Past Issues

THE NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA SPINNERS AND WEAVERS GUILD

Saturday, December 6, 2003, 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Christ Church, Diamond Park, Meadville, PA

Minutes of the October Meeting

Guild Minutes for October 4, 2003. Interweave Press has announced their subscription renewal rate for guild members--$19.95/year, if you use the current code--D3GLD. Phone 1-800-767-9638.

Sigrid will be presenting a workshop on Color and Design Challenges to the Butler guild, Oct 24-26.

There will be a quilt show Oct 18 from 10-4 at Christ Church, Meadville.

The Nov meeting of the Odd Group will be spinning silk and soy silk.

Elaine explained that the December program will be knitting: The Norwegian mitten, regular mittens, and twinned knitting. Donna asked for suggestions for our December charity effort. Seamen's scarves was suggested, but the person collecting them has a Nov 1 deadline. Several people are already knitting these scarves. Joanna has a pattern. The Heifer Program was also suggested.

Ann read her final report on Beth Brown-Reinsel workshop. Since we ended up $268 in the black, she moved that we reimburse the McCartney Memorial Scholarship Fund for the two scholarships (total $75). This was seconded and carried by unanimous vote.

It was discussed and decided to continue our MAFA membership.

Donna asked for input on whether or not to have vendors at the 2004 retreat. Decision was against vendors but still undecided was whether or not to allow attendees to sell and buy from each other--maybe from their car trunks.

Ilene announced that the Oil City Library will celebrate 100 years in 2004. They are looking for contributions of 100% cotton fabric in the following colors: blue, gold, red, green--solid or print, for a quilt they are planning.

Notes From Donna Wellman

November spinning was great fun. Roz did a great job helping us to spin a variety of silks. Spinning from the cocoon is great fun. What great fiber. The new soy silk is a great fiber to work with. We made novelty yarns from throwers silk waste. Very few were present so we got alot of individual attention from Roz. Thank you Roz for all your hard work as always a great job well done.

January off month we will be spinning rare fibers. I have purchased some CVM fleece and some Russian Romanoff fleece. I am still looking for a few more. They are washed and we will prepare them for spinning. I am looking for someone to head this up and help us to spin these great fibers.

Applications are coming in fast and furious for the Spinning Retreat with Patsy Z. on August 13, 14, 15, 2004. at McKeever Environmental Center in Sandy Lake I know that it is 9 months away, but time will fly by. Send them in as soon as you can. I cannot hold a space for you. The first 40 applications will attend. I am sure we will have a great time together.

Hope you all have a Safe and Happy Holiday. Donna

In the News

The Erie Art Museum has an exhibit of mixed media basketry by Lissa Hunter. According to a review in the Fall 2003 Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and the Museum of Arts and Design in NY. On view through February 8, 2004. Highly recommended for both artistry and craftsmanship.

Library Report

A great many magazines are missing--not even checked out--just taken. Guild copies have labels on the covers and guild name has been stamped on the label and usually also on the index page.

HandWoven and SpinOff seem to be the most prone to walking away. Our magazines are a great resource to our members, but not if someone keeps them out of circulation for a year or more. Please look through your "stuff," and get those guild copies back in circulation. If there is an article you want, find a copier. Crawford Co. Office Systems in Meadville (Chestnut and Market) allows you to copy for .08/page. If you cannot make it to a meeting, deliver overdue library material to Sue at the church Monday through Thursday between 10-and 4. Books missing but not checked out: Harriet Tidball, The Weaver's Book; Mabel Ross, The Essentials of Handspinning; Eckenwalder, The Trials of Jurying; Drafts and designs, A Guide for 5-12 Harness Weaves.

Books Due (and some Overdue):

Kate Arkwright, Bodywork for Weavers and Fiber Artists (video)
Loretto Bellicini, Davenport, Your Handspinning
Bonnie Crytzer, Hole, How to Know the Lichens
Ilene Ellison, Ross, The Essentials of Yarn Design for Handspinners
Vicki Ferster, Brown-Reinsel, Knitting Ganseys
Barb Hauch, Ostercamp, Warping Your Loom
Barb Lodge, Fitzgerald, Beads and Threads
Maggie Fry-Manross, The Crafts Business Encyclopedia
Dorothy Maynard, Davenport, Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving
Strickler, 8-Shaft Patterns
Meany & Pfaff, Rag Rug Handbook
Tod, Wool Stitchery
Black, The Key to Weaving
Mathilda Murphy, Morrison, Spider's Games
Ann Sheffield, Vogel, The Twisted Sisters Sock Book
Ruth Waler-Daniels, Lawlers, Skydyes
Albright, Knitter's Stash
Nancy Washok, Patrick, A Handwoven Treasury

Lost

My blue and white handspun yarn to finish my other Norwegian mitten. It's not in any of my tote bags! Would everyone from the Beth Brown Reinsel workshop please look in your stuff to see if mine got mixed up. There was about 4 oz of blue and of white . Thanks in advance for checking. Sue Spencer.

For Sale

Peg Weymer of Meadville has a handspun, handwoven blanket for sale. It dates from 18-something and she is asking $165. Please call her if you are interested, call her at 332-9199.

A Letter From Your Co-Prez

A big thank you to Donna Wellman for having us for dye day. As usual, we made ourselves at home, made a big mess, got some great colors and had a wonderful day. If you were there, bring your stuff in December for Show and Tell.

Our next odd-month meeting sounds great. It's been a spinning group so far, but if anyone would like to do a weaving, knitting, beading or something else program, please see Donna. This extra meeting is for everyone.

And our December meeting is our Christmas party; there are excellent workshops on Norwegian knitting, Twined Knitting, a beginners knitting class, 2 needle mittens and who knows what else! We will also have a potluck lunch -- meat and potatoes provided so bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share.

One of our Christmas outreach programs is knitting hats and scarves for the Seamen's Institute. Please see me or email for one of these EASY patterns.

The other is our raffle table. The proceeds this meeting go to support Heifer Project International. Please donate something wonderful for the raffle and plan on buying tickets, too.

Read your program notes from Donna about the roving gift exchange. Oh, boy!

Remember, too, you are welcome to have a sale table at any guild meeting, but this would be a good time to set up a table. There is also a guild sale table for your Christmas shopping.

And why not bring a friend or a guest to our Christmas party! See you in December.

P. S. I was at Sigrid Piroch's slide presentation for her Color & Design workshop sponsored by the Butler Guild. It was excellent. And did you guys know that Nancy Griffin sponsors a free knitting class the last Thursday of each month at the Otter Creek Store. They're great.

Interweave Press "What's Hot!" Challenge

Spin-Off and Handwoven magazines are sponsoring a contest with prizes including a grand prize of $500. You may enter by submitting a 12" x 12" fabric swatch or scarf of any size that shows unusual texture produced by one of six specified methods. For full contest rules and details on how to enter, see the contest web site.