Monday, August 3, 2015

Guild newsletter, August 2015

Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
P.O. Box 660723, Birmingham, AL 35266-0723
 

www.greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com



Newsletter of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild 

 

                      President’s Column   
 

                        

                   

 

Hello Fiber Friends!
 
I don't know about you but my summer has managed to be pretty busy! I have tried to keep up with my spinning and knitting and my sewing.....I am only doing a fair job! In my defense, we did get some wonderful news on Father's Day.....we are going to become granparents in December! Our first! So my brain has been very, very busy.....thinking pink!
 
The Tour de Fleece was really a lot of fun! No I didn't have a completed hank at the end but I did figure out that sometimes it is the wheel that needs the work and not the Spinner:) I want to thank Kathryn and Shira for the great job they did with our Ravelry page for TdF! I loved seeing everyone's work. 
 
We have been busy getting ready for the Dye Workshop! Debbie has done such a good and thorough job preparing for our day! The dyes are mixed and the sock blanks are waiting....I just have to decided what I want to do this time. Guess there will be a lot of sock knitting this winter!
 
See you dyers on the eighth!!!
 
Karen


 

 



GBFG Sock Blank Dyeing Workshop
Saturday, August 8
10 a.m.



 
 

Parking – Due to the workshop being held at Karen’s home, and the large number of people (28) signed up, we are asking workshop participants to please park in the parking lot where the vacant Pier 1 is, located on Hwy 31 in Vestavia.  (SEE ADDRESS BELOW)  This is a large parking lot, we will be shuttling workshop participants to Karen’s home from there and we will be bringing you back. The shuttle will be running from 9:40 until 10:15.  This will make it easier for all of us.   This is adjacent to the Diplomat Deli (1425 Montgomery Hwy or Hwy 31) where we will be having our catered lunch.  We are asking members NOT to park in front of Diplomat Deli.  Thanks.

What to wear:  COOL and old comfortable clothes, apron if desirable.   You will be standing for a length of time.
What to bring:  Pair of rubber gloves, large old bath towel, at least two large trash bags to carry home your sock blanks, possibly a yard chair.

GBFG will be catering lunch from the Diplomat Deli.  There will be chicken salad and a vegetarian option, along with chips, cookie, and bottled water.  If you have any dietary restrictions, such as gluten or dairy, we ask that you bring your own.  If you desire to have something else to drink besides water, bring that.  AlL food and water will be consumed away from the workshop area at lunchtime.

WORKSHOP – We will be providing each workshop participant 2-sock blanks for you to work with.  The guild will be providing the dyes (all acid dyes).  These dyes are non-toxic as long as they are diluted in water, which we will be mixing ahead of time.  We want you to have fun!

Due to the large amount of participants, we are asking that everyone be prompt, as we need to get started on time.  We ask that you be respectful to those who are leading the workshop, as it may be difficult to hear directions otherwise.  This will help us all!  We will be giving some basic directions at the beginning of the workshop for the dyeing, after you have received your sock blanks.  We will also give you a nametag to wear.  

We will be shuttling you back to your car!  Look forward to seeing all of you!  CREATIVITY RULES THE SOCK BLANKS!

Debbie Scott
GBFG Workshop Chairperson

 
Bring Us Your Best for the Homewood Show

It’s not too early to begin thinking about our annual guild exhibit at the Homewood Public Library, during the month of September, 2015.  Our theme this year is “Bring Us Your Best.”  Please consider displaying your best work from the past year, or any work you’re proud of that hasn’t been seen in public.  For the past ten years or more, the library has welcomed us to use the two large glass cases in the entrance foyer, as well as three table-top cases in the central hallway.  The exhibit will run through the month of September, and we will collect your work at the August guild meeting, returning your work at the October meeting.  We will have a sheet for you to fill out about the work you are leaving so you may want to make sure you know what type of yarn was used,etc.  If it not possible for you to bring your work to the August meeting, please email Mary Kaiser at Migkaiser@aol.com  to arrange for pickup.  This is a great opportunity for guild members who do not sell their work to shine in a museum-quality setting, and it’s also a way for professional fiber artists in the guild to reach a wide audience.
 
Knitting Class this Fall


Mary Kaiser will be offering Beginning and Advanced Knitting at ArtPlay this fall.  ArtPlay is the educational wing of the UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, and is housed in a beautiful, historical house near the corner of 11th Ave. and 19th Street.  The class meets from 6 to 8 on Thursday evenings beginning September 3.  Beginning Knitting is a six-week class in which students create a sampler scarf, learning basic knit and purl stitches, cables, lace stitches, and color work.  Advanced Knitting, beginning October 15, focuses on planning and completing a project like a sweater, shawl, socks, or other garments.  Check the ArtPlay website for registration details.




News You Can Use

 
It has come to our attention that a new quilting store opened in June.  Check it out if this is one of your many interests:  http://www.cottageneedleworks.com/about/


 


The Guild on the Web

Between newsletters and meetings, keep up with the guild on the web at:
    If you don't want to miss new posts to the guild blog, you can choose to receive new posts by email. Go to the blog and look for "Follow by Email" on the right hand side of the page. Type your email address in the window and click "Submit." If you want to have something posted on the blog, send it to blog@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com.
   You can post to the guild's Facebook page yourself! Emily shares information and posts that she receives on the guild's Facebook group page and keep Facebook users up to date on what is going on in the guild.
   Ravelry isn't just for knitters anymore. Crocheters, weavers, and spinners all upload photos, project information, and patterns. Kathryn is managing the GBFG group and has posted helpful information on participating in the Ravelry guild group on the blog, find it at
http://greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com/2015/04/gbfg-on-ravelry.html

 

 

Next in our series of craft mysteries

Weaving Mystery Series by Carol Ann Martin

carol ann martin
Protagonist: Della Wright, owner of Dream Weavers, a local weaving shop
Setting: Briar Hollow, North Carolina
Number of books: 3, with #4, Loom and Doom, coming in August
First in the series: Looming Murder
Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Dream Weavers, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town’s colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom.
But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can’t help getting entangled in the investigation — with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn — and stop a killer from striking again?
Why we love it: What’s not to love about Briar Hollow’s beautiful mountain setting? This series makes us want to move to North Carolina ASAP.

             


         Study Groups Meet Monthly

  • Spinning Study Group:  4th Wednesday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm at St. Peter’s Church in Hoover.  Please check out the GBFG Blog  for cancellations or schedule changes.
  • Nancy Clemmons is interested in sharing her love of tatting with others by teaching one or more in her home. Please contact her if you are interested.
  • More groups may meet in the future.  Watch the newsletter for more information and let a board member know if you are interested in a study group.
 


Newsletter News...
 
Each month, I am planning to have items coming from YOU, our Guild members. These will include short book reviews related to any fiber art; a tip you have discovered and used that make your fiber art a little bit easier to execute; any fiber related articles; and a fiber question you would love answers or suggestions from other guild members. Please send your ideas, suggestions, book recommendations, questions to me (Deborah Kattus ) by the 20th of the month to go into the following month's newsletter.
Email me at
dkattus@charter.net and put GBFG Newsletter in the subject line.


 


Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
 
The Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild is comprised of individuals dedicated to the dissemination and preservation of fiber arts.  Meetings are the second Saturday of the month, 10:00-12:00 (no meeting in July). Visitors are welcome.  The Guild offers programs almost monthly, focused workshops several times a year, and equipment rental (see below). 
 
 2015 Officers and Board 
 
Karen Ford – President
Mary Kaiser – Program
Debbie Scott – Workshops
Emily Levitan - Membership
Nancy Lavender – Treasurer
Janice Weinstein - Secretary
Mary Spanos – Website
Deborah Kattus - Newsletter
Janelle Zorko Schultz - Past President

 

 
Rental of Guild Equipment & Materials

 
The Guild has available, for rental to members, the following:
There will be a $30 deposit per DVD (Lucy Neatby) and $100 deposit for the drum carder. Deposit for Laura Fry's materials still to be determined.
The rental fee for all items is $5 per month rented.
Equipment can only be checked out at Fiber Guild monthly meetings and a check-out list will be posted inside the door of the cabinet. Deposit checks will be held by Nancy Lavender, treasurer, until returned in original condition.
 
Copyright © 2015 Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild, All rights reserved.
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1 comment:

  1. Thanks a lot for the explaining for such a nice topic..Really a nice and interesting post.

    ReplyDelete