Now that I have your attention, I received this note last night from a student. I think she is right, but I am terribly biased.
Wow. The webex classes Weavolution offers is thoroughly underused. I have taken two classes - the first was a dye class, and I'm not all that interested in dyeing, but it was free and I wanted to see how the Weavo classes worked. Last night I took the Spinning Flax class with Traci Bray. This is a great format for teaching. It is very interactive and accessible.
I know you and your Weavo helpers are busy, but I would so like to see this method of teaching expanded. I have already suggested a Shadow Weave class. This suggestion was in response to a Shadow Weave WAL that formed over at Rav. I'd love to see mini RH classes that explore the techniques discussed in A Weavers Idea Book - a group to explore that book has formed over at Rav, also. How about Saori classes (May I start by suggesting Jill Sanders at Saori Santa Cruz as the teacher)? Why not a Weaving Salon - if you have a particularly charismatic and knowledgable teacher on staff who could keep a conversation going on a variety of weaving topics, The Salon could be a subscription-based drop-in weekly (or be-weekly, or monthly) discussion of all-things weaverly. The teacher could have general themes that went on for a quarter, or glimpses of a WIP for the students. Possible themes would include say a quarter (three months) of vertical loom weaving; altering drafts to fit your loom/yarn - not just a one time "this is how you do it," but an ongoing, week-by-week exploration of how to adjust different drafts, and why; two-shaft weaving and why we might want to do that (people were talking about weaving rag blankets on rav last week - rag blankets! Why not a class on weaving rag blankets?); heck, you could do a whole quarter on each section of Marguerite P Davison's A Handweaver's Pattern Book; weaving for garments; weaving for your household. Also, if there is a youtube video with tons of hits, Weavo needs a class on the subject.
I think Weavolution is uniquely poised to become the premier Teaching site. I talk to people on Rav about why they're not on. I get vague answers, they want to see what Weavo offers, but they don't really know what to do once they get over to the site. I say offer classes, classes, and more classes.
I know it takes time to coordinate, to find teachers, to assure that the teachers actually show up to their class, to honor students' special requests. If there is a way I can help, let me know. I think you've done a great job with Weavolution, it just needs to be more accessible to more weavers. I say, let them talk at Rav, actually get things done at Weavolution.
I mean it, too. I'm willing to be a helper if you want to expand the webex teaching platform.
Thanks for reading this far.
Kathy LoCurto