Laura Vanderbeek was one of the original members of the group that formed the Spin-In in 1972 along with Lynn Murphy and Ann Meerkerk, It was called "Cooroboree", an Australian word meaning "joyful gathering". As a result Ann, Lynn and Laura started raising sheep.

In 1974 Laura joined the Whidbey Weavers Guild. She was a knitter first, an excellent spinner, dyer and weaver. She taught advanced knitting and beginning weaving.

She was guild treasurer for many years and valued the guild tradition of "Members helping Members". She was selected as one of the original honorary members.

In olden days she attended the August picnic carrying a small ice cream freezer. She would sit and turn during the meeting holding together the wood stays of the churn. After lunch they would have a dish of her homemade loganberry ice cream.

I especially remember her handspun, hand knit sweaters. One meeting she brought stunning shutters of wooden frames with panels of handspun singles woven in Bronson lace.

An article on Laura is in the History Book, Portrait No 4 by Shirley Owens.

Laura left us August 29, 2009.