HTS Newsletter, May, 2012Volunteer editor: Gary Lee Phillips, tivo.overo at gmail.com
HTS Newsletter, May, 2012
Volunteer editor: Gary Lee Phillips, tivo.overo at gmail.com
Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, May 12, at 10:00 am at The Fold, 3316 Millstream Rd., Marengo (directions available here). Sharon will lead a hands on workshop on spinning alpaca fiber. Bring your wheel or spindles and other spinning tools you may need. Samples of fiber will be available. Bring a brown bag lunch if you wish.
June 9 meeting reminder: Flax Processing at Susan Tauck's.
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The deadline for the next
newsletter will be May 26, 2012. If you are submitting material for inclusion in the newsletter, I really would appreciate having it by the deadline.
Last month members of the guild spent a wonderful morning at J4 Alpacas in Woodstock. Jean and Jim Morgan shared their love of the animals and their vast knowledge. Not only did Jim answer all our questions, but he very obligingly offered to turn on the platform scale when Janet Hugg stepped onto it without first considering the consequences. What a guy! Jean and Jim were very gracious hosts.
While the alpacas do not really enjoy being patted or held, they are very curious. The picture (below) of Janet taking a picture of a group of alpacas demonstrated that very well. Rip Tide is a young male who really wanted to check us out. As long as we did not make sudden moves or try to grab at him, he was content to make our acquaintance. As you can see by the photos the Suri Alpaca come in a wide range of colors, and color combinations. Jim and Jean know each of their animals as individuals. When it came time to go in to the front porch and select fibers, they were excellent at helping us make the best selection. "If you like that color, look and see if _____'s fiber is there, that one will be the finest." Yes, kids in a candy shop had nothing on us as we oooo'd and ahhh'd and made our little stash piles.
For those who were not able to come last month, you may have missed the farm tour, but you do not have to miss out on the beautiful fibers. Not only will the Morgans be shearing in early May, replenishing the supply we recently diminished, but there will be fibers available at the guild meeting. We will be discussing washing and preparing the fibers for spinning. Why, when, and what type of wool would we want to blend with the Alpaca. I doubt any of us would want to leave without spinning at least a little bit.
If you have worked with Alpaca before, please come and share your experience with us. Feel free to bring your Alpaca fibers, hand cards, mini combs, spinning wheels, and questions.
Our challenge for 2012 is to make a vest from handspun yarn. The choice of fiber, style, technique, and even size is entirely up to you. The one requirement is that you spin the yarn yourself and then weave, knit, crochet, or use any other method to make a vest from it.
The dates for our exhibit in Harvard are confirmed for the last two weeks in September, Monday the 17th through Saturday the 29th. There will be no judging and no entry fees, and you are welcome to show whatever handspun projects you wish. The vests will be featured in this display, so start planning and get your sheep in a row now. We will also schedule a hands-on spinning demonstration during the exhibit. Last year's session was well-attended and got some folks started on spinning. Perhaps we'll see them again. The library will also welcome any of you who would like to sit by the fireplace and spin or knit during the show.
Programs for the new year are listed below. Some events may still be tentative.
There are now Just 4 months left until all show and challenge projects for 2012 must be complete. Start your planning now.
If you know of an upcoming event, or have a press release or web link, send it to Gary (tivo.overo at gmail.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 a prior 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 running 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 Monday before the meeting. Please submit 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.)