NEXT MEETING: April 30, 2008 at 7:30 pm at the Winslow Center




GUEST SPEAKER: VICTORIA DA ROZA of Castle Rock Farm
Victoria raises Jacobs sheep, those cute black and white critters with the unusual horns. She will talk to us about raising them and other pertinent, interesting information. Can never have too much info on sheep.


SHEEP SHEARING DAY, Saturday, April 26, 2008, $5 addmission
Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, 10 am to 2 pm,

If you volunteered to demonstrate, you can arrive at 9 am and drive your car up to the barn to unload, If you arrive after 10 am, you will not be allowed to drive up to the barn as there will be people walking around. In addition to the sheep shearing, there will be other crafts, a gift shop and music. There will be food to buy on site. Call Reba's cell if you have any questions: 925-917-1061.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
I-680 S towards San Jose
Take exit #34, Bollinger Canyon Rd
Turn right onto Bollinger Canyon Rd.
Turn left onto San Ramon Valley Blvd. - go 2 miles
19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd will be on the right


Diablo Weavers Guild invites Treadles members to another talk:
KATHY ROUSSO speaking about AGAVE TEXTILES OF GUATEMALA
Friday, April 25, 2008, 11 am for the speaker [meeting begins at 10 am]

Kathy on on the gallery staff of Mendocino Art Center. She has been researching Maguey textiles in Guatemala for several years and is writing a book about the subject. Kathy lived in southeast Alaska for many years and weaves in the traditional Chilkat and Ravenstail styles. She also makes cedar bark and spruce root baskets. Our own Carol Causey recently returned from southern Mexico with a really exceptional bag made from spun agave and constructed in a Sprang technique, which is a type of netting done on a frame loom. If you're free on Friday, come and see more of this.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Homeowners Clubhouse at the end of Trails End Dr. in Walnut Creek
From YGNACIO VALLEY RD turn right [south] onto WALNUT AVE. Continue for about 1.5 miles
Enter ROUNDABOUT and take the FIRST EXIT onto OAK GROVE RD.
Turn left onto NORTH GATE RD.
Turn right onto TRAILS END DR.
Continue to the end of the road and drive through the open gate. Follow the drive to the left and continue on to the clubhouse.There will be a horse corral across from the clubhouse and a horse barn just past the clubhouse. Please park along the road leading to the clubhouse. Don't park by the barn or the corral as they are always worried about an emergency with the horses.

REFER BACK to the March newsletter for info about:
SPINNING AT THE WINERY and
CNCH CONFERENCE - May 2 - 4, 2008

DO YOU KNOW how to print out just this month's newsletter?
On the left side of the blog, under Events and Vendors, it says "Old Newsletters". Click on the space below it and pick the month you want printed. Only that month will print out for you.

NEXT MEETING: March 26, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center

GUEST SPEAKER: Mollie Freeman - Trunk Show

Mollie is a very well know weaver of cloth for clothing. Her specialty is color, beautiful color which she creates on painted warps for her weaving. She normally sticks with just one, simple weave and uses color to explore all the infinite possibilities that can be created. Not content with just the fabric as it comes off the loom, she will sometimes cut and piece the fabric for even more design experiments.

This talk by Mollie will feature many of the finished pieces that she has created over the years, plus a discussion of how she does her dyeing. There will be lots of inspiration here even if you are not a weaver! Bring a friend who's really into sewing!


SPINNING AT THE WINERY
May 31, 2008, 10 AM - 4 PM
Retzlaff Winery, 1356 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore, CA

Be sure your calendar is marked with the date. For any new members, this is our Eleventh Annual spinning day at Retzlaff Winery. Bring your spinning wheel and a pot-luck dish to share if you will stay for lunch, which is half the fun. Many spinners come for the whole day, some just to shop! We have nine vendors this year and the wool and fleeces are always of exceptional quality. Coming this year are:

Sandy's Fleeces - Hayshed Basin Ranch
Sue Reuser - Cormo Fleeces
Janet Heppler - Nebo Rock Ranch
Morgaine Wilder - "Carolina Homespun"
Black Diamond Alpacas - Alpaca fleece, fiber & yarn
Bev Fleming - "Ewe & Me Too!"
Christy Estrada - Hand combed top
Barbara Fiorica - Mohair & Cashmere
Morro Fleece Works - to clean, card and prepare fleece

Entry fee is $5. There will be drawings again with lots of great things to win!


CNCH CONFERENCE - MAY 2 -4, 2008
Double Tree Hotel, Arden Way, Sacramento

Daily admission on Saturday and Sunday @ $7 per day.

Free Demonstrations: Basketry & Beadwork, Computer Design, Dyeing & Felting, Fiber Preparation & Spinning, Surface Design & Embellishment, Weaving

Fabulous Marketplace: beads & fiber, books & videos, ethnic fabrics & clothing, looms & spinning wheels, tools & equipment, unique & unusual yarns. Over sixty vendors with lots of great stuff!

Our Guild is preparing a display board for the educational part of the exhibits on "Color Blending" We've talked about this many times since the color blending workshop we had last year. This particular display does not have lots of room to display many finished items like we thought it would. The Conference committee asks that if you have a finished item, it should go into one of the many galleries that they will have. If you created a finished piece out of any color blending that you have done, see if there is a gallery that you would like to put it in. We would like one or two pieces to be with display, however. Bring your piece to this March meeting or the next meeting in April. Any pieces that will go into any of the Galleries, must have an entry form sent into the Conference Committee by April 1. You don't have much time to decide. Get Conference info at: cnch.org

NEXT MEETING: February 20, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center
[Remember, this meeting is one week earlier than we normally meet]

GUEST SPEAKER: Nadine Sanders,
"SPINNING STRAW INTO GOLD: WOVEN HARMONIES"

If you are tired of sitting at programs and falling asleep as soon as the lights go out for slide viewing, if you always play your favorite CD or radio station as you weave or spin, this program is for you! Rhythm inherently links the process of weaving and spinning with music. You can close your eyes, but you'll keep your ears open at this upbeat performance of fiber related songs, the history of weaving music and of work and artists inspired by music. The audience will learn several simple rounds and chants to get revived from the energy of sung harmonies. Volunteers will play rhythm instruments!

If anyone has a portable CD/tape player they can bring to this meeting, please let Vilija know at vilijad@sbcglobal.net

Nadine Sanders is a fiber artist, weaving teacher, music teacher and performer. In solo performance she plays the fiddle, sings accapella or with auto harp accompaniment. "I strive to touch each participant's sense of creativity by incorporating all of the senses in my presentations. The rhythm inherently linked to weaving and music is the touchstone to my creative energy. I want to inspire bold use of materials and encourage designs from within.

Diablo Weavers and Treadles are sharing the cost of bringing Nadine to our area. Diablo is invited to our Feb. meeting and we are all invited to Diablo's meeting on Friday morning the 22nd at the Thurman Casey Library, [Contra Costa Library, Ygnacio Valley Branch], 2661 Oak Grove Rd. Walnut Creek. Meeting begins at 10 AM, with speaker beginning at 11 AM.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd PROGRAM for Diablo Weavers:
THEME & VARIATION: MORE WEAVING THAT SINGS

This program is a pictorial history of the Theo Moorman technique and features the work from the book of the same title. Weavings by Joyce Harter Sanders and weavers from around the world demonstrate this versatile weave used for clothing, rugs, wall hangings and home furnishings. Nadine will explain the use of this creative weave structure with examples of Theo's own work through contemporary variations and applications. Design for the structure will be discussed and illustrated. Slides, fabric swatches, weavings and music will stimulate the curious and fiber artists in need of inspiration.


WARPING ON A SHOESTRING
SATURDAY, FEB. 23, 2008
And if these two events are not enough, Nadine will be teaching a one-day workshop at the home of Will and Kate Taylor, 331 Heavenly Pl. Martinez. 925-228-7233. Beginning time: 10 AM

This workshop takes you step-by-step through this speed warping method. Learn how to modify your loom for easier warping, using shoe strings for tensioning. This back-to-front method will jump start your next weaving project and put some fun into warping. Nadine will also show how to make mixed warps with a slot-and-hole paddle.

At this point, you can still come to the workshop [let Will know ahead of time] but after Feb 10th, it's too late to sign up with a loom. Sign up without a loom, you'll learn just as much because Nadine will hand out a pamphlet to those without looms about the technique with directions on how to modify the loom yourself.
Cost of the workshop: $30,
Materials fee: $10 for those without a loom, $25 for those with a loom

March 8 & 9, 2008
CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS MARKET
at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, Buchanan at Marina Boulevard, San Francisco.
Don't miss this terrific show - Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm each day.
Over 225 of America's finest jeweler, fiber artists, leather workers, ceramicists, print makers, photographers, furniture makers and glass blowers.
Admission : $7, 12 and under, free. Free parking and shuttle from Marina Green. Paid parking at Fort Mason and Marina Middle School.
www.CraftSource.org


CIRCULAR SOCK MACHINE GROUP & DEMOS
A group for Northern California knitters who have, or are interested in, the old circular sock knitting machines, is forming. The initial plans are to meet once a month to help each other and learn new techniques. The next meeting will be in March. Contact: Laura Schikli at handwerks@pacbell.net
Contact her and she'll put you on an email list with "csm" in the subject line so you'll know its not spam. There will be demos at Stitches West on Saturday and Sunday [February 23 & 24] in the Serendipity Spinners Booth from 10 AM to Noon.

NEXT MEETING: January 30th, at 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center

GUEST SPEAKER: MORGAINE from CAROLINA HOMESPUN
Morgaine travels back and forth to the East Coast regularly with her business and we thought it would be interesting to have her come and let us know what weird and fun things happen on the East Coast in the spinning/weaving world. Also, she will talk about and bring for Show & Tell some new or unique or fabulous, can't live without items that are now on the market. If you have a special request for her to bring something, give her a call before the 30th and she will try to get it to you at the meeting. Morgaine: 1-415-584-7786

LYN WHORLEY of PASTORA - THE COLOR LADY will be giving a talk to Diablo Weavers Guild this coming Friday, January 25th at 10 AM at the clubhouse of a Diablo Member [directions follow]. Lyn's talk will be "Using Up Your Bits and Pieces -- Combining Handwovens With Other Fabrics". Not only is Lyn an interesting speaker, but she also has a line of beautifully dyed fabrics and yarns that she will bring for Show & Tell and to sell. Everyone is invited to come.
DIRECTIONS - Homeowners Clubhouse at the end of TRAILS END DRIVE in Walnut Creek
From YGNACIO VALLEY RD. turn right [south] onto WALNUT AVENUE - drive for 1.5 miles
Enter roundabout and take 1st exit onto OAK GROVE RD.
Turn left onto NORTH GATE RD.
Turn right onto TRAILS END DR.
Continue to the end of the road and drive through the open gate, Follow the drive to the left and continue on to the clubhouse. There will be horse pastures and a barn ahead of you. The clubhouse is before the barn. Please don't park near the barn or block the road in any way in case of an emergency with the horses. Park along side the road leading to the clubhouse.


FEBRUARY 20TH MEETING: TREADLES AND DIABLO are co-hosting Nadine Sanders, The Singing Weaver for programs in February. Treadles will have their meeting one week early, February 20th, so mark your calendar. Nadine will give different talks to both Guilds. She is entertaining and interesting and it would be worth your while if you could attend both talks. The Diablo talk will be on February 22nd, 10 AM at the Thurman Casey Library, 2661 Oak Grove Rd, Walnut Creek. More about the talks next month.


FEBRUARY 23RD ONE DAY WORKSHOP: WARPING ON A SHOESTRING with Nadine Sanders
Are warping frustrations keeping you from the loom? Does your warping method make you sigh even though you're an experienced weaver? Are you a spinner or a beginning weaver unsure of this intimidating step? We have the solution. This workshop will take you step-by-step through this speed warping method. Learn how to modify your loom for easier warping, using shoestrings for tensioning, and reducing that precious silk warp waste. You will also learn to make mixed warps with a paddle. This back-to-front method will jump start your next weaving project and put some fun into warping.

COST OF WORKSHOP: $30       MATERIALS FEE: $25 if you bring a loom [includes everything you'll need to modify your loom for this method]
or $10 if you don't bring a loom.

For those bringing a loom, you will need to give us a.s.a.p.:

*weaving width of your loom [to get the right size lease sticks]
*measurement between the inside of the brake mechanisms on the warp beam and the other side - the area where the existing back rod or stick fits [so Nadine can cut the supplementary metal rod to fit in this space]
*length of the top of the back beam from outside edge to outside edge [so Nadine can make the correct length raddle]

Nadine will bring these items for your loom that you bring to the workshop and help you make the modifications. Bring a short, 3 yard narrow warp to put on your loom to learn the tensioning system.
Those of you not bringing a loom, will a get a booklet explaining the technique and how to modify your loom. You will also pair up with those in class who bring looms to have a semi-hands on lesson.

Come to January's meeting prepared to sign up and with your loom measurements if you will be bring one. Like I said, we need to get the info to Nadine as quickly as we can to give her enough time to get everything together.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Our holiday party is this coming Saturday, Dec.15th at the home of Vilija Deutschman. Please call if you need directions 925-672-0322. Festivities begin at noon. Bring your best appetizer, salad, dessert, or any thing else that's edible, to share. Don't forget your "Sheep Ornament" gift for exchanging! Being the elitists that we are, we always recommend "hand-made", but store bought is acceptable, if you come up with a really good story of why you ran out of time.

COTTON PICKING TIME
Tuesday, December 18th, our guild is planning on going up to Sally Fox's for the day. [Sally Fox of Fox Fiber natural colored cotton] She has several acres planted about 2 hours, or so, north of here, and will be doing all the picking herself. Will and Kate visited with her last month and offered to try to find a little bit of help. We would like to make this a day event for anyone who would be interested. We could, again, have a pot luck for lunch and spend the rest of the time doing a bit of picking for her--you know, two bolls for Sally, one boll in my pocket.

Seriously though, she could use some help, we could take a bit for spinning right off the seeds and have a fun day out in the country. Let Will know if you are interested--at the party is fine if you are coming. He'll give us directions, plus maybe some of us can set up car pools.

OUR NEXT MEETING: NOVEMBER 28, at 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center.

GUEST SPEAKER: DORI CAVALA
Dori is active in Civil War re-enactments and will talk about textiles during that era. If you've not studied that time in history, you will probably be surprised that what you thought was the state of spinning and weaving at that time, most likely wasn't so. We don't often have a guest speaker, so please try to come to the meeting. Bring a friend who is interested in history. This promises to be a very interesting evening. This announcement is very late this month, so try to get the word out.

REMEMBER to bring your own cup for tea!


MORE INTERESTING WEB SITES:

AN UNBELIEVABLE SPINNING WHEEL:

http://andypaikoglass.com/sculpture/the spinning wheel/

FUNNY CAT VIDEOS [one in cat talk, the other-the human translation]

Cat version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U0udLH974

translation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JynBEX_kg8

OUR NEXT MEETING: October 31, Halloween night, at 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center.
HALLOWEEN DESSERT GALA is our program for this fun night! Make [or buy] your favorite fall snack, cake, cookie, candy or whatever, and bring it to share at our HALLOWEEN PARTY. After the feasting and revelry, we can share our snacks that are left and bring them home for further temptation. Bringing an extra container to put your new goodies in makes it easier.

COSTUMES are definitely encouraged! How many different ways can we dress as sheep? Or sheep dogs?

DUES ARE DUE. Please remember to pay Pam the yearly dues at this next meeting.

A MUST READ for everyone who loves sheep.
THREE BAGS FULL: A SHEEP DETECTIVE STORY by Leonie Swann.
On my travels this summer, happily, I picked up up this thoroughly enchanting book. "Three Bags Full" features a flock of clever Irish sheep in a beguilingly original murder mystery for adults. I'm sure Swann must have had in mind as an audience, spinners and other lovers of sheep who could definitely imagine themselves reading aloud romance novels, fairy tales and texts on sheep diseases to these attentive sheep.

George Glenn, their shepherd, was the reading-aloud kind of shepherd--"Sometimes he explained words sheep knew anyway, words like 'prophylactics' and 'antibiotics'". The flock becomes upset by his sudden, violent death. One morning, the sheep find George lying in the grass, "unusually cold and lifeless" with a shovel stuck through his insides. They think he was done in by a wolf. But the cleverest among them, Miss Maple, explains: "Even the most sophisticated wolves didn't drive spades through the bodies of their victims."

The sheep begin to spy on the town's residents to gather "clues" to find the murderer. Their notion of justice comes from a mystery novel George read to them but didn't finish because it was too upsetting. The herd is filled with vivid characters laid out in loving detail. There is humor and naivete in their literal interpretations. They hear the expression "God's House" and decide the priest is God. Othello, a black Hebridean four-horned ram, goes into town to observe George's funeral.

"Othello told them about the strange garden and how George had been buried in a box. A murmur ran through the flock.
"'They don't have a pit there, but the dead don't just decay either. It looks more like a garden, not a vegetable garden, but a garden anyway, and all very tidy. And do you know what they said about that garden?' Othello looked round at them, his eyes sparkling. 'They said it belonged to God.'
"The sheep stared at one another in horror. Fancy planting dead people in your garden! They liked God less and less."

The sense of place is vivid: "The sea looked as if it had been licked clean, blue and clear and smooth." My sense was that I was not only reading about them, but also observing them in person. I have one copy and will bring it along. Anyone interested in this fun read can take turns. [Thanks to a couple reviews on the web for some of the above.]