BUTLER SPINNERS & WEAVERS GUILD
January 2008
Febuary 6 - Lee Dingus, Bead Weaving
March 5 - Barbara Campbell, Sewing with handwoven fabric.
April 2 - Susan Macmillen on the Ann Field Spinning Wool Beyond the Basics workshop
May 7 - Connie Davis - On Sophie Dorfi and spinning with a sitting distaff.
SPINNINGS FROM THE PRES
This time of year is typically a time I get to relax a little and find a project to do for myself.
I trekked out to my studio and studied the wall of colorful skeins of alpaca yarn to see what might entice me. As I looked at the different yarn weights and blends I realized I wanted something different. I could use this stuff anytime. I peeked in container after container of yarn and remnants of previous projects but nothing jumped out at me. The wall stacked with roving didn't do it either. What was wrong with me - all this fiber and no inspiration!!!
As I trudged back to the house, I reflected on the fun of planning, preparing and dying the warp for the PA State Farm Show. I remember the great team work in pulling off a win with such a successful end product. No wonder I couldn't find inspiration following that enjoyable and emotional event. This brought me to thoughts of the fun we had at MD Sheep and Wool and the Sheep to Shawl competition there. It was then it hit me - our team won 2nd place and we were each awarded a bag of cashmere fiber to spin. That would be my next project! Now if only I can find where I stashed it........
Announcements
SHEEP TO SHAWL COMPETITION
Congratulations to the Butler County Pedalers team for winning Grand Champion at the PA State Farm Show. The soft colors of the shawl inspired from the myriad of products in PA Agriculture was woven with a nice creamy Border Leicester fleece in a crepe weave. The fleece actually won the best fleece award this year. We shared the prize money for this with the farm that supplied the sheep. The first place winning took $200 and the shawl auctioned off for $850. A great way to start the new year. Congratulations again to the team.
FLEECE FOR
Sheepberry Farm who
provided the sheep for the Sheep To Shawl team in
Christine Flanagan
Sheepberry Farms
Minutes January 2, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 10:15 by guild president Wini Labrecque at the Butler Extension office. Wini thanked Susan McMillen for taking the minutes at the last meeting that were accepted without changes.
Treasurer Report: The treasurer's report was given by Carol B.
Membership List – The current membership list was circulated with an opportunity for those present to make corrections and add cell phones numbers if desired.
Library Report: Christine went through the new checkout process for books and magazines from the library. New books from Betty Hemfield’s library will be added to our guild library. Old magazines will be up for sale in the future. Christine highlighted a couple of interesting books in the collection. Angela asked about Interweave subscriptions for guild members at a reduced cost. Wini will check into this with Interweave Press. Kathy K asked about the Handwoven index and this will also be checked into. Wini thanked Christine for all her hard work on the library.
Old Business
Website - The website is up to date in many areas. The Show and Tell section was left as is for now. The Minutes section will be changed to fiber information. Pat C. offered to help include video links. The website is currently being maintained by Wini and hosted by www.dailyinnovations.com. The URL is still “butlerguild.org”. Angela asked about our guild not being included on many websites listing spinning and weaving guilds. If anyone finds that we are missing from a list, Wini offered herself as the guild contact if one wants to go ahead and add us.
New Business
Pam Frenchak was hospitalized Christmas Eve with back problems and spent some time there. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope she makes it back to guild meetings soon.
Maryland Sheep to Shawl – Maryland S&W Festival is May 2-4. Kathy passed around a sign up sheet for spinners and weavers and encourages any members who are interested in participating to contact her ASAP.
PA. Sheep to Shawl (
As always, I am happy to have a couple of people spin during the event both days for demo purposes. Let me know if you are interested. Submitted by member Barb Grossman
Penn’s Colony – We have been accepted into Penn’s Colony for September 2008. The following is a list of those people that expressed interest in participating this year. If you want to participate and your name is not on this list, please contact Wini Labrecque by email at strwvr@zoominternet.net or by phone at 724-272-4285 ASAP. I will be collected the booth fee from everyone at the guild meeting and I need to have an exact number of those participating to break down the cost accordingly. Right now cost per person is about $80 each. Thanks.
Participating thus far - Wini Labrecque, Carol Buttignol, Ruth Schnell,Kathy Knoth, Angela Fishman, Dennis Yenzi, Alvina Polka, Pat Clemson
Spin-In – Susan McMillen will host the first spin-in at her house in Saxonburg on Saturday, January 12 from 1:00-3:00.
Guild Anniversary Write-up – Christine reported that one of the magazines (Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot?) said they would include something in the letters section in a future edition. She did not hear from the others yet.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30.
Show and Tell
Wini – skein of alpaca and skein of wool from Nazareth Mills, sample shawl, two videos on painting warp,etc.
Susan McMillen – 4”X6” weavette loom, looking for other sizes
Jennie – double knit tube headband
Angela – half finished ear flap hat from Merino handspun
Pat C. – first felted knit hat
Marilyn – picture of kid born on Dec. 1
Linda – two knit teddy bears from handspun
Susan – balls of handspun alpaca
Christine – items of interest from library
Carol – colored weavettes in quilt design, scarf of variegated wool yarn
(Please excuse any oversights on the show and tell. I forgot to take notes and went from my recollection with help from a couple of others. Angela)
NOTE; PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAGS TO MEETINGS !!!!!!!
MEETING INFORMATION
We
meet the first Wednesday of every month at the Butler Cooperative Ext. Office
from 10AM to 2PM (unless otherwise
stated in the calendar). The extension office is located at
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
The Guild owns a variety of spinning and weaving equipment available to members to rent for $5.00 per week. The sheep to shawl teams have first priority on the equipment for an upcoming event. If interested in renting anything please contact Wini Labrecque at 724-272-4285.
NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
Please
send information for newsletter to Angela Fishman at
OFFICERS - President – Wini Labrecque – 724-272-4285 Vice President –Susan Dyer- 724-735-2177 Secretary – Connie Haswell – 724-865-9553 Treasurer – Carol Buttignol – 412-364-0306