September 2008 Newsletter

Next Meeting September20, 2008
10 AM - 4 PM (more or less)
Email goes to: spinner@serendipityspinners.org

August in a Nutshell

by Sue Toorans

Reminder: September we're having a lyceum by Ginger on Nalbinding. I think we're to bring worsted weight yarn to play with.

This is going to be an interesting column to write since I wasn't at the meeting. Ginger took superb notes, as always so here goes.

Thank you, Nancy for leading the meeting.

Click on any of the pictures in this newsletter to enlarge it.

New Spinners!

We had a few news spinners show up. Chris and Kimberly brought a used, almost working wheel that was handmade and bore a strong resemblance to a Kromski. It was the center of much interest before the meeting.

Some faces we haven't seen for a bit were also there.

Michelle, one of Nancy's students who joined us recently was at the meeting.

Sharon Bates, whom we haven't seen in far too long, was also there.

New Members Chris and Kimberly

Dyeing Demo Wool

Carol Lewis brought in a give-away box of dyes-some Lanaset, some others.

Sharon will lead us in dyeing wool for demos in September

Marcia looking through dyes up for grabs by Carol.

Treasurer's Report

Lotus wasn't there but sent the report via email. We have a balance of $1448.52.

Old Business

Stitches Booth : We still need someone to step up to this task. It isn't a lot of work. All that really needs to be done is sign up volunteers, get the supplies to the convention center and then back out again at the end of the weekend. We've already paid for 2009 so we should probably go.
Besides, it's a really easy way to get into the marketplace for "free".
All it'll take is two hours of a volunteer's time.

Carol Lewis is helping coordinate Bethlehem re-enactment. She is looking for drop spindle folks that like to talk to the public. Volunteers don't have to come every day. It looks like great fun. Last year there were live sheep and camels. Where does one find a camel in the middle of Silicon Valley?

New Business

Sharon Bates will donate $50 to cover dyes. Thank you Sharon. I don't have a clue as to what dyes, so don't ask me.
(Sharon will donate $50 to the guild as a Thank You to Carol for the free dyes. She will also lead a dye day to dye wool for demoing at Stitches)

Marsha is trying to get information from the park. If there is a sign saying "closed" again, ask. We're usually allowed in anyway.

Marsha has a list of yarn shops in the area for references and next the newsletter. The reference page will be updated as needed as soon as the Webmaster gets her hands on that list.

Karen (formerly of the Rug and Yarn hut) is selling yarn, etc. out of her house since the closure of her shop.

More Old Business

Report on Anni Redding dye workshop: This was a natural dye workshop. Marsha and Frank showed off color card with wide color range. Anni is relaxed; not hyper about recipes. She pre-mordanted the fiber with alum, copper, and tin. She only used a very small amount of the tin and copper so that you didn't have to worry about runoff.

Skeins of yarn dyed at the Anni Redding Dye Day.

Carol Lewis still has her Joy wheel for sale.

The following is exactly as I got it. My interpretation follows the paragraph.

"Dye workshop? And wool? Sept Wool for stitches bats? Sharon Bates? Me @ Monterey up to $100. Fallback; Mendenhall or order wholesale via Sharon Bats. Dshow & Tell Bring microwaves, dishes. Lisa willing to donate a guild microwave. Rainbow dye Pot? Need dual burner. Vinegar. Maybe salt.
Sharon_Bates@earthlink.net"

Interpretation: There was some discussion on what to do for the wool for the batts for Stitches 2009. Ginger was authorized to spend up to $100 at the Monterey wool auction. If the wool auction doesn't yield what we need, Sharon is willing to order wholesale from Mendenhall. She is also willing to have a dye workshop? Do the dying? Lead the dyeing effort at a meeting? To do that in a rainbow dye pot, we'd need a dual burner stove, vinegar and maybe, some salt. Lisa is willing to donate a microwave to the guild. I wonder how close I came to what was actually said/volunteered.

As Frank Remembers it: There was some discussion on what to do for the wool for the batts for Stitches 2009. Ginger was authorized to spend up to $100 at the Monterey wool auction. If the wool auction doesn't yield what we need, Sharon is willing to order wholesale from Mendenhall. Sharon will lead a dye workshop at our September meeting using the dyes donated by Carol. There will be a Rainbow dye Pot and microwave dyeing. Someone volunteered to bring a burner. Sharon will bring vinegar and Salt. Lisa willing to donate a guild microwave. There are some dishes to use under the band stand.

The guild's wool combs that guild members may use.

Show 'n Tell

Frank: forgot his.

Chris: showed off her $100 (antique, Craigslist) wheel. It is spinning!
The bobbin is missing a chunk of wood but is usable. This is the first time she has spun on a wheel. She has been spinning on a drop spindle since July.

$100 on Craig's list!!!

Kimberly: spinning green tussah silk on homemade drop spindle. It was made from a size 10 knitting needle and jewelry parts. Sharon Bates says the Chinese symbol on it is Pi - for good luck.

Kimberly's homeade drop spindle.

Ginger: didn't show off her knitted blanket. It's too big to bring as it approaches four feet.

Nancy Weber: spinning purple, pink, roving. Like they did with England she will spend a year at Moro Bay in a rented condo to see if they want to retire there. She's moving in September and is so busy packing.

Nancy talking about condo in Moro Bay

Sharon: has been spinning a lot. There was some hand painted Blue Faced Leicester and Merino. (This next bit is verbatim as I got it since I don't know what it means.) "Bought latest 4 G. from woman + son in Germany. Son named Forest. Yarn is green." She is also spinning cotton.
Nancy Flynn dyed the cotton punis in a colorway she calls "Painted Desert". It is oranges and browns.

Sharon spinning and taling to Nancy.

Carol Lewis: working on same old big bag of wool. She still skates 4 days a week.

Carol spinning same old wool.

Michelle: has learned to knit on double pointed needles.

Michelle spinning.

Margaret: went to the natural dye workshop last week. Fabulous! She loved the beautiful, intense colors. The dyer works intuitively - a handful of this. Margaret got pears, apples, and Llama fibers in exchange for help fixing up a wheel. She is teaching recorder in exchange of fresh chicken eggs. It is good to see the barter system alive and well.

Margaret with bartered Llama fiber.

Lisa: has not been doing any spinning. She is setting dad's affairs in order. She has been showing her cats. Some of them have gotten or could get their premiership. She is moving to La Pine, OR.

Margaret and Lisa.

Marsha: Got a book on Dale Chihuly (renowned glass artist). She went to the American Craft Council show and saw Sue's work as well as the work of 249 other artists.

And that's August in a nutshell.

If you have news or pictures of interest to the group please send it to spinner@serendipityspinners.org