Hello spinners!
Happy Spring! The time of lambs, and fresh fleece and flowers for dyeing... I've been taking a little of my fiber fun outdoors. I'm so glad it's warmed up that I don't even mind yard work cutting into the fiber time. Actually, yard work has been fiber time. I've been collecting bits of lichen as I clean up the yard - just to see what kind of natural dyes they might yield. Mary and I have been busy finishing up out Master Spinner level 1 homework to send off for grading at the same time we're working on those gift swap items. Are you ready? Our 2006 gift swap is finally here and we'll be seeing those projects at the April meeting. I've met lots of new spinners that we may be seeing in our midst, too.
April is dues renewal time. Just $10 a year. Dues can be given to our treasurer Eleanor at the meeting or mailed to the guild at Spinning on the River, PO Box 842, Cordova, TN 38808-0842. Make the job a little easier on our treasurer and renew right away.
Happy Spinning,
Spinning On The River Guild members present: Angela, Sandy, Sylvia, Kaaren, Maxine, Marie, Joann, Eleanor, and Mary. We welcomed visitors Sheila and Butch Harper, and Pat Goode.
Eleanor and Mary arrived together after their trip to the Sweet Potato Festival in Jackson, Ms. this weekend.
Angela presided over the business meeting.
An article from the New York Times and one from the Commercial Appeal-Desoto
Edition featuring Patricia Holmgren, her family and her animals were presented.
If you missed getting to read the articles at the meeting, they are in the Guild
Library. A book on Knitted Lace is also new in the Library. Angela brought many
old instruction books to give away. They were included with some yarns she had
purchased.
Angela went to Bruce Elementary School last month to teach the students how to spin using a drop spindle. The spindles were provided by their teacher. Several of the students wrote Thank-you letters and sent pictures of them holding their wool and spindles.
Northwest Ms Community College at Senatobia has a Fiber Display in their art gallery. Titled "As Time Passes By", the display features the Chimneyville Weavers from Jackson, Ms, Spinning on The River Guild and the Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers as well as the North MS Fiber Guild. The display started March 5, and will end March 27 and is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 3:30pm. Angela and Patricia both have items on display.
SHOW AND TELL
Mary and Eleanor told of their trip to the Sweet Potato Festival.
Marie showed her blue and pink crocheted scarves.
Angela had spun yarn of scrap fibers and had knit a square sample from the yarn.
She also showed a skein she received in an "ugly yarn" swap.
Sylvia brought both spun and loose hair that she combed from her black Pomeranian.
It is so soft. She is also knitting multi colored socks today.
Joann brought her 4x4 Weavette and a magazine featuring many items that can
be made using the Weavette.
Sandy is using her Lucet. Our visitor Butch Harper is very interested in learning
about the Lucet and plans to make one. Sandy said that she finished the baby
blanket that she wove for her grandnephew and has mailed it. She will bring
a picture of it.
Angela gave Sheila and Pat CD spindles and some wool, showed them how to use
them, and soon had each spinning with the spindle. They then moved on to Angela's
spinning wheel and were spinning away in no time with instructions from Angela
and Mary.
PROGRAM:
Parts of a Sheep/Fleece.
Maxine, Mary, Angela and Kaaren laid out a whole unwashed fleece to show how
it grew on the sheep. Maxine explained the parts of the fleece. She used an
article in the Spring 1998 issue of Spinoff Magazine and the book IN SHEEPS
CLOTHING as her references. She washed a portion of the wool and showed the
differences in the washed and unwashed fiber. Before it was washed the fleece
looked golden yellow, and when washed it was white with a hint of yellow.
Eleanor reported that the Guild Treasury has $274.65 as of February 17, 2006.
She had prepared copies of the past year's Treasury report for the members.
Thanks to the snack hostesses. We enjoyed tasty fresh bread with cream cheese spread made with fresh herbs from Sylvia's garden and cinnamon rolls and sliced pound cake.
| 2005 | Deposits | Checks | Balance |
| January | 0.00 | 0.00 | 285.38 |
| February | 10.00 | 0.00 | 295.38 |
| March | 0.00 | 0.00 | 295.38 |
| April | 0.00 | 0.00 | 295.38 |
| May | 10.00 | 31.56 | 363.82 |
| June | 0.00 | 117.03 | 246.79 |
| July | 0.00 | 0.00 | 246.79 |
| August | 80.00 | 16.95 | 309.84 |
| September | 100.00 | 70.07 | 339.77 |
| October | 204.00 | 127.95 | 415.82 |
| November | 0.00 | 90.00 | 325.82 |
| December | 74.00 | 125.17 | 274.65 |
As of April 2006, the treasury balance is still $274.65.
 Angela showed her Mom how to have a little fun with the leftover Easter Egg dye. |
Angela and Mary have been bust working on Master Spinner level 1 homework. |
Spinners - please send pictures of your handspun projects for future issues. Your work just might inspire someone else.
Angela asked me how I'm doing on my 2006 resolution. It made me pause and reflect for a moment. After some consideration, I decided that I'm meeting my goals...most of the time. Participating in a three-day rug workshop definitely qualifies as spending time with fiber. And better yet, my loom was situated between Mary and Angela, with Dana off to one side. Who could ask for a better combination of fibery folks to share three days with? One day last week, Sylvia, Eleanor, and I spent time spinning (or knitting) and chatting. It certainly was fun to talk and laugh and feel the fiber flow and twist into pretty white yarn. I enjoyed getting my hands on some lovely Coopworth fiber from the Hidden Valley Farm & Woolen Mill, which I picked up last Oct during a visit to Wisconsin. In fact the latest edition of Spin-Off (Spring 2006) featured pictures of Carol and Paul Wagner's sheep. Check out pages 72-77 for additional information. The owners are the nicest folks and growers. Their sheep were well tended and their mill was clean and orderly. Gee, I feel like I'm doing an ad for them...but I was truly impressed with their whole operation.
Mary has made an effort to see that I continue to meet my resolution. She has been known to call me and encourage fiber get-togethers. However, with summer quickly approaching it seems as if more time is spent outdoors and less time with friends and fiber. Before long it will be too hot for outdoor activities and much easier to plan indoor fiber entertainment. I'm looking forward to continued fiber fun with you!
The latest Spin-Off features yarns spun on a charka - a small hand-powered spindle wheel. Special equipment requirements meant less participation than some other yarn showcases. Angela S. submitted angora yarn (fiber provided by Kimberly P.). Former member Debbie T. sent in a silk yarn.
There won't be a "Your Yarns" department in the summer issue. The fall issue will feature cabled yarns and the deadline is June 15th. Our May program will be on cabled yarns so everyone will be able to make samples.
Friday, April 28, Crosswind Elementary in Collierville is once again holding
Pioneer Day for their fourth grade students. Here's an opportunity to share
the history and joy of spinning with the next generation. There are only five
classes this year (last year there were 8!) to get
the show & tell & feel & smell presentation of preparing textiles
from the start. If you are interested in participating in this demo, please
contact Angela or Mary for details.
Meeting - Sunday, April 23, 2006 1:30-5pm - note
date change - 4th Sunday
Program: Gift Swap
Refreshments: Angela S., Betsy C.
Meeting - Sunday, May 21, 1:30-5pm
Program: Cabled Yarns
Learn to make twice-baked potatoes - no, make that twice-plied yarn! This special
structure is made by plying two or more plied yarns together. Just in time for
the next Spin-Off "Your Yarn" deadline on June 15.
Refreshments: Brigitte L., Eleanor H.
New fiber mix 67 % kid mohair/33 % merino ecru, $ 28.00 per pound.
Opal Sockyarn (Rainforest Collection) and Trecking colorpack sockyarn just in.
Complete selection of Noni Patterns.
Spring Fling open house April 30th,1:00 to 5:00. Refreshments and special sale.
Brigitte Lang
www.rainbowfibres.com
1980 Exeter Road 753-9835