GBFG November 2018 newsletter

Click here for November newsletter Ever since our April 2018 meeting, we've been working to edit and verify the list of so many great fiber art notions the members shared and passed around the circle. We hope you'll find this a handy resource, especially since the December party gift exchange theme is....notions! Click the button below to view the list as a PDF.

GBFG October 2018 NEWSLETTER

Hi all!
Happy October!
See link below for your newsletter.

New in this issue! October 13 Dye Day sign-up deadline extended to Oct. 5 (subject to space availability) Pictures from September's Fiber Frenzy Click here for October newsletter

GBFG Dye Day October 13

The Guild is offering a Dye Day October 13 for GBFG members.
Please see information below and contact Jen if you wish to participate

Dye Day in October
For our October meeting we will be having an acid dye day at Karen Ford's house! This event is open to current guild members only and while it is free, advanced registration is required. There are still some spaces available but you MUST email Jennifer Lackey (jeekeehoo@gmail.com)
before Oct. 1st if you want to be added to the list.

This dye day will provide a range of colors of prepared dyestock and the tools and work space to do a little painting with acid dyes. We will be painting and then steaming to set the dye. There
will be no formal instruction on using acid dyes, so please research what you plan to do before
the dye day. Look around on the web for ideas about handpainting roving and yarn! Here are
some helpful links if you’re new to dyeing:

http://dharmatrading.com – instructions and tutorials
http://youtube.com – try “dyeing yarn” in search bar
http://www.earthguild.com/products/dyes/dyehub.htm - carries natural dyestuffs
http://www.wool2dy4.com – yarns to dye
http://www.villagespinweave.com – undyed fiber source
http://wwaverbforkeepingwarm.com – natural dyer, author and shopkeeper
https://www.knitpicks.com – dyeable yarn, roving, sock blanks and dyes

Each guild member will be allowed to dye a maximum of eight (8) ounces of total weight of
goods that they bring, like:
- 4 ounces of yarn - 4 ounces of roving - one sock blank - one silk scarf
The 8 oz. limit will be strictly enforced to ensure there is enough dye for everyone. The total weight of both items should be 8 ounces or less. Please ensure items are clean and your yarn, if applicable, is in hank ready to be dyed. Bring the items already wet. Tools to prepare your fibers will not be available.
Items that take acid dye well are protein based. Wool, alpaca, mohair, silk, nylon, etc., should
dye well. Cotton and flax will not dye well.

To minimize crowding, the dye day will be run in two sessions, morning and afternoon. We ask
that you arrive promptly for the start of your session and leave when it ends. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the start of your session as we have set-up to complete. We will not be gathering for lunch on this day, either, so please plan accordingly.
Be sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dye on, bring an apron if you have one,
gloves and a bag/bucket to take your wet items home.
The sessions are: Morning - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Afternoon - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Spin in Public Day

Reminder-

Tomorrow is our Spin in Public Day at the Homewood Library.  We'll be spinning (or knitting or tatting or crocheting or....!!) from 10am-12pm.  Everyone is welcome to come represent our Guild!!  It's a great event because it corresponds with the Guild's Show in the Library's display areas.  We get lots of interested people and it's really fun!

Hope to see many of you there!!

Dye Day in October for GBFG members

Hello all!

Just a reminder that our October meeting will be a special dye day at Karen Ford's house and NOT at our regular meeting place at Hoover Church of Christ.  For that reason, anyone who needs to participate MUST SIGN UP:)  Space is limited.  So, if you want to attend, please send your request to 

"programs@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com"

We've posted info about how this day will work on Ravelry and will be sending more info through the next newsletter!!

Thanks!

GBFG

GBFG SEPTEMBER 2018 newsletter

New in this issue! September meeting: Fiber Frenzy, 9/8 at regular location Guild annual exhibit at Homewood Public Library Dye Day details Pics from August meeting No Knit Night in the Forest in September and more!

Click here for September newsletter

GBFG August 2018 Newsletter

New in this issue! August 11 meeting details September exhibit form and entry info Pics from June's show and tell Fiber Frenzy preview & upcoming meeting topics and more! Click here for August newsletter Download Guild Exhibit Entry Form

Spin and Weave night TOMORROW!

Tomorrow!!!  Thursday night (7/5) at St. Peters. Spin and Weave Night. 6:30-9:00pm.

From Kathryn:
Am encouraging anyone who finished something in the recently departed FAL II to attend to show off your successes. No need to be a spinner or a weaver. We like company!
(Happy Independence Day!)

First Thursday Spin and Weave Night this week

Just a reminder... First Thursday Spin and Weave Night this week (6/7 at 6:30-9:00 pm). 

Bring your work, conversation, and something to show.

GBFG June 2018 NEWSLETTER

New in this issue! WWKIP Day & June meeting Updated equipment rental info New tatting photos (oops...that almost said "tattling"!!) Form for your exhibits in September and more! Click here for June newsletter Download Guild Exhibit Entry Form

Guild member displays work at Naked Art Gallery

Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild member Mary Kaiser is displaying some of her work at the Naked Art Gallery on Clairmont Ave. as part of the the "Biome Show," which opened Friday.  Mary's work includes fabric wall pieces, bags with "poetry pockets," notecards, and brooches.   The show also features Shelleigh Buckingham's ceramics, and Kristie David's paintings and delicate textile work.  The show runs through June 2.

GBFG MAY 2018 NEWSLETTER

New in this issue! May picnic details Updates on WAL, Crochet & Tatting Workshop wrap-up Knit Night in the Forest continues New Spin & Weave photos What we did in April and more! Click here for May newsletter

Backstrap weaving workshop was a huge success!

The Guild hosted renowned backstrap weaver Laverne Waddington for a back-to-back pair of workshops April 2 and 3.  Below are a few photos from the Complementary Warp and Double Weave backstrap weaving workshops.

GBFG APRIL 2018 newsletter

The GBFG monthly newsletter has changed formats to a PDF, and is available at the following link (please click on or copy the link):

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/033cebb3df41ce51458f88dc8/files/dbd753aa-9850-44bd-88be-a8ac393e31bb/2018_4APR_newsletterB.pdf

Click here for April newsletter

Study Groups meet THIS WEEK due to Easter

Hi everyone!

Given that our spinning study meeting next Wednesday is right before Easter, and St. Peter's has Easter schedule changes for their campus, we're moving a few things around.

Knitting study group meeting this week will be held  WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 along with spinning study at St. Peter's from 10:00 to 2:00.

Hope you can make it!

March Newsletter correction

Newsletter of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild

OOPS! We accidentally omitted the last part of this item in the newsletter yesterday, about contacting Rekha Drwiega before Monday, Mar. 5 if you want to reserve a spindle for use and purchase during the March meeting.   Next Monthly Meeting Saturday, March 10, 2018 10 a.m. Hoover Church of Christ  Program: Drop spindle spinning March Program - Drop Spindle Spinning Saturday, March 10, 2018 10 a.m. at Hoover Church of Christ  This month Karen Ford will lead the group in drop spindle spinning. The drop spindle is an amazing invention; both ancient and portable, yet still providing a great way to spin yarn. It is the perfect gateway tool into the world of spinning! We hope that you join us, whether you've never spun before or are a seasoned spinner! We look forward to sharing our love of spinning with everyone! The guild will be providing approximately 1 ounce of BFL top (sheep wool) per member. If you require other fibers, please bring them with you. If you already own a drop spindle, please bring it in with you. A limited number of beginner drop spindles will be available for use during the program (top whorl, 1.8 ounces). If you would like to keep your beginner spindle, the guild will be offering them for sale at $4 each. Please bring cash, check, or PayPal to the meeting to purchase the spindle. If you would like to reserve a beginner drop spindle for use and purchase, please email Rekha before Monday, March 5th. Remaining spindles will be available on a first come, first serve basis the day of the program. Send to: programs [at] greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com [we're having technical difficulties this morning getting links to display... but hover your mouse over the area below & you should be able to click on it!] EMAIL REKHA programs@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com

GBFG March 2018 Newsletter

Newsletter of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild  President's Column by Jennifer Lackey   It’s Olympic season and several of our Guild members have been enjoying a super fun, online version through Ravelry called the Ravellenic Games. If you aren’t playing or following along, you really should participate, because, for me, that’s what the Olympics are all about: participation. Yes, it’s a chance for the best athletes in the world to show how amazing they are, but I’m always so pleased to see athletes who know they have no chance of winning and who still look just absolutely thrilled when they simply finish their event. Their joy and enthusiasm at participating and representing the ideals of togetherness and unity are infectious. And no, I’m not trying to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the Hungarian freeskier in the halfpipe who so obviously didn’t belong at this elite level of competition! I haven’t decided what I think there. But, it did get me thinking about how I truly love the spirit of the Olympics: a mix of athletes of different ethnicities, different political ideologies, different skill levels and different talents, all coming together to share an experience with one another. Given this spirit of togetherness and love of their craft, how could the Olympics not inspire a similar event among the fiber world!?! Some of you may be cynical about the Olympics (and trust me, I feel that sometimes too), but I feel zero cynicism about our group!! We value each other and our talents and we want to share them with each other and with the world.  This is a rare and beautiful thing. So, this month at our Guild meeting, our “event” will be curling…kidding! It’s drop spindling. I hope you’ll all come out and participate!   Next Monthly Meeting Saturday, March 10, 2018 10 a.m. Hoover Church of Christ  Program: Drop spindle spinning This month Karen Ford will lead the group in drop spindle spinning. The drop spindle is an amazing invention; both ancient and portable, yet still providing a great way to spin yarn. It is the perfect gateway tool into the world of spinning! We hope that you join us, whether you've never spun before or are a seasoned spinner! We look forward to sharing our love of spinning with everyone! The guild will be providing approximately 1 ounce of BFL top (sheep wool) per member. If you require other fibers, please bring them with you. If you already own a drop spindle, please bring it in with you. A limited number of beginner drop spindles will be available for use during the program (top whorl, 1.8 ounces). If you would like to keep your beginner spindle, the guild will be offering them for sale at $4 each. Please bring cash, check, or PayPal to the meeting to purchase the spindle.   Doing our "due diligence"...Dues are due!   If you have not paid your 2018 guild dues ($25), please do so by February 28. You may pay by cash/check at the February meeting or mail your check to Jennifer Lackey, 1907 Saulter Road, Birmingham, AL 35209, or send it to the PO BOX still in use: GBFG, PO Box 660723, Birmingham, AL 35266. Dues also can be paid using PayPal. Mark it "Friends/family" and NOT "Goods/services." Use this link:  paypal.me/GBFiberGuild or use our gmail account gbfiberguild@gmail.com   Ravellenics: we're raving over your accomplishments Members of the Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild joined together on Ravelry and celebrated the Ravellenics during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. In addition to posting our progress online, we had a small party at both the opening and the closing ceremonies. At the closing ceremonies we awarded some prizes and showed off our finished objects. Congratulations to all our participants and a big "thank you" to our team captain, Rosalynn!   Cochineal Natural Dye: an invitation to learn more This item came to us through email and we're passing it along. "My name is Lorenzo Perez, I'm cochineal farmer from Canary Islands dedicated to producing high grade cochineal. I'd love to share to with your Guild Association a report on the Turkey Red Journal about our natural dye. http://turkeyredjournal.com/perez.html If you are interested in this natural dye and need more information, please don't hesitate to contact back. Thank you very much!" Best regards, Lorenzo Pérez   Preview of coming attractions: guild programs through summer Here's a brief look at what we have planned for the next few months. More details for each program will be in the monthly newsletter preceding the program. All programs are subject to change, and are not final. April We will have a discussion on our favorite notions. Bring your favorite notion(s) to share with the group. Please limit your selection to no more than three notions. May Annual Guild Picnic. Please bring a dish to share. Location TBD. June Worldwide Knit in Public Day with the Hoover Public Library. We will meet at the Hoover Public Library this month. July No meeting this month.   Look what we did last month! Ruth Truett did a stellar job instructing February's attendees in the art of weaving yarn rosettes. Here are some images provided primarily by Nancy Clemmons. Our group shots had so many happy faces that it was impossible to include them and still abide by stated wishes not to have members' likenesses appear online; so...that called for some close cropping.   Ruth Truett, our gracious instructor, with some of her beautiful rosette-adorned pincushions in the foreground at left: Here is an immediate use one of our members found for the two rosettes she made on February 10: Thanks, everyone, for a great time of learning and crafting together in February!   Tatting Study Group update The Tatting Study group will be working on a new pattern, "Rosaleen." Here's a photo of the thread selected for this upcoming "tat along" (TAL) project:   For more information on the tat along, please see the guild Ravelry page: https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/greater-birmingham-fiber-guild/3732068   Workshops Backstrap Weaving Workshops in April are almost full! Laverne Waddington is returning in April to teach two workshops on backstrap weaving! This year she will be teaching her beginning workshop, Complementary-warp Pick-up, followed by a workshop for experienced backstrap weavers, Double Weave. More information is available on the guild's online sites. Registration opened for members on February 14 and there are only 1 or 2 seats available at the time of this writing. Complementary-warp Pick-up will be April 2 and 3. That is Monday and Tuesday after Easter. Double Weave will be April 4 and 5 (Wednesday and Thursday). If you are interested, email workshops@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com to find out if there is still space!   Membership Dues & Renewal The new membership year starts in January. Annual dues are $25. Please pay your 2018 dues by February 28. Thank you! You may pay by cash/check at the meeting, or mail your check to Jennifer Lackey, 1907 Saulter Road, Birmingham, AL 35209, or send it to the PO BOX still in use: GBFG, PO Box 660723, Birmingham, AL 35266.   Dues also can be paid using PayPal. Mark it  “friends/family” and NOT “goods/services”. Use this link: paypal.me/GBFiberGuild or use our gmail account gbfiberguild@gmail.com We want to know about you! If you haven't completed a new Membership Form this year, please do so. Your answers to a few simple questions help the Board keep track of all our members to make sure you receive the newsletter and other communications. This form of information sharing also gives us an idea of what fiber arts you're interested in, so we can plan workshops and programs accordingly. Please submit the form with your check to Nancy Lavender when you renew your membership for 2018. You can also copy, paste and email the form to membership@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com.  Member information form 2018 Name:                                             Email address:                                     Ravelry name:                                      Phone number:                                     Address:                                                                                      Fiber crafts you do:     ☐ Spinning        ☐ Knitting        ☐ Weaving        ☐ Crochet        ☐ Sewing        ☐ Tatting        ☐ Quilting    ☐ Embroidery     ☐ Other (please describe): Are there any programs or workshops you would like to give? Are there any programs or workshops you would like take? Guild goings-on Knit Night in the Forest First Monday of the month, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Vestavia Hills Public Library, Treehouse Room   We are thrilled to have a new night-time knitting group in our area! Knit Night in the Forest is officially kicked off, in conjunction with the Vestavia Hills Public Library! We had a full house on Feb. 5 and it was a great time of stitching, chatting with friends old and new, and even handing out some fun door prizes. (We actually kind of "wowed" the library staff with our great turnout!)   This pilot program will continue through May 2018 (with the option to extend depending on turn out). Knit Night in the Forest will be held the first Monday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Treehouse of the Vestavia Library. This room is downstairs and has the best view of the forest behind the library. While this event is listed as a "knit night," any and all fiber arts are welcome! Find our Ravelry thread for Knit Night here. This Knit Night is posted on the Vestavia Library events calendar: https://vestavialibrary.org/events/ The Vestavia Hills Public Library is located at: 1221 Montgomery Highway Vestavia Hills AL 35216 [Work]-A-Longs: We have a full schedule of CAL/KAL/TAL/WAL/etc. planned for 2018! We’d love for you to join us for any and all of them! Often, more details and group discussion can be found on the GBFG discussion page on Ravelry located at https://www.ravelry.com/groups/greater-birmingham-fiber-guild (And here's a little reminder of what the acronyms mean: KAL - knit along TAL - tat along CAL - crochet along WAL - weave along SAL - spin along FAL - finish along)   KAL - Sweet Dreams by Boo Knits (or any Boo Knits pattern) In progress Pattern can be bought on Ravelry at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-dreams-17 The new Knit Night in the Forest group will be working on this beaded lace shawl starting in January 2018. We’d love for you to join us for the KAL or just come hang out at Knit Night! TAL – Rosaleen by Tatting by the Bay Start Date: January 2018 Free pattern can be found at http://tattingbythebay.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html The Crochet and Tatting Study Group will be hosting a tat-a-long. We have selected a free pattern that has a couple variations to allow for easy customization by size and thread weight. Attendance at the Tuesday Crochet and Tatting gatherings is not required.   CAL – Sophie’s Garden by Dedri Uys Start Date: Spring 2018 Free pattern can be found at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophies-garden and https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophies-universe-cal   You’re invited to a garden party! The Crochet and Tatting Study Group  will be hosting a crochet-a-long. The CAL will be taking a stroll through Sophie’s Garden. If you want to continue past Sophie’s Garden, you can expand into Sophie’s Universe! Attendance at the Tuesday Crochet and Tatting gatherings is not required. Expected start date is Spring 2018. We’d love for any and all to join us! WAL Start Date: undetermined Weavers, often (due to the combersome nature of their equipment) independent in their work, find a WAL awkward. We hope that sharing progress and questions, photos and milestones on Ravelry will improve the experience. At the moment, we are finishing up a fall WAL using overshot. Watch for news of at least one new WAL for 2018! FAL In progress With all of life's distractions, not to mention the siren call of new projects, sometimes we forget about the put-aside-just-for-a-minute projects. Our Ravelry group will host a FAL (Finish-along) or two this year, giving those who want it a period of time to focus on clearing out at least a few unfinished pieces. One  began on Jan. 3, to last 6 weeks.  The other will be showing up in June. Tour de Fleece Dates: July 7 - July 29, 2018 The Guild forms a wildcard team for the Tour de Fleece called Team Vulcan Spinners. The goal is to challenge yourself and spin every day the Tour de France rides, if possible. We share our progress and encourage each other along the way! More details can be found on the Guild's Ravelry page closer to July.   The Guild on the Web Between newsletters and meetings, keep up with the guild on the web at: the guild blog at www.greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com, blog@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com the guild Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greaterbirminghamfiberguild, fb@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com the guild group on Ravelry at www.ravelry.com/groups/greater-birmingham-fiber-guildrav@greaterbirminghamfiberguild.com. 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! The page manager shares information and posts that she receives on the guild's Facebook group page and keeps 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. Find helpful information on participating in the Ravelry guild group on the blog, http://greaterbirminghamfiberguild.blogspot.com/2015/04/gbfg-on-ravelry.html   Study Groups Meet Monthly First Thursday Spinning and Weaving Group:  Spin & Weave Night, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hoover (on Patton Chapel Rd, across from Hoover Church of Christ). Park behind the church, come in the large glass doors, walk toward the happy, loud voices. Everyone is welcome! Contact Kathryn Pitt at kjpitt@gmail.com for details. Spinning Study Group:  4th Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Hoover. Please check out the GBFG Blog for cancellations or schedule changes. Knit Night in the Forest:  1st Monday of the month, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Vestavia Hills Public Library. Please see Ravelry for more details. Trish Raczynski is hosting a tatting and crochet group. Please check the group discussion thread on Ravelry for more information.  Newsletter news If there's something you'd like to share in the monthly newsletter, let us know. Suggestions: book reviews fiber-related articles or web pages we can attach or link (within copyright allowances) your fiber questions to which you would love answers or suggestions from other guild members tips you've discovered and used that make your fiber art a little bit easier Please send your newsletter submissions by the 15th of the month to go into the following month's newsletter. Email me at betsy@vhbc.com and put GBFG Newsletter in the subject line. Corrections are also encouraged; we want to get correct info out and anything wrong corrected as soon as possible. Thanks!   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 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (no meeting in July). Visitors are welcome. The Guild offers programs almost monthly, focused workshops several times a year, and equipment rental (see below).    2018 Officers and Board  Jennifer Lackey, President Rekha Drwiega, Programs Mary Spanos & Mary Margaret Gray, Workshops Chloe Hope, Membership Nancy Lavender, Treasurer Shira Robinowich-Miller, Secretary Barbara Gower with Kathryn Pitt & Janna Ford, Social Media/Blog Betsy Lowery, Newsletter   Rental of Guild Equipment & Materials   The Guild has available, for rental to members, the following: Lucy Neatby's DVD knitting collection (more info on this resource) Drum Carder Laura Fry's Magic in the Water book and DVD 4-harness table loom (Jennifer Lackey) 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 be checked out at Fiber Guild monthly meetings; please check with Jennifer Lackey. Deposit checks will be held by Nancy Lavender, treasurer, until checked-out items are returned in original condition.