Hi Spinners,
This is a reminder that the June meeting is the second Sunday, the 14th. I want everyone to be able to celebrate Fathers Day however your family honors the men in your lives. Nichol will be bringing Cotswold fleeces from a shearing she assisted. We'll lay out what she brings and learn about arraigning a fleece and skirting.
We also are having part one of the sock series. Please bring any coarse fiber you have. We'll talk about the qualities you might want in a sock yarn.
Lisa has the results in from the program survey. We'll talk about programs and when in the year you would like to have them. If you have something special you want to talk about or do, now is the time to let the committee know.
Please bring your skeins of short fiber yarns for show and tell. If anyone has their dyed silk spun up that would be fun to see too.
I hope to see you Sunday,
Spinning On The River Guild members present: Laura L, Mary L, Lisa L, Dana P, Kaaren R, Karen S, Nichol T, Nicky L, Laura L, Sarah H, JoAnn G, Marie W, Maxine G. We welcomed Guest Danielle U
If you haven't paid your dues for 2009 they are due now. Dues are $10 payable to Spinning on the River Fiber Guild. See Mary L.
If you are interested in helping with program planning or with meeting minutes, please contact Mary L or Lisa L.
Marie - blue and white cotton
Dana - dyed silk with merino, beautiful feather and fan afghan of hand-dyed yarns from her stash, felted purses inspired by scuba diving yellow fin damsel fish
Mary - woven blue and green scarf
Laura - acrylic cup holder for her spinning wheel from Spring Fling
Lisa - results from the Natural dye workshop (we had so much fun) - lots of photos to be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22533402@N02/3537908726/in/set-72157618300032276/
Her first triple ply and a Ravelry find from the Thrifty Spinners group - a lovely Corriedale fleece.
Sarah - alpaca yarn, Koolaid dying results, and the silk we dyed last month
Dani - crochet project
Nichol - red merino and her mystery wheel from yard sale
| May Balance | $1151.60 |
| Dues | + $10.00 |
| Fiber costs | - $53.75 |
| June Balance | $1107.85 |
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| Lisa L knit a sweet sweater for a baby shower. |
Spinners - please send pictures of your handspun projects for future issues. Your work just might inspire someone else.
The 3rd annual Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival was held May 22nd and 23rd in Dickson, TN. With 3 barns full of vendors there was a little something for everyone! I especially enjoyed the sheep shearing and the sheep on display. There were also rabbits and goats for sale and the fiber vendors were everywhere!
The going rate for most fibers seemed to be $5.00 per ounce with a few vendors offering buy 5, get 1 free. I was especially happy to purchase white combed top very reasonably as 'new spinner' fiber and splurged on a few ounces of an alpaca/bamboo blend that is delightfully soft!
Various classes from Angora Rabbit Care to Continental Knitting were offered and well attended. Many vendors also featured wheels from various manufacturers and I saw my first Bosworth Journey Wheel in person. Everyone was very friendly and there were several familiar faces in the crowd.
The 2009 Delta Fair and Mid-South Fair Are coming up fast. Creative Arts competitions include knitting, crochet, weaving, quilts and handspun yarns. We've been preparing this year by holding programs helping you get yarn that fits in the categories in the catalogues. Now is the time to get those skeins ready. Entry forms for the Delta Fair must be submitted by August 20th. The Mid-South Fair 2009 dates aren't online yet. Cotton skeins must be 25 yards, all others 50 yards. Skeins must be 1 1/2 to 2 yards in circumference and tied in at least 3 places.
Handspun classes are:
Drop off at the Delta Fair is August 29th 9-6, pick up is Sept. 14th, noon to 6. Last year Angela was able to pick up her skeins from Delta and drop them off at the Mid-South Fair.
I had a lot of fun spinning the fibers from our program. There is nothing quite the right tool for the job and my charka spins cotton so well it is fun! Several people tried their hand with the charka, hopefully they had as much fun with it as I do. I'm on a stash reduction jag, my cotton stash is spun and going to Canada for the Master Spinners cellulose dye day.
We also had cashmere to spin. The lovely Mongolian Cashmere Top was not as short as the cotton making it more fun. It still is a slippery fiber that takes a little different technique than wool, it needs more twist to keep it together. That doesn't make it hard! It still is soft and fluffy.
Our third fiber was a blend of 25% Australian possum and 75% Merino, something new for me. A bit longer again I found that washing it before I spun it made it nicer for me. The spinning oil in the roving was getting tacky and there were neps and noils in the prep. I checked with one of my instructors, Ellen, who told me the blend she spun was better quality. Next time I try it I'll ask for a sample before I buy.
Nicky is expecting her first grandchild ...... and she is here! Julia Grace L. Congratulations Nicky and Laura and the proud parents.
May 22 -23: Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival in Dickson TN
: Indian Springs Farm "Wool day" - mohair only (SW of St Louis)
October 12-15: Yarn School- Yarn making workshop and retreat near Kansas City
http://harveyvilleproject.com/yarnschool/knitty.html
September 4-13: Delta Fair
September 25th-October 4-MidSouth Fair
September 26-28: Earth's Palette
Natural Dye and
Color Conference Taos NM
Wed., Sept. 23 - Sat., Oct. 11 Workshops at the Dye festival in Taos www.taoswoolfestival.org
October 23-25: SAFF Asheville
October 25: Cannonsburg TN (Murfreesboro) Harvest Days Fiberfest
October - first weekend - Pink Palace Festival
September 25- October 4: Mid South Fair - no animals or fleece show this year but will be in 2010 when moves to Tunica
December 4-5: Mt Magazine Arkansas - Arkansas Fiberarts Extravaganza
Meeting - Sunday, June 14th, 1:30-5pm
Room 113- note
date change - 2nd Sunday
Program: Cotswold-skirting and sorting
Selecting for socks-What qualities do you want in your sock yarn and what breeds provide them?
Refreshments are pot luck
July 19-Socks Part 2 We will be talking about how to add various fibers to make heels and toes longer lasting. Bring your favorite sock wools, any additives you card into your fiber when spinning for socks and your hand cards.
August 16-Fair Entries! Lets talk about what the requirements are and get ready for some friendly competition. There is money involved people! I'll help you skein your yarn if you need help.
September 20
October 18 - Guild Birthday Party
November 15
December 20 - Christmas party and White Elephant exchange