March 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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March 14th Guild Meeting is at the South Valleys Library multi-purpose room. Brown Bag.
Driving directions: Exit onto Mt Rose Hwy from Hwy 395 and proceed west to the first stop light, which is Wedge Parkway. Turn right and continue about a mile. Turn right on Whites Creek Lane. The library is bright yellow and quite visible.
April 11th 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.
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January 10, 2009 Minutes
Welcome and Introductions: Mary B. and Toni Pearce, co-presidents, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Eighteen members were present.
Approval of December Minutes
Corrections to the minutes were: 1) Mary B. and Toni Pearce will serve as co-presidents, not co-vice-presidents. 2) Correct the spelling of name for Marilynn Clarke 3) Dues at end of newsletter should reflect $25 per year cost. Amy mentioned that this had already been changed. Motion to approve minutes with corrections was made, seconded and passed.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
As of 1/9/09 had 18 paid members. The December Silent Auction yielded $82.00. Heidi was reimbursed $85.67 for Linda Loken’s gift. Newsletter expenses were $21.89. Balance in our account was $1,079.34.
Mary B. suggested paying our dues as soon as possible. Amy suggested we give any changes in address, phone number or e-mail address at the time we pay our dues. A list of membership was set out for us to update our information.
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
Fair – Amy
She said there was nothing to report at this time.
Education – Barbara and Libby
Today’s Learning Tree Project was Japanese braiding called Kumihumo presented by Barbara and Libby. They are providing all the materials needed.
February Learning Tree – Group sharing of unusual dying techniques, such as using crockpots, cups or other methods. Members are asked to bring samples of materials and information to share as it will be done in a Show and Tell format.
Special Workshop – Nancy P.
Reno Fiber Guild is having a special workshop on overshot weave presented by Marjie Thompson. Cost is $125.00 for members and $150.00 for non-members. A presentation will be given on February. 5th at 6:30P.M. at the South Valley Library. The workshop entitled “Forgotten Weaves” will be February 7th & 8th. Contact Julie Moore 775-825-4919 for information.
Newsletter- Sharon
Sharon thanked Linda Lindsey and Toni for their articles for the newsletter. More articles are always welcome.
Fundraiser – Janet and Connie
Janet had a tea towel and book Crochet Bags that she was making available to members if they made a $1.00 donation to the Guild. This raised $41.00 in donations for the Guild today. The goal is to have items available each month that individuals could receive with a donation of $1.00 to the Guild. Janet and Connie asked that if you have something to bring for the donation to let them know or just bring it to a meeting. They will keep the supply of items and select them for the meetings. One person each month will be selected to receive the donated item(s).
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. Linda Lindsey said she will check on meeting at the Carson City Armory in November.
Old Business
Inkle Workshop – Amy has one scheduled for Jan. 24th at the Sky Peak Community Room from 10 AM – 4 PM. Tying your heddles ahead of time would be helpful. Amy will supply the cotton yarn. . The December workshop had to be postponed and is set for February 28th. Mary B. will contact Sky Peaks regarding holding the workshop in their community room from 10AM – 4 PM. Contact Amy if you have any questions
New Business
Jimmy Bean Wool gives our guild a 10% discount on the day of our meetings. Mary B. said she is willing to ask them if they would consider giving us the 10% discount one time a month regardless if it was on our meeting day. It was agreed that Mary B. would give Jimmy Bean Wool our member names (names only-no personal information) so they could keep on file. We discussed having membership card given to us again. Doris said did not print them in 2008, since many members never picked up their card the previous year. She is willing to print them if we want to have one.
Virva mentioned that February 12th is Nevada Humane Lobby Day. It is an opportunity to meet with legislators to lobby for laws to protect domestic, wild, and farm animals. Contact Virva if you want more information.
Nancy Pryor would like to start a weaving study group. It would meet monthly at different people’s homes. You can be a beginning weaver on up to advanced. Nancy specializes in helping people make their weaving equipment easier for them to use. She would charge $20.00 per person each time. She put out a signup sheet for anyone interested.
Announcements
Mim said this is the Year of the Natural Fibers. They have a website that is very interesting. Members may want to check out this site.
Marilynn received the donated items for this meeting.
Show ‘n Tell
Mim - another felted Christmas Stocking.
Eileen-knit hat & vest made with yarn she spun, dyed and knit.
Heidi-bag she knitted, felted, and lined with pockets. She showed a pair of mittens she knit from sock yarn She also mentioned she had gone to Knit Night in Truckee which is offered by Kelly at Tahoe Yarn Company on Fridays from 5:30-8:00PM.
Sharon-lace scarf knit from Mim’s fiber.
Barbara-working on knitting lace stitch in the socks she is knitting.
Libby-her first pair of handspun, dyed, and knit socks.
Nancy Pryor-three different woven vests made from squares and rectangles, woven fabric she used to make one of the vests, and yarn she had spun.
Mary B.-showed bell given her by a friend.
Judy-vest she had knit.
Meeting was adjourned followed by a brown bag lunch and Learning Tree Program.
February 14, 2009 Minutes
Welcome and Introductions: Mary B. co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members. Introductions were done. Eighteen members were present.
Treasurer’s Report – Doris
In January we collected $41.00 in donation for January donated items. She has received $45.00 in donations for the inkle workshop. Current balance in our account is $1,530.34. She received a letter to update our membership. We had 53 members in the 90’s She told them we hope to get around 50 or so members this year. We currently have 33 paid members. Last year our liability insurance cost $527.00. Last year it was discussed keeping a $600.00 balance in our account plus having $400.00 in reserve for fair costs. We have already paid the $158.00 to reserve Davis Creek campground for the September meeting.
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
Fair – Heidi She stated there is nothing to report at this time.
Old Business
Inkle Workshop – Amy has scheduled one for Feb. 28th at the Sky Peak Community Room from 10 AM – 4 PM. 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
Connie mentioned that Linda Lindsay had provided information about the Carson City Rendezvous being held June 13th through June 15th at Mill Park. Booth fee for a 10’ X 10’ space is $250.00 without electricity or $300.00 with electricity. No period clothes are required to be worn. This event draws a big crowd.
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.
New Business
Keep the Fleece World’s Largest Scarf Project – Heidi
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.
Nancy Grunwald Fiber Donation – Amy
Nancy has made a very generous donation of fiber to the guild. The fiber is all prepared and some of it is batts, though most of it is rovings. Amy passed around a list of the fibers, which she will also give to Sharon to include in the newsletter. It was discussed the fibers could be purchased by current paid members at our April meeting at Bartley Ranch. The April Learning Tree will be an explanation of fibers that are available for sale and potential uses of the fibers. Amy suggested that some of the money raised from the fiber sale could go towards purchasing fibers that could be used to spin in the spindle kits.
| Price | Quantity | Weight | Color | Fiber |
| $1.00/oz | 9 | 2 oz batts | black | Cormo X Corriedale batts |
| $1.00/oz | 7 | 4 oz | white | WbarM Merino |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | approx 12 oz | blue | Alpaca batts |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 22 oz | Black (dark moorit) | Rambouillet |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 16 oz | variegated reds | Merino Top |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 15.8 oz | medium grey | Romney X Rambouillet |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 11.4 oz | teal | Neppy fine wool roving |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 4 oz | painted blue-green | Wensleydale |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 32 oz | black | Cormo X Corriedale |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 34.6 oz | black | Cormo X Corriedale |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | approx 3 lbs | light grey | New Zealand Romney |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 32 oz | moorit (medium chocolate) | Bond |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 14.4 oz | white | Llanwenog |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 4 oz | dark moorit | Corriedale X |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 7.6 oz | medium grey | Romney |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 8.6 oz | heather grey | Primitive breed wool |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 10.8 oz | black | Cormo X Corriedale |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 15.4 oz | white? | Soy/Cormo blend |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 32 oz | white | Commercial top |
| $1.00/oz | 1 | 21.2 oz | white | Woodland Woolworks combed top |
| $1.25/oz | 4 | 8 oz | light grayish | Romeldale - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 12.4 oz | Light moorit | Rambouillet - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 4.8 oz | taupe | Rambouillet-Silk blend - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 15.8 oz | moorit | Romney - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 29.2 oz | moorit | Romney - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 21.6 oz | white | Romeldale X Romney - Pin-drafted |
| $1.25/oz | 1 | 7.2 oz | medium grey | Romney X Finn - Pin-drafted |
Weaving Workshop Study Group - Nancy Pryor
Group will meet the 4th Saturday of the month from 10AM-Noon at different individuals’ homes. Cost would be $20.00 per person for each meeting. Money will cover Nancy’s cost with some money possibly going back to the guild. First meeting will be the 4th Saturday in March (March 28th) at Heidi Ericson’s house. The person who is hosting the meeting needs to have a project in mind and the materials ready. Nancy will meet with the person hosting prior to the meeting to determine material and needs.
Fair Project for Guild Members
Amy suggested an inkle loom project. It was further discussed that the project be something that is woven “off the loom”. Stick kits were available at the fair last year. Doris mentioned that we put a direction sheet in these kits. Hole may need to be enlarged in the kit. Judy said she would check with her husband about helping with this.
Cabin Creek Farms Alpaca – Virva
She brought a sample of the alpaca she had bought. She said prices were very reasonable. Contact is www.cabincreekalpacas.us
Show ‘n Tell
Mim – announced that they are shearing their sheep on Feb. 28th.
Amy – card weaving lanyard.
Linda Loken – Reno Fiber Guild presentation on Overshot Weaving was fun and very informative.
Marilynn Clarke – Book of Cotton gives great history of weaving in the United States. She said that she would be willing to write information about her early years weaving for the newsletter.
Virva – showed sheep bag she bought in Carson City.
Marilynn Clarke passed out patterns for Izzy dolls.
Nancy Pryor – showed weaving Color Gamp that gives 20 step color spectrum. Google lunatic fringe to get more information on this.
Janet - purple mittens with finger holes.
Nancy Grundy –showed chow hair
Karen Olson – a couple inkle loom projects she made since the inkle loom workshop.
Mary B. – showed commercial made card loom; mentioned signing up for the organic garden school.
Marilynn Clarke – showed merino dyed with juniper berries, birds of paradise, daffodils, yellow and variegated roses, and Dutch iris. She mentioned several upcoming events at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum: 2/21 Dr. Keilner giving history of Wilbur D. May Arboretum; 3rd Saturday in March –pruning class; 3rd Saturday in April-lecture on putting vegetables in your flower garden; and 3rd Saturday in May-potting and transplanting.
Amy moved to adjourn meeting. Linda Loken seconded. Motion passed. Meeting was followed by a pot luck lunch and Learning Tree Program.
Weaving Study Group: Nancy Pryor
In an effort to not clutter the meeting with discussion that does not affect the general membership I have questions for you.
1. How often do you want to meet; Monthly, bimonthly, weekly?
Participants are not required to attend every meeting, but it will be helpful.
2. What equipment do you have available?
3. Have you ever had any experience with weaving?
4. Can we meet at your home?
We will be establishing a schedule as soon as possible, hopefully at the February general meeting.
This study group is for anyone interested in weaving. No experience with weaving is necessary to participate. Lack of equipment will not eliminate you from this study group. I will make sure that anyone interested will be included and able to participate.
This is an opportunity to experience weaving and a variety of equipment before you have to make the expenditure on expensive equipment until you know this is something you really enjoy. We will discuss the pros and cons of equipment, materials and techniques.
If you are not able to attend the general meeting, please email or phone me with answers to the above questions. as well as any questions you might have concerning the Weaving Study Group. I will communicate with participants regularly and be available for questions by email.
For those not familiar with me: I have been interested in weaving from a very early age (3 or 4) starting with Weave-It looms, at age 12 experienced a 4 harness loom. In 1972 became hooked on weaving and spinning and was determined to support myself weaving. Since then have taken as many workshops as possible to learn as much as possible. This included 2+ years at the San Francisco Tapestry Workshop, 2 year Professional Production weaving course of study at Pacific Basin School of Textile Arts. I have taught at the Craft Center at UCD, The Davis Art Center and from my own studio. I was a sustaining weaver for a number of years. I now weave for my pleasure, to use up handspun, to keep my AVL Looms busy and sell a little here and there.
Nancy Pryor nancy914@starband.net, 775-217-1156
March Question: How has this unusually gray winter affected your fibering activity? Have you been less productive, more inspired. Have your color choices been influenced?
Becky Pennington: I don’t think it's made any difference for me. Of course being unemployed has its time benefits so that has influenced the production! But as far as inspiration or color influences, I have always been much more into natural colors anyway so I would have to say no, no changes there. But, I do have a lot of brightly dyed roving (from Mim) in my stash that I have shied away from all winter, maybe that is a side effect of my mood?
Judy Wells: I think in the winter I tend to knit more, since I like sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter's day or evening with something in my hands to knit. Even though I knit year round, there is something especially comforting to me about knitting in the winter.
Amy Shannon: The cold, drippy, gray weather makes me turn to classic patterns for jackets and sweaters in wool. I soak up pictures of ganseys and guernseys and fair isle sweaters, photographed against the British or Scottish countryside. I watch old episodes of "All Creatures Great and Small" just to get a glimpse of country sweaters in their natural habitat. Then I look through my stash and imagine all the fabulous sweaters the naturally colored wool could become. Mentally I add them all to my list of upcoming projects. Yup - that list. The one that will undergo continuous revision until the happy day, someday, when I retire and, in theory, have time to act on it.
The gray economy, on the other hand, makes me smile fondly upon my stash. While others mourn the loss of now-too-expensive trips and toys, I have enough fiber to entertain me through several years of recession with no additional investment needed. Perhaps, though, an investment in more moth-proofing would be worthwhile for insurance. Certainly better investment than my retirement plan has been showing. Now back to "All Creatures Great and Small"...
Nancy Pryor: Way out here in our area it was windy, grey and bleak yesterday, March 2nd, but this morning as the sun breaches the horizon it is mostly clear and beautiful. As the colors of the clouds and mountains emerge and change, I am always inspired. When it is bleak, as yesterday was, I get more done. I do not go outside when it rains here, unless absolutely necessary. So, housework gets done and so does weaving, spinning, etc.
Even on those "grey" days I find inspiration... The colors in the clouds are constantly changing. The four years of Color and Design classes and Watercolor classes at college have made me very aware of colors, especially in clouds. Just for your information those colors are the white of the paper, alizarin crimson and Payne's grey.
When I lived in Sacramento I did get depressed. When it was foggy in the mornings, and the sky and sun were not visible for days, I hated it. Even working on tapestries with lots of color did not always help. Those of you who experienced the two months of fog and overcast a few years ago can understand. In Nevada we usually see the sun during the day or every other day at the very least. I find the weather very inspiring. Thank you for asking.
Musings from Sage Creek: Sharon Campbell
We were tomatoes-in-a-pot kind of farmers when we lived in town. The second year after we moved here, we decided to branch out (yes, the pun is intended) and grow more produce for ourselves. We put in a 10x10 raised bed and soon discovered just how aggressive the Red Rock vermin are. We added a fence around it but I have to say, it appears the only thing that slowed down is us, since we have to step over it.
We soon discovered that the short growing season in town is even shorter here at 5,000 feet. Our poor tomatoes – the wind battered them, the sun parched them and by the time the poor fruit was about to ripen, it snowed. Nix tomatoes. We’ve become excellent at peppers of all kinds. We grew gorgeous zucchinis with huge golden flowers that sputtered into tiny fruits of a non-edible size.
Last year we decided to go underground and bought potato and onion sets from the Garden Shop. I have never seen potato plants and was stunned at this wall of green that rose from the center of the garden. The plants were vigorous and bright green. Mim Bullard told us how to bank the plants with composted llama guano (poop), and the more we mounded them, the tall they grew.
Time marched on and Fall was upon us. Mim kept telling us to wait - they weren’t ready yet. We had a lot of friends a family here on Labor Day weekend and by then we had reached into the mound for our first potatoes. It’s magic I tell you, to reach in and pull out this perfect orb. I felt like a kid who had found the Easter egg. Our friend Marc was incredulous when Ian reached in to the mound and pulled out an egg, I mean potato. He insisted that we hadn’t grown that – it was a plant from Raleys.
We’ve learned that Walla Wallas are our favorite onions, Russet potatoes are bad and Yukon Golds are good. I’ve fallen in love with out potatoes and have turned them into many a lunch. I’ve found that six minutes in the microwave, three minutes a side, produces the fluffiest meat inside. I cut it in half, mash in some butter and top it with Greek yogurt. Sautéed mushrooms and onions along with some minced garlic with a splash of Worchester sauce at the end finish it off perfectly. I pack it to work and reheat in the microwave with a sprinkling of feta cheese. Yum!
Ian was so proud of his potatoes that he gave a lot away. I ate the rest – it’s true – and I mourn their passing. Raley’s potatoes don’t hold a candle to ours and next year? More potatoes, of course.
2009 MEETING LOCATIONS:
January - Brown Bag - Sky Peaks
February - PotLuck - South Valleys Library
March - Brown Bag - South Valleys Library
April - PotLuck - Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse
May - Doris Woloszin's farm
June - Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse
July - PotLuck - Mim Bullard's Desert Peach Farm
August - Brown Bag - Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse
September - PotLuck - Spinsters' Retreat - Davis Creek Campground,
October - Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse
November - TBA
December - PotLuck - Bartley Ranch Schoolhouse
CLASSIFIED ADS: (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
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 lambs 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 and 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
