. We simply can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself. 


On behalf of our Board, the doors are open. Help yourself to the cookies on the table.


Justin Squizzero

Director

The Move

Our final weaving class in Marshfield wrapped up on Friday, September 13. At 9:00am Saturday morning a dedicated group of volunteers assembled with trucks, trailers, boxes, and determination. By 2:00pm on Sunday the Marshfield location had been completely emptied in an incredible display of teamwork. There are hardly words to describe the monumental effort put in by everyone involved to accomplish so much work so quickly. We think these photos speak for themselves.

Once everything was unloaded in Newbury the next challenge was to sort out what landed where, and to put it all back together. The whole building was a giant jigsaw puzzle with loom parts scattered over every inch of floorspace. With a little help we had all the looms standing again by Monday night. That's right, the looms were back up within 72 hours of our last weaving class. The looms, however, were the easy part. There was far more work needed to organize the rest of our equipment, supplies, and to prepare the building itself to host classes.

Discovering some square footage of open floorspace means only one thing to weavers—more looms. We acquired three additional looms to fill the void: a professional weaver's loom from upstate New York; a loom that probably originated with the Canterbury, New Hampshire Shakers; and a pre-1790 loom from Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

With the help of close to 30 different people we were able to safely and cheerfully relocate our collections within a single week! More important than the stuff, however, we relocated the community spirit at the heart of the school and received that spirit back from Newbury many times over. We did it folks, thanks to you!


Now, where did that roll of tape end up...?

Our New Sign

We want to extend a special thank you to the anonymous team who donated our new sign. Taking inspiration from 19th-century trade signs in keeping with the 1820s building, we couldn't be happier with the results. (The period was standard on signs and titles during the 1800s and we think it gives our sign a certain je ne sais quoi.)

Looking Back

A Foundations class was the final weaving session we held in Marshfield before the move. Eight more students joined the fold and helped us to celebrate our time in the place where the school began in 1975.

Looking Ahead

We have added one more Foundations class October 28–November 1, so snag a spot or you'll have to wait until 2025!


Just a reminder that the new location is unheated and we'll be shifting to a seasonal schedule in Newbury. All classes for the rest of 2024 and many of the classes for 2025 are already on the calendar. It's never too early to sign up!

Open Studios


To celebrate our new home, and to introduce ourselves to Newbury, we're participating in the Vermont Crafts Council and Vermont North By Hand Open Studio weekends. These events take place the first two weekends in October and we would love to see you there.

A full listing of our programs may be accessed here. We hope you can join us!

Seven Days Article

Seven Days, a free, independent Vermont weekly newspaper, covered our move and captured the spirit of the people who made it happen. Check out the full article here.

As always, we can only do what we do with your generous support. Gifts of all sizes make a tremendous impact. Thank you.

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