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Open House and Sale

Please join us for our annual Guild open house, show and sale. All fiberists are welcome. Bring your spinning or weaving or knitting or crochet or lockerhooking or whatever and join us for a day of fun and relaxation. There will be a short meeting at 9:15 to install next year's officers - and then we'll be concentrating on fiber fun!

Vendors Include:
Guild Members With Items to Sell:
The historic Dudley House, a lovely Victorian home famous for its holiday craft boutiques, is at the corner of Loma Vista and N. Ashwood in Ventura, just west of Ventura College.

Fees for selling at the Open House are $25 per space (for guild members 10%). You will need to provide your own tables. Food is available nearby.

We hope you'll spend the day and enjoy the advent of fall and the holiday season with us.

Posted by Elisa at 6:28 PM No comments: Links to this post 
Sheep To Shawl 2006

This year's Sheep to Shawl at the Ventura County Fair was a huge success - and the shawl, modeled by Sylvia, was one of our best ever. The winning bidder paid $466 at the auction for this beauty. And Glenda's knit socks were an incredible hit, earning an additional $90!

We had fewer participants this year, but with some hard work and dedicated spinning, we were able to keep Michelle's shuttles filled with freshly plied Romney and finish in the allotted time. It was Michelle's idea to add beads to the fringe - beautiful! The shawl was donated to the hospice that cared for the winning bidder's wife prior to her death. We have lots of leftovers from the Romney we spun for the shawl. Sylvia has purchased another Romney fleece, in brown/black this time. It will be washed and picked, and then in January she will give out portions of it to Guild members who are willing to spin singles. Norma has volunteered to ply the singles into thread, which will then be used as warp for next yearÂs shawl.

Cheryl and Sylvia will dye the remaining white fleece to be spun and used as weft at next year's fair. Then we will really be weaving an entirely handspun product. Anyone who is interested in spinning singles, please contact Sylvia at SALeidigATsbcglobalDOTnet.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Sheep to Shawl! See you next year.

Posted by Elisa at 9:55 PM 1 comment: Links to this post Sunday, October 1, 2006

Anacapa Fine Yarns

Congratulations to Anacapa Fine Yarns, recently voted the #1 Yarn Shop in Ventura County in the Ventura County Reporter's "Best Of Readers Poll"! To celebrate, Lois and crew are having a 20% - 40% off sale on select yarns during the entire month of October. Be sure to stop by, check out the great yarns and join in the celebration.

These October classes still have openings:

Multi-Directional Diagonal Scarf - One Session - Sunday, October 1,; $30, supplies not included. Level: Know knit stitch confidently. Instructor: Barbara Selesnick. This scarf looks complicated but actually is fun and simple once you learn an easy method of short rows and increases/decreases. You will also learn how to add on a new ball of yarn, how to make and apply fringe, and how to weave in yarn ends. If you are interested in picking up a few more skills and ending up with a scarf that sparks conversation, this class is for you.

Finishing I—Gorgeous Seams - One Session - Sunday, October 8, noon to 3 p.m.; $30, supplies not included. Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Barbara Selesnick. Learn several different ways to seam sweaters and projects so that they look professionally done! Discover which seams work best for different circumstances, how to end up with a beautiful join at the top and bottom, the use of selvage stitches, and some tips & tricks along the way to end up with a beautifully finished garment.

Vest of Many Colors-Two Sessions – Sunday, October 15 and 29, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $45, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Marcy Abrams. In this class, we will make a unisex button-down vest, learning skills that will prepare knitters for more advanced sweater-making projects, such as shaping armholes and neck lines, creating ribbed borders, and making buttonholes. A pattern with sizing for children and adults will be provided.

Block Your Way to Success - One Session - Sunday, October 15, 1 to 4 p.m., $30, plus $8 material fee (for blocking board) paid to instructor on the day of class. Supplies not included, Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Barbara Selesnick. Has anyone ever said to you that your knitted garments look store-bought? It will happen when you learn the tricks and techniques of blocking. Learn several different methods of blocking, the blocking properties of different yarns, and the ability to create garments that will always fit the way YOU want. You will also learn to correct many mistakes with finished items through the blocking process.

Top Down Sweater - Two Sessions – Saturday, October 21 and 28, 2 to 5 p.m.; $45, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Carol May. Learn the simple technique of knitting a sweater from the top down, with a saddle shoulder. When you learn this method, you will be able to make any sweater, for any member of the family. In class, we will make a miniature version; it will fit a 12 month old baby. We will make an easy cardigan, but you will also have directions for a pullover with various necklines, all in adult and children sizes.

Intro to Color Knitting-Intarsia - One Session - Sunday, October 22, noon to 3 p.m.; $30, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Barbara Selesnick. Learn to work from a graph to combine different blocks of color to create a design. You will learn the basics of knitting intarsia, tools that make things easier, tips and tricks for success. We will also create a graph of your own design for a second project.

Posted by Elisa at 9:13 PM No comments: Links to this post Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Lambtown National Spinning Contest

Congratulations to our very own Diana Lewis for placing second overall in the "National" spinning contest held in Dixon, CA on July 28. Diana also took second place in Strategic Use of Fibers and third place for Length of Fiber. Annie Toth also participated in the contest and was the only spindle spinner in a field of wheels.

You can read all about Lambtown in the latest edition of Fiber Femmes. The complete article on the spinning contest is here. Congratulations, Diana and Annie!

Yarn Tails Tags: Spinning, Lambtown Spinning Contest, epscraps
Posted by Elisa at 9:38 PM 1 comment: Links to this post Sunday, September 3, 2006

An Evening with Michael Rohde Photo caption: Integrity by Michael Rohde,
hand dyed wool & silk on linen warp.
An Evening With Michael Rohde
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Technology Development Center
5200 Valentine Rd., Ventura
$10 General Admission - $5 Students & Seniors
Free to FOTM Members & Students Under 18.
Limited seating. Reservations are required: 805.653.2501.
Early arrival guarantees a seat.
Michael Rohde's works are the result of a process that starts with a question: "What if?" Subtle changes in color and yarn create works that become meditative objects that delight the eye and capture the imagination. He is inspired by color, by geometry and the unpredictable nature of color relationships. Seeing him at work, seated at a large loom, recalls an image of an organist exploring the intricacies of a Bach fugue.

Michael has been weaving for more than thirty years. He was trained as a bio-chemist and for a number of years pursued a science career while at the same time becoming increasingly curious about how various yarns behaved on the loom, and how slight variations in dyes could create a different emotional and aesthetic impact.

About 10 years ago, he began to dedicate himself only to weaving. His success is witnessed by the numerous awards he has received and by exhibitions in this country and abroad. His work is in the permanent collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.

Please join us as host Donna Granata interviews acclaimed fiber artist, Michael Rohde.

Sponsored by: Jim & Meg Easton
Ongoing Sponsors: Dennis Mitchell at Matiz Salon, Creative Skin Care & Passion Flowers

Yarn Tails Tags:Michael Rohde, Focus On The Masters, epscraps
Posted by Elisa at 6:54 PM No comments: Links to this post 
Upcoming Events & Fair Update

Mark your calendars and join us Saturday, October 21, for our annual Open House and sale at the historic Dudley House in Ventura. More details soon!

Cambria Retreat, October 27, 28, & 29, sponsored by the Central Coast Weavers. Reservations are required; email Ruth at imaweverATtcsnDOTnet for more information.

More Fair Ribbons! (Did we miss your ribbons? Send your info, along with a picture if you have one, to Elisa - epscrapsAThotmailDOTcom).

Karen's spun fiber received a blue ribbon in its class and was nominated for Best of Show in Home Arts. That is one impressive ribbon! Karen also received a third place award for this skein, and first place ribbons for a beaded bracelet and two necklaces. Congratulations, Karen!

Sharon took first place honors for her crochet felted purse and handspun yarn, plus an honorable mention for these fingerless mitts. Good job, Sharon!
Posted by Elisa at 11:55 PM No comments: Links to this post 
September Meeting

Our program on September 23 will be presented by Giovanna Imperia, who will speak about kumihimo (Japanese braiding) and the influences on her designs.

Giovanna is "an ex-marketer with the spirit of an artist". Her work has been shown in many juried and invitational national and international exhibits. Most recently, her work was included in exhibits in the UK and Japan, and will be featured in a textile exhibit in the Ukraine. In October she will travel to Italy to teach there. Giovanna has been an artist in residence at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and loves teaching and sharing her passion for kumihimo.

A beginning kumihimo workshop will be held Saturday afternoon, September 23, and all day Sunday, September 24. Marudai stands will be available for class use at the workshop. The cost of the workshop is $135. To reserve your place, please contact Karen (ktynerATtmxusDOTcom).

Please join us for our next meeting!

Date: Saturday, September 23, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. - Coffee & goodies. 9:30 a.m. - General Meeting
Where: 701 Del Norte Blvd. Units 115 & 120, Oxnard CA
For more info, please visit our website or leave a comment below (please include your email address) and we'll get right back to you.

Posted by Elisa at 1:19 PM 1 comment: Links to this post 
August Program & Fair Update

Our August program was a giant "Show and Tell", with members showing items entered in this year's Ventura County Fair. We had a fair-ly good time. (sorry!) The Guild's booth took first place, thanks to the year-long efforts of Nona and her team. The judges loved the blooming cotton plants and the use of natural fibers - woven cotton panels - for the booth walls. Good job, Nona! Guild members volunteered to demonstrate various fiber arts in the booth each afternoon during the Fair's run. Our 'student weaver' - Sharon R. - was a definite crowd pleaser. Awards (This is a partial list. Did we miss your ribbons? Send your info, along with a picture if you have one, to Elisa - epscrapsAThotmailDOTcom).

Karen won several ribbons in both Home Arts and Gem & Mineral, including one skein of spun fiber which was nominated for Best In Show. Her beaded jewelry was absolutely incredible. Congratulations, Karen!

Cheryl M. took home several ribbons including one for a purse she made from her own original design. Although she's been spinning for less than a year - and this was only her third skein of spun fiber - Cheryl won an Honorable Mention in spinning. Good job! Sharon was presented with seven first place ribbons, including one for this cute baby hat, two seconds and several honorable mentions for her fiber arts and scrapbook pages. Well done, Sharon! Elisa won ribbons for spinning, weaving, crochet and scrapbooking, including a blue ribbon for this crocheted baby sweater. Monica and daughter, Susie, took home a variety of Fair ribbons. Susie did slightly better than her mom, with at least 4 first place and one second place ribbons. Congratulations to both!

And congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's Fair. See you next year!

Posted by Elisa at 11:34 PM 1 comment: Links to this post 
Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild Guild Library: Guild Meetings

Please join us at our next meeting - June 26, 2010 and July 24, 2010

Future Meetings:
- Saturday, June 26
40th Anniversary Party!
- Saturday, July 24
(program & workshop)
- Saturday, August 28

Guild's new meeting location:

SCIART Studios across the street from 156 Elm Drive, Camarillo

Going North on the 101 Fwy., get off the fwy at the Lewis Road exit, turn left at the light onto Daily Drive. At the light at Arneill Road, turn left, go to the light at Ventura Blvd, turn right and then make an immediate left onto Elm Drive. Drive about 1.5 blocks, make a right turn into the parking lot across the street from the house on 156 Elm Dr, and our meeting room is right there.

Going South on the 101 Fwy., get off the fwy at the Carmen Drive exit, turn left onto Ventura Blvd and continue a little over a half mile, turn right onto Elm Drive. Drive about 1.5 blocks, make a right turn into the parking lot across the street from the house on 156 Elm Dr, and our meeting room is right there. Please Support Our Business Members Guild Member's Blogs