West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

### Context Profile for West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   The West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and community-driven approach to textile production. Their mission is to connect local fibre artists and promote the use of regionally sourced materials, emphasizing ecological practices and cultural traditions in textile arts. They aim to revitalize local textile traditions while supporting environmental stewardship and community engagement.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Workshops**: The organization hosts hands-on workshops such as "Sting to String: Nettles for Textile Mentorship," where participants learn to process and spin nettles into textiles. These workshops include storytelling, ecological knowledge, and skill-building sessions.
   - **Community Programs**: They focus on mentorship opportunities for fibre artists, encouraging skill-sharing and collaboration within the community.
   - **Events**: The society organizes events that connect participants with local resources and cultural practices related to fibre arts.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   The tone of voice used by the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is friendly, inspiring, and community-oriented. The language is accessible and encourages participation, emphasizing the joy of learning and sharing skills. The content reflects a passion for the arts and a commitment to sustainability, often using inclusive language that invites engagement.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   The website does not prominently feature emojis in its communications. However, if used in email campaigns or social media, they would likely align with the friendly and community-focused tone, potentially including nature-related emojis or those representing creativity (e.g., 🌱, 🎨).

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details are not provided on the website, but the organization operates within the West Kootenay region, emphasizing local engagement.
   - **Scale**: The organization has conducted 5 total forms and 11 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with its community.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization highlights the importance of community engagement and skill-sharing, implying a focus on qualitative impact.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information regarding volunteer opportunities is not explicitly stated, but the nature of their activities suggests that community involvement is encouraged.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - Use a friendly and inclusive tone that encourages participation and community engagement.
   - Highlight the ecological and cultural significance of textile arts.
   - Emphasize hands-on learning experiences and the joy of skill-sharing.
   - Keep language accessible and avoid overly technical jargon, making it easy for newcomers to engage with the content.
   - Use storytelling elements to connect with the audience, sharing personal experiences or anecdotes related to textile arts and community.
   - When applicable, include calls to action that invite donations or support to sustain their programs.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized and effective content for the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and community-focused initiatives.

LXCL:Who it’s for: Folks from marginalized communities – LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC participants, low‑income individuals and people with accessibility needs.&nbsp;Why “Root”: This tier is about creating access for people to find roots in our local fibre community – a place to connect, learn, and grow without financial barriers.

Root

LXCL:Who it’s for: General public – anyone looking to learn new skills and support our local fibre ecosystem.&nbsp;Why “Stem”: The stem carries resources from the roots up to the rest of the plant – just like standard fees keep our workshops growing and flowing.

Stem

LXCL:Who it’s for: Allies and supporters who want to “pay it forward” and help subsidize spots for others.&nbsp;Why “Flower”: Flowers are the blossoms that share beauty (and seeds!) – just like your extra contribution helps future workshops bloom.

Flower

Join fibre artist <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.earthborntextiles.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Danielle Soucie</a> for a two-day, retreat-style workshop in Argenta, BC, exploring the journey from raw alpaca fleece to your first handspun yarn. Set at Danielle&rsquo;s home studio, this hands-on weekend will guide participants through the essential steps of preparing alpaca fleece for spinning, felting, and other fibre projects. Working with raw fibre from Danielle&rsquo;s own alpacas, grazing in the nearby pasture, participants will learn how to assess, wash, pick, card, and spin fleece using simple hand tools. This workshop is designed for beginners and curious fibre folks who want to better understand where yarn begins. Together, we will slow down and follow the fibre through each stage of preparation, learning how care, patience, and handling shape the final material. Over the weekend, participants will learn how to assess raw alpaca fleece, wash fibre gently, open and pick clean fleece, card it into usable preparations, and begin spinning on a drop spindle. We will explore how alpaca fibre behaves through washing, carding, and spinning, and how preparation affects the quality and feel of the final yarn. Participants will leave with practical skills, prepared fibre to continue working with, and their own drop spindle to keep practicing at home. What You&rsquo;ll Learn:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to assess and select raw alpaca fleece</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gentle washing methods for alpaca fibre</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to pick and card clean fleece by hand and with tools</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The basics of spinning on a drop spindle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How alpaca fibre behaves through each stage of preparation</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How preparation affects spinning, felting, and future fibre projects</li></ul>Participants Will:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Wash and prepare raw alpaca fleece samples</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Learn how to pick and card fibre by hand and with tools</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Practice spinning on a drop spindle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Take home clean prepared fibre to continue working with</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Take home their own drop spindle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gain practical knowledge for handling alpaca fleece at home</li></ul>Workshop Details Instructor: Danielle Soucie of Earthborn TextilesDates: Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6Time:&nbsp;Starts Saturday at 1:00pm and wraps up Sunday at 3:00pmLocation:&nbsp;Argenta, BC. Exact location will be provided upon registration. All materials and tools are provided. No previous experience is necessary. Food and Camping This is a retreat-style weekend workshop with time to learn, gather, and share food together.Breakfast will be provided. Participants are asked to bring their own lunches. Dinner will be potluck-style, with everyone invited to contribute something to the shared evening meal. Tent camping spots are available on site for participants who would like to stay overnight. Please note that facilities are simple and include outhouse access as well as running water. What to Bring<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lunches for Saturday and Sunday</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A potluck contribution for Saturday dinner</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tent and camping gear, if staying overnight</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Water bottle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Notebook, if desired</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Clothes that can get a little dirty</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Layers for changing weather</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Any personal snacks or comfort items you may need</li></ul>Site NotesThis workshop takes place at a rural home and studio in Argenta, BC. The site includes outdoor and covered working areas, pasture nearby, simple tent camping, outhouse access, and running water. Please contact us before registering if you have accessibility questions or specific needs so we can let you know what is possible on site.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for Fleece to Thread: A Weekend Alpaca Fibre Workshop.&nbsp; We&#39;re so glad you&rsquo;ll be joining us in Argenta for this retreat-style weekend of learning, gathering, and working with alpaca fibre. Over the weekend, we&rsquo;ll move through the process of preparing raw alpaca fleece by hand, including assessing, washing, picking, carding, and beginning to spin on a drop spindle. You&rsquo;ll go home with prepared fibre to keep working with, as well as your own drop spindle. Workshop DetailsDates: Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6Time: We&rsquo;ll begin at 1:00pm on Saturday, please arrive up to 1 hour early to set up your camp spot. We will wrap up by 3:00pm on SundayLocation: 1039 Argenta Rd. Food and CampingSunday Breakfast will be provided.Please bring your own lunch for Sunday.Dinner on Saturday will be potluck-style. Please bring something to contribute to the shared evening meal. Tent camping spots are available on site for those staying overnight. Facilities are simple and include outhouse access and running water. What to Bring<ul data-spread="false" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lunches for Saturday and Sunday</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A potluck contribution for Saturday dinner</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tent and camping gear, if staying overnight</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Water bottle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Notebook, if desired</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Clothes that can get a little dirty</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Layers for changing weather</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Any personal snacks or comfort items you may need</li></ul>All fibre materials and tools will be provided. No previous experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to learn through your hands. We&#39;re looking forward to sharing this process with you. Warmly, West Kootenay Fibreshedinfo@westkootenayfibreshed.com

Join fibre artist <a href="http://www.earthborntextiles.com" target="_blank">Danielle Soucie</a> for a two-day, retreat-style workshop in Argenta, BC, exploring the journey from raw alpaca fleece to your first handspun yarn. Set at Danielle’s home studio, this hands-on weekend will guide participants through the essential steps of preparing alpaca fleece for spinning, felting, and other fibre projects. Working with raw fibre from Danielle’s own alpacas, grazing in the nearby pasture, participants will learn how to assess, wash, pick, card, and spin fleece using simple hand tools. This workshop is designed for beginners and curious fibre folks who want to better understand where yarn begins. Together, we will slow down and follow the fibre through each stage of preparation, learning how care, patience, and handling shape the final material. Over the weekend, participants will learn how to assess raw alpaca fleece, wash fibre gently, open and pick clean fleece, card it into usable preparations, and begin spinning on a drop spindle. We will explore how alpaca fibre behaves through washing, carding, and spinning, and how preparation affects the quality and feel of the final yarn. Participants will leave with practical skills, prepared fibre to continue working with, and their own drop spindle to keep practicing at home. What You’ll Learn:<ul><li>How to assess and select raw alpaca fleece</li><li>Gentle washing methods for alpaca fibre</li><li>How to pick and card clean fleece by hand and with tools</li><li>The basics of spinning on a drop spindle</li><li>How alpaca fibre behaves through each stage of preparation</li><li>How preparation affects spinning, felting, and future fibre projects</li></ul>Participants Will:<ul><li>Wash and prepare raw alpaca fleece samples</li><li>Learn how to pick and card fibre by hand and with tools</li><li>Practice spinning on a drop spindle</li><li>Take home clean prepared fibre to continue working with</li><li>Take home their own drop spindle</li><li>Gain practical knowledge for handling alpaca fleece at home</li></ul>Workshop Details Instructor: Danielle Soucie of Earthborn TextilesDates: Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6Time: Starts Saturday at 1:00pm and wraps up Sunday at 3:00pmLocation: Argenta, BC. Exact location will be provided upon registration. All materials and tools are provided. No previous experience is necessary. Food and Camping This is a retreat-style weekend workshop with time to learn, gather, and share food together.Breakfast will be provided. Participants are asked to bring their own lunches. Dinner will be potluck-style, with everyone invited to contribute something to the shared evening meal. Tent camping spots are available on site for participants who would like to stay overnight. Please note that facilities are simple and include outhouse access as well as running water. What to Bring<ul><li>Lunches for Saturday and Sunday</li><li>A potluck contribution for Saturday dinner</li><li>Tent and camping gear, if staying overnight</li><li>Water bottle</li><li>Notebook, if desired</li><li>Clothes that can get a little dirty</li><li>Layers for changing weather</li><li>Any personal snacks or comfort items you may need</li></ul>Site NotesThis workshop takes place at a rural home and studio in Argenta, BC. The site includes outdoor and covered working areas, pasture nearby, simple tent camping, outhouse access, and running water. Please contact us before registering if you have accessibility questions or specific needs so we can let you know what is possible on site.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

Fleece to Thread: A Weekend Alpaca Fibre Workshop

Argenta

Root

$160

Stem

$175

Flower

$190