UPCOMING 2019-2020 MEETING DATES
November 21 - speaker: Judi Pettite, owner of BioHue. "Living Color: Art and process for dyers, painters, printers, sculptors, and more". Link to Judi's site on the Fibershed web site.
December 14 - Holiday Party at Vilija's. Potluck with ornament exchange. Bring a dish to share. Bring a handmade or purchased wrapped sheep ornament if you wish to participate in the ornament exchange. Guild members only, please.
May 23, 2020 - Spinning at the Winery
MEETING MINUTES
There were no "official" minutes taken at the October meeting so Wendy provided some information for the blog:
Joan A. talked about CNCH and Return to Sender. Contact Joan if you have any questions.
Keep working on your "Colors of the World" project that was started a while back. The finished products will be used at CNCH for the T2T display.
The guest speakers gave a very interesting talk about flax (see the next 'article'), and some guild members acquired seeds after the meeting. The time to plant flax in California is now, and Wendy reports that she planted her seeds and is waiting for them to come up ... we await news on her progress!
Joan A. talked about CNCH and Return to Sender. Contact Joan if you have any questions.
Keep working on your "Colors of the World" project that was started a while back. The finished products will be used at CNCH for the T2T display.
The guest speakers gave a very interesting talk about flax (see the next 'article'), and some guild members acquired seeds after the meeting. The time to plant flax in California is now, and Wendy reports that she planted her seeds and is waiting for them to come up ... we await news on her progress!
CHICO FLAX PROJECT
Linda B. kindly contributed this overview of the flax presentation that was given at the Diablo Weavers meeting (and at the T2T meeting the previous evening):
On October 24, Sandy Fisher and Dual Van Alstyne from the Chico Flax project spoke about their 9 year long project to produce a fabric sourced locally from California. With much information from the Belgium Linen group, and help from the Agriculture, Business and Engineering departments of University of California, Chico, they have now been able to offer a linen-wool blend yarn for sale through their web site. Processing is done by Mendocino Woolen Mill in Ukiah, CA.
The long series of experiments in planting times and methods of processing are finally showing their ideas and hopes of flax production in Northern California are possible. The fiber production flax planting is done in the winter months and the seed production planting is done in the warmer weather. These seeds are available for purchase. Currently, the project is working on planting a hedge row around their acreage that will provide protection, living space for wild life and natural dye sources. Companion planting and cover crops include fava beans, fescues, legumes, etc. The grounds are on an old almond orchard, complete with a barn. They have 3.75 acres planted now and are working on a large composting area specializing in fungal growth to help add tilth and enrichments to the land. Soil needs a 1:1 ratio of fungus to bacteria. They grow 1500 pounds of straw per acre currently. One half acre is currently set aside to try a new variety of flax.
During processing, which includes a very time sensitive harvest and wet retting of the plants that produces a compost tea, friends, guild members and college students are rounded up to process 150 pounds of plants a day for 3 weeks. May 9, 2020, will be a chance to attend a full day seminar on the entire production process. Check their website for registration. The Chico Flax project participates in Fibershed as well.
Linda B.
On October 24, Sandy Fisher and Dual Van Alstyne from the Chico Flax project spoke about their 9 year long project to produce a fabric sourced locally from California. With much information from the Belgium Linen group, and help from the Agriculture, Business and Engineering departments of University of California, Chico, they have now been able to offer a linen-wool blend yarn for sale through their web site. Processing is done by Mendocino Woolen Mill in Ukiah, CA.
The long series of experiments in planting times and methods of processing are finally showing their ideas and hopes of flax production in Northern California are possible. The fiber production flax planting is done in the winter months and the seed production planting is done in the warmer weather. These seeds are available for purchase. Currently, the project is working on planting a hedge row around their acreage that will provide protection, living space for wild life and natural dye sources. Companion planting and cover crops include fava beans, fescues, legumes, etc. The grounds are on an old almond orchard, complete with a barn. They have 3.75 acres planted now and are working on a large composting area specializing in fungal growth to help add tilth and enrichments to the land. Soil needs a 1:1 ratio of fungus to bacteria. They grow 1500 pounds of straw per acre currently. One half acre is currently set aside to try a new variety of flax.
During processing, which includes a very time sensitive harvest and wet retting of the plants that produces a compost tea, friends, guild members and college students are rounded up to process 150 pounds of plants a day for 3 weeks. May 9, 2020, will be a chance to attend a full day seminar on the entire production process. Check their website for registration. The Chico Flax project participates in Fibershed as well.
Linda B.
SOME INTERESTING ARTICLES
From clay artifacts, scientists learn how fabrics were made long ago
Hand Spinning News: This month includes links to articles on shepherding a flock across London Bridge (a tradition dating back to the 12th century), a carbon negative sweater, Viking spindles, quill-modified EEW Nano, and more.
Longaberger Basket Hotel
Merriam-Webster: the whimsical and historical world of knitting terms
Hand Spinning News: This month includes links to articles on shepherding a flock across London Bridge (a tradition dating back to the 12th century), a carbon negative sweater, Viking spindles, quill-modified EEW Nano, and more.
Longaberger Basket Hotel
Merriam-Webster: the whimsical and historical world of knitting terms
HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT MERIDIAN JACOBS
Friends are helping
guild member Robin Lynde and her family by opening up her farm shop
during scheduled times for holiday shopping. I hope some of you can
stop by Meridian Jacobs
farm in Vacaville during these open shop dates. Dates / times may change and more may be added, so check back here on the blog for the latest:
Saturday, November 30 10:00 - 4:00
Friday, December 6 10:00 - 3:00, also Spinners Day Out if the weather is good - all spinners, knitters, etc. will be outdoors, not in the shop. Please bring a chair.
Thursday, December 12 10:00 - 4:00
Saturday, December 14 10:00 - 4:00
SOME UPCOMING FIBER EVENTS
Fibershed Co-op Marketplace at the Ferry Building Farmers Market, San Francisco, Nov 23, Nov 30, Dec 21.
Fibershed Wool and Fine Fiber Symposium, Pt Reyes Station, November 16, 2019. (SOLD OUT, but the mid-day shopping and demos are free to the public and very fun - no ticket needed!)
Impact: Climate Change. Contemporary Tapestry from Tapestry Weavers West and Tapestry Weavers in New England. San Francisco, December 16 - March 13, 2020
Sacramento Weavers and Spinners Guild "All About Color" Open House and Sale, Sacramento, February 8 - 9, 2020.
Stitches West, Santa Clara, February 20 - 23, 2020
CNCH 2020 "Finding The Artist Within", Burlingame. April 3-5, 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
Fibershed Wool and Fine Fiber Symposium, Pt Reyes Station, November 16, 2019. (SOLD OUT, but the mid-day shopping and demos are free to the public and very fun - no ticket needed!)
Impact: Climate Change. Contemporary Tapestry from Tapestry Weavers West and Tapestry Weavers in New England. San Francisco, December 16 - March 13, 2020
Sacramento Weavers and Spinners Guild "All About Color" Open House and Sale, Sacramento, February 8 - 9, 2020.
Stitches West, Santa Clara, February 20 - 23, 2020
CNCH 2020 "Finding The Artist Within", Burlingame. April 3-5, 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
Black Rock Ranch (Stinson Beach)
Crockett Fiber Arts Studio (Crockett)
Fibershed (various locations)
Fiber Circle Studio (Cotati)
Meridian Jacobs (Vacaville)
West County Fiber Arts (Sebastopol)
Windrush Farm (Petaluma)
Crockett Fiber Arts Studio (Crockett)
Fibershed (various locations)
Fiber Circle Studio (Cotati)
Meridian Jacobs (Vacaville)
West County Fiber Arts (Sebastopol)
Windrush Farm (Petaluma)