Meeting Called to Order: Mary B., co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Introductions were made. Eighteen people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have four new members and one member renewed as of 11/13/09. One spindle kit was sold. A check for $50.00 was received from the Celtic Event organizers. Nancy Pryor gave $6.00 from the Weaving Study Group. The magazines for donations from last meeting raised $19.00. She sent $400.00 to Heifer International and $300.00 to the Nevada State Fair. Currently we have 53 paid members. Current balance is $2,002.02.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers. Dues are $25.00 a year.
Committee Reports
Spinning Workshop – Nancy Pryor
Date for Stephenie Gaustad spinning workshop is March 20, 2010. Location will be announced. Give Nancy any suggestions about what you want to learn.
Learning Tree- Mim
No Learning Tree in December due to Christmas party. January will be a carding workshop. Bring what carding equipment you have. Mim will teach this Learning Tree.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The next meeting will be in January at Linda Lindsay’s home. More details to follow.
Old Business
December Meeting
Meeting is December 12, 2009 at Bartley Ranch School House. Bring white elephant items. There will also be some items for sale by some individuals. There is an ornament exchange for anyone who is interested.
Meeting Locations for 2010
Sky Peaks – 1/9, 3/13, 11/13
Bartley Ranch School House – 2/13, 4/10, 5/9, 10/9, 12/11
Mim’s house – 6/12
Nicole Kelly’s house – 7/10
Hazel Ryland’s home – 8/14
Davis Creek State Park – 9/10 through 9/12
Amy motioned for Doris to pay $100 deposit if requested by Davis Creek State Park. Mim seconded. Motioned passed.
New Business
Sky Peaks Craft Fair - Virva
Sky Peaks is holding a craft fair in November on either the 17th or 24th. People who might be interested in selling something should contact Lisa at Sky Peaks 775-747-9555. Items should be reasonably priced.
Lights for State Fair Booth – Mary B.
She suggested that we consider buying 10 strands of small white Christmas lights to use on our booth at the State Fair. They usually go on sale this time of year. She has provided lights in the past and may not be able to do that this coming year.
Alpaca Fair – Toni
A fair with alpaca items and a craft fair will be held on December 6th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Jeanette Miller’s (Sierra Nevada Alpacas)
Interweave Press Discount – Amy
Amy has our group discount code available. Contact her for the number to use when ordering publications from Interweave Press.
Show ‘n Tell
Mary B. – maroon cable knit sweater & new lavender yarn.
Amy – cowl knit from alpaca hand spun & dyed. Pattern was Ridged Lace Cowl
Olivia – hand knit cowl
Mim – buttons she felted by putting wool over metal button
Nancy Pryor- notebook with sweater patterns
Marilynn – woven rug dyed with henna that her sister purchased in Morocco
Heidi – went to SOAR Oct. 24-31 in Sun River, OR. She had lots of fun and gained lots of knowledge.
Janet – used Marilynn’s method of frozen flower petals and dyed scarves with hollyhock flowers
Eileen – knit “socks” for sun glasses
Barbara – scarf knit with inter lock made from Noro yarn
The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by,
Judy Wells.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Whorled News, November 2009
The November 14th guild meeting will be 11:00 at Sky Peak Ranch: Sky Peaks in Northwest Reno. A map is available here. You can you can access it from 4th street a little west of Truckee River Nursery or from a road you can enter on McCarran going south turning to the right like you wanted to reach Home Depot. At that stop sign, turn right, keep going for awhile through a light and go another few blocks and Sky Peaks is on the left. The community room is on the back or NW side. This meeting is brown bag. Come early and visit.
The December 12th guild meeting will be at the Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse. Driving Directions: Bartley Ranch:. Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the main parking lot. Cross the covered bridge and turn right into the parking lot for the School House.
This our Christmas meeting and will be potluck. Bring something for the White Elephant Sale, all proceeds to benefit the guild. Also, expect to shop from the variety of fibers that members bring for sale.
Sock Summit 2009, Portland Oregon - Toni Pearce
While I didn't get a chance to actually attend Sock Summit to the extent that I was able to take classes (kinda expensive!), I was able to plan a visit to my sister around it, and was totally overwhelmed by the experience. This was the first ever Summit, their motto "Taking sock knitting almost too far" was an apt one too.
The first day, Thursday was entirely dedicated to classes, but Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were open to non class attendees. We went early on Friday (the Max train in Portland dropped us off right at the front door of the convention center!) to check out the vendor booths, and my good friend, David, found a spot in an all day beginners sock knitting class. Friday was the day for setting the new Guinness World Record for the most people knitting on 2 needles at the same time - which was accomplished, beating the old record by several hundred knitters! And the vendors! Did I mention vendors? There were row upon row of booths dedicated to nothing but yarn, fiber, and knitting. It was overwhelming!
Some vendors were familiar names, Carolina Homespun, Woodland Woolworks, South West Trading Co., but many were talented new fiber artists with yarn, fiber, bags, and needles the likes of which I have never seen. There was also a sock museum, and free seminars held during each day. We also had a chance to attend a huge book signing. Luminaries such as Barbara Walker, Cookie A, Stephanie Pearl McPhee, Cat Bordhi, they were all there to sign copies of their books! It was so awesome to see so many knitting legends in one place. I did get a couple of my books signed, but wished I could have brought more from home if I had the room in the car.
I don't believe I have ever seen so many yarn-aholics in one building. It seemed to me that attendance was really great. Perhaps a sign the economy is starting to change a bit? During the evening, they had a sock hop, and the wonderful people from Ravelry hosted a couple of meet ups in the downtown area while the Summit was going on. No one knows if there will be another Summit, as apparently it was more of an undertaking to put together than the founders had initially thought, but knowing what I do now, if it were to happen again in Portland, I would be there without a doubt!
Haiku, Fiber Style
We’re fiberholics
I don’t think it’s a problem
Do husbands agree??
-Janet Drozd
Sharp felting needle
In and out, shaping the wool
Pass me the band-aids
Too much, you make mud
Too little, and it's pastels
Just right, a rainbow
Humming spinning wheel
and gently snoring felines
they make me sleepy
-Amy Shannon
Knitting along and
oh my goodness, I dropped one.
when did I do that?
-Jen Overby
I find the hard part
Is my anticipating
Muse Inspiration
-Allison Judge
Black like the night
laced with silver starlight
twinkles the soft alpaca
thru my fingers spinning
-Annabelle Younger
Musings from Sage Creek - Sharon Campbell
At this time of year I think of Pete Seeger’s song, sung by the Byrds: “To everything there is a season; turn, turn, turn.” The fountain is covered and the rocking chairs from the front porch are stashed away where they will remain until Spring. The woodstove has been put back to work and it’s time to turn back our clocks. Turn, turn, turn.
Retirement is another turn of season. Rumors of early buyouts and incentives had been leaked and batted around for six months. Then suddenly, in April I learned that my bid for early retirement had been accepted. I saw my contract just days before I signed it and then following a flurry of last minute activity, my life as a working stiff came to a close. By the end of June, I was a free woman. After a lifetime of scheduling my life around my job, I was finally free to start scheduling my life around me, but my head was swimming from the suddenness of it all.
People said, oh – you are going to love retirement and wonder how you ever had time to work. That just doesn’t make any sense, but I kept hearing it, and now I find myself saying it too. I can’t imagine stuffing a 40-hour work week into my life at this point, and I wonder how I did it before. While I was working I found time to do the things that I really enjoy, so it seemed logical that more time for me meant more time for my hobbies, but that hasn’t been the case. I thought I’d feel like I have all the time in the world. I don’t. But I also don’t have to hurry through everything. It’s more like I have time to walk the dogs every day, time to have lunch with friends, and of course, out here we always have to add drive time onto engagements. It also means time to catch grandkids soccer and football games - so often they played while I was working. It means having time to spend with people, to stop and chat with neighbors and not worry that there’s still more laundry to do, to babysit or visit a classroom, to greet a plane so someone else doesn’t have to take time off work, to watch a late baseball game on a week night, to travel without struggling to coordinate leave times between my job and Ian’s.
I admit to wondering how I would fill my days after the 11 hours of a work day were subtracted. I needn’t have worried. My time is filled and I am busy all day long. I think the real change is that I chose what I’m busy with it. “And a time for every purpose, under heaven, turn, turn, turn.”
CLASSIFIED ADS: Ads run six months unless otherwise requested
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Loom for Sale: For Sale like new, Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom 24 inches $200.00 firm. Call Vivian Olds, 575-5516 (7/09)
Loom for Sale: 8 Harness Gilmore 42" Loom. Includes Bench, Removable top tray, shuttles, raddle & clamp and 12 yard warping board. I purchased this loom new, a few years ago from Gilmore. It is beautiful and in excellent condition. Original cost was $2187.00 not including the bench and other accessories. Need to sell, will consider all reasonable offers. You can reach me via Email. 1960bndonohue@msn.com Nancy Donohue (7/09)
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Wheel and Loom for Sale: Single treadle Ashford Traditional with Jumbo flyer, $250. Eight-harness Gilmore floor loom with extras, like premeasured warps and plenty of shuttles, $450. Contact Gina Caudillo ginamonster@yahoo.com
The December 12th guild meeting will be at the Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse. Driving Directions: Bartley Ranch:. Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the main parking lot. Cross the covered bridge and turn right into the parking lot for the School House.
This our Christmas meeting and will be potluck. Bring something for the White Elephant Sale, all proceeds to benefit the guild. Also, expect to shop from the variety of fibers that members bring for sale.
Sock Summit 2009, Portland Oregon - Toni Pearce
While I didn't get a chance to actually attend Sock Summit to the extent that I was able to take classes (kinda expensive!), I was able to plan a visit to my sister around it, and was totally overwhelmed by the experience. This was the first ever Summit, their motto "Taking sock knitting almost too far" was an apt one too.
The first day, Thursday was entirely dedicated to classes, but Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were open to non class attendees. We went early on Friday (the Max train in Portland dropped us off right at the front door of the convention center!) to check out the vendor booths, and my good friend, David, found a spot in an all day beginners sock knitting class. Friday was the day for setting the new Guinness World Record for the most people knitting on 2 needles at the same time - which was accomplished, beating the old record by several hundred knitters! And the vendors! Did I mention vendors? There were row upon row of booths dedicated to nothing but yarn, fiber, and knitting. It was overwhelming!
Some vendors were familiar names, Carolina Homespun, Woodland Woolworks, South West Trading Co., but many were talented new fiber artists with yarn, fiber, bags, and needles the likes of which I have never seen. There was also a sock museum, and free seminars held during each day. We also had a chance to attend a huge book signing. Luminaries such as Barbara Walker, Cookie A, Stephanie Pearl McPhee, Cat Bordhi, they were all there to sign copies of their books! It was so awesome to see so many knitting legends in one place. I did get a couple of my books signed, but wished I could have brought more from home if I had the room in the car.
I don't believe I have ever seen so many yarn-aholics in one building. It seemed to me that attendance was really great. Perhaps a sign the economy is starting to change a bit? During the evening, they had a sock hop, and the wonderful people from Ravelry hosted a couple of meet ups in the downtown area while the Summit was going on. No one knows if there will be another Summit, as apparently it was more of an undertaking to put together than the founders had initially thought, but knowing what I do now, if it were to happen again in Portland, I would be there without a doubt!
Haiku, Fiber Style
We’re fiberholics
I don’t think it’s a problem
Do husbands agree??
-Janet Drozd
Sharp felting needle
In and out, shaping the wool
Pass me the band-aids
Too much, you make mud
Too little, and it's pastels
Just right, a rainbow
Humming spinning wheel
and gently snoring felines
they make me sleepy
-Amy Shannon
Knitting along and
oh my goodness, I dropped one.
when did I do that?
-Jen Overby
I find the hard part
Is my anticipating
Muse Inspiration
-Allison Judge
Black like the night
laced with silver starlight
twinkles the soft alpaca
thru my fingers spinning
-Annabelle Younger
Musings from Sage Creek - Sharon Campbell
At this time of year I think of Pete Seeger’s song, sung by the Byrds: “To everything there is a season; turn, turn, turn.” The fountain is covered and the rocking chairs from the front porch are stashed away where they will remain until Spring. The woodstove has been put back to work and it’s time to turn back our clocks. Turn, turn, turn.
Retirement is another turn of season. Rumors of early buyouts and incentives had been leaked and batted around for six months. Then suddenly, in April I learned that my bid for early retirement had been accepted. I saw my contract just days before I signed it and then following a flurry of last minute activity, my life as a working stiff came to a close. By the end of June, I was a free woman. After a lifetime of scheduling my life around my job, I was finally free to start scheduling my life around me, but my head was swimming from the suddenness of it all.
People said, oh – you are going to love retirement and wonder how you ever had time to work. That just doesn’t make any sense, but I kept hearing it, and now I find myself saying it too. I can’t imagine stuffing a 40-hour work week into my life at this point, and I wonder how I did it before. While I was working I found time to do the things that I really enjoy, so it seemed logical that more time for me meant more time for my hobbies, but that hasn’t been the case. I thought I’d feel like I have all the time in the world. I don’t. But I also don’t have to hurry through everything. It’s more like I have time to walk the dogs every day, time to have lunch with friends, and of course, out here we always have to add drive time onto engagements. It also means time to catch grandkids soccer and football games - so often they played while I was working. It means having time to spend with people, to stop and chat with neighbors and not worry that there’s still more laundry to do, to babysit or visit a classroom, to greet a plane so someone else doesn’t have to take time off work, to watch a late baseball game on a week night, to travel without struggling to coordinate leave times between my job and Ian’s.
I admit to wondering how I would fill my days after the 11 hours of a work day were subtracted. I needn’t have worried. My time is filled and I am busy all day long. I think the real change is that I chose what I’m busy with it. “And a time for every purpose, under heaven, turn, turn, turn.”
CLASSIFIED ADS: Ads run six months unless otherwise requested
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Loom for Sale: For Sale like new, Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom 24 inches $200.00 firm. Call Vivian Olds, 575-5516 (7/09)
Loom for Sale: 8 Harness Gilmore 42" Loom. Includes Bench, Removable top tray, shuttles, raddle & clamp and 12 yard warping board. I purchased this loom new, a few years ago from Gilmore. It is beautiful and in excellent condition. Original cost was $2187.00 not including the bench and other accessories. Need to sell, will consider all reasonable offers. You can reach me via Email. 1960bndonohue@msn.com Nancy Donohue (7/09)
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Wheel and Loom for Sale: Single treadle Ashford Traditional with Jumbo flyer, $250. Eight-harness Gilmore floor loom with extras, like premeasured warps and plenty of shuttles, $450. Contact Gina Caudillo ginamonster@yahoo.com
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
October 10th Meeting Minutes
Meeting Called to Order: Toni, co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Introductions were made. Twenty-four people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have one new member through 10/09/09. We received $30.00 for Keep the Fleece. All total we raised $200.00 for Keep the Fleece. The guild voted to match the $200.00 and thus send a total of $400.00 to Heifer International. In September, we raised $109.50 from donation of items sold at the retreat. Current balance is $2,082.02.
Doris mentioned in the past we have paid fiber judges at the state fair. This year we had volunteer judges. She suggested we donate some money to the fair, since the fair provided us with the tent, fence and PA system. Jen motioned we donate $300.00 to the fair. Amy seconded. Motion passed.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Newsletter – Toni
Sharon is not present today. For the upcoming newsletter we had discussed writing haiku poems. Please send your haiku poem to Sharon.
Minutes – Toni
The minutes were discussed and okayed.
Committee Reports
Old Business
Learning Tree – Mim
September was knitting Magic Loop Socks presented by Barbara. November will be modular knitting with Nancy Pryor.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
Gretchen is doing an art piece where she is going to be weaving in rusted steel wire into the piece. Next meeting will be January 23rd at Linda Lindsay’s home. Cost is $20.00
Meeting Locations
January - Sky Peak, February & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, October & December –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, November- Hazel Ryland
Donated Items – Janet and Connie
No tickets available this month. Amy said there are books and magazines that are available to purchase with all funds going to the guild.
Old Business
Celtic Fair – Linda Lindsay
October 3rd and 4th was the Celtic Fair held at Bartley Ranch. Some of our guild members were on hand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.pm to demonstrate spinning during this event. Our guild had been asked to participate from event organizers. To show their gratitude they wrote a check to our guild for $50.00.
Alpaca Open House – Toni
This event was held at Dave and Janette Miller’s place. There were several vendors present, including some members of our guild. The event was well attended.
Alpaca Fiber Spinning and Judging for AOBA - Mim
The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) is looking for people to judge samples of fibers sent in and then spin these fibers. Individuals get paid $5.00 for each sample. You learn a lot about fibers during this process. The show is in April. Let Mim know if you would like to judge the alpaca spinners choice.
New Business
Spinning Workshop with Stephenie Gaustad – Nancy Pryor
Nancy has e-mailed Stephenie about presenting a spring spinning workshop in 2010. At this time she had not heard back from her.
Meeting Locations for 2010 – Toni and Doris
We need to firm up 2010 locations. Doris will reserve Davis Creek for September. Doris mentioned that Davis Creek State Park may require a $100 cleaning fee. It was decided that if the $100 is just a deposit, Doris should go ahead and reserve the site. If it is an actual $100 charge, then the guild will need to discuss this further. Toni will ask Heidi to check with Bartley Ranch to see how many months it would be available for meetings. Toni will also check with Mary B. about whether Sky Peaks has been reserved for the January 2010 meeting. Additional meeting sites mentioned were the Memorial Hall at San Rafael Park or the National Guard Armory in Carson City.
Show ‘n Tell
Sharie – the sweater she has made with her first handspun corriedale and llama yarn.
Linda Loken – hand felted scarves
Jen – stuffed sheep knit by her daughter
Connie – framed beaded crochet doily made by her great-grandmother
Marilynn – shibori scarves dyed with indigo
Nancy Pryor – knit sock blanks that were dyed and also plain
Linda Lindsay – wool dyed with Wilson cake dye. This techniques is found in the Twisted Scissors Sock Book
The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by,
Judy Wells.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have one new member through 10/09/09. We received $30.00 for Keep the Fleece. All total we raised $200.00 for Keep the Fleece. The guild voted to match the $200.00 and thus send a total of $400.00 to Heifer International. In September, we raised $109.50 from donation of items sold at the retreat. Current balance is $2,082.02.
Doris mentioned in the past we have paid fiber judges at the state fair. This year we had volunteer judges. She suggested we donate some money to the fair, since the fair provided us with the tent, fence and PA system. Jen motioned we donate $300.00 to the fair. Amy seconded. Motion passed.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Newsletter – Toni
Sharon is not present today. For the upcoming newsletter we had discussed writing haiku poems. Please send your haiku poem to Sharon.
Minutes – Toni
The minutes were discussed and okayed.
Committee Reports
Old Business
Learning Tree – Mim
September was knitting Magic Loop Socks presented by Barbara. November will be modular knitting with Nancy Pryor.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
Gretchen is doing an art piece where she is going to be weaving in rusted steel wire into the piece. Next meeting will be January 23rd at Linda Lindsay’s home. Cost is $20.00
Meeting Locations
January - Sky Peak, February & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, October & December –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, November- Hazel Ryland
Donated Items – Janet and Connie
No tickets available this month. Amy said there are books and magazines that are available to purchase with all funds going to the guild.
Old Business
Celtic Fair – Linda Lindsay
October 3rd and 4th was the Celtic Fair held at Bartley Ranch. Some of our guild members were on hand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.pm to demonstrate spinning during this event. Our guild had been asked to participate from event organizers. To show their gratitude they wrote a check to our guild for $50.00.
Alpaca Open House – Toni
This event was held at Dave and Janette Miller’s place. There were several vendors present, including some members of our guild. The event was well attended.
Alpaca Fiber Spinning and Judging for AOBA - Mim
The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) is looking for people to judge samples of fibers sent in and then spin these fibers. Individuals get paid $5.00 for each sample. You learn a lot about fibers during this process. The show is in April. Let Mim know if you would like to judge the alpaca spinners choice.
New Business
Spinning Workshop with Stephenie Gaustad – Nancy Pryor
Nancy has e-mailed Stephenie about presenting a spring spinning workshop in 2010. At this time she had not heard back from her.
Meeting Locations for 2010 – Toni and Doris
We need to firm up 2010 locations. Doris will reserve Davis Creek for September. Doris mentioned that Davis Creek State Park may require a $100 cleaning fee. It was decided that if the $100 is just a deposit, Doris should go ahead and reserve the site. If it is an actual $100 charge, then the guild will need to discuss this further. Toni will ask Heidi to check with Bartley Ranch to see how many months it would be available for meetings. Toni will also check with Mary B. about whether Sky Peaks has been reserved for the January 2010 meeting. Additional meeting sites mentioned were the Memorial Hall at San Rafael Park or the National Guard Armory in Carson City.
Show ‘n Tell
Sharie – the sweater she has made with her first handspun corriedale and llama yarn.
Linda Loken – hand felted scarves
Jen – stuffed sheep knit by her daughter
Connie – framed beaded crochet doily made by her great-grandmother
Marilynn – shibori scarves dyed with indigo
Nancy Pryor – knit sock blanks that were dyed and also plain
Linda Lindsay – wool dyed with Wilson cake dye. This techniques is found in the Twisted Scissors Sock Book
The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by,
Judy Wells.
Monday, September 7, 2009
August 2009 Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2009
Meeting Called to Order: Mary B., co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Twenty-four people were in attendance which included members and guests.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have one new member. We received $10.00 donation from Nancy Pryor for the weaving study group. We made $5.00 on a drop spindle kit. We received $20.00 for the Keep the Fleece scarf project, which brings the total we have raised for this project to $170.00 so far. Currently we have 46 paid members. Balance in our account is $2,066.34. Last year we approved that Doris can reorder checks when needed, so she will be ordering new checks. We could use 20-30 more copies of instructions for our drop spindle kits. Doris requested a $10.00 reimbursement for roving she had purchased for the kits. A motion was made and seconded. Motion passed.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
We now have a new fair CEO. Fair entries are up. As of today, no entries have been made in fleece and fiber. We don’t have a judge for fleece and fiber either. Amy told fair people to cancel this portion. Contact Amy if you have questions on this. There is no goat or sheep show this year. She asked for suggestions for a spinning and weaving judge. We have limited entries in these categories, so a local judge would be best. Nancy Grundy agreed to judge for this category. Saturday August 29th is the judging.
We have a tent near the sheep barn. Amy needs displays for the tent, plus people to bring in samples of their work. Remember to label things you bring. We could use baskets to display our items in. Gary Sue agreed to bring baskets. Items can be picked up on Sunday afternoon no sooner than 4 pm. The following people will provide these displays: Susan Gottsacker-tatting; Mim-sheep to mitten; Marilynn-natural dye boards; Linda Loken-4 harness loom that she will allow people to weave on Nancy Pyror made lots of drop spindle kits for us to sell.
Fair opens on Wednesday, August 26th at 5 p.m. Amy needs people to help set up tent and displays on Wednesday morning and help taking things down on Sunday evening. Fair hours are 5 pm-11 pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Our booth hours these days are 4 pm to 10 pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the fair hours are noon to midnight. with our booth being open from around 10 am-10 pm. There is no free parking. You can get in free if you bring your spinning wheel. Amy and Jen will be at the fair every evening. People are welcome to bring ice, snacks and drinks for themselves and to share with others. Virva will donate two cases of water.
We will not hold a couple contests this year. One of them is the spinning contest. The other is the name the sheep contest, since there will be no sheep in the pen this year.
Amy will print some new guild brochures with the new blog address. Jen will contact Heidi to update our business card with the new blog address and new web address.\
Amy needs volunteers to write up who wins ribbons and information for the newsletter. In the past Amy has copied the judging forms to get the information.
Amy will locate tubs with fair materials. Judy mentioned that Annabelle was to have taken them from Toni.
Learning Tree – Mim
Mim brought set up to teach felting today. Barbara will be teaching Magic Loop, two at a time, toe up and magic cast on at our September meeting. Need size one circular needles, 40” long would be great. Can get needles from Knitpicks.com. She will send Amy a list of materials to send to out on e-mail.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
There will be no August meeting. The next meeting will be in September. Location will be announced later
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak , Feb. & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, Nov.- to be determined, but Sky Peaks has been reserved by Mary B. in case we have no other location..
New Business
Fiber Festival – Mim
Mim mentioned a Fiber Festival will be held October 6th by Jeanette Miller at her house off Red Rock Road. Our guild is welcome to set up a booth to demonstrate and sell items. Amy suggested we could keep left overs from the fair and take to this event.
Guild Library – Nancy Grundy
Nancy mentioned she has been storing the guild library at her home and would now like to give the library to another member to store. It is two bookcases full of books. If you currently have books you have checked out from the guild library, please contact Nancy Grundy. Books are only supposed to be checked out for one month at a time.
Classified Ads – Amy
She suggested that we set up a separate blog to list these items. We need to be careful how we set this up so we only get what we want listed. Items are currently listed in our newsletter. A blog would be timelier for classified ads. No decision was reached at this time.
Knitting Machine – Sharon Campbell
Sharon has a contact who is interested in buying a knitting machine. Zoleinna mentioned she has a knitting machine available to sell.
Election of new Co-President – Mary B.
Mary mentioned we will need to elect a new Co-President as she will probably be moving by the end of August. Mary was thanked for all her efforts for the guild.
Show ‘n Tell
Virva – crochet wedding cake topper done with handspun yarn
Barbara – first mittens
Kathleen – first attempt at 4 ply yarn
Sharon – ½ Polly Holmes and ½ Anna Harvey spun yarn; wooden sock stretcher
Eileen – Book 101 One Skein Wonders; knit collar and purse
Zoleinna – Jackoon (woven jacket) made from a book that is out of print called A Weaver’s Pattern Book of Loom Shaped Clothing by Gloria Vaughn Hann
Nancy Pryor – Book Modular Magic by Ginger Luters; modular knit scarf and shawl
( Amy mentioned there are still a couple books on modular knitting in print.)
Sue G. – tatted flowers and tatting books
Jen – a felted bag made out of scrap yarns
The meeting was adjourned for lunch, followed by the Learning Tree with Mim.
Meeting Called to Order: Mary B., co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Twenty-four people were in attendance which included members and guests.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have one new member. We received $10.00 donation from Nancy Pryor for the weaving study group. We made $5.00 on a drop spindle kit. We received $20.00 for the Keep the Fleece scarf project, which brings the total we have raised for this project to $170.00 so far. Currently we have 46 paid members. Balance in our account is $2,066.34. Last year we approved that Doris can reorder checks when needed, so she will be ordering new checks. We could use 20-30 more copies of instructions for our drop spindle kits. Doris requested a $10.00 reimbursement for roving she had purchased for the kits. A motion was made and seconded. Motion passed.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
We now have a new fair CEO. Fair entries are up. As of today, no entries have been made in fleece and fiber. We don’t have a judge for fleece and fiber either. Amy told fair people to cancel this portion. Contact Amy if you have questions on this. There is no goat or sheep show this year. She asked for suggestions for a spinning and weaving judge. We have limited entries in these categories, so a local judge would be best. Nancy Grundy agreed to judge for this category. Saturday August 29th is the judging.
We have a tent near the sheep barn. Amy needs displays for the tent, plus people to bring in samples of their work. Remember to label things you bring. We could use baskets to display our items in. Gary Sue agreed to bring baskets. Items can be picked up on Sunday afternoon no sooner than 4 pm. The following people will provide these displays: Susan Gottsacker-tatting; Mim-sheep to mitten; Marilynn-natural dye boards; Linda Loken-4 harness loom that she will allow people to weave on Nancy Pyror made lots of drop spindle kits for us to sell.
Fair opens on Wednesday, August 26th at 5 p.m. Amy needs people to help set up tent and displays on Wednesday morning and help taking things down on Sunday evening. Fair hours are 5 pm-11 pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Our booth hours these days are 4 pm to 10 pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the fair hours are noon to midnight. with our booth being open from around 10 am-10 pm. There is no free parking. You can get in free if you bring your spinning wheel. Amy and Jen will be at the fair every evening. People are welcome to bring ice, snacks and drinks for themselves and to share with others. Virva will donate two cases of water.
We will not hold a couple contests this year. One of them is the spinning contest. The other is the name the sheep contest, since there will be no sheep in the pen this year.
Amy will print some new guild brochures with the new blog address. Jen will contact Heidi to update our business card with the new blog address and new web address.\
Amy needs volunteers to write up who wins ribbons and information for the newsletter. In the past Amy has copied the judging forms to get the information.
Amy will locate tubs with fair materials. Judy mentioned that Annabelle was to have taken them from Toni.
Learning Tree – Mim
Mim brought set up to teach felting today. Barbara will be teaching Magic Loop, two at a time, toe up and magic cast on at our September meeting. Need size one circular needles, 40” long would be great. Can get needles from Knitpicks.com. She will send Amy a list of materials to send to out on e-mail.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
There will be no August meeting. The next meeting will be in September. Location will be announced later
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak , Feb. & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, Nov.- to be determined, but Sky Peaks has been reserved by Mary B. in case we have no other location..
New Business
Fiber Festival – Mim
Mim mentioned a Fiber Festival will be held October 6th by Jeanette Miller at her house off Red Rock Road. Our guild is welcome to set up a booth to demonstrate and sell items. Amy suggested we could keep left overs from the fair and take to this event.
Guild Library – Nancy Grundy
Nancy mentioned she has been storing the guild library at her home and would now like to give the library to another member to store. It is two bookcases full of books. If you currently have books you have checked out from the guild library, please contact Nancy Grundy. Books are only supposed to be checked out for one month at a time.
Classified Ads – Amy
She suggested that we set up a separate blog to list these items. We need to be careful how we set this up so we only get what we want listed. Items are currently listed in our newsletter. A blog would be timelier for classified ads. No decision was reached at this time.
Knitting Machine – Sharon Campbell
Sharon has a contact who is interested in buying a knitting machine. Zoleinna mentioned she has a knitting machine available to sell.
Election of new Co-President – Mary B.
Mary mentioned we will need to elect a new Co-President as she will probably be moving by the end of August. Mary was thanked for all her efforts for the guild.
Show ‘n Tell
Virva – crochet wedding cake topper done with handspun yarn
Barbara – first mittens
Kathleen – first attempt at 4 ply yarn
Sharon – ½ Polly Holmes and ½ Anna Harvey spun yarn; wooden sock stretcher
Eileen – Book 101 One Skein Wonders; knit collar and purse
Zoleinna – Jackoon (woven jacket) made from a book that is out of print called A Weaver’s Pattern Book of Loom Shaped Clothing by Gloria Vaughn Hann
Nancy Pryor – Book Modular Magic by Ginger Luters; modular knit scarf and shawl
( Amy mentioned there are still a couple books on modular knitting in print.)
Sue G. – tatted flowers and tatting books
Jen – a felted bag made out of scrap yarns
The meeting was adjourned for lunch, followed by the Learning Tree with Mim.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Whorled News, September 2009
The 10th Annual Spinsters Retreat is right around the corner, September 11-13th, at Davis Creek Park, group camp area, in Washoe Valley. It's the time we put aside our clocks, pull out our wool and spin. Friday and Saturday are camp out nights. We have running water, pit toilets, no electricity and very little cell service.Driving Directions: Take 395 south from Reno or north from Carson City to the turnoff to Bowers Mansion. Turn west (the only way you can turn) and shortly (quarter mile maybe) down the road you will get to Davis Creek Park. It will be on the right/West. After you pass the bathrooms, proceed through the dip and the road to the group area is on the right. We will also have a sign up. The retreat is in the RV Group Camping area at the north end of the park
Our regular meeting is 11:00 Saturday, followed by a potluck lunch and the Swap 'n Sell, which begins at 1:00. This is a great opportunity to clean out your stash of unwanted things and add new things. Do you have yarn you just don't know what to do with? Or roving for which you have lost enthusiasm? Has someone given you a brand new wheel, and you need a new home for the old one? Clean out your fiber closets and bring fiber or tools to sell or swap.
Remember to bring a comfortable chair for spinning, a rug for your wheel since otherwise it will be in dirt, sunscreen, food, food, food, and something for the White Elephant Sale. Also, this is your chance to clean out your stash and help others clean theirs out as well. Campers, plan on cold nights and hot days and pack accordingly. There’s no agenda really, other than the meeting, the sale, having fun, and catching up with friends you haven’t seen in months,
Some Important Information:
* This is designed to be as low-key and stress-free as possible.
* There will be a Learning Tree workshop on Saturday, plus there should be lots of folks
around to compare notes, etc.
* Each person should bring their own food, equipment, chair, etc.
* If you don't wish to camp, feel free to come for the day.
* Friends, even those who are not fiber-inclined, are welcome too.
* Pets on leash are invited too.
* Should be warm enough during the day, but you may wish to bring your winter 'jammies
for nights.
* Suntan lotion too.
* A fire is allowed in the fire pit.
The Learning Tree theme for the retreat will be All Things Socks. This came out of a discussion about various ways to knit socks and people’s interest in learning new techniques. Barbara will be teaching magic loop and Sharon wanted to learn toe up. Heidi has picked up a new (to her) short row heal without wraps or yarn overs that she's willing to share. Bring your favorite technique or questions about socks and their construction.
GUILD QUESTION: Sometimes we learn more from disasters than we do from successes. Tell us about a fiber project that you learned a lot from, even if it didn't turn out well.
Allison Judge: What a great question! All of my dyeing endeavors have been disasters! Yep - ALL of them! Not because the fiber was ruined or the colors were ugly, but because I've never paid attention long enough, or taken any notes to be able to repeat one that (SURPRISE!) was a lovely colorway - just perfect for what I wanted it to be, but which I could never replicate. What have I learned? Leave the dyeing to others!
Nancy Pryor: I had a near disaster when I first began weaving. I bought two Columbia fleeces from a rancher in Fallon. The wool pool was paying nearly nothing for fleece and I paid him more. He didn't know, and neither did I that both fleeces were broken. I realized this when I began combing the fleece but I still was able to comb nine pounds of top and make a king sized blanket! It is a lovely warm blanket and was worth the year's work I invested in it. I have made more blunders making baskets and this is how I discovered that failed baskets make great kindling in the fireplace.
Connie Vann: Right now, I am working on a knitted project that began as hand-painted, merino/mohair roving. I spun it into 3 skeins of 2-ply sport yarn, (as it seems I am wont to do). Having picked out a stitch pattern, I am now knitting lacey blocks out of it. The yarn looks fine on the skein, but it has many different colors involved. The challenge will be how to unify all the blocks with a background color, and build a modular garment out of it. I will have to dye some fleece eggplant and get it fairly uniform throughout or the piece will come out "too busy." I could get the right color using cochineal, but I should probably use chemical dye so the whole thing will be dye-fast. Decisions, decisions.
Sharon Campbell: I seem to have a propensity for learning things the hard way – make sure the lesson sticks after all that suffering. After fits and starts and lots of wasted handspun yarn, I decided to buy unmercerized cotton and try weaving dishtowels. I ordered cones from Robin & Russ when they used to send samples. I had no idea what colors to buy so ordered randomly, picking absolutely the worst colors, but I soldiered on, deciding to make red, white and green stripes, think Mexican flag.
Laura had showed me how to warp from the front before she moved to Oregon. I wound small bouts, tied on and sleyed until I finally was ready to beam the warp. I don’t know if my warp chains were goofy or if I was. I ended up with the biggest mess of tangles, but oh yes, I soldiered on, you betcha, breaking warp threads left and right. That was the warp that taught me how to take care of a broken warp – no problemo. I hated that project so much that my weaving finally came to a halt. During a phone conversation with Laura, she told me that sometimes you just have to cut dog warps off and move on. So I held the phone to the warp with one hand and with the other, snipped through those warps and freed my loom from that nightmare. Two things learned in one painful project.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT PINK?
I’m a little fascinated by this color. Amy has a deep aversion to it and it’s my granddaughter’s absolute most favorite color of all. I’ve been thinking about it because six months ago I bought yarn to make Alexia a sweater, but the hot Pepto-Bismol color burns my fingers. I have spent six months trying to drum up the discipline to finish it. I feel bad when she asks me what happened to her “jacket,” but apparently not bad enough.
Pink has become the synonym for feminine. When my son was three, he fell in love with the pink jacket that our neighbor girl outgrew. He wore that jacket until the sleeves were too short. The only photo of him wearing it is in black and white. I knew he’d take a life-long teasing from his siblings otherwise. How did pink become so stigmatized?
I decided to take a wander through Wikipedia. The simple answer is that pink is a pale red color, a combination of red and white, with other tints being combinations of rose and white, magenta and white or orange and white. The use of the word for the color was first recorded in the late 17th century to describe the flowers of pink, flowering plants in the carnation family.
The practice of associating color with gender began in the 1920s, with pink considered appropriate for boys because red is more masculine, and blue appropriate for girls because it was from a more delicate and dainty color and related to the Virgin Mary. Reassignment began in the 1940s but they didn’t say why.
Pinko is a derogatory term for a person regarded as sympathetic to communism though not necessarily a communist party member. The idea is that pink isn’t quite red. My father used to say that when you slid through an intersection just as the light was turning red, you were running the light on the pink. And in Japan, cherry blossom pink is associated with a woman’s vagina, so soft-core porn films are called “pink movies.” Mary Kay chose pink to represent her product line, even driving a pink Cadillac, a healthy Brit is considered to be in the “pink of health,” and a termination of employment notice is referred to a pink slip.
As you can see, there’s more to this color than meets the eye. I just need to pick up that hot pink yarn languishing on needles and get focused.
NEVADA STATE FAIR:
Becky's winning ribbon.
Demonstrating at the Fair
Nancy judging and Marilyn assisting.
Young weavers
OREGON FLOCK AND FIBER FESTIVAL: This festival is fast approaching, September 26th and 27th, with classes starting on the 25th. It's in Canby, Oregon on the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, really a lovely facility. Ian and I were able to stop in several years ago on the way to my brother's and I'm trying to see if we can finagle our schedule to slide in a visit this year. The vendor list is long and enticing - for those who were unable to make Black Sheep in June. Here is another chance for a fiber festival. More information is on the website.
MUSINGS FROM SAGECREEK: I have loved county fairs for as long as I can remember. Very early I realized that I didn’t care for the rodeo or circus, but the fair, well that was a different matter. I couldn’t wait for my 10th birthday so I could join 4H and get to be part of the fair instead of just going to it. I love all fairs, even the giant ones like the California State Fair, but the intimacy and personality of the county fairs is just my speed.
The first thing I ever entered was a laundry bag that I had made in my sewing club. I was very proud of it, even though it was only two rectangles sewn together and hanging on a coat hanger. Sewing was my first club, though through the years I joined Electricity where I made a wireless set, and Cooking, where I learned to make skillet supper. I got so good at skillet supper that I didn’t even need to look at the recipe, and I was proud of that too. My mother, a professional cook who had long since burned out, was also proud but more likely relieved. In those days, women cooked a dinner every night of the week. Ultimately I took Sheep and raised them for the last three years I was in 4H. And now here I am again with sheep, but this time for fleece, not meat.
I grew up with the East San Diego County Fair, though as an adolescent my brother began taking me to the Nevada County Fair and then when I actually moved to that area as an adult, I began taking myself. The fairgrounds are absolutely wonderful, red barn-like buildings amongst grassy areas and under large trees. Over the years the attendance has completely mushroomed into a mob. What I enter now is myself, which is how I happened to be there this year with Amy, my spinning wheel and wool. Along with three other spinners, we shared the craft of turning fleece into yarn. Around us was the display of items that we had been crafted from these yarns.
I am doing the same at the Nevada State Fair, which in spite of its name, has all the feel of a county fair. Instead of a lovely wooden structure, we are in a very large tent and out in back with the animals. It is rudimentary and requires that we cobble together the tent canopy with hog panels and tarps, duct-taped together to provide a floor. All the sounds and smells contribute to our authenticity, and we too are surrounded by the things we have made. A man teased Amy at the Nevada County Fair – You know, you can buy perfectly good yarn at the store and it would cost you a lot less. Her answer to that was – Do you like to fish? Did you can buy fish at the grocery store? His wife said touche, and then they all laughed, because of course, hobbies are part of who we are.
CLASSIFIED ADS: (A free service to our guild members. Ads run six months unless otherwise requested)
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Shetland Sheep: Small primitive breed. Wool, breeders or meat custom cut and wrapped at Wiggins in Chilcoot or do it yourself. Ever tasted Shetland meat? I have samples if you'd like to give it a try! Mimi Bullard 969-3249
LOOM FOR FREE: I have a 6 heedle (might be 8, but I can't be sure) floor loom free to a good home. It has a heddle that sticks, but otherwise seems to work ok. I bought it from Wes and Brenda Pound and have never used it. It folds on itself and can store in a small space.
If interested, call 775-331-8148. Roxanne Nelson
Loom for Sale: For Sale like new, Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom 24 inches $200.00 firm. Call Vivian Olds, 575-5516 (7/09)
Loom for Sale: 8 Harness Gilmore 42" Loom. Includes Bench, Removable top tray, shuttles, raddle & clamp and 12 yard warping board. I purchased this loom new, a few years ago from Gilmore. It is beautiful and in excellent condition. Original cost was $2187.00 not including the bench and other accessories. Need to sell, will consider all reasonable offers. You can reach me via Email. 1960bndonohue@msn.com Nancy Donohue (7/09)
Loom for Sale: I have a well traveled and seldom used 4 harness Leclerc - Nilus loom for sale. I was wondering if the information could be passed on to your Spinners and Weavers group. I would love to find the loom a good home. My name is Paula Pennington phone (530) 694-2380. I live in Woodfords. Paula Pennington merganser@gbis.com (3/09)
Yarn for Sale: I have a large quantity of lamb’s wool and lambs wool/mohair in skeins. The yarn is medium gauge 2-ply and is ready to be dyed. Skeins range in size and cost is $15 - $20 per lb. The wool was raised in an organic environment on my friend’s farm in Southern Alberta Canada. Contact: Tricia Boyko at triciaboyko@hotmail.com (3/09)
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Monday, July 20, 2009
Notes from July Guild Meeting
Treasures Report-Get info from Doris
Nevada State Fair
Amy first announced that after this year she is stepping down from being the chair of the Fair Project. It is time she said. The group will need to decide what direction our presence at the Fair will take. She is still looking for judges. Since there is no open sheep show at the Fair this year she hadn’t heard if there will be a lamb there for the name the sheep contest. There are very few books being printed for the fair this year. Mailed entries must be post marked by July 24. Online entries are due by 7/31 on-line here. (This is the index for the Handspun & Handwoven. You can see Rules & Regs, Categories and Entry Forms.)
Newsletter-Sharon
Since the newsletter has moved to a blog format it is easier to add information and can be done more often. The minutes now can be added as soon as Sharon gets them. She requests that there be no special formatting to the minutes. It doesn’t translate well from Word to the blog.
Learning Tree-Barb and Mim
Barb informed us that she can no longer be committee co-chair but will be able to teach for us.
At the August meeting Mim will demo wet felting and we will be able to get our hands wet as well.
September, the theme for the retreat will be All Things Socks. This came out of a discussion about various ways to knit socks and people’s interest in learning new techniques. Barbara will be teaching magic loop and Sharon wanted to learn toe up. Heidi has picked up a new (to her) short row heal without wraps or yo’s she’ll willing to share. Bring your favorite technique or questions about socks and their construction.
For October and November we have two subjects but it will depend on Amy’s schedule as to which subject will be on which month. The two subjects are needle felting with Amy and Modular knitting with Nancy P. December as always is you Christmas meeting with a silent auction.
Weaving Study Group -Nancy P
We met at Marilyn Clarke's house and had a good time. Nancy put a warp on her loom using a warping wheel for tension. Heidi got her loom sleyed, and tied on and is ready to weave. Marilyn showed how to use a computer with a loom. The July meeting (July 25th) will be at Sharon’s house. The next project will be weaving cloth for garments. Lots of thing can be made from squares and rectangles.
Old Business
Last year it was brought up that maybe those folks who choose to camp at the spinners retreat should/would pay/donate $10 toward the cost of the site at Davis Creek. This item came up at a time when we were short of money and the County had changed their policy and wanted the rental costs up front instead of half in January and half right before. After a lively discussion it was decided that if a camper wanted to make a donation they could but there will not be a charge for overnight use.
Show-n-Tell
A joint project by Lauren and Kathleen, Kathleen spun the yarn and Lauren knit it up.
Lauren did some stick weaving.
Nancy P. showed towels from the warp she put on her loom at the Weaving Study group. A freshly washed Merino fleece and a bottle of “Super Clean.” She gets this stuff from Walmart and adds about a cup to her “wash” water when she cleans a fleece. She is cold water washing these days and this stuff work great.
Libby had another pair of socks, in Alpaca.
Sharon - Towels and a pair of socks. She learned that not all tape measures are created equal.
Heidi showed off her newest wheel, a Louet Victoria with a Woolee winder. She also show us a new technique for spinning and plying Navajo on the fly on a drop spindle. More information on this technique is available here.
Eileen is spinning wolf fiber that she got from the Animal Ark. She is then knitting it up into small items to be sold at the Gift shop.
Meeting Adjourned.
Nevada State Fair
Amy first announced that after this year she is stepping down from being the chair of the Fair Project. It is time she said. The group will need to decide what direction our presence at the Fair will take. She is still looking for judges. Since there is no open sheep show at the Fair this year she hadn’t heard if there will be a lamb there for the name the sheep contest. There are very few books being printed for the fair this year. Mailed entries must be post marked by July 24. Online entries are due by 7/31 on-line here. (This is the index for the Handspun & Handwoven. You can see Rules & Regs, Categories and Entry Forms.)
Newsletter-Sharon
Since the newsletter has moved to a blog format it is easier to add information and can be done more often. The minutes now can be added as soon as Sharon gets them. She requests that there be no special formatting to the minutes. It doesn’t translate well from Word to the blog.
Learning Tree-Barb and Mim
Barb informed us that she can no longer be committee co-chair but will be able to teach for us.
At the August meeting Mim will demo wet felting and we will be able to get our hands wet as well.
September, the theme for the retreat will be All Things Socks. This came out of a discussion about various ways to knit socks and people’s interest in learning new techniques. Barbara will be teaching magic loop and Sharon wanted to learn toe up. Heidi has picked up a new (to her) short row heal without wraps or yo’s she’ll willing to share. Bring your favorite technique or questions about socks and their construction.
For October and November we have two subjects but it will depend on Amy’s schedule as to which subject will be on which month. The two subjects are needle felting with Amy and Modular knitting with Nancy P. December as always is you Christmas meeting with a silent auction.
Weaving Study Group -Nancy P
We met at Marilyn Clarke's house and had a good time. Nancy put a warp on her loom using a warping wheel for tension. Heidi got her loom sleyed, and tied on and is ready to weave. Marilyn showed how to use a computer with a loom. The July meeting (July 25th) will be at Sharon’s house. The next project will be weaving cloth for garments. Lots of thing can be made from squares and rectangles.
Old Business
Last year it was brought up that maybe those folks who choose to camp at the spinners retreat should/would pay/donate $10 toward the cost of the site at Davis Creek. This item came up at a time when we were short of money and the County had changed their policy and wanted the rental costs up front instead of half in January and half right before. After a lively discussion it was decided that if a camper wanted to make a donation they could but there will not be a charge for overnight use.
Show-n-Tell
A joint project by Lauren and Kathleen, Kathleen spun the yarn and Lauren knit it up.
Lauren did some stick weaving.
Nancy P. showed towels from the warp she put on her loom at the Weaving Study group. A freshly washed Merino fleece and a bottle of “Super Clean.” She gets this stuff from Walmart and adds about a cup to her “wash” water when she cleans a fleece. She is cold water washing these days and this stuff work great.
Libby had another pair of socks, in Alpaca.
Sharon - Towels and a pair of socks. She learned that not all tape measures are created equal.
Heidi showed off her newest wheel, a Louet Victoria with a Woolee winder. She also show us a new technique for spinning and plying Navajo on the fly on a drop spindle. More information on this technique is available here.
Eileen is spinning wolf fiber that she got from the Animal Ark. She is then knitting it up into small items to be sold at the Gift shop.
Meeting Adjourned.
Friday, July 10, 2009
June 2009 Meeting Minutes
June 13, 2009 Minutes
Meeting Called to Order: Mary B.. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Twenty-three people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
Our balance has gone up since the fiber sale. All total we have made $522.00 from the fiber sale. There is one more pound of soy silk fiber to sell. We have one new member. We received $5 donation for the inkle workshop, plus $22.00 were received for our donated items. We have collected $150.00 for the Keep the Fleece International scarf project. Balance in our account is $1,876.38. We will have some upcoming fair expenses. Davis Creek Campground is already paid for for our September meeting.
Doris suggested we do not pay $50.00 to join HGA (Handweaver’s Guild of America). After some discussion, all agreed not to renew our membership.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
No open sheep show. We’re still looking for judges for fleece and fiber arts. Marilynn suggested we go to Placer Co. for judges since many people from here have judged there. The fair is Aug. 26th through 30th. Doris mentioned we need to make more drop spindles. Mary B. suggested having 30 kits. Doris said we have sold up to 20 kits before. Nancy Pryor volunteered to make the kits for the guild.
Connie mentioned in the past that we had talked about donating something that is handmade and use that to raise funds for the guild. Amy suggested that we are currently asking for donations for the Keep the Fleece scarf project, so maybe we should not ask for anything this year, but discuss it later in the year for something to do in 2010. Everyone agreed with Amy’s suggestion. Mary B. said we all might consider making something that we would donate to the guild to help us raise funds for our organization.
Learning Tree – Barbara
Barbara is stepping down from this committee. Mim is on the committee and is having a project at her place for July’s meeting. Today Barbara will show magic loop knitting.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The June meeting will be at Marilynn Clarkes’ home on June 27th from 10AM-2PM. Nancy will be warping her loom. Cost is $20.00.
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project
Heidi is not here today to give a report. Currently Annabelle has the scarf.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay will contact the Carson City National Guard Armory to see if the space is available. She also mentioned there is a coffee shop in Dayton that has a meeting room available. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak
Feb. & March – South Valley Library
April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch
May-Doris Woloszyn
July- Mim Bullard
Nov.- to be determined.
Storage of Guild Items
Annabelle has taken the tubs with the fair items from Toni and is storing them for us.
Western Heritage Festival – Amy
It was held on May 30th from 2pm-7pm. Not many from the guild were present. Even though the weather wasn’t the best it seemed to go fairly well.
New Business
Animal Ark -Amy
They are looking for someone interested in spinning some wool. They use the items made from this wool to sell in their gift shop. The wool is not very clean and cannot be washed before making an item or the item will felt. It might be best to blend their wool with some of your own. Contact Animal Ark if you are interested.
Military Hats – Sue Gottsacker
A total of 47 hats were made for our military from local fiber artists.
Weaving Websites
Sharon mentioned a new website call Weave-a-lution coming this summer. You will be able to browse this site, Mary B. mention a great site for lots of patterns is in Ravelry.
Donated Items Available
Janet mentioned we made $51.00 today on donated items of hand knit socks by Toni and two plants. The socks were donated from the winner from last month.
Show ‘n Tell
Mary B. – spun on the new Bee wheel and said it is very nice spinning and is very compact. Amy was going to put a link to their site. Showed baby blankets with crochet edges, plus pink yarn she bought at The Wool Room in Quincy.
Linda Lindsay – found the sample crochet book done by her grandmother
Connie – woven golf towels
Nancy Pryor – took a class on weave structure and showed woven silk scarf
Kathleen – long thigh high socks for her daughter
Marilynn – dyed yarn and plied with silk
Eileen – handspun skein of llama
Linda Loken. – double weave pickup sampler
Carolyn – handspun skein from Mim’s roving
Sharon – hand knit socks, knit hat and finger gloves from Noro yarn
Mary L. – knit poncho for her granddaughter
The meeting was adjourned for pot luck lunch.
Submitted by Judy Wells
Meeting Called to Order: Mary B.. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. Twenty-three people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
Our balance has gone up since the fiber sale. All total we have made $522.00 from the fiber sale. There is one more pound of soy silk fiber to sell. We have one new member. We received $5 donation for the inkle workshop, plus $22.00 were received for our donated items. We have collected $150.00 for the Keep the Fleece International scarf project. Balance in our account is $1,876.38. We will have some upcoming fair expenses. Davis Creek Campground is already paid for for our September meeting.
Doris suggested we do not pay $50.00 to join HGA (Handweaver’s Guild of America). After some discussion, all agreed not to renew our membership.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
No open sheep show. We’re still looking for judges for fleece and fiber arts. Marilynn suggested we go to Placer Co. for judges since many people from here have judged there. The fair is Aug. 26th through 30th. Doris mentioned we need to make more drop spindles. Mary B. suggested having 30 kits. Doris said we have sold up to 20 kits before. Nancy Pryor volunteered to make the kits for the guild.
Connie mentioned in the past that we had talked about donating something that is handmade and use that to raise funds for the guild. Amy suggested that we are currently asking for donations for the Keep the Fleece scarf project, so maybe we should not ask for anything this year, but discuss it later in the year for something to do in 2010. Everyone agreed with Amy’s suggestion. Mary B. said we all might consider making something that we would donate to the guild to help us raise funds for our organization.
Learning Tree – Barbara
Barbara is stepping down from this committee. Mim is on the committee and is having a project at her place for July’s meeting. Today Barbara will show magic loop knitting.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The June meeting will be at Marilynn Clarkes’ home on June 27th from 10AM-2PM. Nancy will be warping her loom. Cost is $20.00.
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project
Heidi is not here today to give a report. Currently Annabelle has the scarf.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay will contact the Carson City National Guard Armory to see if the space is available. She also mentioned there is a coffee shop in Dayton that has a meeting room available. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak
Feb. & March – South Valley Library
April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch
May-Doris Woloszyn
July- Mim Bullard
Nov.- to be determined.
Storage of Guild Items
Annabelle has taken the tubs with the fair items from Toni and is storing them for us.
Western Heritage Festival – Amy
It was held on May 30th from 2pm-7pm. Not many from the guild were present. Even though the weather wasn’t the best it seemed to go fairly well.
New Business
Animal Ark -Amy
They are looking for someone interested in spinning some wool. They use the items made from this wool to sell in their gift shop. The wool is not very clean and cannot be washed before making an item or the item will felt. It might be best to blend their wool with some of your own. Contact Animal Ark if you are interested.
Military Hats – Sue Gottsacker
A total of 47 hats were made for our military from local fiber artists.
Weaving Websites
Sharon mentioned a new website call Weave-a-lution coming this summer. You will be able to browse this site, Mary B. mention a great site for lots of patterns is in Ravelry.
Donated Items Available
Janet mentioned we made $51.00 today on donated items of hand knit socks by Toni and two plants. The socks were donated from the winner from last month.
Show ‘n Tell
Mary B. – spun on the new Bee wheel and said it is very nice spinning and is very compact. Amy was going to put a link to their site. Showed baby blankets with crochet edges, plus pink yarn she bought at The Wool Room in Quincy.
Linda Lindsay – found the sample crochet book done by her grandmother
Connie – woven golf towels
Nancy Pryor – took a class on weave structure and showed woven silk scarf
Kathleen – long thigh high socks for her daughter
Marilynn – dyed yarn and plied with silk
Eileen – handspun skein of llama
Linda Loken. – double weave pickup sampler
Carolyn – handspun skein from Mim’s roving
Sharon – hand knit socks, knit hat and finger gloves from Noro yarn
Mary L. – knit poncho for her granddaughter
The meeting was adjourned for pot luck lunch.
Submitted by Judy Wells
Sunday, July 5, 2009
July Edition of Whorled News
Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers
2120 Ives Ave
Reno NV 89503
Sharon Campbell, Editor
(775) 846-9095 (cell)
(775) 969-3121 (long distance)
Officers:
Co-Presidents: Toni Pearce and Mary Bayer
Secretary: Judy Wells
Treasurer: Doris Woloszyn, (530) 993-4296
Whorled News is published bimonthly, six times a year on odd months.
July 11th Guild Meeting is at Mim Bullard’s in Ranch Haven. Brown Bag.
Driving directions: From Reno, drive north on Hwy 395 to the first Red Rock exit, after the Stead Blvd exit. Drive 20 miles to the Sierra Ranchos Valley, and take the first left (after Jeanette Miller’s alpaca ranch ) onto Arabian. It’s a dirt road but has a county sign. Drive up into the valley and turn left on Rancho, then continue several hundred yards and turn right on Thoroughbred. Mim is about two miles up and on the right – 455 Thoroughbred Circle. If you are coming in from California, the north Red Rock exit is 13 miles past the exit for Hwy 70 at Hallelujah Junction and only turns right. Continue four miles from the State line, past the volunteer fire house and turn right on Rancho, at mailbox central. There is a cell signal at the mail boxes. Mim’s number is 775-969-3249. You must use 775. Drive about two miles and turn right on Rancho, then continue several hundred yards and turn right on Thoroughbred. Mim is about two miles up and on the right – 455 Thoroughbred Circle.
August 8th Guild Meeting location is the Bartley Ranch School House. Potluck.
Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the parking lot on the right, following the bridge. Bring something for the White Sale; proceeds go to the guild treasury. Plan to shop from fellow guild members. There always seems to plenty of temptation for the fiber soul and wallet. This meeting is Potluck.
MAY 9, 2009 MINUTES
Welcome and Introductions: Toni. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Sixteen people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have two more members. Nancy Pryor gave $12.00 to the guild from the Weaving Study Group. We have received $392.00 from the fiber sale and there is still more money to come in. To date we have received $80 for the scarf project being promoted by Keep the Fleece. These funds will be sent to Keep the Fleece, who in turn will send the donation to Heifer International. Our current balance is $1250.34. with our insurance already paid.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
To see the fair competition handbook, go to the fair Website. Google Nevada State Fair to find the site. There is a new novice section in the skein category for individuals spinning less than one year. Items entered into the fair must have been completed since August 2008.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The May meeting will be at Judy Wells’ home on May 16thth from 10AM-2PM. Judy will e-mail directions to her house. Meetings are going well. There is lots of repetition so individuals could join in any meetings. We have been working on how to plan a warp. Nancy’s purpose is to simplify loom weaving for others. Cost is $20.00.
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project – Heidi
We have earned $80 in donations toward this project at this time. Annabelle will take the scarf next. Remember when you have the scarf to add your information to the journal. Amy asked the people who run the fair whether we could do the scarf project at the fair. The livestock people from the fair were very excited about this project and wanted to possibly feature this in the fair promotion.
Carson Valley 4-H Days – Toni
Toni participated and said they were lots of great questions from the kids. The second day there were a lot more kids. She thinks this might have been due to the newspaper article.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay will contact the Carson City National Guard Armory to see if the space is available. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak , Feb. & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, Nov.- to be determined.
Storage of Guild Items – Toni
Annabelle has taken the tubs with the fair items from Toni and is storing them for us.
New Business
Western Heritage Festival – Amy
It is being held on May 30th from 2pm-7pm. A space is being held for us. Period dress is not required. Mary B has been working on this. Arrive prior to 2pm in order to set up.
Rancho San Rafael Botanical Society – Marilynn Clarke
She passed around information on the Michigan Fiber Festival. She also mentioned that May 16th is a program being put on about fire abatement. Their June 6th meeting will be the annual plant sale.
Upcoming Fiber Festival – Sharon Campbell
Sharon mentioned that in October is the Warner Valley Fiber Festival. She will provide more information in the future about this event.
Local coffee from Chilcoot – Doris
Doris mentioned the coffee she served today is from a local coffee place in Chilcoot. They also have a coffee club. If anyone is interested just let her know and she will provide you with information.
Donated Items Available – Toni
Toni mentioned to look at the donated items that were available in case you might wish to make a donation to the guild for them.
Printing CSSW Newsletter – Amy
To print the newsletter from the blog site: Click on title newsletter, and then you can print only the newsletter pages.
Show ‘n Tell
Marilynn – showed a book she has found to be very good Natural Dyes by Gwen Fereday
Annabelle – angora knit shawl
Toni – her new flying llama tattoo
Janet S. – skein of handspun wool
Virva – her first knit pair of lace pattern socks
Amy –working on purple zippered hoodie jacket; sample of handspun & dyed purple yarn
Sharon – hand knit Shetland Chullo hat
Connie – a table runner which is her first hand-woven piece; skein of handspun & hand painted
merino mohair
Nancy Pryor – finger gloves knit with Nora Crayon yarn
The meeting was adjourned.
Your LYS (Local Yarn Store) Report – Allison Judge
I put together a short questionnaire for two newly opened yarn stores in our community. Over the months I will be sending out questionnaires to other yarn stores in Reno, Minden, and the California Foothills area. We are so fortunate to have so many choices now. I hope the shop owner's answers to my questions will encourage you to seek these shops out!
Name of store: Woolly Notions
Telephone: 530-836-1680
Location: Hwy 89, Graeagle, CA
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10am to 5pm, with plans to be open 7 days a week for the summer
Owner: Victoria Williams
1. How long have you been knitting? Nine years
2. What other fiber interests do you have? Interested in all - just not enough time!
3. What possessed you to open a yarn store? Love of yarn, putting together projects, sharing that enthusiasm with others and the sense of community that goes along with a small shop.
4. When did you open your store? April 4, 2009
5. How do you see your shop serving the local community and/or the larger community? To encourage creativity by providing a positive, nurturing and welcoming environment to do so.
6. Do you have special knitting/fiber events planned? On-going classes, winter projects and workshops.
7. What do you offer besides yarn? Needlearts supplies, books, gifts by local artist: Clio Art Glass, Seqoria's Beeswax Candles, Rustic Roosts birdhouse and jewelry by Sublime Serendipity.
8. What knitting (or other fiber craft) projects are taking up your time these days? A top out of the CEY Make It Modern booklet and a Noro cardigan.
Note: You can find Woolly Notions just south on Hwy 89 on the east side about 1 block south of the junction of Graeagle Johnsonville Rd. She and husband Matt have renovated one of those really cute red and white houses that line Hwy 89 - Allison
Name of Store: Lake Tahoe Yarn Company
Telephone: 530-587-1060
Location: 10250 Donner Pass Rd Ste 1, Truckee, Ca 96161
Hours: Tues - Sat, 10 - 5:30pm
Sun, 11-4pm
Closed Monday
Owner: Kelly Hechinger
1. I've been knitting since I was a little girl. I think I was about 6 or 7 when my Aunt Daisy taught me. (I don't know if she was really my Aunt)
2. I love almost all fiber. I'm not a huge fan of the artificial types but I now realize they do have a place. I have a fondness for alpaca/wool combos and my newest love is cashmere.
3. I opened a yarn store to fill a need. My own as well as the community. The knitters and crocheters needed a place to go. Plus I felt like at this time in my fiber evolutionary education, I had learned enough to take a shot at it and hopefully do a good job.
4. I opened Oct 1, 2008, just as the market started to drop.
5. I think any local shop should make it a point to do what they can to improve their community. Whether it's clean up days or walking to support cancer or knitting baby sets or warm hats for people less fortunate. We should all do our share. I think knitters are very grounded people and feel a strong need to knit in support for their communities.
6. I have several special summer events planned. June 27th is going to be a fun dye day, July 18th is going to be a Tahoe Luncheon Cruise with Lorna Mizer formally of Lorna's Laces and new author of "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting,” doing a book signing during the cruise, and August 8th a kayak day on Tahoe, beach lunch and beach knitting.
7. Besides yarn I sell roving, teach beginning spinning, knitting and crocheting classes. I also sell hand woven blankets, placemats and kitchen towels.
8. One of my newest challenges is adding beads to knitting, I also just learned entrelac, thanks to a wonderful class given by Allison Judge, that I'm enjoying trying out in new colors. I've also become quite smitten with lace. I see a cashmere lace scarf in my future!
I learned knitting as a kid. Somewhere along the line in my teens I picked up crocheting and embroidery. Included in there somewhere was counted cross stitch, crewel, and sewing. Then came quilts for my children, and hand quilting. Then about 12 years ago I went to a craft fair and saw a woman spinning. I went home got on line and ordered a spinning wheel. I had no idea how to use it, but I knew I needed to know. Once again through the Internet, I found Allison (she used to be in Truckee and I worked for her) She now lived in Reno and invited me to a CSSW meeting. There I learned the final detail I needed to have my wheel up and running and spinning wool. Lots of spinners are also weavers, so there started the fascination with weaving. I took a class at Hazel Ryland’s house in Carson over a weekend and dove head first into weaving. Along the way I learned about different fiber types and how they behave. Why some are good for one thing but not another. That brings me to today and now I can pass along some of what I have learned from my awesome mentors.
My biggest hope is that I always have a shop that is warm, friendly, inspiring, educating and fun! This is the goal in my life right now. I also have to thank a wonderful husband who has put up with serious fiber addiction problem and all the 4 legged kids who never seem to mind the fiber and bring me nothing but love!
Note: since the survey, Kelly has done the dye day but plans to offer more. And she’s very excited to be moving to a new locale. Look for her at her new address on Donner Pass Road in the Gateway Center come September 1st. - Allison
Woolgathering 2009: COLOR and a fleece harvest on the farm. Four days and full-moon nights in Surprise Valley, October 1st-4th. Hosted by Warner Mountain Weavers 530-279-2164 and Sophie’s Icelandic Sheep. More information on their website
GUILD QUESTION: We are approaching the time when we’ll need to buckle down and start working on Christmas presents. This question is for sock knitters. Toe-up, top-down or do you have a preference? And what is your favorite sock yarn and/or pattern, or sock that you were so happy with that you know you will knit it again?
Amy Shannon: Once I found a few good stretchy cast-offs, I became a dedicated toe-up knitter. The best part of toe-up is that you never have to worry about starting the toe in time to not run out of yarn. Beyond handspun, the best sock yarn I have used is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. It is superwash, soft, and very durable. I have yet to wear a hole in any socks I have knit with it, even though I have machine washed them a hundred or so times. Just beware the dryer, for they will shrink if machine dried.
Connie Vann: I've never tried toe-up socks, so I can't vouch for them. But, I enjoyed knitting Alligator Lace Socks out of cotton-cashmere yarn. I like to knit any kind of sock pattern that works. And, I love socks as a take-along project. Actually, I still have much to learn about knitting socks.
Mary B: I like very simple socks with little if any pattern made from DK weight yarn on size 2 two needles to push the stitches together to made a substantial fabric. Must be top down on three dps while drinking (either hot or iced-depending on the season) I like the meditative rhythm of going round and round and measure the parts of the sock using my index finger and length of the needle. I use subdued colors of yarn that can be machine washed and then dried flat. Socks for me need to feel cushy to feel good. I am behind and am planning on knitting several pair this summer, along with a couple of scarves and a sweater for my great niece. Happy knitting everyone!
Sharon Campbell: I’m a toe-up knitter wanna be. Amy showed me how to do the provisional cast-on and I’m practicing on some leftover sock yarn. Meanwhile, I could knit top-down socks in my sleep. I’m sure the reason I enjoy them so much is because they’re portable, open to improvisation and they’re what I know. I’ve incorporated some lace patterns from my Harmony Guide and been very happy. As for yarn, I like how Lorna’s Laces feels on my feet, but I don’t like how the colors pool in spots instead of being spread out. I also like Knit Pick superwash sock yarn but the colors are really limited. The socks do feel good. I don’t like the self-striping yarns like Regia because they feel abrasive on the soles of my feet when I walk. I’ve just discovered a new yarn by Indie Dyer that is custom dyed for Jimmy Beans. It’s tightly twisted yet still soft and the color repeats are short so the color is spread evenly. I can’t tell you how they feel though, as the pair I’m knitting are a gift.
Musings from Sage Creek: Sharon Campbell
How was it that I came to be chasing a snake around the house? Growing up in East San Diego County, I’ve been afraid of snakes as long as I can remember. My parents had my 8th birthday party at a county park, to which a rattlesnake brought high drama. The ranger killed it, and then gave an impromptu talk on snake etiquette to the rather large group of picnickers who had gathered. I asked for the rattles but surrendered them to the college kids who groaned, wishing they had through of it first. I realized that I didn’t really want them – yuck.
Some three years ago I discovered the broader world that comes with blogging. The word blog is a contraction of web log. I started by reading blogs of other hand-spinners and weavers, and finally and timidly at first, I embarked on my own. It’s a wonderful virtual forum and opportunity to exchange ideas. Most weaving blogs are on the East Coast, and I think it’s because that’s where the weaving mills in America were and where the tradition has stayed on. Also, home looms are just more available back there. I discovered that whenever I added Nevada to a post, readers would be amazed at how different the High Desert is. They are especially fond of our gorgeous clouds, as am I.
One day about three weeks ago, Ian had the garage open and was stacking firewood inside, replenishing our stock of snowy weather dry wood. He came in the house and asked if I wanted to see what he had just taken out of the garage. It turned out to be a gopher snake that he had relocated to the top of the bank using a lawn rake. The snake came back down, and Ian removed one angry hissing snake with the rake again.
Quite a while later, we were relaxing on the front porch when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a piece of wasp’s nest or something honeycombed, but then it moved and darned if it wasn’t that same snake. I ran in the house for my camera. Ian asked if I wanted him to move the snake again, but I was starting to feel sorry for him. Besides, I could see a blog post shaping up. I followed that snake as he moved around the perimeter of our house and garage. He was tentative and slow but directed. When he rounded the corner of the garage and saw the woodpile, he shot right for it.
We realized after the fact, that Ian’s stacking had startled the snake and he exited the pile to enter the garage and two subsequent relocations. He was just trying to get back home. I had no idea that snakes had the ability to know a place and return to it, but this guy did. We haven’t seen him since. I’m sure he’s busy taking care of the rodent population in the woodpile and I got a great blog post out of it.
GOLD DISCOVERY DAYS: Spinning, weaving, fiber arts demo opportunity at the 50th Anniversary celebration in Plumas Eureka State Park near Johnsville/Graeagle, CA on July 18 & 19, 2009. Period costume is encouraged. Call 530-836-1182 or 530-836-0783 for information. You can also contact Anna Harvey at 916-217-8220.
CLASSIFIED ADS: (A free service to our guild members. Ads run six months unless otherwise requested)
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Shetland Sheep: Small primitive breed. Wool, breeders or meat custom cut and wrapped at Wiggins in Chilcoot or do it yourself. Ever tasted Shetland meat? I have samples if you'd like to give it a try! Mimi Bullard 969-3249
Loom for Sale: For Sale like new, Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom 24 inches $200.00 firm. Call Vivian Olds, 575-5516 (7/09)
Loom for Sale: 8 Harness Gilmore 42" Loom. Includes Bench, Removable top tray, shuttles, raddle & clamp and 12 yard warping board. I purchased this loom new, a few years ago from Gilmore. It is beautiful and in excellent condition. Original cost was $2187.00 not including the bench and other accessories. Need to sell, will consider all reasonable offers. You can reach me via Email. 1960bndonohue@msn.com Nancy Donohue (7/09)
Loom for Sale: I have a well traveled and seldom used 4 harness Leclerc - Nilus loom for sale. I was wondering if the information could be passed on to your Spinners and Weavers group. I would love to find the loom a good home. My name is Paula Pennington phone (530) 694-2380. I live in Woodfords. Paula Pennington merganser@gbis.com (3/09)
Yarn for Sale: I have a large quantity of lamb’s wool and lambs wool/mohair in skeins. The yarn is medium gauge 2-ply and is ready to be dyed. Skeins range in size and cost is $15 - $20 per lb. The wool was raised in an organic environment on my friend’s farm in Southern Alberta Canada. Contact: Tricia Boyko at triciaboyko@hotmail.com (3/09)
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
2120 Ives Ave
Reno NV 89503
Sharon Campbell, Editor
(775) 846-9095 (cell)
(775) 969-3121 (long distance)
Officers:
Co-Presidents: Toni Pearce and Mary Bayer
Secretary: Judy Wells
Treasurer: Doris Woloszyn, (530) 993-4296
Whorled News is published bimonthly, six times a year on odd months.
July 11th Guild Meeting is at Mim Bullard’s in Ranch Haven. Brown Bag.
Driving directions: From Reno, drive north on Hwy 395 to the first Red Rock exit, after the Stead Blvd exit. Drive 20 miles to the Sierra Ranchos Valley, and take the first left (after Jeanette Miller’s alpaca ranch ) onto Arabian. It’s a dirt road but has a county sign. Drive up into the valley and turn left on Rancho, then continue several hundred yards and turn right on Thoroughbred. Mim is about two miles up and on the right – 455 Thoroughbred Circle. If you are coming in from California, the north Red Rock exit is 13 miles past the exit for Hwy 70 at Hallelujah Junction and only turns right. Continue four miles from the State line, past the volunteer fire house and turn right on Rancho, at mailbox central. There is a cell signal at the mail boxes. Mim’s number is 775-969-3249. You must use 775. Drive about two miles and turn right on Rancho, then continue several hundred yards and turn right on Thoroughbred. Mim is about two miles up and on the right – 455 Thoroughbred Circle.
August 8th Guild Meeting location is the Bartley Ranch School House. Potluck.
Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the parking lot on the right, following the bridge. Bring something for the White Sale; proceeds go to the guild treasury. Plan to shop from fellow guild members. There always seems to plenty of temptation for the fiber soul and wallet. This meeting is Potluck.
MAY 9, 2009 MINUTES
Welcome and Introductions: Toni. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Sixteen people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have two more members. Nancy Pryor gave $12.00 to the guild from the Weaving Study Group. We have received $392.00 from the fiber sale and there is still more money to come in. To date we have received $80 for the scarf project being promoted by Keep the Fleece. These funds will be sent to Keep the Fleece, who in turn will send the donation to Heifer International. Our current balance is $1250.34. with our insurance already paid.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Amy
To see the fair competition handbook, go to the fair Website. Google Nevada State Fair to find the site. There is a new novice section in the skein category for individuals spinning less than one year. Items entered into the fair must have been completed since August 2008.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The May meeting will be at Judy Wells’ home on May 16thth from 10AM-2PM. Judy will e-mail directions to her house. Meetings are going well. There is lots of repetition so individuals could join in any meetings. We have been working on how to plan a warp. Nancy’s purpose is to simplify loom weaving for others. Cost is $20.00.
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project – Heidi
We have earned $80 in donations toward this project at this time. Annabelle will take the scarf next. Remember when you have the scarf to add your information to the journal. Amy asked the people who run the fair whether we could do the scarf project at the fair. The livestock people from the fair were very excited about this project and wanted to possibly feature this in the fair promotion.
Carson Valley 4-H Days – Toni
Toni participated and said they were lots of great questions from the kids. The second day there were a lot more kids. She thinks this might have been due to the newspaper article.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay will contact the Carson City National Guard Armory to see if the space is available. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Meeting Locations
Jan- Sky Peak , Feb. & March – South Valley Library, April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch, May-Doris Woloszyn, July- Mim Bullard, Nov.- to be determined.
Storage of Guild Items – Toni
Annabelle has taken the tubs with the fair items from Toni and is storing them for us.
New Business
Western Heritage Festival – Amy
It is being held on May 30th from 2pm-7pm. A space is being held for us. Period dress is not required. Mary B has been working on this. Arrive prior to 2pm in order to set up.
Rancho San Rafael Botanical Society – Marilynn Clarke
She passed around information on the Michigan Fiber Festival. She also mentioned that May 16th is a program being put on about fire abatement. Their June 6th meeting will be the annual plant sale.
Upcoming Fiber Festival – Sharon Campbell
Sharon mentioned that in October is the Warner Valley Fiber Festival. She will provide more information in the future about this event.
Local coffee from Chilcoot – Doris
Doris mentioned the coffee she served today is from a local coffee place in Chilcoot. They also have a coffee club. If anyone is interested just let her know and she will provide you with information.
Donated Items Available – Toni
Toni mentioned to look at the donated items that were available in case you might wish to make a donation to the guild for them.
Printing CSSW Newsletter – Amy
To print the newsletter from the blog site: Click on title newsletter, and then you can print only the newsletter pages.
Show ‘n Tell
Marilynn – showed a book she has found to be very good Natural Dyes by Gwen Fereday
Annabelle – angora knit shawl
Toni – her new flying llama tattoo
Janet S. – skein of handspun wool
Virva – her first knit pair of lace pattern socks
Amy –working on purple zippered hoodie jacket; sample of handspun & dyed purple yarn
Sharon – hand knit Shetland Chullo hat
Connie – a table runner which is her first hand-woven piece; skein of handspun & hand painted
merino mohair
Nancy Pryor – finger gloves knit with Nora Crayon yarn
The meeting was adjourned.
Your LYS (Local Yarn Store) Report – Allison Judge
I put together a short questionnaire for two newly opened yarn stores in our community. Over the months I will be sending out questionnaires to other yarn stores in Reno, Minden, and the California Foothills area. We are so fortunate to have so many choices now. I hope the shop owner's answers to my questions will encourage you to seek these shops out!
Name of store: Woolly Notions
Telephone: 530-836-1680
Location: Hwy 89, Graeagle, CA
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10am to 5pm, with plans to be open 7 days a week for the summer
Owner: Victoria Williams
1. How long have you been knitting? Nine years
2. What other fiber interests do you have? Interested in all - just not enough time!
3. What possessed you to open a yarn store? Love of yarn, putting together projects, sharing that enthusiasm with others and the sense of community that goes along with a small shop.
4. When did you open your store? April 4, 2009
5. How do you see your shop serving the local community and/or the larger community? To encourage creativity by providing a positive, nurturing and welcoming environment to do so.
6. Do you have special knitting/fiber events planned? On-going classes, winter projects and workshops.
7. What do you offer besides yarn? Needlearts supplies, books, gifts by local artist: Clio Art Glass, Seqoria's Beeswax Candles, Rustic Roosts birdhouse and jewelry by Sublime Serendipity.
8. What knitting (or other fiber craft) projects are taking up your time these days? A top out of the CEY Make It Modern booklet and a Noro cardigan.
Note: You can find Woolly Notions just south on Hwy 89 on the east side about 1 block south of the junction of Graeagle Johnsonville Rd. She and husband Matt have renovated one of those really cute red and white houses that line Hwy 89 - Allison
Name of Store: Lake Tahoe Yarn Company
Telephone: 530-587-1060
Location: 10250 Donner Pass Rd Ste 1, Truckee, Ca 96161
Hours: Tues - Sat, 10 - 5:30pm
Sun, 11-4pm
Closed Monday
Owner: Kelly Hechinger
1. I've been knitting since I was a little girl. I think I was about 6 or 7 when my Aunt Daisy taught me. (I don't know if she was really my Aunt)
2. I love almost all fiber. I'm not a huge fan of the artificial types but I now realize they do have a place. I have a fondness for alpaca/wool combos and my newest love is cashmere.
3. I opened a yarn store to fill a need. My own as well as the community. The knitters and crocheters needed a place to go. Plus I felt like at this time in my fiber evolutionary education, I had learned enough to take a shot at it and hopefully do a good job.
4. I opened Oct 1, 2008, just as the market started to drop.
5. I think any local shop should make it a point to do what they can to improve their community. Whether it's clean up days or walking to support cancer or knitting baby sets or warm hats for people less fortunate. We should all do our share. I think knitters are very grounded people and feel a strong need to knit in support for their communities.
6. I have several special summer events planned. June 27th is going to be a fun dye day, July 18th is going to be a Tahoe Luncheon Cruise with Lorna Mizer formally of Lorna's Laces and new author of "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting,” doing a book signing during the cruise, and August 8th a kayak day on Tahoe, beach lunch and beach knitting.
7. Besides yarn I sell roving, teach beginning spinning, knitting and crocheting classes. I also sell hand woven blankets, placemats and kitchen towels.
8. One of my newest challenges is adding beads to knitting, I also just learned entrelac, thanks to a wonderful class given by Allison Judge, that I'm enjoying trying out in new colors. I've also become quite smitten with lace. I see a cashmere lace scarf in my future!
I learned knitting as a kid. Somewhere along the line in my teens I picked up crocheting and embroidery. Included in there somewhere was counted cross stitch, crewel, and sewing. Then came quilts for my children, and hand quilting. Then about 12 years ago I went to a craft fair and saw a woman spinning. I went home got on line and ordered a spinning wheel. I had no idea how to use it, but I knew I needed to know. Once again through the Internet, I found Allison (she used to be in Truckee and I worked for her) She now lived in Reno and invited me to a CSSW meeting. There I learned the final detail I needed to have my wheel up and running and spinning wool. Lots of spinners are also weavers, so there started the fascination with weaving. I took a class at Hazel Ryland’s house in Carson over a weekend and dove head first into weaving. Along the way I learned about different fiber types and how they behave. Why some are good for one thing but not another. That brings me to today and now I can pass along some of what I have learned from my awesome mentors.
My biggest hope is that I always have a shop that is warm, friendly, inspiring, educating and fun! This is the goal in my life right now. I also have to thank a wonderful husband who has put up with serious fiber addiction problem and all the 4 legged kids who never seem to mind the fiber and bring me nothing but love!
Note: since the survey, Kelly has done the dye day but plans to offer more. And she’s very excited to be moving to a new locale. Look for her at her new address on Donner Pass Road in the Gateway Center come September 1st. - Allison
Woolgathering 2009: COLOR and a fleece harvest on the farm. Four days and full-moon nights in Surprise Valley, October 1st-4th. Hosted by Warner Mountain Weavers 530-279-2164 and Sophie’s Icelandic Sheep. More information on their website
GUILD QUESTION: We are approaching the time when we’ll need to buckle down and start working on Christmas presents. This question is for sock knitters. Toe-up, top-down or do you have a preference? And what is your favorite sock yarn and/or pattern, or sock that you were so happy with that you know you will knit it again?
Amy Shannon: Once I found a few good stretchy cast-offs, I became a dedicated toe-up knitter. The best part of toe-up is that you never have to worry about starting the toe in time to not run out of yarn. Beyond handspun, the best sock yarn I have used is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. It is superwash, soft, and very durable. I have yet to wear a hole in any socks I have knit with it, even though I have machine washed them a hundred or so times. Just beware the dryer, for they will shrink if machine dried.
Connie Vann: I've never tried toe-up socks, so I can't vouch for them. But, I enjoyed knitting Alligator Lace Socks out of cotton-cashmere yarn. I like to knit any kind of sock pattern that works. And, I love socks as a take-along project. Actually, I still have much to learn about knitting socks.
Mary B: I like very simple socks with little if any pattern made from DK weight yarn on size 2 two needles to push the stitches together to made a substantial fabric. Must be top down on three dps while drinking (either hot or iced-depending on the season) I like the meditative rhythm of going round and round and measure the parts of the sock using my index finger and length of the needle. I use subdued colors of yarn that can be machine washed and then dried flat. Socks for me need to feel cushy to feel good. I am behind and am planning on knitting several pair this summer, along with a couple of scarves and a sweater for my great niece. Happy knitting everyone!
Sharon Campbell: I’m a toe-up knitter wanna be. Amy showed me how to do the provisional cast-on and I’m practicing on some leftover sock yarn. Meanwhile, I could knit top-down socks in my sleep. I’m sure the reason I enjoy them so much is because they’re portable, open to improvisation and they’re what I know. I’ve incorporated some lace patterns from my Harmony Guide and been very happy. As for yarn, I like how Lorna’s Laces feels on my feet, but I don’t like how the colors pool in spots instead of being spread out. I also like Knit Pick superwash sock yarn but the colors are really limited. The socks do feel good. I don’t like the self-striping yarns like Regia because they feel abrasive on the soles of my feet when I walk. I’ve just discovered a new yarn by Indie Dyer that is custom dyed for Jimmy Beans. It’s tightly twisted yet still soft and the color repeats are short so the color is spread evenly. I can’t tell you how they feel though, as the pair I’m knitting are a gift.
Musings from Sage Creek: Sharon Campbell
How was it that I came to be chasing a snake around the house? Growing up in East San Diego County, I’ve been afraid of snakes as long as I can remember. My parents had my 8th birthday party at a county park, to which a rattlesnake brought high drama. The ranger killed it, and then gave an impromptu talk on snake etiquette to the rather large group of picnickers who had gathered. I asked for the rattles but surrendered them to the college kids who groaned, wishing they had through of it first. I realized that I didn’t really want them – yuck.
Some three years ago I discovered the broader world that comes with blogging. The word blog is a contraction of web log. I started by reading blogs of other hand-spinners and weavers, and finally and timidly at first, I embarked on my own. It’s a wonderful virtual forum and opportunity to exchange ideas. Most weaving blogs are on the East Coast, and I think it’s because that’s where the weaving mills in America were and where the tradition has stayed on. Also, home looms are just more available back there. I discovered that whenever I added Nevada to a post, readers would be amazed at how different the High Desert is. They are especially fond of our gorgeous clouds, as am I.
One day about three weeks ago, Ian had the garage open and was stacking firewood inside, replenishing our stock of snowy weather dry wood. He came in the house and asked if I wanted to see what he had just taken out of the garage. It turned out to be a gopher snake that he had relocated to the top of the bank using a lawn rake. The snake came back down, and Ian removed one angry hissing snake with the rake again.
Quite a while later, we were relaxing on the front porch when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a piece of wasp’s nest or something honeycombed, but then it moved and darned if it wasn’t that same snake. I ran in the house for my camera. Ian asked if I wanted him to move the snake again, but I was starting to feel sorry for him. Besides, I could see a blog post shaping up. I followed that snake as he moved around the perimeter of our house and garage. He was tentative and slow but directed. When he rounded the corner of the garage and saw the woodpile, he shot right for it.
We realized after the fact, that Ian’s stacking had startled the snake and he exited the pile to enter the garage and two subsequent relocations. He was just trying to get back home. I had no idea that snakes had the ability to know a place and return to it, but this guy did. We haven’t seen him since. I’m sure he’s busy taking care of the rodent population in the woodpile and I got a great blog post out of it.
GOLD DISCOVERY DAYS: Spinning, weaving, fiber arts demo opportunity at the 50th Anniversary celebration in Plumas Eureka State Park near Johnsville/Graeagle, CA on July 18 & 19, 2009. Period costume is encouraged. Call 530-836-1182 or 530-836-0783 for information. You can also contact Anna Harvey at 916-217-8220.
CLASSIFIED ADS: (A free service to our guild members. Ads run six months unless otherwise requested)
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Shetland Sheep: Small primitive breed. Wool, breeders or meat custom cut and wrapped at Wiggins in Chilcoot or do it yourself. Ever tasted Shetland meat? I have samples if you'd like to give it a try! Mimi Bullard 969-3249
Loom for Sale: For Sale like new, Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom 24 inches $200.00 firm. Call Vivian Olds, 575-5516 (7/09)
Loom for Sale: 8 Harness Gilmore 42" Loom. Includes Bench, Removable top tray, shuttles, raddle & clamp and 12 yard warping board. I purchased this loom new, a few years ago from Gilmore. It is beautiful and in excellent condition. Original cost was $2187.00 not including the bench and other accessories. Need to sell, will consider all reasonable offers. You can reach me via Email. 1960bndonohue@msn.com Nancy Donohue (7/09)
Loom for Sale: I have a well traveled and seldom used 4 harness Leclerc - Nilus loom for sale. I was wondering if the information could be passed on to your Spinners and Weavers group. I would love to find the loom a good home. My name is Paula Pennington phone (530) 694-2380. I live in Woodfords. Paula Pennington merganser@gbis.com (3/09)
Yarn for Sale: I have a large quantity of lamb’s wool and lambs wool/mohair in skeins. The yarn is medium gauge 2-ply and is ready to be dyed. Skeins range in size and cost is $15 - $20 per lb. The wool was raised in an organic environment on my friend’s farm in Southern Alberta Canada. Contact: Tricia Boyko at triciaboyko@hotmail.com (3/09)
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Monday, June 8, 2009
June Meeting Reminder
Hi folks –
I want to remind you that our guild meeting is this Saturday at Bartley Ranch and it is a potluck. The actual meeting is 11:00 but plan to come early to visit. For some reason it seems that we have shopping opportunities when we meet at Bartley.
Bartley Ranch:. Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the main parking lot. Cross the covered bridge and turn right into the parking lot for the School House.
I look forward to seeing you all then!
Sharon
I want to remind you that our guild meeting is this Saturday at Bartley Ranch and it is a potluck. The actual meeting is 11:00 but plan to come early to visit. For some reason it seems that we have shopping opportunities when we meet at Bartley.
Bartley Ranch:. Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the main parking lot. Cross the covered bridge and turn right into the parking lot for the School House.
I look forward to seeing you all then!
Sharon
Friday, May 1, 2009
May Issue Whorled News
Whorled News
The Newsletter of the Carson Sierra Spinners and WeaversMarch 2009
Whorled News is a bimonthly, published six times a year on odd months.
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Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers
2120 Ives Ave
Reno NV 89503
Sharon Campbell, Editor
(775) 846-9095 (cell)
(775) 969-3121 (long distance)
institches@rtci.net
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May 9th Guild Meeting is at Doris Woloszyn’s High Plains Ranch in Chilcoot, California. Brown Bag.
Driving directions: Hwy. 395 north from Reno, past Bordertown into California. Exit 395 at Hwy. 70 to Portola/Quincy, turn left on Hwy. 70 going west for about 2 miles. Turn left on Scott Road after crossing Long Valley Creek, before going up Beckwourth Pass. Scott Road is dirt, and after 4/10 mile to the railroad crossing you’ll pass 2 homes (stay left on main road, not right up the hill), the railroad tracks and creek will be on your left.
Continue south on Scott Road for one and a half miles to a small bridge over Scott Creek.
Another 4/10 mile to a large Cottonwood tree and the 3rd home, this is where the county stops grading the road so it’s a little rougher. Another 2/10 mile to several buildings on hill with SPRAGUE sign, but stay to left and pass the driveway. Next 3/10 mile the road curves from left to right up a small hill. Stay to the right at the fork, going up the hill and look for my 404-185 sign on a “rock jack” fence corner. This is where you turn right onto my driveway.
My driveway is 4/10 mile, first straight with a wooden fence on the left and barb wire fence on the right, then at the next group of rock jacks curve right, down over the culvert and uphill to my house …cedar siding with a dark green metal roof and large wooden barn in back. Sounds complicated but there are very few places out here. I’ll try to put up some signs to help. Call 530-993-4296 if you have questions or need help.
June 13th Guild Meeting location is the Bartley Ranch School House. Potluck.
Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395. Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile. Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill. Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the parking lot on the right, following the bridge. Bring something for the White Sale; proceeds go to the guild treasury. Plan to shop from fellow guild members. There always seems to plenty of temptation for the fiber soul and wallet. This meeting is Potluck.
MARCH 14, 2009 MINUTES
Welcome and Introductions: Toni. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Twenty-two members were present.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have five more members for a current total of 38 paid members. In January we received a $10.00 donation for the inkle workshop. The insurance bill of $519.00 was received and paid. The insurance cost was lower than last year. Current balance is $1146.34.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
State Fair – Amy
She had the draft competition book. The document should probably be out in April. The fair is a week later this year. It opens on Wed. 8/26 and ends Sunday, Aug. 30th. There is still a need for a judge for Saturday. A discussion was held regarding the featured fiber for the fair. It was decided that fine wool would be the selected fiber. Amy will put this in the fair book. The entry must be something completed after August 1, 2007. Having a beginning category was discussed. Amy will request putting beginning category on the entry form.
Learning Tree
Mim will provide the Learning Tree today. She will share knowledge of fibers that will be up for sale at the April meeting. Today, Barbara will also give brief refresher on weaving done at the January meetings
Old Business
Inkle Workshop - Amy
Amy has scheduled a new date for April 18, 2009. Amy will check on the location and let people know. Tying your heddles ahead of time would be helpful. Amy will supply the cotton yarn. .Judy’s husband has made some belt shuttles that are useful to use on the inkle loom. Should anyone be interested in getting one let Judy know. Contact Amy if you have any questions about the workshop
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project – Heidi
Heidi described the project. The United Nations has designated 2009 as the Year of Natural Fibers. The organization called Keep the Fleece is promoting natural fibers by creating a fund raising project to knit the world’s largest scarf. Funds raised in the project will go to Heifer International. Funds are raised by donations of $10.00 per inch of scarf that has been either knit, crochet, woven or felted from natural fibers. Scarves are to be 9” wide by 5 ft. long. Scarves need to be completed by our September meeting, since they are sent to Keep the Fleece to be sewn together in October. After the scarves are shown together and measured, they will be taken apart and given to organizations in need. Heidi would be willing to coordinate the project, collect the money and create a journal to go with the scarves. Mim said it would be a great idea for a booth at the fair.. Connie motioned we take this on as a guild project. Seconded by Linda Loken. Motioned passed. Heidi will gladly accept donations of natural handspun fibers for this project. Friday, Oct.16th is International Wool Day.
Amy suggested making a list of people to pass the scarf from one person to another. The scarf was also passed around at the meeting for people to knit on during the meeting.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay is still checking on the Carson City Armory. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
Nancy Pryor mentioned we will get together for a few minutes after the meeting to discuss materials we should gather to be prepared. She said not to worry if you cannot make a meeting. This month’s meeting is at Heidi Ericson’s. Cost is $20.00.
Meeting Locations: Jan- Sky Peak; Feb. & March – South Valley Library; April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch; May-Doris Woloszyn; July- Mim Bullard, and November - to be determined.
New Business
Storage – Toni: Toni can no longer store Guild materials. We need to find another location in the next few weeks for 3 tubs that are approximately 2 1/2ft. wide by 3-4ft. long, plus a bag of tarps. Wherever they are stored they need to be available to access during the Fair.
Linda Loken was storing the triangle loom, but would like to give it to someone else. Mary B. agreed to store this loom.
4-H Days in Carson City will be April 23rd and 24th at Fuji Park. Annabelle will be there. They are looking for demonstrators. You are usually done by around 1:30P.M.
Reno Farm Days: Mim mention the Reno Farms Days are at the end of March. More demonstrators are welcome. More details will be at the yahoo site.
Farmer’s Day at Plumas Eureka State Park on July 18th and 19th. It is their 50th anniversary. Looking for weavers that would wear period clothes. Doris will send information to Amy to send out. You could contact Anna Harvey 916-217-8220 for more information.
Botanical Society – Marilynn Clarke: Meetings are at San Rafael Ranch House. March 21st meeting is on pruning. April 18th the meeting is called Pumpkin and Pansies.
CSSW Website – Amy Shannon
The Web site must now be off the University of Reno’s server. Our information we want “open to the world” will now be put on a blogger site. This will have our newsletter, guild library and other information. It can be set up to link to e-mails. We don’t want everyone in the public to be able to post to it. Amy is listed as the official owner.
The new Guild site: www.carsonsierraspinnerandweavers.blogspot.com The Yahoo group is still our guild communication.
If you didn’t get an e-mail from Amy this past week, check your junk mail site. Add this new address cssw@lists.unr.edu.
Today’s donation items collected $49.00.
Show ‘n Tell
Sharon – showed her business card from www.vistaprint.com and mini-moo cards from www.moo.com Barbara – showed socks she has knit from yarn she colored with fabric markers. Nancy Pryor – showed silk woven scarves. Linda Lindsay – a woven blue scarf that was alpaca-wool blend. The warp was wool and the weft was alpaca-wool blend.
The meeting was adjourned. It was followed by a brown bag lunch and Learning Tree Program.
APRIL 11th, 2009 MINUTES
Welcome and Introductions: Mary B. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Fourteen people were in attendance.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
We have two more members for a current total of 40 paid members. Last month we received $49.00 for donated items, plus $5.00 for a stick weaving kit. Our current balance is $1250.34.
Membership runs from January through December. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn,
P. O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105 and make checks payable to: Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Committee Reports
Old Business
State Fair – Jen
Work is currently being done on the fair book.
Learning Tree - Barbara
May – We will put together drop spindles for the fair. We will also learn how to skirt a fleece. The May will be held at Doris Woloszyn’s home. Mary thanked Barbara for picking up the fleece from Sharon for our fleece sale for today’s meeting.
Weaving Study Group – Nancy Pryor
The April meeting will be at Connie Vance’s home on April 25th from 10AM-2PM. Cost is $20.00. Nancy asked for feedback from the last meeting. People should tell her what they liked and what they think could be improved.
Inkle Workshop – Mary B.
The new date is scheduled for May 2, 2009. It will be held at Sky Peaks from 10AM – 4PM. Tying your heddles ahead of time would be helpful. Amy will supply the cotton yarn. Judy’s husband has made some belt shuttles that are useful to use on the inkle loom. Should anyone be interested in getting one let Judy know. Contact Amy if you have any questions about the workshop
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project – Heidi
Heidi has the journal for people to write in when they add to the scarf. She also has coupons to share with people to describe this project. Funds are raised by donations of $10.00 per inch of scarf that has been either knit, crochet, woven or felted from natural fibers. It was discussed and decided that Doris will handle the money donated for this project.
Meeting Site for November
Linda Lindsay will contact the Carson City National Guard Armory in the next month to see if the space is available. Mary B. has reserved Sky Peaks for November just in case the Armory is not available.
Meeting Locations: Jan- Sky Peak; Feb. & March – South Valley Library; April, June, August, Oct. & Dec –Bartley Ranch; May-Doris Woloszyn; July- Mim Bullard, and November - to be determined.
Fiber Sale
Doris mentioned we had sold approximately $185.00 worth of fiber prior to the meeting and more fiber was still available to be purchased.
Storage of Guild Items
Toni and her husband are still looking for someone to store the tubs containing guild materials for the fair, plus the tarps. They would like to give these items another “home” as soon as possible. If you would be interested in storing them, please contact Toni.
New Business
Learning Tree – Barbara
She is looking for ideas for the Learning Tree for upcoming meetings. Some suggestions that were mentioned: 1) Needle felting – Amy; 2) Demonstration of charka spinning - Heidi, and 3) Wheel maintenance. Heidi mentioned that Spin-Off has printed Alden Amos’ booklet on wheel maintenance and it is available for $8.00. She would be willing to order several booklets in people wanted to purchase them. Jen mentioned that at the wheel maintenance meeting if people could brings names of individuals that could service spinning wheels or provide spinning materials like bobbins.
Other Business
Mary has a question about whether anyone had see the spinning wheel Evolution Mac One. Heidi has seen one and said it was amazing. She has a friend that sells them. She will contact her friend about possibly coming to a meeting to give a demonstration.
Show ‘n Tell
Doris – brought an 11-day-old lamb that will be raised by Annabelle for fiber
Connie – showed a book entitled Shibori Knitted Felt which she said is a good resource
Marilynn – recently received an excellent book on dying and how it evolved through the years. It is expensive at around $250.00 and can be purchased online through Earthues.
David – showed mitten he was knitting called thrummed mittens that use roving, knitted into the mittens to form a lining. He also mentioned he owns 3 llamas.
Heidi – mentioned books that had been donated to the guild from Jimmy Bean’s wool. We could use these for fundraisers each month as donated items.
Jen – showed fiber she has just bought from the fiber sale
Mary – showed a skein of yarn she had spun which is finer than most spinning she had done.
Heidi motioned the meeting be adjourned. Connie seconded. Motion passed. The meeting was followed by a pot luck lunch.
Update from Texas Hill Country - Polly Holmes
I took fiber over to Paint Rock, Texas to have rugs made. I had the moorit Merino from my ram and some other white wool of unknown origin. Anyway, the only thing that saved us was that we brought older coarser mohair fleeces to blend with the wool. The wool was too fine but the rug company felt that the adult mohair would save the day. The rug folks had also never seen naturally colored mohair and so this was new to them...the reds, black and grey tones. On the way back Tracy Ross and I were smiling about the too fine wool and the tough mohair.
We have both been working with the fine, white mohair from the Texas goats and have really gotten spoiled. I never thought I would say that, but when each fine white fleece is just like the next, variations really stand out. However, it was old goat that saved the day in Paint Rock. The rug Company has a neat web site and they are really nice folks. They gave us the grand tour. The Company is Ingrid's Custom Hand Woven, Inc., Reinhard Schoffhaler is the Owner.
He weaves saddle blankets at Paint Rock also. They were doing some as we did our tour. Paint Rock is not a large place and they actually loom the rugs BY HAND on premise. It was really neat to see the looms. They had one real big loom but the others were about small rug size. We have lots of old goat so I hope the rug program works out.
The Owner advised me that mohair was soooo expensive to use. I advised him that getting the mohair would probably not be a problem. Lisa Minter's Mom had some lovely llama rugs in her booth at BSG last year and that is where I found about Paint Rock. Small World.
I went to Guild meeting down here today. I hope to attend a warping class they are having next month. Guild down here very informal and much smaller than up north. That’s it from the Texas Hill Country
Question: What would be your ultimate fiber-themed dream vacation?
Mary B. – I’m packing my bags right now. My favorite fiber vacation would be in Montana/Wyoming. I (and others) could look at sheep one day and pick out a fleece on the hoof. The next day the washed fluffy fleece would be delivered to my little cabin in the woods (the one with the personal hot tub, down feather bed and comforter, front porch with a wonderful view down the valley to the lake where I could sit in my custom fitted rocking chair with the little table next to it to put my cup of tea with the book I was reading. I was always interested to see what the flowers in the little vase would be each day.
That afternoon Debbie Mum and I would dye up portions of the fleece in a wide variety of colors. The next morning we would all meet up and use our personal pickers and super carders well into the night and the next day end up with the most delightful results. At the closing of the workshop, I found that I had won the drawing and was able to stay in my little cabin for another week and do the workshop again Free. Ahhhhhhhh. I returned home and spun and knit for the next year without my wheel or my feet and needles never touching the floor.
Lu Weaver: I'd love to go to Australia or New Zealand and learn about wool, sheep, and spinning there. Or go to Scotland and learn more history of tartans which is very fascinating. The problem is I have a bum leg at the moment, and most tours require a lot of walking.
Connie Vann: My favorite fiber-related dream vacation? Hmmm...there are perhaps too many to choose from. I wouldn't mind starting in New Zealand, because I love their wool, and I wouldn't be surprised if the country wasn't pretty magical as well. But, there are others...so-o-o-o many others...there is fiber all over the world.
Judy Wells: One of the theme fiber vacations I have thought about is a trip to New Zealand. Actually Rex and I have thought about going there and finding a place where I could take maybe a spinning or weaving workshop for a few days and then traveling on to another location where he could take some kind of a woodworking workshop. This way we could both enhance our hobbies while enjoying a vacation, seeing new sites and meeting new people in the process.
Allison Judge: When I reviewed Shear Spirit for Spin Off magazine I read about the farms and people depicted in the book. I would love to travel to each one (I can already check one of the farms off - visited there some years ago on a sunny fall New England day). Meeting those people and their animals, strolling around the farms and fields with them - ah....bliss!
Sharon Campbell: I struggle to picture one location because I’ve been fortunate to experience several and that leaves me confused so I won’t try to address a setting. The qualities I would desire – okay I lied. I think I want it to be on the Pacific coast because I want ocean air, walks on the beach and ocean sunsets. I just listened to Syne Mitchell on www.weavecast.com interview Cameron Taylor-Brown, a weaver who believes in collaborative learning, so I want someone to collaboratively learn with and from. My fantasy would be a vacation with other fiber artists and studios, looms, wheels and lots and lots of time – and prepared meals.
Nancy Pryor: I think I am living my fantasy fiber vacation. I am home all of the time, except for trips to town for mail and groceries, and of course, guild meetings and the weaving study group, as well as walks with the dogs. And no neighbors!!! I have my looms, spinning wheel, fiber, yarn, knitting machines, all right here in the house and I can do as I please whenever I please, within reason that is. I have access to materials at anytime of the day on the Internet. What more could I ask for?
Musings from Sage Creek: Sharon Campbell
I took my book and sat out in the yard today. We are in between snow storms again. The temperature reached 70 degrees and I was in the company of my dogs and a gaggle of songbirds. I know all about why you’re not supposed to feed songbirds, but I’m selfish like that. I like to listen to them, and if they’re fed, they will come – kinda like Field of Dreams. I couldn’t help thinking of when we first became property owners. It was late July and a spate of wildfires filled the valley with smoke. We would drive out after work, pull out our folding chairs and sit on our property, facing the sun which was setting through the smoky pallor. I don’t know about Ian, but I was wondering what we had gotten ourselves in to.
After we moved, the first trees we planted were from the State nursery and didn’t require excavation - dig a little hole, add compost and stick the starter tree in the ground. Subsequent trees have been more substantial and also have required more planning. I recently fell under the spell of Costco’s offering of trees and brought home a couple of gorgeous Austrian pines. I thought I’d replace the two that seem to be languishing. But first I needed to dig up the grass around the base of the trees. Have you ever noticed that where you want grass to grow it won’t, and where you don’t want it to grow you can’t get rid of it?
The only thing not crossed off from my honey-do list today (I’m honey) is “plant trees.” I wish I had put “dig up grass” on the list because at least I could have crossed that off. I’m not sure at what stage my task rests, other than to say that I have two little puddles of water that could attract free-range mosquitoes. I did however refresh the basins on other trees, though at some point it stopped being fun.
Another thing on my honey-do list was to find a shearer for our little wethers. They are few and not of much substance, but their bleating hearts are my little spinning flock and their fleece matters to me. Their fleece is my oil – my watercolor paint. Their fleece is the basis of my spinning and weaving. I seemed to have missed all the shearers moving through our area. One was now in Idaho, another in Portland – the miracle and immediate discouragement of cell technology. My last call, and my only call left, has garnered my little boys a respite from their heavy winter coats, but not for another two weeks. They look ready to explode and they say bah-ram-you.
I’m also looking at my Walls of Water. I got it in my head that warm weather and gorgeous tomato plants meant stick them in Walls of Water – never mind that there is still snow on Peavine, as well as on Peterson. I believed in the power of the walls – they’d insulate those plants and I’d be bragging about their fruit in a matter of months. The day after I planted them it snowed, and then the temperatures dropped so that I didn’t have walls of water, I had walls of ice, as in popsicles. I still have hairy sheep, Walls of Water, and little muddy ponds. Until next weekend~
GOLD DISCOVERY DAYS: Spinning, weaving, fiber arts demo opportunity at the 50th Anniversary celebration in Plumas Eureka State Park near Johnsville/Graeagle, CA on July 18 & 19, 2009. Period costume is encouraged. Call 530-836-1182 or 530-836-0783 for information. You can also contact Anna Harvey at 916-217-8220.
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(A free service to our guild members. Ads run four months unless otherwise requested)
Instructions: Learn to spin! Private and semi-private lessons available in Reno and can be arranged at a convenient time for you. Lessons are 2 hours long and include fiber. Spinning wheel rental is also offered for those students completing a lesson. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Shetland Sheep: Small primitive breed. Wool, breeders or meat custom cut and wrapped at Wiggins in Chilcoot or do it yourself. Ever tasted Shetland meat? I have samples if you'd like to give it a try!
Mimi Bullard 969-3249
Loom for Sale: I have a well traveled and seldom used 4 harness Leclerc - Nilus loom for sale. I was wondering if the information could be passed on to your Spinners and Weavers group. I would love to find the loom a good home. My name is Paula Pennington phone (530) 694-2380. I live in Woodfords. Paula Pennington merganser@gbis.com
Yarn for Sale: I have a large quantity of lamb’s wool and lambs wool/mohair in skeins. The yarn is medium gauge 2-ply and is ready to be dyed. Skeins range in size and cost is $15 - $20 per lb. The wool was raised in an organic environment on my friend’s farm in Southern Alberta Canada. Contact: Tricia Boyko at triciaboyko@hotmail.com
Spinning Wheel: Ashford Traditional spinning wheel for sale. Spins perfectly. Single treadle, single drive, scotch tension. $250. Contact Allison Judge, fiberist@sbcglobal.net
Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers
Our guild was formed in 1976 in an effort to create a resource for practicing and aspiring fiber artists in and near Carson City, Nevada.
Our goal is to: Promote appreciation and knowledge of the fiber arts in our community through demonstrations, fairs, and other activities; provide a support network for fiber artists and enthusiasts in our area; Keep the fiber arts alive by encouraging others to take up spinning, weaving, knitting and other related arts; Support local and global fiber-related causes.
Meetings are normally held the 2nd Saturday of the month. Plan to arrive after 10 a.m.; meetings are called to order at 11 am, with lunch and socializing afterwards. Bring your spinning wheel, knitting or other handwork, and items for sharing. We welcome members and their guests at all levels of expertise.
Newsletter Submissions: must be received no later than the last Wednesday of the month for inclusion in the next newsletter. Submissions must be made in writing and sent by e-mail or snail mail by the deadline to Sharon Campbell, institches@rtci.net
Dues: Membership dues are $25.00 and membership runs from January to December. Please provide your current email address when paying dues. Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn at P.O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA 96105, and make checks payable to Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.
Please Send Guild Correspondence to:
Amy Shannon
2120 Ives Ave
Reno, NV 89503
ashannon@unr.edu
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