Past Monthly Meetings

Topics from Past Monthly Meetings

May 26, 2010

Last meeting of the year! Annual Eat, Swap and Shop meeting. Members brought a dish to share for our pot luck brunch and things in their stash that needed a new home: books, fiber, yarns, equipment, for sale, trade or give away!

We met at a members home for our Annual Pot Luck and Swap meeting.

April 28, 2010

Guild Challenge: "Can you make it ugly?"

Members brought their challenge entry to the meeting. Keeping in mind, not made poorly, but made in a good technique. Any fiber medium was accepted.

March 31, 2010

The topic this month, "Ergonomics for the Fiberholic", presented by guild member Sharon Imler, National Certified Massage Therapist. Sharon discussed breathing, posture, stretching, and specific techniques to avoid injury for those who knit, weave, spin, crochet, and more!

We had a change of meeting location. The guild now meets at the Purcellville Train Station.

January 27, 2010

JOY (Just Our Yarns) trunk show.

February 24, 2010

Textile Museum program on preserving and displaying textiles.

November 18, 2009

A hand's on Mini Weaving Program for anyone wishing to try their hand at hemstitching, methods of hand finishing of handwovens and discussion of tie ups were available after show & tell. There was also the Holiday Napkin Exchange for those participating, Potluck Luncheon and items made for the American Cancer Society were be picked up.

The newly formed Spinning Study Group met after the meeting and luncheon.

October 28, 2009

Guild member Kelli Arrington did a program on the history of lace.

September 30, 2009

The program for September was "Where it all Begins". We had an extended show and tell where guild members brought in their very first project(s) in weaving, knitting, spinning or whatever technique to share with the group.

August 26, 2009

We were delighted to have Linda McDonough, owner of the Treasure House Hallmark store in Leesburg to speak to us about setting up effective sales displays.

May 27, 2009

Annual Pot Luck & Stash Swap/Sale. This was an opportunity to lighten your stash and at the same time help others build theirs. Members brought their fiber related items to sell.

There was a brief business meeting and election of 2009-2010 officers.

Special guest Bill Leinbach joined us. Bill is a collector of antique coverlets, textiles and weaving equipment. Bill brought a few of his antique spinning wheels from his collection. Bill had a few of his hand woven items for sale.

Bill then opened up the floor for questions on his process as a production weaver.

April 29, 2009

Sue Groundwater did a demonstration on how to embellish your weaving with beads. Using 8/2 tencel-warp, Schacht Wolf Pup loom, beads, and a crochet hook Sue showed us how to incorporate beads, without pre-stringing, into a pattern. We learned how to include beads in the weaving process at the whimsy of the designer. It was simple, quick-to-learn technique that allowed for adding a bit of sparkle to our weaving process. Sue had a loom available for those who wanted to give it a try.

March 25, 2009

Terri joined us at our March meeting. She discussed the history of Nantucket Lightship Baskets and how they are made.

February 25, 2009

Rae Cumbie joined us at our February meeting. She will gave a talk followed by a trunk show.

Rae Cumbie has been creating clothing for women and children in her home-based studio for over 20 years. Her custom gowns for weddings and special occasions have earned her a place as one of Baltimore's most sought-after dressmakers.

She also creates custom artful wearables and limited-edition jackets that have been shown at galleries and craft shows.

January 28, 2009

Meeting was canceled due to inclement weather.

November 19, 2008

"Holiday Celebration" and annual pot luck luncheon. Everyone brought a dish to share. After the meeting Dail Jones hostrf s Felted Christmas Ornament workshop (see description below).

October 29, 2008

Coordinators from Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (LAWS), Project Linus, and the American Cancer Society will present information on ways we can be helpful to their organizations. Each will have information on specific projects for our interested, talented, and generous members.

September 24, 2008

The Linen Study Group presented their creations and talked with us about their process, what they liked and did not like about using linen and answered questions we had.

Following the linen presentation there was a Trunk Show presented by Solitude.

Many of you know Sue Bundy and Gretchen Frederick, both Blue Ridge Guild members who were spinning and selling yarns from their individual farms. Three years ago, they started working together under the Solitude name, to also create artisan yarns from other local flocks. They have gained loyal local customers as well as knitters and fiber artists customers from all over the U.S. and Europe while selling in D.C. at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market.

Sue and Gretchen talked about their yarns, how the type of wool effect the way they design and what their natural best uses are. We were encouraged to bring knitted or woven pieces with their yarns, for show and tell. Solitude offered guild members a 10% discount at the meeting.

August 27, 2008

Discussion of pricing our knitting and weaving wares.

May 28, 2008
6th Anniversary Pot Luck Luncheon and "Annual Member's Stash Sale".

We met at Sykes Hall - Loudoun County (4H) Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg, Va.

April 30, 2008
Presentation of the slate of new officers for the 2008-2009 year. Voting will be in May. The Nuno Felted Scarf mini workshop was held after the meeting.

We met at Sykes Hall - Loudoun County (4H) Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg, Va.

March 26, 2008
Bill Leinbach

We met at Sykes Hall at the Loudoun County (4H) Fairgrounds - 17558 Dry Mill Road near Leesburg.

Bill shared traditional weaving equipment from his German Pennsylvanian heritage. He also had a show and tell of clothing, coverlets and handwoven linens from his extensive collection. Bill continues to weave contemporary pieces based on the pieces from years past. We were encouraged to bring our heirloom textiles, weaving equipment and wheels for identification. Bill demonstrated pick up weaving of letters. Bill also had goods for sale.

The nominating committee put forth a new slate of officer candidates at the meeting for voting in April.

February 29, 2008
"Rae Cumbie Trunk Show"

Rae Cumbie presented a trunk show of her fabulous jackets, scarves and other accessories she has created. Rae opened this up to all guild members, whether you were in her class or not. The trunk show started at 7pm and lasted about an hour or so, then Rae took questions and was available to anyone for one on one discussions. We met at Sykes Hall in the Loudoun County (4-H) Fairgrounds.

February 27, 2008
"Rug Hooking" hosted by Sue Brinkman

Sue Brinkman explained the types of backing, methods of hooking, materials needed, types of hooks, types of cutters, methods of dyeing fabric etc. Sue gave as much information as she has experience.

January 30, 2008
"Just Our Yarn (JOY) Trunk Show and Sale"

Diane Smith and Cathie Chung came back! They are the owners of Just Our Yarn. They purchase yarn 4-5 suppliers and handpaint it. Each colorway is unique. They brought along some new yarn offerings like superwash wool sock yarn.

November 28, 2007
"Holiday Celebration"
We had our annual pot luck luncheon held at the home of guild member Rebecca Brouwer.

There was also a needle felting mini workshop by Linda Brown.

October 31, 2007
"Spinning Demonstrations"
There will be a basic review of spinning and the Navajo Ply, Andean Ply, and Thick and Thin will be demonstrated.

Sharing of our Blue Ridge challenge items has been rescheduled from the September meeting to the October meeting.

The Challenge: In your own way, interpret the theme of "Blue Ridge" using fiber/yarn based medium in your own creative way.

September 26, 2007

"The Coverlet Book"

Helene Bress will be sharing her 20 year journey of producing her book. There will be books on hand for purchase and you are welcome to bring your volumes by the author for signing.

A review by Laurie Coolidge, Oak Park Journal

Helene Bress is a weaver who has written several other books on weaving before writing The Coverlet Book. She has been fascinated by coverlets and has spent over 20 years collecting the information that she has incorporated into this book. She tried to get into the mind of the early coverlet weavers and explain it to us in easily understood language.

This book only deals with non-jacquard coverlets. Some of the weave structures covered include Monk's Belt, overshot, double weave and summer and winter. Each chapter consists of a generalized overview of the weave structure and then moves into the technicalities. For those who are not technically oriented, there is a gallery of coverlets at the end of each chapter.

The book is well documented. Helene Bress used only original source material consisting on the coverlets themselves, early linens, 18th and 19th century drafts, weavers' personal notebooks and printed pattern books.

I believe this book will be a major contribution to the understanding of North American coverlets in the tradition of Keep Me Warm One Night (Burnham) and Of Coverlets (Wilson).

Warmth, beauty, and art: our early American hand-woven coverlets have it all. And, each one is unique and interesting.

Here is a fascinating study - all based on original research from primary sources: from the coverlets themselves, the early draft books and collections of early individual drafts. The author, an intensely curious weaver, explores all the facets of each coverlet, each of their many structures and variations and then, with gusto, passes this information along to the reader in a readable, meaningful and interesting way.

These volumes are filled with photographs, many in color, some in black and white, and many with close-ups. There are draw downs of each coverlet. Charts, fascinating facsimiles of early drafts and explanations galore fill the pages. The author incorporates these photos, draw downs, facsimiles and charts to make complex concepts easy to understand.

A chapter is set aside for each weave system and its variations: Overshot, Twill in its many forms, Turned Twill, Double Weave, Summer and Winter, Star and Diamond, and some miscellaneous weaves. For each of these chapters there's an overview of the coverlets analyzed followed by a detailed discussion and explanation of its structure Then there's a gallery featuring a wide range of coverlets, a draw down and photograph of each plus an off-the-cuff description of it and a box containing its vital statistics. Always, there are anomalies and they're discussed with great delight. How do you read early drafts? What do they look like when woven? What can we learn from them? All this is explained and shown. Many of these patterns are extraordinary!

There's a chapter devoted to the motifs found on the coverlets, with charts showing the progression of each motif from its simplest to most complex form. If you're a pine tree admirer, look in the Trees and Churches chapter for a host of trees, their origins and how to weave them. Ever wonder how patterning evolved? Possibly the way explored in the Evolution of Patterning chapter, a just-for-fun chapter with room for serious thought

There's so much more. From the casual coverlet lover or collector to the serious weaver each will find much to learn, much to add to his or her repertoire —and so much to enjoy.

Perhaps the best thing about the book is the author herself she writes as if she is speaking to you as a friend. You get the feeling that she is right there with you as you are going through the book - explaining, clarifying, just holding your hand making sure that everything is crystal clear.

August 29, 2007
Kick-off of a new year!

"Pricing Your Goods" & BRSWG Goals for the Year.

We met at the Purcellville Library 220 E. Main Street, Purcellville, VA in the Robey Room on the second floor. This was a temporary meeting place while the Franklin Arts Center is granted their Certificate of Occupancy permit.

BRSWG Membership Dues ($25.00) are due by August 31, 2007.

May 30, 2007
5th Anniversary Luncheon and "Swap 'N Shop". Really just another excuse to eat lots of great food, socialize and augment your ever increasing stock of fiber and yarn.

The location of our meeting was Melissa Weaver Dunning's home.

April 25, 2007
All members were invited to share "Your Mother's Pearls: Our Best Tips and Shortcuts".

Sue Groundwater and Cath Dodds demonstrated spindle spinning. Members were invited to bring in a spindle to the meeting.

Elections in April!

Slate of officers:

Rebecca Fox - President
Beth Wilson - Vice President
Kelli Arrington - Treasurer
Karen Grosse - Secretary
Sandy Lund - Membership

Volunteer Chair appointed positions:

Newsletter - Linda Brown
Web Site - Terri Sackett
Fair/Sales Events - Lauri Sisney
Historian/Scrapbook - Betsy Anderson

March 28, 2007
At our March meeting we discussed potential workshops, road trips and programs for the next guild year.

February 28, 2006
"Nantucket Lightship Baskets" (Why do they cost so much anyway?)
Terri Sackett shared her knowledge of Nantucket and the baskets that are unique to the island.

January 31, 2006
"Just Our Yarn - Trunk Show"
Diane Smith and Cathie Chung are the owners of Just Our Yarn (JOY) they talked about their beautiful yarns and roving. They had an inventory sale as well.

November 29, 2006
"Dyeing Your Socks Off"
Our meeting was held at Sue Groundwater's shop Frog Eye Fiber Emporium. Sue Groundwater and Rebecca Fox explained and demonstrated specific dyeing techniques for making your own colorful sock yarns. In addition we had our holiday luncheon at the same meeting.

October 25, 2006
Program Cancelled
Guild members laughed, shared stories, enjoyed "show and tell", and just generally had a good time.

September 27, 2006
"Holey Lace, Batman!"
Beth Wilson and Kelli Arrington discussed woven, knitted, crocheted, tatted lace, cut-work and what makes the general structure of lace. Everyone was invited to bring samples of lace that they are not sure about to have it identified and in general to share with the group.

August 30, 2006
"Tartan Plaid: Our Favorite Color"
Melissa Dunning gave an overview of tartans in general and helpful hints/instructions specifically related to the Tartan Workshop scheduled in September.

Kick-off of the 2006-2007 year as a formalized guild.

Created on 03/27/2007 06:11 PM by sackett
Updated on 05/27/2010 08:55 PM by sackett