Tuesday, August 6, 2013

July 2013 Minutes

Color from the Indigo Dye Vat
Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers Guild
July 13, 2012 Meeting Minutes
Sharie L. Jones and Maxene Harlow, Co-Presidents

The meeting was held at Mim’s lovely ranch in the shade of several of her many trees.  Thank you Mim for hosting!  The meeting was called to order at 11:15

The June minutes were approved by general consent.  Thank you to Kendra Iwahashi for taking the minutes while Secretary Marilyn was away.  Several members commented on how professional her minutes were.

Treasurer’s Report:  Treasurer Doris said her report is a repeat of last month except that we have we have $3332 in the guild treasury at the moment.  Dues are $25 for the year.

Library Report:  Librarian Heidi accepted two books from Shari to add to the library:  The Carding Book, and Linen Handspinning and Weaving.  After learning how, Shari plans to do a Learning Tree on how to make linen from flax.  The members voted to reimburse Shari for the books.

Old Business:
1.  Shari reported Nancy Pryor and others made 2 sizes and 2 styles of spindles with the materials purchased recently.  These will be used over several events including a farmer’s market. 
2.  Max reminded members to attend our September CSSW retreat at Davis Creek Campground on September 14.  The project is the scarf made of odds and ends.  Please bring your stash and Max will have additional items for use.  The first scarf kit is free.  $10 for the second, if you wish to make another, and $20 for the wrap sized project.  Max will have the kits and a list of materials to bring at the August guild meeting.  Plan to bring a popup tent/shade cover for the retreat, if you have one.  The projects can’t get wet before they’re finished.
3.  Marilynn’s dye class is set for September 21 and 22. Today was the deadline to pay and signup.  Members pay $65, nonmembers $90.  Mim moved that the guild pay any extra costs if there were too few participants in order to keep the cost below $100.  Sheila seconded and the members approved the motion.  So far 12-14 people will attend the class.
4.  The proposed guild fashion show at the arboretum’s Party in the Garden next year was discussed.  A planning committee will be formed at the next meeting.  Marilynn will know the dates for next year’s event sometime in September.
5.  Our October meeting will be at Nicole Kelly’s home in Blairsden, California near Graeagle.  Directions will be provided.
6.  Shari reminded members that the guild has lots of books, DVDs, and equipment for use by members.  Just let her know if you need to borrow anything.  Contact Heidi for library items. 


Dates to Remember:
1.  Gold Discovery Days at the Plumas-Eureka State Park are next weekend, July 20 and 21st.  You can attend and demo your skills.
2. The Celtic Fair is October 5th and 6th at Bartley Ranch.  Nancy Pryor will have info at the next meeting. 
3.  The Plumas Sierra County Fair is August 14-18 in Quincy.  Our guild went last year and demonstrated fiber arts.
4.  The Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon will be held June 27-29 next year.  Plan to attend!
5.  Sharon Campbell will be at the Nevada County Fair August 7-11 to demonstrate fiber arts.  She recommends watching the “cow agility” event. 
6.  The Reno Fiber Guild has invited CSSW to participate in their event at the south Valleys Library on March 22, 2014.  Details to follow. 

New Business:
1.  Virva suggested the guild make up an information flyer, similar to a bookmark in size and in card stock, to hand out at events to interested people.  Doris remarked that the guild already has a business card with some info for that use.  Heidi will see if she can get more of those cards printed and disbursed to members.  Mim and Marilyn P.  will draft a flyer for members to review at the August meeting.

Show and Tell:  Doris got to “show” first because she won a “big honk’n trophy” at Black Sheep with her five fleeces entry in a competition judged by Judith MacKenzie.  Doris also shared comments from Judith as she judged other events throughout the event.  Virva and Sharie surprised Doris with a book of photos of her time at Black Sheep including a photo of the moment she won the trophy.  Congratulations Doris!!  Jo showed a woolen shawl from Italy that had a similar construction to one of Max’s creations. Susan showed a purple scarf with clasped weft weaving, a “beautiful job”. Sheila showed a green lacy sock she’s working on from a Cookie A pattern.  Virva showed things she bought at Black Sheep: a basket, lots of fiber, a t-shirt, and a pin. Becky showed some Cormo wool she spun ($50 a pound) along with several unusual types of natural colored fibers she’s been experimenting with including a hard-to-find champagne color.  Mim showed how she’s made felt bracelets out of leftovers from her dyeing and compression disks from the hardware store.  Ashley showed a beautiful wine-colored shawl from her own handspun yarn.  Sharie told how she attended an art yarn class last year at Black Sheep, made a scarf using those techniques, and won a first place ribbon at this year’s event. Her teacher was there and was so impressed, she took a photo of Sharie and her scarf.  Sharie took a pin weaving class and now can’t stop!  Heidi could only spend 3 hours at Black Sheep but managed to buy a new Lazy Kate made by Will Taylor with design tips from Judith MacKenzie.  She also bought a Judith MacKenzie batt in a rose colorway and will use it to make a scarf for her husband, at his request.  Heidi is also working on a toe-up sock with a gusset.  Max also went to Black Sheep and showed a yellow travel bag for projects she got there.  She plied her indigo dyed yarn from the last meeting with some yarn she bought.  Max is also working on pin weaving on a Zoom Loom.  She’ll make a chenille-type jacket with her little woven squares.  Marilyn showed several small reversible toys she’s making for her granddaughter from the book Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys.  Her granddaughter’s favorite is the doghouse that turns into a dog.  Margie told about her Rottweiler dog who is an organic gardener because he picks tomato worms from her plants on command. Sharon told about a Lazy Kate she bought from Ken Ledbetter specifically for spindles.  It can hold up to 3 spindles at a time.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 and Marilynn gave an indigo dye Learning Tree after the meeting.

In Attendance: Mimi Bullard, Sharie Jones, Heidi Ericson, Maxene Harlow, Eileen Jacobs, Marilynn Clarke, Jo and Noelle Van Winkle, Doris Woloszyn, Margie McConaghy, Susan Palwick, Sheila Young, Linda Ryssman, Ashley Thibedeau, Becky Pennington, Sharon Campbell, Virva Porcelli, Judy Well, Marilyn Pearson.

Next Meeting:  August 10th at the Rancho San Rafael Arboretum. We will have a tour of the gardens after the meeting for the Learning Tree.  Wear your walking shoes if you’d like to come along.