A Life Well Lived

I got some sad news today 🥲

 

It is with regret that I must share the passing of Guild of Canadian Weavers Masterweaver Margaret Hahn on February 7th, 2023. She obtained her certificate in 1984, her thesis was on Opphampta. She also served as the GCW Test Mentor for many years.

I have posted her Obituary as published by her family below.

I was happy to call her a dear friend and weaving mentor and through her encouragement, had my feet firmly set on the weaving path, and my time and service in the GCW. Since I was a serving GCW president at the time of completeing my basic level, both Margaret Hahn as Mentor and Sandra Fearon as Test Administrator signed my certificate. The first and only so far I believe to not have a president’s signature. I’m fortunate to have some of her hand wovens and a couple of shuttles, but the best gift of all besides her encouragement, was her Megado loom which I use daily.

Margaret first came to weaving by using bed lap frames with her recovering patients in 1947 in her role as an occupational therapist. I met Margaret in 1995 as a new weaver and neighbour. She ‘inspected’ my first used loom and made sure of my posture and bench height to get me off to a good start right away. While I struggled with the learning curve, she picked up a shuttle and simply danced away on the treadles and it showed me what was possible! When I complained about my selvedges, she told me to ‘weave a mile’ and while it was said with a smile, she wasn’t joking. Of course she was right. I still recall her as mentor looking at an overshot tray cloth I had woven as part of my Basic level and she declared my circles as ovals and confiscated it and set it on her tea trolley and set a plant pot on it. She never did give it back!

Margaret inspired many weavers with her workshops and mentoring at both the local level or through her time mentoring with the Guild of Canadian Weavers. I know of several who started the testing program thanks to her encouragement.

After knowing her for many years I discovered that she wasn’t just Marg Hahn, friend and neighbour, but actually Baroness von Hahn. As you will see from her obituary, she lived a rich and full life outside of weaving.

The pictures of Margaret in a pink top are  from July 2012

This is her obituary and photo as placed by her family. Please click to enlarge to read.

🌹

The Ponderosa Guild of Kelowna, BC shard their memories of Margaret:

Margaret von Hahn

1928 - 2023

 

Marg Hahn, as the Ponderosa Guild knew her, died last week in Vernon BC. Marg joined us in the mid 1980's, after moving to Carr's Landing (Lake Country) from Winnipeg. Originally from Cornwall, England, she had completed her Occupational Therapist training at Oxford University, which included a vigorous weaving component.

 

Marg became an active Guild member, teaching various weaving classes, a term as President, and as newsletter Editor. All while completing her Master Weavers programme for the Guild of Canadian Weavers, with her 4th year thesis on Opphamta in 1994. John Low of Woolhouse Tools named his 'Margaret' draw loom after her.

 

She did take spinning and other classes, but preferred weaving. Dye classes at her house overlooking the lake was always great summer fun, as was attending ANWG conferences with her. Marg was always willing to share her knowledge with our members, in addition to test mentoring GCW members doing their Master Weavers programmes.

 

Marg was a wonderful weaver with great colour sense, excelling in silk tartan scarves and tartan blankets. Her Okanagan Tartan was accepted by the Lord Lyon of Scotland. Our Christmas sales certainly benefitted from her elegant work.

 

She stopped weaving about 2012, aged 84! When she moved from Lake Country to Armstrong in 2020, she very generously donated her many weaving books and magazines to the Guild.

 

We will continue to benefit from her legacy for years to come.

 

🌹

If There Are Looms in Heaven....

Then this dear man is already seated and throwing a shuttle....

Rev Wayne Nicholson (Padre Wayne) July 31st 1948- June 10th 2019

I first met Wayne on a social media group called Ravelry, and in particular, a forum called Warped Weavers. We simply started chatting and sharing our love for weaving.  He called himself an (over) eager novice and had asked for some advise on a draft and we took off as friends.  He had that way of drawing you in and next thing you knew, you were enjoying life with him.

In 2014, he and his spouse Harry were taking a summer sabbatical from their parish in Mt Pleasant, Michigan and coming out to the PNW or Pacific Northwest, and he declared that they intended to come up island and visit us.  We were thrilled that they would take such a large detour to come and see us. I was waiting on both hip and knee replacements so with that understanding of my limited capabilities it was on!

We had a marvellous time with them: visited The Loom at Whippletree Junction south of Duncan, and also Leola's Studio. Yarn purchases made at each stop of course.    Dinner at the Rock Cod Cafe in Cowichan Bay and a walk on the Maritime pier after dinner.  (I also heard that visits in Victoria included Knotty by Nature and BeeHive)

It turned out to be a very special time for them as they had married while in Port Townsend !  We were part of their honeymoon tour...

They came back again the following summer and we had another few days of visiting and sharing. Wayne discovered the joys of the 20+ tie up assist on my loom (which he subsequently bought with Harry's urging and loved it) 

We each had a loom or wheel to play with and had a great time and wonderful conversation.     In 2016 we moved here to Campbell River and so we missed their annual visit, but in 2017 we were all set to host them again. It was not to be as Wayne had forgotten his passport in his locked car in Detroit and so issues crossing the border prevented the visit from happening.   This past summer in 2018, Wayne retired and they moved from Michigan to their new home in Bay St Louis on the Gulf Coast.

They were in their car when it was struck from behind at a high rate of speed on June 3rd. Broken bones for both, but Wayne soon was in a coma and then the prayers started flowing in for a miracle.  His wounds were too great and he was taken off of life support today.  

What has happened is what I like to think of as the "Wayne effect"..... people are discovering just how many lives these two people touched. On Ravelry or FaceBook, everyone has a story to tell and share with others.  Wayne helping others as they grieve, or in poor health and / or hospitalized, feeding the homeless,  sermons of hope and love,  and so much more. He was a supporter of women and marched proudly with a pink pussy hat, marched for BLM (Black Lives Matter), LGBTQ rights.......he was all about people simply being who they are and being equal.  

In the weaving world: he always had an encouraging comment, suggestion or willing to share. Many weavers have a towel he gifted them or hot pads (I have some too). He and I did sample exchanges  and so there was always one for me and one for Wayne with every project that came off my loom.

Padre Wayne would so flustered by all the attention and prayers sent his way in these past few days.  His husband Harry will be healing and grieving.... but hopefully all the love sent his way will help ease the pain.

Harry wearing one of Wayne's scarves at Notre Dame Cathedral

Wayne was a great support when my father was dying in 2015. It took seven months and there was a lot to deal with, and Wayne helped me along the inevitable way.  He was also quick with support as I had my joint replacement challenges, and again when Bruce dealt with his bladder cancer last year.  He literally shared his compassion everywhere and if you weren't religious, not a biblical word passed his lips. He was one of those very special people who can reach everyone with empathy.  

We would use FaceTime and walk around showing each other what was on the loom and catch up on news and plans.  Ah, they had such plans......    

I'm sure that someone will finish his project on the loom for him. I know if I lived closer, I would would do that for him.... as he would have done for me.

Rest easy my friend.