Wednesday, March 5, 2014

February 2014 Minutes

February 8, 2014 Minutes

The February meeting was held at Bartley Ranch and was called to order at 11:00 AM.

January minutes were approved by Susan Palwick and seconded by Amy Shannon.

Treasure’s Report:  Doris reports that the guild currently has $3879.95 with 27 paid members.  In January, Doris collected dues from 20 members (including 8 new members) for a total of $500.  Expenses for the month were: $50 for a guild brick for in front of the Bartley Ranch School House.  The deposit for Davis Creek Campground for the annual retreat in September has already been paid.  Liability Insurance payment is coming up soon.  Doris would also like to remind everyone that dues are now due.  Dues are $25 per year.

Library Report:  Heidi was not at the meeting so guild members tried to provide a little information about the library.  The blog has a link to the list for books, but it is old and Heidi is working on updating it.  The guild has lots of books and DVDs in our library that are available to borrow.  Someone also mentioned that there is no contract information for our librarian on the blog.

Old Business

1. Spindle Retreat:  June 4-8, 2014 at Lake Francis RV Resort in Northern California.  Many members have been before.  There is camping and cabins available.  Amy has contact information for the organizers.
2. Queen’s Tea Party in the Arboretum (Fashion Show):  It was decided that we wait until next year to hold this event.  This will allow for more time to answer questions and concerns, plan, and make items to show off.  The arboretum society is letting us use the arboretum.  Without the arboretum society’s support, we would be unable to use the arboretum because of cost and popularity of the location.  We are also looking into being able to use the arboretum society’s non-profit entity status to get donations for the event.  Members voiced concerns about the upfront cost to the guild.
3. Carson City Rendezvous:  Scheduled for the second weekend in June (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).  This is the same weekend as our meeting.  It will be held in Carson City at Mills Park.  Sharie and Virva hope to have a least one member there each day.  More information will be provided as it is received.
4. Nevada Sesquicentennial (150 years):  Amy is coordinating.  Many details for this event are still being finalized.  Amy will keep us updated.  Will be held in Fuji Park in Carson City July 30 to August 3, 2014.  It is hoped that this event will become the new Nevada State Fair.  Fuji Park is a better venue.  We will have our own space inside a building.  Much will be different from the old Nevada State Fair including no gate fee (which will make it much easier for our members to come visit), competition categories have changed (many have been combined or redefined), and competition judging will be open to the public.  Amy is willing to do a lot of coordinating, but she will be out of town some of the time leading up to the event and is looking for help.  She will post a list for help she needs on the blog.  Also, Amy is looking for the sheets for the tables.  They seem to have wandered off since the last fair.  Lastly, Amy reminds everyone to keep the competition and displays in mind leading up to the event.
5. Cotton Spinning Workshop:  Nevada City Guild organized a Cotton Spinning Workshop for May 28, 2014 from 9 am to 4 pm in Nevada City.  The cost is $60 for non-guild members.  The instructor will be Joan Ruiz.
6. Facebook:  Everyone seems to be having fun connecting on Facebook.  People are on everyday discussing all sorts of things.  There was a request to post a library list.  The downside to Facebook is there is no secure way to post a membership list.
7. Ornament Exchange:  Robin made the suggestion that next year we open our ornaments at the meeting so everyone can so who go what.  Many people agreed with this suggestion.
8. Meetings:  Some clarification was requested on meeting locations for 2014.  March, April, November, and December meetings will be held at Bartley Ranch.  October meeting will be held at the Celtic Fair.  Meeting dates listed on the blog as 2013 dates are really 2014 dates.

New Business

1. Sheep Shearing: Anna Harvey of Harvey Farms wanted to invite anyone who wanted to come out a see sheep shearing at her farm.  She will be shearing on February 16 and 17 starting at 9 am.
2. Harvey Farms Ranch Days:  Anna Harvey also wanted to invite everyone out to the ranch for Farm Days in August.  Farm Days is the second Saturday in August (August 9).  The day will include history of the ranch; spinning, felting and dying classes; vendors (Anna has applications); fiber sales; shearing; and a Basque BBQ.  A vote was taken to see if the guild wanted to move the August meeting from the Arboretum to Harvey Farms.  The majority wanted to move the meeting so August meeting will now be at Harvey Farms during Farm Days.  The meeting will be held between workshops, at lunchtime.  Anna will provide more information about workshops, applications for vendors, and directions to get there.  Harvey Ranch is located in Calpine, between Greagle and Truckee.
3. Stitches Show:  Santa Clara, CA, February 21-23
4. Knit and Crochet Show:  Manchester, NH, July 20-23
5. Artistic Yarn in Vallejo, CA:  Artistic Yarn is a yarn and fiber store that is closing.  The Craigslist ad advertises free stuff, dye, equipment, sale items, office equipment, big machinery, and batts.
6. UNR Shearing:  UNR will be shearing their sheep on February 19.

Learning Tree for the February meeting was question answering.

Learning Tree for March will be all about different kinds of spindles and how to spin different kinds of fibers.  Everyone is encouraged to bring their spindles.

Show and Tell:

Ruth – has fallen in love with spinning.  She has discovered a podcast called High Fiber Diet.  She also cleaned fleece for the first time and made roll logs on a blending board.  Ruth rolled the fiber off the blending board very tightly onto a stick.  She is selling them for $7 per ounce.
Judy – showed felted bowls that her husband made.
Kendra – just finished a Christmas present for her sister that is a Doctor Who themed tea cozy.
Judy – showed a rolled fleece scarf that she made
Carol – has a knitted hat
Chris – is spinning half silk half merino on her drop spindle
Ashley – made her husband a colorwork hat for Christmas.  The pattern is a dragon.  She also showed off her adorable felted penguin.
Myna – made a very soft baby blanket and a cute little dragon
Libby – is working on Brioche knitting
Robin – processed some more fleece to spin and has a need project bag made by Max
Margery – made a cute baby sweater and blanket
Susan – showed her second attempt at handspun sock yarn and her first attempt at rigid heddle weaving using hand spun yarn
Amy – is working on a zigzag scarf.  She will share the pattern in a few months.
Nancy – made socks and gloves with Walmart 100% acrylic yarn and a shaped shawl
Sara – made an elegant white bridal shawl with beads
Shelia – showed her Mobius cast on, a crochet basket, garter stitch cast off, and a sweater that requires very little piecing
Max – is working on an entrelac shrug.  She also showed a Mobius arm knitting scarf she made and a hat with a ponytail hole at the top and a draw sting for a custom fit
Sharie – shared her scarf with a leaf that goes through the hole and her arm knitting project

In attendance: Ruth Flagg, Virva Porcelli, Doris Woloszyn, Carolyn Thompson, Marilynn Clarke, Kendra Iwahashi, Jessi Casey, Judy Applegarth, Carol Lopez, Christine Lopez, Ashley Thibedeau, Myna Giannotti, Connie Vann, Libby Hejny, Hannah Woods, Robin Gallagher, Mimi Bullard, Jo Van Winkle, Margery McConaghy, Susan Palwick, Amy Shannon, Nancy Pryor, Sara Freitag, Sheila Young, Maxene Harlow, Sharie Jones, Judy Wells, and Sue Gottsacker