11-18-17 14 Attending Charity Hours to date 274 Items to date 53+ [to be updated after some confirmation info is gathered]
Old Business:
**Planning for Christmas Party:
-to be held at the home of Suzanne T. Dc.16th, bring a dish to share & a "regift" for our fun swap. Regift should be no more than $20 value, and in good condition. Please bring it wrapped. To facilitate a balanced "meal," linked is a sign-up sheet prepared at the meeting. If you missed the meeting and plan to attend the party, please email your contribution to Gene and Elaine B. to update the list on this linked page.
Updated info on Gloucester Retreat:
Though the Gloucester group has disbanded, they are still planning to do special events as a group. The annual retreat is one that will be held. Site is still to be announced, but the hope is to use the traditional location by the pond. The date will be 27th, the last Saturday of the month.
New Business:
Discussion #1: Dues
Due to increased costs, and with the expectation of new programs with paid presenters, increasing the dues to $25 per year was passed by majority vote. Dues for 2018 will be accepted at our Dec. event as well as at our Jan. 20th 2018 meeting.
The need to increase membership as a means of building the treasury was also discussed. Ideas to support that endeavor included manning a booth at the State Fair and other fiber festivals to demonstrate knitting and crocheting. Gene, Martha, Andrée and Becky are investigating the logistics of implementing that idea. Should we decide to implement this idea, full guild membership support and assistance will be required if we are to be successful. Please consider your strengths and skills in order to be ready to step into the planning once it gets underway.
Another idea floated was to man booths at some of the local craft fairs, such as the annual Hanover County Sheriff's Office Fall Fellowship event, again with the idea to provide small scale instruction onsite. We will have to limit ourselves to fairs that would give us free space as a non-profit group, and therefore would not be able to sell any products. Implementation of this idea would also require a lot of support from membership to spread the onsite work around.
Other ideas to increase membership are invited. Please offer any ideas, even out-of-he-box ones, at any upcoming meeting or email them to Gene or Elaine B.
Discussion #2: Leadership
While having thoroughly enjoyed her tenure of leadership, Andrée announced her desire to pass the baton. Gene has accepted the role and was unanimously voted in as 2018 President. Andrée will provide assistance, as will Renée, and Becky. Elaine B. will continue as e-secretary / webmaster. Suzanne S. will continue as Treasurer. Becky and Elaine K. will continue as liaisons to the charity recipients.
Discussion #3: Membership Outreach
In addition to our web page, Gene is exploring the idea of an e-newletter, similar to the one used by the Gloucester group, that will provide info to those with limited online access. The newsletter can be printed and mailed via U.S. Post to anyone living in an area without online or email access. If you know of anyone in our membership who would need paper/U.S.Post communications, please contact Gene and Elaine B., who will facilitate the communication.
General Info shared:
Flying Needles yarn shop, 5251 John Tyler Highway, Suite 11, Williamsburg, 23188, is organizing a 2 day retreat for March 31 - April 1, 2018. Early-bird registration is open until Dec. 31, 2017, with event cost of $199. After Dec. 31st the fee will be $225. The location for the event is yet to be determined. For phone questions or registration: call (757) 345-3655. If you are on Facebook, they have information posted about this event there, and registration can be arranged via Faacebook..
Show 'n Tell:
- Andrée is still working through incomplete projects from her stash. The most recently finished item is a long scarf-shawl that she
modeled. Currently on her needles is a shawl-jacket, called "Veronika", available on Ravelry.
[https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library /veronika-cardigan]
- Elaine B. is still working on Irish knit sweaters for family Christmas gifts.
- Mary made a beautiful baby jacket in self-striping yarn, as well as an Entrelac scarf. She also shared tips on shopping in Europe gained
from her recent trip to Budapest and Vienna.
- Becky is working on a delicate, fine-gauged Yak yarn Entrelac scarf. She found the yak yarn at Dirt Woman, on our August retreat there. The
yarn is in varying shades of blues and brown. ...can't wait to see and feel the finished product.
- Deb B. showed us another pair of her imaginative crocheted dolls, gifts for granddaughters. One is a ballerina, the other a mermaid.
See photos in the slide show below. The pattern is from The Friendly Red Fox , where these is also a tutorial.
- Suzanne S. his diligently working on an ongoing project of socks.
-Suzanne T. completed a gorgeous scarf called "Paint The Town" by Zoé, on Ravelry. It's colors began as coral, striped with brown sugar
colored chevrons, that then graduated into all brown, then brown with cream chevrons, then ended in all cream. It was done in a 60/40
cotton/linen blend, which Suzanne recommended as perfect for multiple seasons in our VA climate.
- Elaine K. completed a baby blanket in a beautiful shade of steel blue, to be donated to our charity.
- Jennifer showed us her latest project, a lace shawl done in hand-dyed sock yarn, inshades of blues and greens. Her pattern came from the
pattern book, Sock Yarn Shawls II. She also donated 4 beautifully knit market bags for our charity.
- Gene brought on a chorus of , "Awwww" when he held up 2 adorable pairs of baby socks. Currently on the needles he has a cardigan for a
child done in wide stripes of primary colors with bright blue cuffs, neckband, waistband, and button band. The is one lucky child
somewhere in the near future who will receive this gift!
PROGRAM: Andrée teachs us to knit 'gingerbread' dolls. Please to proceed to the linked page for directions and photos.
Today's slideshow: