Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Lace Knitting and Wood Fusion

Check out this link for a novel and strikingly beautiful type of art created from lace knitting and pieces of wood.




As explained on the web site, Hungarian artist Ágnes Herczeg combines delicate lace art with the knotty branches of found wood to create scenes depicting the contemplative beauty of humanity. The intricate portraits showcase women as they recline, sleep, and gaze into an infinite abyss. Often, the wood is an anchor for their activities; it’s a place where the characters rest their bodies, or the floor on which they stand. Herczeg also uses it as a striking visual juxtaposition—the looseness of the lace and the solidity of the wood is at odds, but they are harmonious when linked together.


Tuesday, August 8, 2017

First Thursday Spinning and Weaving


The GBFG spinners and weavers will meet on the first Thursday of each month:

6:30 pm
St. Peter's Catholic Church
2061 N. Patton Chapel Rd, Hoover, AL 35216

This meeting will replace the "first Friday" and "second Thursday" meetings.

Contact Kathryn Pitt for details kjpitt@gmail.com

Guild meeting this Saturday (Aug. 12)



The monthly GBFG meetings start up again this Saturday at the usual time and place:

10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Hoover Church of Christ.

This week, we are excited to offer a program on Acadian Spinning and Weaving, with guest presenter Debbie Todhunter from Tennessee.

See you there!

BRIOCHE WORKSHOP coming soon!

The Guild is planning a Brioche knitting workshop September 30-October 1, 2017, with local instructor and fiber artist Mercedes Tarasovich.

Please let us know if you are interested.

Contact Shira for more information, and if you would like to get on the participant list.
sdrmiller@uabmc.edu



GBFG August 2017 NEWSLETTER


                      President’s Corner   


The summer is flying by, just like the riders of the Tour de France AND the spinners of the fiber world in the Tour de Fleece. Each summer, the on-line community Ravelry hosts the “Tour de Fleece” in solidarity with the annual race in France. People from all over the world organize themselves into teams to set goals and spin along . Our Guild has proudly participated in the race for the past three years, with each year growing wildly in participation and enthusiasm. Last year, we put up 707 posts, but this year it was well over 1000!! Even if you aren’t a spinner, the on-line event is fun to follow, thanks to the many beautiful photos posted by all, the lovely camaraderie (code for our silly late night discussions and good natured teasing) and the amazing learning and encouragement. As president of this group, I am often over-whelmed by the support shown for each other and the Tour is such a tangible example of that. Perhaps next year you will participate too!!
Thanks to our riders and cheerleaders from 2017!!
Nancy Clemons, Claire Clifford, Rehka Drwiega, Janna Ford,Karen Ford,Mary Margaret Gray, Julibeth Jones, Jennifer Justiss,Lori Knarr,Jennifer Lackey, Maddy McLendon ,Jan McMahan, Dorothy McWhirter ,Terry Martin ,Victoria Moore ,Deborah Naramore, Kathryn Pitt,
Mary Spanos ,Debbie Scott, Janice Weinstien 

August Meeting
Saturday, August 1210:00 - 2:00
Hoover Church of Christ
Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez!
Debbie Todhunter will be coming from Tennessee to share with us the rich Cajun history of Acadian spinning and weaving.  
We can’t wait to see everyone after our July break.  Come enjoy this fascinating program plus fellowship and “Show and Tell” inspiration.

Don't forget your pieces for the Homewood Library Show.


Fiber Frenzy
Mark your calendars now for the Annual Fiber Frenzy at our September meeting on the 9th.  There will be demos, lunch, and a swap/sale event.  This has been a fantastic event in the past and we look forward to doing it again!!


Spin in Public Day

Worldwide Spin in Public Day will be September 16 .  We will spin at the Homewood Public Library from 9am-12pm.  Bring your spinning and join us.  
 

Volunteer Opportunity
 
The after-school knitting program at the Birmingham Public Library’s downtown branch is in need of volunteers! Knitwise is a weekly drop-in program for local students, mostly aged 10-15, meeting on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30. We get a lot of beginners, as well as students who have been with us for a while and would like to expand their knitting skills. It’s a pretty popular program, and we would gratefully welcome more local knitters to share their skills with our students. We’re also short on good teaching yarn, so if you would like to donate some or have a favourite source for affordable, colourful, plied, heavier-weight yarn, that would be a huge help, too.
If you’d like more information or to be added to the volunteer mailing list, feel free to email me at elizabeth@eelliottknits.com and I’ll be happy to give you any information you need.



Homewood Library Show

The guild will be exhibiting our work during the month of September at the Homewood Library.  Please consider bringing any work that has not yet been shown to Jennifer Lackey at the August meeting. Please make sure you label your work so it will get back to you.   We will install the exhibit on Tuesday, Sept. 5th.  Work will be returned on the take-down day (TBA) or at the October meeting if you prefer.  This is a fantastic opportunity to share our work with the larger community.




Membership Dues Renewal
Several members have not renewed their memberships for 2017.    Dues for 2017 will be $25. You may now pay using PayPal. 
Use  this link paypal.me/GBFiberGuild or use our gmail account  gbfiberguild@gmail.com

 

 If you prefer to pay by check, please give to Nancy Lavender or mail to :
Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild
PO Box 660723
Birmingham, Al 35266-072

How not to miss out on guild news:
    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! Janna 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



         Study Groups Meet Monthly

We would love to have some information on what each of these groups is presently pursuing.  Please email me (dkattus@charter.net ) with anything you would like posted.
  • 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 hosting a tatting and crochet group at her home.  Please check the group discussion thread on Revelry for more information. 
  • Weaving study group: Second Thursday of the month at 6 pm at Hoover Church of Christ.  Contact Kathryn Pitt for details or check the weaving study group thread on Ravelry. 
  • Join us for First Friday Spinning Study at Jen Lackey's house.  We meet around 6pm.  Feel free to email Jennifer for directions and parking information.  Email: jeekeehoo@gmail.com


The Guild on the Web

Between newsletters and meetings, keep up with the guild on the web at:




Newsletter News...
Each month, we would like to have news from you to share with all of us.  If you have a favorite blog, website, book, etc that you would like for us to feature, please 
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, 10:00-2:00 (no meeting in July). Visitors are welcome.  The Guild offers programs almost monthly, focused workshops several times a year, and equipment rental (see below). 
 
 2017 Officers and Board 

President:  Jennifer Lackey
Programs:  Jennifer Justiss
Workshops:  Shira Robinowich-Miller
Treasurer:  Nancy Lavender
Secretary:  Maddy McLendon
Social Media (Blog): Barbara Gower
Membership:  Janna Ford
Newsletter:  Deb Kattus
Past President:  Mary Kaiser