Spinning on the River - January 2007
Editor's Note
Happy New Year!
It's a time of change for our guild as we spin on without Queen Shepherdess
Mary at the helm. Thankfully she's not leaving us, just stepping down as leader
of the group. I'm sure you all will join me in thanking her for all the energy
and skill she has shared since starting Spinning on the River in October 1997
- that's right, this year will mark our guild's 10th anniversary. Consider
what you've learned from Mary or the other people she brought together through
the group, and what you've experienced as a result. I have a hard time remembering
what it was like to not be surrounded by fiber work. How many people have
you introduced to spinning since joining the guild? It's amazing to think
how far one person's vision can ripple outward.
All of our journeys in fiber have been as individual as each of us. I hope
you will recognize that your skills and experiences are different from everyone
else's us and share them with fellow members through guild activities. We
can all inject a little new energy in our group as it approaches the 10-year
mark.
Happy Spinning,
- Angela
Guild direction
Hello guild members.
Those who attended the December meeting are aware that I have decided to
take a hiatus from the job as leader of the flock. I'm hoping the
group will enjoy getting together to socialize every third Sunday as in
the past.
Anyone who wishes to do a program can sign up on line and schedule it at
their convenience. It can be held at their home or the church as they desire.
They will be responsible for procuring materials and preparing for the day.
As always, Mary can be contacted for assistance and availability of materials.
Snacks will be pot luck with each contributor bringing any plates, napkins
and utensils required with their contribution. Sylvia is disbursing all
the current supplies evenly to the members.
The newsletter will consist of original articles contributed by members.
Any published materials sent must include permission from the author. If anyone
takes minutes and emails them to Angela or Mary they will be online. Pictures
are encouraged. The deadline for each month’s material will be the second
Sunday. After that date any material will be posted the following month.
All volunteer opportunities will be on hold unless members step forward.
This includes the Mid-South Fair fleece sale.
The focus of the group will be formally reevaluated next fall/winter.
Dues will be collected to defray costs. A majority vote of members present
will confirm purchase of library materials as suggested by members.
As founder of the Guild I will maintain responsibility for the group as
the new focus of the group is determined.
Mary
Minutes for December 17, 2006
Spinning On The River Guild members present: Mary, Angela, Sylvia, Kimberly,
Marie, Sandy and Joann.
2:15 pm Mary opened the meeting urging members to respond to the Program Survey
that Angela provided on the web page and on paper at the meeting.
Mary has decided to step down from leadership (President). She is taking
on more responsibilities at home and feels that she cannot generate enough
time or enthusiasm to the guild. She posed the question: Do you want a leader?
Mary has the room reservation contact information to keep the room. She has
absolved herself of all jobs she had been doing including toting the snack
supplies. Mary owns the website. She urged members to keep sending information
to be used on the site. It will stay open. She will still be available for
individual projects at her house. Please call first.
There is no charge for the room. Every other year we were donating items
for an October Raffle. Now they want some money for the Sister Ruth Project.
We still have money. Mary will pay for the PO Box and be the Treasurer.
Discussion ensued:
Sylvia - Do we have bylaws? No.
Kaaren - Could we keep the room and meet to just spin? Yes.
Angela - Please send items for the website newsletter. It will be closed
on the 2nd Sunday of the month.
Mary - We seem to be stale and need a change. (She will not be at the
March or October meetings.)
The library list is online. Members are encouraged to call or email for books
they'd like to check-out so the librarian doesn't have to haul
the entire collection.
Andrea - We could reserve the room and spin only and a person would
only bring snacks once or twice a year.
Our snacks are already potluck each month.
Two of the newer members mentioned that she was intimidated when she came
to the first meeting. And the other didn't know that someone was "in
charge."
Mary - If you like programs, let us know for sure so we can make arrangements
to provide supplies. It appears that the people just want a social club.
Kimberly - My sister came to last month's meeting. She suggested
that people take turns with duties: secretary, treasurer, web, library, etc.
Andrea - I enjoy the programs. I can't attend a lot because of
my schedules. I understand the pressure.
January 2007 meeting plans were discussed:
Games: Marie agreed to do the "feeling game" with tools.
Musical Wheels or round robin, where spinners will try other wheels would
be played to go along with carding of the different fibers. Members bring
from their stashes to share and all practice making interesting blends. (for
color or fiber content).
Spinnium - Most members agreed that the game was fun and a great way
to learn stuff about fibers and spinning. The game Spinnium tends to take
a lot of time and attention. There was discussion to save Spinnium for February
and continue with the carding and musical wheels for January.
A question was raised about the Fair and fleece sales and demonstrations.
The fleece sale and demonstrations was the Guild's only responsibilities.
The fleece judging is done by the fair.
February 2007 program: Spinnium only?
Show and Tell:
Mary - dying project didn't work out the way I planned. Confetti
Dying. The yarn is rolled into a ball and different colors are injected into
it. I used 3 colors and it will be in wool/mohair and be knitted into a vest
for Amelia.
Kaaren - A supplier I used sent me a Merino sample. It is $12/lb. She
showed a swan made of folded paper she got from Thailand. It is reminiscent
of bubble gum wrapper folding we did as kids, but more sophisticated and sturdy.
Sandy - weaving a scarf with fringe and beads. It is a Christmas gift
for a family member done in purples. It is of very good quality and lovely.
Sylvia - Had a new baby born yesterday morning (Dec 16). It is the first blood
grandbaby. They named her Helen Sachs.
Marie - showed her very first eyelash scarves, made almost 10 years
ago before eyelash yarn was so popular. She finished her shiny black capelet
and demonstrated how to wear it. Passed around Ingeo fiber she found at Michael's
craft store called Buffalo Snow.
Maxine - none
Andrea - showed us her first skein of yarn.
Kimberly - knitting a poncho with 2 fuzzy yarns, one a solid pink and
the other variegated. Showed members a schematic she found for building your
own spinning wheel.
White Elephant Swap:
4 people participated - Mary, Andrea, Kimberly, Angela
One person's "trash" (or extras) is another person's
treasure!
Marie
Member Gallery
|
|
| Angela spent New Year's Eve weaving strips cut from old clothes into
a new rug called "Clothes on the Floor." |
Sandy raised rag weaving to an art with this rug for her son Josiah.
She may have trouble reclaiming it from the cat! |
| Spinners - please send pictures of your handspun projects
for future issues. Your work just might inspire someone else. |
Roc Day - January 21, 2007
Musical Spinning Wheels: Bring your wheel and some fiber
to spin - everyone will have a chance to try the other wheel.
Tactile Fiberwork Guessing Game: We will use fiber/needlework
tools: knitting, crochet, needlepoint, weaving, cross stitch, spinning, etc.
Don't include anything sharp! We will be doing this by touch, not sight. We'll
need at least 10 diff. items, so bring need 1 or 2 items per person. Marie
has a small basket that may not hold everything, so if someone has a med.
size basket to loan for the afternoon would be great. (approx. 9x13x4) or
we can reach into a tote bag.
Fiber Blend Party: Bring some of your stash fiber for the
kitty. Everyone will get a turn to make their own custom blend on a drum carder.
Gift Swap 2007
Four members are currently signed up for the gift swap for April. Sign up
or drop by the February 18 meeting.
Archive of past gifts.
SFFA Conference coming up
The Southeast Fiber Forum's 2007 conference "Harmony of Fibers"
will be Friday evening to Sunday afternoon March 23-25, 2007. This regional
conference moves around the southeast states. This year it will be held at
Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson, TN, about 160 miles from Cordova along
I-40. Participants take one 1-1/2 day workshop, along with lectures, a fiber
arts show, fiber shopping, and fellowship. There are seven workshop offerings
in rug hooking, weaving, dyeing/sock knitting, spinning, braiding, creativity
and doll making. Conference registration is $150 due February 1st. For details,
see SFFA at http://main.nc.us/sffa/
Calendar
All meeting refreshments are Pot Luck.
Meeting - Sunday, January 21, 1:30-5pm
Program: Roc Day - musical spinning wheels, fiber blend party, and the fiberwork
tool guessing game
Meeting - Sunday, February 18, 1:30-5pm
Program: Andrea will present fleece faults
Rainbow Yarn & Fibres News
New fibers: Corriedale top roving $13 / lb, Cultivated Silk $15 / 4 oz.,
Colonial multi, assorted colors $30 / lb.
Dyes: Louet hand dyeing kit and a new shipment of Gaywool dyes
Equipment: Kromski Harp rigid heddle looms, Kromski Symphony, Sonata and
Prelude wheels.
Yarns: Super soft cotton silk just arrived (191yds, $9.50)
Sock yarns: Opal, Lorna's Laces, Online, Scheepjes, Steinbach, Lang, Regia
silk/bamboo wool in or arriving shortly.
Finally here: Mission Falls books and yarns
Brigitte Lang
www.rainbowfibres.com
1980 Exeter Road 753-9835
