HTS Newsletter, May, 2009Volunteer editor: Gary Lee Phillips, fuffle@ix.netcom.com
HTS Newsletter, May, 2009
Volunteer editor: Gary Lee Phillips, fuffle@ix.netcom.com
Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, May 9, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at The Fold, 3316 Millstream Rd., Marengo (directions available here.) This month's meeting is a social, chat and share, with guild business, and as always bringing lunch is encouraged.
June 13 meeting reminder: Flea market/Garage sale swap.
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The deadline for the next
newsletter will be May 30, 2009. If you are submitting material for inclusion in the newsletter, I really would appreciate having it by the deadline. The newsletter continues to be delayed by late announcements and information, and I would much prefer to get it out to you several days earlier than is now possible.
It is my sad duty to let you know, if you didn't already hear, that long time Hollow Tree member Marge Hansen passed away in April. Marge was also a founding member of the Woodstock Weavers Guild, as well as an active spinner and knitter and a good friend to many of us. We will miss her.
Now is the time to think about the county fairs. Both the McHenry County Fair (Woodstock, August 5-9) and the Boone County Fair (Belvidere, August 11-16) have fiber arts displays. Entry forms need to be submitted in June, but the projects do not have to be delivered to the exhibit hall until the week of the fair. Entry fees are nominal (usually 50 cents per item) and there are small cash prizes and ribbons awarded. Knitted, crochet, and woven entries are invited. Boone has a category for handknit homespun. McHenry also has a felting category and may have a handspun category this year. Both fairs can use more entries to help promote fiber arts. All entries are displayed in glass cases and can be picked up on the last day of the fair.
Don't forget to be planning your entries for the show next fall. There are only six months left, folks. I'd like to see lots of small projects, so please consider mittens or a hat at least. We could use more felting entries too, both needle felted and wet felted.
Photos! Barb Bundick has generously shared some photos of the Grace Farm dyeing day and the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, both in April of this year. The first two are from Grace Farm, and the others from Maryland.
From the Grace Farm dyeing day on April 18, photos by Barb Bundick.
From the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival: Musicians on the left, fiber producers on the right. Photos by Barb Bundick.
I could tell you all about Maryland Sheep and Wool, but I was too busy burying my nose in luscious fibers and gorgeous spindles to notice what was going on. Let me correct that. Gorgeous fiber and luscious spindles were what was going on, along with crowds of eager knitters and spinners, fleeces galore, funnel cakes, Ravelry buttons and bags and all to the melodic bleating of sheep.
Instead, I'll tell you about the Wild Fibers booth. Wild Fibers - a magazine dedicated to promoting natural fibers around the world, is one of the leading supporters of the United Nations International Year of Natural Fibers. They are joined in this project by Heifer International. Together they are trying to support the UN by raising $250,000 to build the world's largest fiber flock.
As part of the fundraising efforts, they are inviting people from all over the world who are knitting, crocheting, felting or weaving contributions to the World's Longest Scarf. Scarves must be nine inches wide, and each row of the scarf represents a $1.00 donation. Teams can donate the money themselves, or find sponsors. There was a constant stream of people in the Wild Fibers booth adding to the Maryland Sheep and Wool portion of the scarf.
When we meet Saturday, May 9, let's talk about contributing to this scarf. I can't join you then. I'll be at my daughter's college graduation. Do let me know what you decide. After all, May is an open spinning month. What else are you going to do with all that yarn?
Programs for the new year: This year's schedule will be announced as early as possible both at meetings and in the newsletter. Note that all workshops are optional, and you are welcome to come and socialize or sit & spin during workshops. All of this year's presentations will be led by members, so there will be no fees. Refer questions about events or schedule to Susan at SusanRubendall@aol.com.
There are just five months left until all show projects for 2009 must be complete. NOW! is the time to start planning for next year's show.
If you know of an upcoming event, or have a press release or web link, send it to Gary (fuffle@ix.netcom.com) in time for the previous month's deadline in order to make sure it gets into the newsletter in time.
Space permitting, members and their friends may submit notices and classified advertisements to appear here.
Did you miss the April newsletter? It's still available online, right here. Past newsletters are retained online for one year before we retire them to reuse the space.
Are you receiving a monthly e-mail telling you that the newsletter is ready? If not, you need to sign up for the Hollow Tree Spinners e-mail discussion group.
We are trying a Web-based newsletter instead of e-mailing the actual document. This should mean that anyone with access to the internet will be able to see the newsletter, regardless of the kind of computer or software they are using. Most public libraries now have internet browser access as well. An e-mail will be sent to members once a month when the newsletter is ready, reminding them to look at it and print it if they wish. Please let us know what you think. E-mail the editor, Gary Phillips, or guild manager Toni Neil with your comments or suggestions.
Meetings are on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise announced. The newsletter should be ready by the Saturday before the meeting. Please get items, announcements, etc. to the newsletter editor, Gary, at least a full week in advance of the newsletter date (TWO weeks before the next meeting.)