Blooming on the Prairie
The Eastern District of the National Association of Wheat Weavers welcomes all members to the 2024 Convention, “Blooming on the Prairie,” to be held April 10 to April 13, at The Chateau in Bloomington, IL.
Registration Packet is now available.
The Registration Packet contains full descriptions of convention policies; activities, including tours, Straw Expo and Scholarship Opportunity; necessary forms and due dates; and appropriate NAWW members to contact with questions.
Class Descriptions (Everything you need to know about the classes – photos, times, materials, tools, skill level . . . )
Registration Forms (Tours, Class Registration, Convention Registration, Straw Expo Registration, Scholarship Application)
To register for the convention and participate in classes, you must be a member of the National Association of Wheat Weavers. If you are not currently a member, please download the NAWW Membership form to fill out and mail in or use the Online Registration.
Registration Deadline is March 15, 2024 to be considered for class lotteries and to order a hard copy of the Convention Workbook.
Scholarship Opportunity: For NAWW members who are first-time attendees to an NAWW convention, scholarships are available. If you are interested, complete the Scholarship Request Form (the last page in the Registration Packet) and send to Dianne Ruff (address is on the form). The completed form must be received by Sunday, March 10 to ensure a response of whether you will be awarded a scholarship.
If you are not attending convention and wish to order a workbook, you must submit the registration form and prepay to receive a hard copy of the workbook. After the March 15 deadline, the workbook will be available in digital format only. Convention attendees receive one copy of the workbook with their registration. They can order extra hard copies using the Registration Form.
Hotel Reservations can be made now. IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY DATE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Deadline for hotel reservations is Saturday, March 4, 2024. Reservations received after the Cutoff Date will be confirmed on a space-available basis at prevailing rates.
Class Schedule and Descriptions
The convention offers 12 one-session classes at a variety of skill levels. One double-session class is offered for advanced weavers only. We will have two classes per session on Thursday and Saturday and three classes per session on Friday. One class per session will be available on Zoom as well as in person. We will have a helper in each Zoom class to assist the students as well as the instructor.
Each class participant is responsible for bringing the basic wheat weaving kit to classes. In addition, some instructors are offering kits of supplies . It is required that class participants purchase the kits offered for all classes they have enrolled in.
Class Schedule and Descriptions
Class Schedule and Descriptions by Teacher
Other Activities
Open House with Make it Take it: On April 10, there will be an open house for local people with Make it and Take it classes as well as demonstrations and displays of the Straw Arts. It is our hope to draw new members in before the classes start and maybe get them interested in joining and signing up for classes. Volunteers will be needed to share during this day.
Tours: There are two tours on Wednesday (David Davis Mansion and Prairie Aviation Museum). On Thursday afternoon, a brewery tasting tour is available. And on Friday, Don Ruff is hosting a trip to his home to view his collection of antique small engines.
The Straw Expo will be open on Saturday from 7:30 am to 9 am for NAWW members only. It will be open to the public from 10 to 4. Tables will be available to sell your items.
Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Area:
The Chateau is in Bloomington, Illinois just 2 hours south of Chicago and part of the Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan area. The Chateau is located in a bustling area with excellent shopping and restaurant options, many within walking distance! The property itself consists of 180 specially appointed rooms (singles, doubles and suites), WiFi throughout the hotel, indoor pool, hot tub, exercise room, and library area with fireplace.
The Children’s Discovery Museum, Miller Park Zoo,The Genevieve Green Gardens, Ewing Manor, David Davis Mansion, The Prairie Aviation Museum, and McClean County Historical Museum are a few of the very popular family attractions to make your visit memorable. For those in need of “Retail Therapy,” visit The Shoppes at College Hills (directly across from the hotel) or Eastland Mall which is 2 miles away or any of the other many shopping facilities in town. Take an opportunity to explore the area’s outdoor beauty with activities like biking or hiking, by way of the expansive Constitution Trail, which you can access of right behind the hotel!