An issue of the Society’s newsletter, transcribed from the original.
(12 pages, 2.0 MB)
the full-resolution scan, 35 MB, for close research
Page 1 — WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL - FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING, ISTANBUL
Canadian Leathercraft
Volume XXI No. 2 Winter 1972 (December)
WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL - FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING 21-25 AUGUST 1972 - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Thirteen Canadians attended the Assembly held at the Tarabya Hotel on the Bospherous Sea, outside Istanbul. Fifty countries were represented by 276 delegates.
This was a business Assembly. No crafts were demonstrated, but small exhibitions were shown at the Hotel and we visited Museums, schools and studios.
Mrs. Vanderbilt Webb opened the meeting, thanking the Turkey Committee. She reminded us our basic reason for being is to maintain the standards of craftsmanship throughout the world. Part, is the friendship we hold for one another, and it is one more help of understanding between nations and peace of the world.
At the meetings the maximum number of Directors was increased from 2l to 25. The General Assembly admitted as member countries: Iceland, Senegal, Togo and Trinidad and Tobago bringing the total to 75 member countries.
All material published in "Canadian Leathercraft" is the property of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft, and may not be reprinted in any form without permission of the Society.
Editorial Committee:
Pres. Mrs. Helen Wheaton, FCSCL, 100 Grand Ave. London N6C 1L7 V. Pres. Mrs. May Corbett, ACSCL, 10 Highland Ave. Barrie-Printing V. Pres. Mrs. B. Reynolds, ACSCL, 500 Parkinson, Woodstock-Member Co-ordinating Editor Mrs. Joy Hutcheson, Box 8, Beachville Committee Member Mrs. Hilda Darbyshire, FCSCL, Woodstock
Reporters this issue - Barrie Branch
"Bospherous Sea" and "Box 8, Beachville" are both confirmed printed exactly as transcribed.
Page 2
"Invitations were accepted to hold the 7th meeting in Mexico City in June, 1976 and the 8th meeting in Kanazawa, Japan in June, 1978. The 9th Assembly will likely be held somewhere in Africa in 1980. Miss Joan Chalmers, Vice-President of Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario) was elected a Director. Mrs. Eileen Hogg, the former W.C.C. Treasurer, was elected Vice-President of the World Crafts Council.
On Tuesday and Thursday mornings concurrent meetings of the Continental Assemblies were held. The following recommendations were made by the North American Assembly and approved by the Board of Directors.
1. That the W.C.C. does not accept the invitations from John Davis of Peru to hold a Pan American Craft W.C.C. meeting in Peru in 1973, reason being that this would interfere with the plans for 1974 in Canada.
2. That the Direction arrange for a Sales Centre to be set up at York University during the Conference. The Direction approved this but stated that some agency should be given this responsibility. 3. That an International Craft Bazaar be established for the duration of the Exhibition, three months, at the Science Centre. The Direction recommended that Taizo Miake be given complete freedom to establish a craft shop at the Science Centre.
The Tenth Anniversary W.C.C. Conference took two days of discussions about the 1974 events in Ontario, when it is expected 1,400 people will come to Toronto to stay at York University. The names of the International Selection Committee for the 1974 Exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre were announced.
Paul J. Smith Director, Museum of Contempory Crafts, New York Erica Billeter Curator, Museum Bellerice, Zurich
Sori Yanagi Yanagi Design Office, Japan
Robert E. Secord, Director, Youth & Recreation Branch of the Ministry of Community and Social Services, flew to Istanbul to personally extend the invitation of the Government of Ontario to the crafts people of the world. Assisted by the Canadian delegation slides were shown of York University, random views of Canada followed by the Ontario film "A Place to Stand". A package was distributed containing Mr. Davis letter, two Craft magazine, "Craft Dimensions" and "Tactile" an Ontario pin, Ontario travel booklet, Science Centre folder and map.
"Museum of Contempory Crafts" is printed exactly so, the Society's own spelling for the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York -- kept as printed rather than silently corrected. "Museum Bellerice, Zurich" is also printed exactly so (likely the Museum Bellerive, Zurich, where Erica Billeter did curate, but the page prints "Bellerice"); kept as printed.
Page 3 — 1972 C.N.E. ARTS, CRAFTS & HOBBY SALE; C.N.E. SALE STATISTICS
The Turkish Government entertained the Assembly at a reception and dinner at the Carlton Hotel, Yenlkoy: to visit the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace and Harem, and the Topkapi Palace Museum, where a special exhibition of exquisite needlework was assembled for us.
To close the general assembly we had a gala reception and dinner held at the Roof Top Restaurant at Tarabya Hotel, which included Turkish dancing and Folk Art Performances. And a special fashion show, with gorgeous costumes of leather.
On Sunday tours departed, one for Bursa, Troy and Izmer and one to Ankara.
1972 C.N.E. ARTS, CRAFTS & HOBBY SALE
Since this was my first year as Chairman of the C.N.E.
Arts, Crafts and Hobby Sale, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the committee for all the help I received.
The hours spent by the Fellows inspecting the articles before the sale and the co-operation of the members, many of whom came a distance to staff the booth, all contributed to making my job much easier, and the sale a real success again this year.
Robert Sutton
Chairman
C.N.E. SALE STATISTICS
35 members submitted 2019 articles for sale, of which 1458 were sold and five were missing.
Total sales (not including sales tax) $4314.40 C.S.C.L. commission (20%) 862.88
Amount due to craftsman $3451.52
[Several corrections after close reading of the page: "a reception" (not "a@"), "Blue Mosque" and "Topkapi Palace" (not "loecue" / "Pelsce"), "special exhibition... was assembled" (not "specirl... wee essertled"), "general assembly" (not "essembly"), "Folk Art Performances" (not "Performences"), "came a distance" (not "came @"), "sales tax" (not "tex"), and the byline "Clara Cavanagh" (not "Cevsnarch" -- the same Clara Cavanagh named in the C.N.E. results on p4). The C.S.C.L. commission figure is corrected from "662.56" to "862.88", confirmed both by close reading of the page and by the page's own arithmetic: 20% of $4314.40 is $862.88, and $4314.40 - $862.88 = $3451.52, exactly the "Amount due to craftsman" printed below it. "Izmer" (not "Izmir") is printed exactly so.]
Page 4 — CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION 1972 AWARD WINNERS - LEATHERCRAFT
CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION 1972 AWARD WINNERS - LEATHERCRAFT
WOMEN'S DIVISION:
217 Tooled, commercial design
(1) Jessie Little (2) Clara Cavanagh (3) Mrs. G. Walker
218 Tooled, original design
(1) Janis Zalitis (2) Olivia Smith (3) Jessie Little
219 Carved, commercial design
(1) Clara Cavanagh (CHATELAINE AWARD)
(2) Hehn (3) Dave Elliott
220 Carved, original design
(1) Clara Cavanagh (2) Janis Zalitis (3) Mrs. G. Walker
221 Non-tooled article
(1) Olivia Smith (2) Jessie Little (3) Clara Cavanagh
222 Gloves
(1) Dorothy Proctor (2) Mrs. Beaucage
223 Jewellery
(1) Jessie Little (2) Carol McLean (3) Marg Monteith
CANADIAN HANDICRAFTS GUILD
Best Leather entry in show
Mrs. Sarah Kakfive, N.W.T. — Gun case, beaded stroud
On display
Irva Ford, Hamilton — Weed pot, hanging, cuir bouilli
Best in Show
Sarah Kakfive
The full 1972 C.N.E. Women's Division and Canadian Handicrafts Guild results on this page are recorded nowhere else in these pages, and are set down here along with the continuation sketch plate on p. 5 — except class 219's second place, printed as the surname "Hehn" alone with no first name, no title and no place, which is parked rather than filed as a person's name.
Page 5
#217 - Jessie Little
#218 - Janis Zalitis
Chatelaine Award
#219 - Clara Cavanagh
#220 - Clara Cavanagh
#221 - Olivia Smith
#222 - Dorothy Proctor
#223 - Jessie Little
Irva Ford
[The seven captions are printed in an order that does not follow the page’s own left-to-right, top-to-bottom layout, and are set out here in the order the page is meant to be read. This is the sketch continuation of the C.N.E. 1972 results table on page 4: seven numbered class winners’ pieces and, unnumbered, Irva Ford’s Canadian Handicrafts Guild display piece.]
Page 6 — LEATHER . . . . MACRAME
LEATHER.... MACRAME
by Nora Huyck
Macramé is the ancient art of tying knots in long strands of material to produce open weave articles - belts, bags, vests, nets, wall hangings, centrepieces, jewellery etc.. The material used for the strands being knotted together can be anything that will knot easily and hold the knot when tied. In weight, texture and thickness it should be suitable for the article to be made.
Leather is one of those materials that can be used most successfully for macrame. Commercial lacing purchased from craft stores can be used, but it has one disadvantage, most strands used for macrame are round, or have no right and wrong side. Leather lacing is flat and the grain side is quite different from the flesh side. When that is realized and the project worked out with that in mind, some lovely articles can be made.
Leather thongs can be used —- like those for lacing heavy boots - or you can cut them yourself so that they are square and not flat, and they can be made as coarse or as fine as you wish. The project described here was done using thongs cut from a quite heavy piece of natural goatskin. It was a pin and belt that used a 13 inch square of leather to give the required length of thonging. After cutting, the thonging was not skived to a uniform thickness, since it was felt that a bit of unevenness would be desirable for this project. The lacing was dyed with Garnet
Antigue Rouge. Since the cut edges and the flesh side take the dye differently than the grain side, a two-tone effect is created. Edge dressing was applied next and the thonging was pulled repeatedly through the folds of a slick cloth - coarse canvas - to mat down the fibres. Finally it was pulled through Mac's Clear Finish, this was used rather than Polish Coat because when it is thoroughly dry, it seems to make any fibres not matted down, stand up quite stiffly. Then just a light touch of sandpaper will often snap them off. For some projects you might not want it smoothed down at all - some leathers might have an attractive velvety or suede appearance when cut and dyed and edge dressing and finish would spoil it.
Many books give excellent instruction on tying knots for macrame — one which I like is simply entitled Macramé. It is by James E. Gick. Learn the knots thoroughly before attempting to use the leather thonging or lacing.
For the pin and the belt, two thongs were used together to make one strand. The belt is just alternating half hitches. It was started and finished with overhand knots - a similar belt is
[The page prints "Garnet Antigue Rouge", the Society's own spelling, and names the book's author as "James E. Gick". The title and byline are genuinely damaged on the original -- the type is faintly and brokenly struck -- but enough survives ("LEATHER.... MAC[?]E", "by [?]ra Huyck") to read as "LEATHER.... MACRAME by Nora Huyck": the whole article is a macramé technique piece, and Nora Huyck is a longtime CSCL officer and prolific contributor named on dozens of other pages across 1954-1997, the only "-ra Huyck" on record.]
A short dashed rule is drawn in the left margin beside the line beginning “Leather lacing is flat”
Page 7 — UPCOMING EVENTS
described in 'Macrame' the easy way by Woman's World. A few inches of thong were left hanging at each end for a bit of fringe. To make the fringe thicker, eight ends instead of four, two pieces twice as long as the fringe were worked inconspicuously into the overhand knots. There was no attempt made to keep the grain side always turning one way - in that way an overall mottled two-tone effect was achieved.
The pin was a Josephine knot tied with two pieces of the half hitch belting. After it was tied, it was pulled up quite tightly and the centre poked up to give a rounded effect. When you finish there will be four ends of four thongs each sticking out. These were worked through to the underside where necessary and all were secured to the back of the knot with white leather cement. The same cement was used to secure all parts of the knot. To make a base for the pin back, cement a piece of leather of suitable shape and thickness neatly onto the back so that all ends are covered. Then attach the pin back.
There are all sorts of possibilities - you might like to dye the grain side one colour, the flesh side another colour; then cut the thonging; finally dye it another lighter colour. A little study of how colour over colour behaves might produce some interesting results. The list of projects produced from thonging you cut and dye yourself is limited only by your imagination. Learn the knots first. Than have fun!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Plan now to attend the 1973 Annual Meeting
Date: Saturday, May 5th, 1973
Place: Central United Church
King & Weston Road, Weston
Host: Toronto Branch
Start preparing your articles to be entered in our "Prestige Show" to be held in Toronto during 1974. The World Craft Council will meet here from mid June to September. Watch for further particulars on how to enter, date and location as they become finalized.
Barrie is the location of the Simcoe County Quilt, Rug and Craft Fair which will take place July 18, 19 & 20. This show and sale features all the best crafts of the county. Barrie branch will again staff a booth which will demonstrate and sell articles made by those of our members who also belong to the Simcoe County Arts & Crafts Society.
Page 8 — THE GREAT MISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR
THE GREAT MISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR by - Beula Reynolds
Three members of C.S.C.L. made an excellent showing in a prestige show held by the International Leather Crafters Coalition (August 3-12), sponsered by The Great Missippi Valley Fair, a State Fair that calls Davenport, Iowa it's hometown. Among the many crafts exhibited Wood Carving - hunting decoys and leather craft were feature competitions. Darryl (Hawk) Hawkins, a leather carver of note, from Ogden, Utah, was the Judge of leathercraft entries and also the chief demonstrator.
Irva Ford and I attended the first weekend of the fair and we were met with the warm friendly courtesy and helpfulness that makes you so very glad you came and leaves you wanting to return. The Leathercrafters we met showed a deep and sincere interest in the work of our Canadian Society and we spent much time in the discussion of methods, design and theories of the different regions.
There were twelve categories listed in Leathercraft which might be of interest to those planning exhibitions and competitions, as follows:
1. Pictures ready to hang
2. Household Articles
3. Sportsman's Carrier
4. Ladies Handbags and Purses
5. Carrying Cases
6. Bound Books
7. Wearing Apparel
8. Pocket Sized Items
9. Untooled or Plain Articles
10. Moulded Articles
11. Miscellaneous
12. Purchase Award
C.S.C.L. members competing were Irva Ford - two firsts, two seconds and one Honorable Mention (5 entries). Tom Swafford - one each - second, third, fourth and fifth (4 entries). Janis Zalitis - three firsts (3 entries). Congratulations to all.
Thirty-one pictures indicated the most favoured class. Best of Show was a clock - suitable for a men's club room. A beautifully proportioned nude drew attention away from the figures for the clock face which were the heart, diamond, club and spade indicating the quarter hours. I haven't decided whether it was sour grapes or the standards and teachings of C.S.C.L. that
["MISSIPPI" and "sponsered" are printed exactly so on this page and are kept as printed.]
Page 9 — LEAVES FROM THE BRANCHES
brought out strong differences of opinion with the judge in us.
A Maori design, taken from a New Zealand postal stamp, done with the precision and smooth flowing lines of a master craftsman, at one with his tools, won only honourable mention. The accent was on carving - partly because they do not have the variety of the leathers we are using. Even the judge was not familiar with morocco and asked about its uses and qualities.
There was only one set of jewellery and one set of snakeskin cufflinks. Belts were beautifully carved and were unfinished on the back. In contrast to this the bridles and harness were all smoothly finished. Nearly all the lacing was one-eighth inch - one gun case made very skilful use of a braided type of lacing for accent. Two saddles with the traditional carved designs were a bit awe inspiring when we stopped to think of all the hours involved in carving alone without the difficult task of assembly.
It is hoped that members who attend fairs of this magnitude will bring a report to Canadian Leathercraft of what is being done among other leathercrafters.
LEAVES FROM THE BRANCHES
Woodstock - Meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. Recently attended two sales (1) at the Art Gallery in Woodstock under the auspices of the Oxford County Art Assoc., (2) and another under the direction of the London & District Arts & Crafts Assoc. at the Armouries in London. Both were two day sales held on October 27 and 28th.
Fred Brown's demonstration of dye techniques at the meeting in October was greatly enjoyed.
We are presently meeting at Springbank School - rent free from the Oxford County Board of Education.
Barrie - Meets each fourth Thursday of the month at 10 Highland Ave. in Barrie. Civic Holiday weekend found us participating in the local Huronia Festival of the Arts - an outdoor weekend sale of all types of crafts. During September we held our usual potluck supper for members and guests at which Harold Kiezer spoke on the benefits of the Canada Pension Plan. Other fall meetings have featured carving 'refresher' and demonstration of filigree techniques and construction of a desk blotter.
Our annual Christmas get together takes the form of a workshop at which we complete a Christmas decoration.
Page 10 — LEATHERCRAFT AT WESTERN FAIR 1972
LEATHERCRAFT AT WESTERN FAIR 1972
It is with pleasure we report that all prizes in all sections were awarded this year. This is a great improvement over the last few years when prizes went begging. The following are the winners in 1972:
Sec. 84 - Soft Leather Handbag
(1) Mr. David Elliott, Scarborough, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Alice Howe, London, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Gordon Walker, Norwich, Ont.
Sec. 85 - Handbag, tooled or carved.
(1) Mr. David Elliott, Scarborough, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Joan Reader, London, Ontario
Sec. 86 - Belt, Tooled, Stamped or Carved.
(1) Mrs. Gordon Walker, Norwich, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Sylvia Gerster, London, Ont.
Sec. 87 - Miscellaneous Small Article in Leather, Wallet Set, etc.
(1) Mrs. Sylvia Gerster, London, Ont.
(2) Mr. David Elliott, Scarborough, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ontario
Sec. 88 - Miscellaneous Large Article in Leather, Album, Briefcase
(1) Mrs. Sylvia Gerster, London, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Larry Monteith, Lambeth, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
Sec. 89 - Jewellery, Leather, 3 items.
(1) Mrs. Carol McLean, Woodstock, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Larry Monteith, Lambeth, Ontario
Sec. 90 - Moulded Leather Article.
(1) Mrs. Alice Howe, London, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Carol McLean, Woodstock, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
Sec. 91 - Leather Gloves, hand made.
(1) Mrs. Alice Howe, London, Ont.
(2) Mrs. Joan Carroll, London, Ont.
(3) Mrs. Sylvia Gerster, London, Ont.
Helen N. Wheaton
Supervisor - Home Arts Department
WESTERN FAIR ASSOCIATION
The page prints "Mrs. Larry Monteith" of Lambeth, Ont. at Sections 88 and 89; it gives her no first name of her own.
Page 11 — LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor and all members of C.S.C.L.:
Two years ago at the Woodstock Annual we challenged the Fellows to a 'put up or shut up' sort of thing by having a table of their own at the Annual Meeting.
It was an immediate success with the Fellows contributing to a very interesting and diversified display. All of us learned a lot from just examining these articles and even more when we got a Fellow stopped long enough to discuss methods, etc.
At the C.N.E. this year, our President, Mrs. Helen Wheaton attended the C. G. of C. award ceremonies and found that one piece only from C. S. C. L. members was accepted for exhibit only. To her question "What's wrong with leather?" the reply was that "leathercraft had become too functional".
Now, would the entire membership take up the challenge for a table at the next Annual of articles that come on strong with a contrast of texture, a splash of colour, co-ordination with another medium or an entirely new use for leather?
Your comments and reaction would be appreciated. Would any of us dare to enter an article?
Yours truly,
Beula Reynolds
Reply from Hilda Darbyshire as a Fellow on the Editorial Committee:
As I see it, the one important thought behind this challenge would be to encourage the craftsman to present to his colleagues, new concepts, new ideas and new creations.
The craftsman should be assured that no criticism would be levied, since the work would be presented merely to inspire a more creative effort on the part of all members.
[Two corrections after close reading of the page: "assured that no criticism" (not "the no criticism") and "inspire a more creative effort" (not "inspire @").]
Page 12
So many times, members have refrained from presenting pieces because of the thought that they would be criticized unduly for imperfections in technique when all that was needed was a little constructive assistance from a colleague.
The idea is good, in my opinion, and would add much interest to the "Annual"
Sincerely,
Hilda Darbyshire
Let's hear your ideas on the subject.
The Editorial Committee feels it would be an assistance to establish a Question Corner.
Do you have a question? if so write to Hilda Darbyshire, and she and the Committee will endeavour to provide an answer as soon as possible. Should these questions prove of general interest the question and answer will appear in the 'Canadian Leathercraft'.
The address is Mrs. Hilda Darbyshire
211 Catharine Street
Woodstock, Ontario
N4S 2K8
Are you working on your articles for the Weston Trophy?
The Annual takes place on May 5th and time does fly.