Marie-France Gosselin
L’Atelier Weaving Studio Tissage
Workshops and Weaving Supplies at Carriageway Studios, Almonte
by Chandler Swain
Marie-France Gosselin has set up her new loom at Carriageway Studios and is in full swing teaching weaving and spinning, hosting workshops and drop-ins plus selling weaving materials.
I chatted with Marie-France this past weekend and was impressed with the fact that the weaving workshop she was preparing for the next day would be totally in French, as all the participants were travelling here from Quebec. She said that students and customers are coming to Almonte to visit her L’Atelier Weaving Studio from all over Eastern Ontario, West Quebec and the U.S.
So let it be known that now you can buy Ashford, Louet, and Mirrix spinning and weaving supplies right here in Almonte. It is an interesting circle that is being tied together, with the origins of the town as a major weaving hub in the 19th century.
Marie-France made her reputation in part as the co-owner of Wabi Sabi, the popular and beautiful weaving and textiles store in the Hintonburg neighbourhood of Ottawa. She has been involved in textile arts for many years especially exhibiting as a quilter in juried exhibitions around the world. Now that she has moved her studio to Almonte, her students and other customers are following in droves.
This is of course great for Almonte. L’Atelier Weaving Studio joins the myriad of other wonderfully diverse and interesting businesses popping up in town, enriching it and adding yet another great resource to crow about!
For the last 3 years Marie-France has been traveling to Guatemala to work with a fair trade organization called Mayan Hands who help very poor Mayan artisans. She sells some of their products (baskets and weaving cotton) at the shop at Carriageway. She will also travel this fall to to visit the Louet plant while in Holland, and meet weavers on the Shetland Isles in Scotland.
If you want to to learn more and get in on the fun, Marie France will be hosting a monthly Spin-in/Weave-in July 22nd from one to 3. Marie-France posts her activities at the studio on her Facebook page and on the Carriageway Studios website: www.carriagewaystudios.com
