February 2010 Newsletter

Next Meeting February 20, 2010
10 AM - 4 PM (more or less)
Email goes to: spinner@serendipityspinners.org

January Nutshell

by Sue, Ginger and Frank

January is the month we meet in the hotel and make batts for Stitches. This time was no exception. Many lovely batts were made. We had some young visitors "help", too.

There is a new section on our website - Patterns. This is where we can post any *FREE* patterns.

Treasurer's Report

No Treasurer's Report was made because Lotus could not make the meeting due to a cold.

Old Business

It has been many years since we made real "mystery batts" for our own use. What we do during our January and February meetings is no mystery. What should we call these batts? Demo Batts? Mystery Batts? Stitches Batts? We decided that "demo batts" makes the most sense. Jocelyn still has a few open slots for people to work the CD spindle booth. Please think about signing up.

Storage of unused fiber is something of an issue. Several of our members are already storing guild items. We voted to buy four 18 gallon tubs to store the fiber in at about $4 each. We need to check of we could store them under the gazebo. If not, we may need to look into renting a small storage locker near the park.

Marcia heard back from the park. We *WILL* be able to store four 18 gallon tubs under the gazebo. Thank you for following up on that, Marcia.

The subject of joining the museum was brought up. Nancy D. agreed to investigate what the options are to join the Museum as a group.

Dues are due this month. We could have programs and support a larger portion of the cost with our bank balance.
We could reduce the dues for this year. Aviva has been working on a program that would cost a few hundred dollars. If the guild paid a large portion (or all) of that and we had it at a regular meeting, that would use quite a bit of our money. A couple of programs like that in a year, and our excess would be used. A couple of other teachers were suggested. Of course, we do donate to Heifer and the Monterey Wool Auction.

Web Report

The company hosting our website looks like it is going to explode So we'll have to move. Sue already has a new host picked out. They are on a donation basis.

We got the following email and I thought I'd share.

I just had to say thank you for getting me started on this wonderful craft. I stopped by your booth 6 or 7 years ago and tried spinning on a drop spindle made with c-d's. As the purple and magenta fiber twisted into a single and became yarn I was hooked. That year I bought a spinning wheel and have loved spinning ever since. I just wanted to say a big thank you and do you need volunteers at Stitches West to help out in your booth. I would love to share thrill of making yarn that you shared with me.

Thankfully, Lizette Hopkins

Other Business

We need to drum up some membership. One suggestion was a one-time mailing to former members to see if the issue is just abandoned stale email? Sue T. is working to get radio announcement on KLlV. A couple of other members have other radio stations that they will check. If they can get an announcement on the air, they will get the text from Sue.

Show 'n Tell

Sharolene: didn't bring anything. She will bring the hat she knitted, next time. She's spinning a blend with suri alpaca.

Carol: has been on a knitting binge. She is knitting helmet liners for our troops. They are sort of like ski mask. She has extra copies of the pattern. It is scanned and is up on our website under "patterns". The liner is to be knit in pure wool in dark colors. Michaels has pattern. Marcia has connections. Carol will help pass the liners to her. Sharolene says that the open mittens are also welcome. Also: Teddy Bears for African AIDS children. She can get information on the organization, if desired. Green Planet yarn in Campbell has the pattern and is a collection point for the bears.

Just call her "Hollywood"!

Wool helmit liner

Ginger: had a crocheting bug over the holidays. She didn't bring the afghan in progress this month. She will bring it later. Her mom introduced her to a knit-along newsgroup and she couldn't wait to knit, so she raided her stash. She's making a striped shawl. She is nearly done with clue #4 out of 10. The moderator sends out new clues periodically. The group is mostly in German. The moderator is bi-lingual.

Lace Shawl

Taking notes for the Nutshell

Jennifer: having fun with the spinning wheel she borrowed in Nov. She is spinning fire star.

Spinning Star Fire

Diana: (Ginger's visiting friend) is making a wreath. Diana is trying to figure out accommodations to do fiber crafts with her injured wrist. She would like to figure out how to spin with wrist in neutral position.

Making a wreath

Frank: Made a turquoise and green felted bag for Phyllis. Not the same bag as last month

Knit then Felted bag

Sue: no show & tell other than new embroidered dragon on her shirt. It took 21 minutes on her new embroidery machine.

Blue and Purple Silk.

Dragon embroidery

Nancy D.: about group "in her neighborhood". She'll be doing a presentation on spinning later in the afternoon. She showed off her black, offset-rectangle scarf. She is knitting socks that she thinks will look good under her Crocs.

Offset-rectangle scarf

Knitting socks

Ellen: (a new spinner) has knitted fingerless gloves with ruffled edges.

Spinning the same old wool

Fingerless gloves with ruffles

Chris S.: to bring the yarn she's spinning. She is crocheting yet another grocery bag. She has the design and pictures of her wrist brace for crocheting online at MarkerONAStiCk.Blogspot.com. It takes about $3 in parts.

Grocery bag

And that's January in a Nutshell. Hope to see you next month for more demo batts and camaraderie.

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