May 2nd 2009 Meeting Reminder…

Just a quick post to remind everyone that the next meeting is Saturday, May 2nd.  The new meeting starting time is 11pm, but we are there till 4pm. Come all day or for just part of the meeting.  

Last month we focused on many different types of lace (photos coming) with plans to continue with a lace workshop in the May meeting.  However, with shearing season upon us, we decided instead to bring in samples of many different types of fibers, including many different breeds of sheep wool so the members could compare the qualities of each.

Photos of sheep owned by members will be added soon as well as some updated event news…

March 2009 Meeting Notes…

The guild has a new meeting time.  We are starting at 11am rather than 1pm but still going to 4pm.   The business/discussion part of the meeting will be at about 1pm or so. That allows for a couple of hours to work on projects, visit..  then a break for lunch and guild business and news… the another couple of hours for sharing projects, etc.  The longer hours give members more flexibility with coming later or leaving early. 

At March’s meeting those interested in learning how to weave learned how to make a warp.  This is an ongoing project that will continue at each meeting in addition to whatever else we have going on. 

The main part of the meeting was De-stash Day.   Members brought in fiber & craft related things to sell, trade, donate. There was something for everyone. 

Two new members joined. 

Some photos from shared projects;

     

At the next meeting we will be exploring lace work. Several guild members have volunteered to demonstrate a variety of  lace techniques, bobbin, shuttle, needle, crochet, knitted and more..      We will then follow with a workshop in April with the lace technique members choose.   

Photos of the Entangled Fibers exhibit in the previous post …

Upcoming events page is in the process of being updated, be sure to check back soon to see guild and other events.

Women In The Arts – Entangled Fibers

In celebration of Women History Month, the guild participated in a Women In The Arts exhibit ENTANGLED FIBERS.  Here are a few photos fom that exhibit.

Back view of the same case…

Second Case

 Same Case

The exhibit continues all month long at the Steele Memorial Library, be sure to stop in and see it along with quilts and other displays by other local groups.

 

February 2009 Notes, March meeting reminder…

We had quite a few visitors at the February meeting, with several joining.   Updates on old business discussed, also new events and items of interest to guild members.  Members shared projects.  

Exhibit  – Rita Rhodes from The Community Arts Center Of Elmira spoke to the members, giving updates and guidelines for the Entangled Fibers Exhibit as part of  Women In The Arts Month.  Due to work on the communty building, the exhibit will be at the Steele Memorial Library through the Month of March and possibly longer. Several members had their exhibit items ready, other items are to be dropped off before exhibit opening.

Banner – We started working on the guild banner.  Members shared their ideas for the banner, some decisions were made.  Each Member will be designing and creating their individual ’squares’  With all the variety of talents, knitting, weaving, crocheting, felting, jewelry making, quilting, mixed media and so much more, it will be interesting to see what each member creates.

March 7th Meeting – Destash Day -  Members will be bringing  craft or fiber related (including finished or partially finished items, storage items, tools, etc) things they do not want and offering them at a low price, sometimes free, in the effort to clean out storage areas and stashes at home. While only members are allowed to participate and set up for destash day, visitors are welcome to come and see if there is anything they may want.    This was a very successful event last year, with many good items finding new homes.

February 2009 Meeting Reminder…

The next guild meeting will be on February 7th, 1 – 4 pm.   We will been starting the work on our banner, mostly making some final decisions on what we want to do, how large each individual member square can be, what we want to back it with, final size etc. 

There will also be some needle felting supplies for those who want to sharpen up their needle felting skills.

Members are asked to bring samples of what they will be submitting to the Women in Arts exhibit in March

January Roc Day Notes…

On January 3rd, the guild held its 2nd annual Roc Day Celebration.

 Members brought food for the Dish to Pass luncheon.  There was a good variety of delicious food, evidence that our guild members talents extend beyond  fiber arts.   

6 vendors had a variety of items for sale, fiber, fleeces, yarn, supplies, note cards, bags, stitch markers, jewelry and much more, something for everyone. 

Contest theme was ‘Winter Games’.  Prizes were awarded in the following categories: Knitting, Crochet, Drop Spindle, Wheel Spinning.

Several donated items were raffled off.

After a long day of fun, while everyone packed to go home, it was time to take a nap…

Shown is a little visitor named Tyler who seemed to think the Jacob sheep pelts from Amazing Grace farm were very soft and comfy indeed.

 

Chemung Valley Fiber Arts Guild – 1st Winter Games

On January 3rd,  2009, the guild will be holding its 2nd Roc Day Celebration.   Just like many guilds who hold a Roc Day event, we will have vendors, a dish-to-pass-luncheon for members and guests, kids corner, raffles and more..    Instead of  inviting a speaker.. we’ve chosen to have our first winter games.. 

From our poster:

CHEMUNG VALLEY FIBER ARTS GUILD

1ST WINTER GAMES CONTEST GUIDELINES

OR

MY MIND IS FASTER THAN MY HANDS

Saturday, January3, 2009, Bethany Lutheran Church, 265 S. Walnut St. Elmira, NY 11 AM – 4PM

COME ONE! COME ALL! THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Crocheters, Knitters, Spinners (both spindles and wheel spinners)

Games guaranteed to put a smile on your face

Compete for one of the following Great Prizes:

- A drop spindle played with by 2 puppies in the bitting stage

- Roving that has recently been left out in the rain

- Expensive yarn guarnteed to split with every stitch

- A personal favorite – the ball of yarn needed to complete the last sleeve of the sweater-that will take hours to untangle

Materials Needed for the games: Crocheters – G hook,  Knitters- size 8 needles.  Both will need worsted weight yarn, some yarn and roving will be available for the games.  Spinners will need to bring a spindle and/ or wheel with empty bobbin.  Extra materials will be available

(in not so small print)

Suggestions for the 1st Summer Games

Watermelon-seed spitting and stone skipping contests. If we have inclement weather and move inside, there will be pick up sticks and jacks.

The Summer Games are subject to the majority vote from the body of the talented members of the guild who are dedicated to preserving fun and laughter whenever they meet.

December Meeting Notes…

Members met on December 6th,  bringing holiday treats to share. 

The meeting involved a bit of  planning for future meetings and Roc Day in January.    Afterwards, members shared snacks, had a gift exchange and worked on small woven decorations. 

Reminder:  If you haven’t paid for next years dues, please do so soon. 

Rock day info to follow in the next post….

December 6, ‘08 Meeting reminder

The next meeting  of the Chemung Valley guild will be on Saturday December 6th, 1-4pm.

There will be a gift exchange for those who want to participate.  If you bring a gift, you will be able to pick a gift.  A homeade gift would be preferable, keep it small, ornament or similar item. 

Feel free to bring cookies or other holiday treat to share.

Don’t forget to bring  several colors of bright yarn for the God’s Eye ornaments we will be making, a variegated yarn will also work. 

And we will have more wheat weaving supplies on hand for those who want to work on some more favors or ornaments.

November 2008 meeting notes…

On November 1st, the guild celebrated its first anniversary as a guild.

Members brought snacks to share.  For the show & tell part of the meeting, members brought items they  worked on during the year.  

Displayed along with all the member projects, was the guild project.  This is the finished shawl that guild members have been working on during demostrations in the community.  The weaving pattern for this is called Crammed and Spaced.

Fleece To Shawl demo project

The last part of the meeting was a Wheat Weaving demo.  Members worked on small projects and enjoyed it so much that they decided to do some more wheat weaving at the next meeting.

Looking ahead….  gift and cookie exchange at the December meeting.    More details will be posted soon.