UPCOMING 2019-2020 MEETING DATES
August 28 - guild meeting. 2019-2020 theme: Old Becomes New Again. Bring your ideas for projects, programs, and speakers, and bring your cotton spinning samples from our summer picnic for Show & Tell.
September 25 - speaker: Brooke Sinnes, owner of Sincere Sheep
October 24 - speaker: Sandy Fisher and Durl Van Alstyne of Chico Flax
November 21 - speaker: Judi Pettite, owner of BioHue
October 24 - speaker: Sandy Fisher and Durl Van Alstyne of Chico Flax
November 21 - speaker: Judi Pettite, owner of BioHue
December 14 - Holiday Party at Vilija's
May 23, 2020 - Spinning at the Winery
NEW! LAMBTOWN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Lambtown committee has asked for more volunteers. Festival volunteers receive a tote bag and $10 in EATS bucks for 4 or more hours of service. Anyone volunteering for multiple days receives a Lambtown Festival t-shirt. You can sign up here.
NEW! "ESTATE" SALE AT MERIDIAN JACOBS
Visit the farm and see what's on sale - extra yarn and equipment that needs to be moved out. Equipment includes a floor loom, drum carder, spinning wheel, great wheel, and more. Also, Robin's new Timm Ranch Solano County local blend yarn for 2019 just arrived at the shop and will be available for purchase.
Friday September 6, 9:30-3 (this is also Spinners Day Out)
Saturday September 7, 9:30-2
Sunday, September 8 1-4
NEW! LICHEN DYE INFORMATION
During the August meeting, guild President Wendy L. mentioned lichen dyeing. Here are some resources. Be sure to review the code of ethics for harvesting lichens (in the first article, 'Collecting' section) before you head out with your basket.
Getting Started With Lichen Dyes by Alissa Allen. This is a great overview article and also has instructions for the C (chlorine) test that Doris B. mentioned last night to determine if a lichen has orchil (purple dyeing) properties.
Lichen Dyes: The New Source Book by Karen Casselman
A Field Guide to California Lichens by Stephen Sharnoff (for ID info, not dyeing)
Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest by Bruce McCune (for ID info, not dyeing)
Mushroom and Lichen Dyers United is a very active international Facebook group. It's a closed group, so there should be a link on the page for requesting to become a member. Using the 'search' field in this group is extremely useful. For example, I searched on "Flavopunctelia", which is the purple-dyeing lichen that Doris B. talked about last night and found an entry that I posted in 2017. This shows 1) downed fence post covered in lichen, Solano County 2) closeup of Flavopunctelia flaventior, and 3) the orange flash that occurs during a C test if the test is positive.
Lisa
NEW! SPIN-OFF, FALL 2019
The latest issue of Spin-Off magazine includes a review of Stephany Wilkes' book Raw Material, information about Carolyn Greenwood's Handpainted Heathered Yak/Silk Roving bundle, and an article about Robin Lynde's Meridian Jacobs Farm Club!
2019 - 2020 DUES
Treasurer Pam M. will be collecting dues for 2019-2020 at the August and September meetings. Dues are $25 per person, or $30 for a family membership. Cash (exact change preferred) and checks are accepted, no credit cards.
SPIN TOGETHER
TNNA has cancelled Spinzilla for now, but there is a new event called 'Spin Together' that runs from October 6 - October 12th. Find out all about it on the Spin Together web site.
"LONG THREAD MEDIA" FORMED
Long Thread Media LLC is a new company that has purchased Spin Off, Handwoven, and Piecework magazines from Interweave/Peak Media Properties. Long Thread Media was founded in 2019 by Interweave founder Linda Ligon, longtime editor Anne Merrow, and former Interweave executive John Bolton. Craft Industry Alliance article.
WOODEN CLOTHES? AVOCADO DYE = MILLENNIAL PINK?
I knew I had to read the article when I saw the headline, Wooden clothes on the recycled Christmas list? Find this and other interesting links on the Pacific Textile Arts web site.
And for you avid natural dyers - avocado dye in the New York Times.
For more fiber news, follow the Textile Arts Council on Facebook.
For more fiber news, follow the Textile Arts Council on Facebook.
SPINDLES & FLYERS GUILD UPDATE
The Spindles & Flyers guild meeting location has moved to Berkeley. Address and more information is available on their web site.
PRESENTATION ABOUT FIBERSHED, SEPTEMBER 3
Robin Lynde (guild member) will speak at a talk hosted by Valley Stitchers and Fiber Artists Guild. Visitors are encouraged and welcome, no entry fee.
TOPIC: Fibershed - Bringing Sustainability to Fiber Farming
10 a.m. September 3rd - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Dr., Pleasant Hill
Robin, a name familiar to most spinners, is the owner of Meridian Jacobs Sheep Farm in Vacaville. Robin specializes in raising the multi-horned, black and white sheep for the quality of their wool. Her products are a favorite of spinners, weavers and knitters. She has won numerous awards for the quality of her sheep's fleece.
From Robin: "The Fibershed concept began with one woman's personal challenge to cloth herself for a year by sourcing all materials and labor from within 150 miles of her home. In a relatively short time Fibershed has become a non-profit organization and a movement with influence and affiliates around the country. I provided wool for that one-year wardrobe and have been a supporter ever since. I am a founding board member of the newly formed Northern California Fibershed Marketplace Agricultural Coop, an entity that will support direct marketing of our locally produced goods. I will talk about the Fibershed concept and programs, briefly discuss issues with the global textile industry, and explain what Fibershed has done for me as a sheep farmer. Presentation includes PowerPoint slides and a "trunk show" of fiber, yarn, handwoven articles, and other farm products."
www.meridianjacobs.com
MEETING MINUTES
No meeting in July.
SOME UPCOMING FIBER EVENTS
A Tradition of Making: California Native Basketry, curated in partnership with Julia Parker. Randall Museum of Science, Nature & the Arts, San Francisco, through September 2019
September 17 - HGA Convergence 2020 Priority Registration opens, general registration opens October 1.
Yosemite Miwok-Paiute Basketry Workshop with Julia Parker and family, Yosemite National Park, September 27 - 29, 2019
Fibershed Gala 2019, Petaluma, September 28, 2019
Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, Canby, OR, September 28 - 29, 2019
Lambtown, Dixon, October 5 - 6. Workshops will be held October 3 - 6. Sheep to Shawl is on Sunday, October 6th.
Rhinebeck (New York State Sheep & Wool Festival), Rhinebeck, NY, October 19 - 20, 2019. Yes, there are T2T guild members attending this festival!
Fiber Fusion Northwest, Monroe, WA, October 19 - 20, 2019.
Fibre Market and Flax Project exhibits, Chicago Art Institute, through October 20, 2019. Not local, but looks like they would definitely worthwhile seeing if in the Chicago area! Fibre Market focuses on wool fibers recycle from discarded sweaters using industrial sorting machines. Flax Project follows the investigation of what happens to the 10% of flax grown in an area of Europe that stays local (the other 90% going to China) and to find out whether locally produced flax could again become a viable commodity. Article in Selvedge magazine.
Fibershed Wool and Fine Fiber Symposium, Pt Reyes Station, November 16, 2019.
Impact: Climate Change. Contemporary Tapestry from Tapestry Weavers West and Tapestry Weavers in New England, San Francisco, December 16 - March 13, 2020
Stitches West, Santa Clara, February 20 - 23, 2020
HGA Convergence 2020, Knoxville, TN, July 23 - 30, 2020. Priority registration opens September 17, 2019, general registration opens October 1, 2019
FiberEvents - a calendar of wool festivals, fiber festivals, knitting, crocheting & craft gatherings/events in the U.S. and the world
Clara Parkes' Knitter's Review - knitting and fiber events
ONGOING FIBER-RELATED CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Crockett Fiber Arts Studio (Crockett)
Fibershed (various locations)
Fiber Circle Studio (Cotati)
Meridian Jacobs (Vacaville)
West County Fiber Arts (Sebastopol)
Windrush Farm (Petaluma)