What sad news! I have fond memories of my chats with Russ at IOLI
conventions. He always had a good selection of interesting books. A couple
of months ago I helped Sarah, a (famous!) Navajo rugweaver, start a card
weaving project. I had discovered that I had two of Russ's card weaving books
so I was able to give Sarah one of them. I remember buying one of them from
Russ at an IOLI convention. I hope I hadn't pinched the other one somehow.
My copy of "Manual of Swedish Handweaving" still has a sales receipt for Sept
1956 when the book was brand new, from Robin and Russ Hand Weavers in Santa
Barbara. I got it on Ebay from a man who was selling his mother's things
after she died. She was the one who had bought the book from Russ in 1956.
Sally
Four Corners, New Mexico
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:23:59 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: [lace] Passing of an Era - Russell Groff
To: [email protected]
I just received news of the passing of Russell Groff ... owner of former
Robin and Russ Handweavers.... who supported lacemaking along with his
weaving. He printed or reprinted many books of lacemaking, and provided a
place for our lacemaking group to meet for many years. Here is his story from
a weaving source, so it doesn't mention lace, but he was important to our
world also. The local lacemakers already missed him when he retired and closed
the store, but still saw him occasionally around town. Now we have only the
memories.
Alice in Oregon
---------------------------------------------------
Russell Ellsworth Groff, weaver, teacher, author, publisher, champion of
handweaving, and for 57 years the proprietor of Robin and Russ Handweavers,
passed away on January 3rd, 2010, at the age of 85.
He suffered rheumatic fever during service in World War II and was taught
weaving as occupational therapy. From that time on, Russ was a tireless
promoter of weaving, weavers, equipment makers – anyone and anything involved
in fiber crafts. Fresh out of college, he scrounged up 15 looms and started a
weaving program in Santa Barbara, California, that is active to this day. As
of 2005, they were up to 45 looms and had a waiting list.
After college, Russ started a production weaving studio, even selling his
handwoven skirts to fashion retailer I. Magnin. He travelled the world buying
for his shop, making high quality yarns and an amazing variety of tools and
equipment available to weavers and other fiber artists. He designed and
produced looms. He published two weaving newsletters and wrote or published
more than 60 books. He founded or led weaving guilds in Santa Barbara,
Southern California, and Portland, Oregon. He supported and encouraged anyone
who wove, or taught, or wrote about weaving.
Endings didn’t interest Russ. He asked for no funeral, no fuss. As his
health declined, his great concern was that his books and other publications
would continue to be available to coming generations of weavers.
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