Guild and Workshop Saturday!

I am looking forward to the weaver’s and spinner’s guild this Saturday (NCWG).  The program and workshop has to do with spinning, and therefore…it’s all for me me me!!!

AND.

The workshop is going to be given by Maggie Casey (Start Spinning, Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins).  I have taken 2 other classes from her, and signed up (and paid) right away.  Good thing, too.  The workshop is full up, with a waiting list!

I am a lucky spinner, indeed!

In related spinning news, this is what will have to be taken off Molly, the Marvelous Matchless so she can go to Guild with me. (Molly loves road trips!)

Alpaca, woolen-spun, fine.  I have a total of 16 oz to spin, and intend to finish it as 2-ply.  Or that’s what I am thinking now. I don't have anything in particular in mind yet to knit it into.

Spinning My Way Back to You, Babe…

I have written of joining the Northern Colorado Weavers Guild, where spinners are also welcome.  And knitters, too.  And felters…and any other fiber artistes, really…

One of their missions is sharing knowledge and skills in all aspects of the fiber arts.  One of the ways that is done is through demonstrations, such as happened this past weekend at a 4-H Fun Fiber Fest.  Some of our group taught a class in beginning weaving, and others of us peopled a booth, demonstrating with our wheels and looms and spindles (….ohmy!).

I volunteered to go and spin. And I did, spin, that is, and I had a really good experience.

And while that may not seem like all that big of thing to some, it is huge for me on several counts.  I volunteered by myself…I went by myself….I did sort of know where I was going, but I had to find exactly the right place.  I knew, in general, the guild members are a friendly, kindly bunch, but I didn’t know any who would be there, and that is really pretty freaky for me, and often grounds for me to chicken out.  AND…I would be spinning with who knows who.  What if I wasn’t good enough?

Really.  I know….but I have been spinning for only three years, and it seems everyone I meet has been spinning WAY longer than that.  Especially at the guild and?  Back in the day?  I would still be apprenticing!

But on Saturday, I forged ahead, braved the final frontier, and packed myself and Molly, the Marvelous Matchless to the Fest.  Where we had Fun.  With Fiber....

I spun, and I didn’t spin badly, and had an awesome time.  I got to know some of the Guild members better, was able to tell some of those who happened by about what the Guild offers, and answered some questions about spinning in general (without being too intimidated!).  I also made a pretty big dent in the merino I am trying to get past.

And I was able to purchase some needed black yarn (perhaps for a penguin?  For a certain Professor Niece?  Hmmm???), and found a couple other excellent bargains, as well as a truly wonderful CVM/Romeldale fleece from Black Pines.  Which was neither a souvenir, or bargain priced, or needed, but of really excellent quality. (I am a queen of rationalization.)  (It is true.)

Legacy Lace from Brown Sheep (bargain!)

70% Wool/30% Silk (bargain!)

CVM/Romeldale Lamb (neither a bargain, nor souvenir....but really yummy!)

Guild meets this Saturday.  I am looking forward to it.  I am glad to be a part of this group, and look forward to getting to do more with, and know more about, them all.

The Guild

I got all brave and ventured out last Saturday. I visited the local weavers and spinners guild monthly meeting.

It’s scary for me to go to places alone where I know no one, but I figured that those who practiced the fiber arts probably would not be all crazy threatening…

And, indeed, they weren’t. In fact, I had a good time, and have already marked the rest of this year’s meeting on my calendar. I intend to join the guild this fall.

They are a numerous group, with probably 40 or 50 in attendance at this meeting, and I was not the oldest, nor the youngest. There was a lot of energy in the group. I would not use the word stodgy to describe them. At all. Very active in community education, they work a children’s education tent at the wool market in Estes, and a demonstration of weaving and spinning at the Scottish Festival (same place), too.

Even though they make visitors stand up and introduce themselves. That sort of action causes me to just die a little bit. But I forged onward. I had on my February Lady Sweater, and when I rose, someone asked if I had made my sweater!

‘Why, yes! Yes, I did, and thank you for asking…’

(Did I mention how what an intuitive and intelligent group they seem to be?)

So. The program for the day was presented on rigid heddle looms by someone from Schacht (whose name eludes me at this time…). Very inspiring. I found myself thinking, you know. I think I could learn how to do that…but ...just step away from the loom, ma'am, just step away from the loom... Not on this year’s things to do. I am sure that I could, you know, learn to weave. But really. I do not need another hobby. I don’t.

(Did I mention the guild rents equipment? Drum carders, wheels….and looms?)

Oh. And there was knitting, spindling, and crocheting going on, the whole while! during the meeting.

Seriously, I felt like I had come home.