Demonstrate at Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum

Members of the Rhode Island Spinners Guild are invited to demonstrate on the Opening Day at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum. Last year a group of us organized a mini- fleece to scarf demo. Many people stopped to watch and ask questions and the guild was well-received by the attendees. This year's event will feature the operation of the Hammond Gristmill for the first time in 100 years. There will be fisheries biologists on hand to explain the herring migration and the fish ladder on the property, tours, the nature trail will be open, Woodworkers Guild of RI will be selling items and jonnycakes for sale!! The date of the event will be Sunday, May 6 between 1pm and 4pm. (Set-up will probably happen earlier). Period costume is welcome but not required. For more details contact David or Richard.

April Meeting Notes

Our thanks go to Sandy for arranging the meeting. I think everyone agreed that we had a good meeting and a wonderful afternoon.

For those of you who missed the meeting, here are Beth's notes:

Meeting RISGuild

April 14, 2007

1. Thank you to Sandy for finding meeting place

2. Treasurer report

a. 23 paid members (more added at meeting)

b. $1,+ in account

c. Pay Sandy for hall use

3. Newsletter will have paid through year on labels

a. Continue to run newsletter and blog site for 1 year. May phase out newsletter.

4. Marie working on hand out for events

a. She came in later in meeting and copies will be made to be used at events. To include internet info as well.

5. Heather’s sheep shearing is May 12 and we will have next meeting there

6. Guilbert Stuart spin demo is May 6 1-4 PM

7. Coggeshall farm is May 29 with lots to do

8. Privacy issues discussed in relation to blog and internet use. What is posted is open to the public so no last names and be respectful of privacy. No addresses etc.

9. Board was decided on for organization

a. Treasurer is Renay

b. Secretary/newsletter is Beth

c. Cindy D board member 1 year

d. Sandy C board member 2 years

e. Sharon S board member 3 years

Board members will be rotated yearly and term will be 3 years (calendar years start Jan 1 and end Dec 31). Business meetings shall be arranged as needed.

10. Fiber direction. Judy orchestrated a fiber challenge. We each received a bag a raw fleece from Barbara T’s. We have until Sept to prepare, spin and make something from the fiber. We should be able to share our techniques and thoughts on the fiber.

11. Meeting list

a. May 12^th Watson farm shearing day

b. June 12^th Coventry historical society

c. July 14^th Casey Farm (may be able to sell products)

d. August 15-19^th Washington County Fair

Saturday's Meeting!!

Don't forget tomorrow's meeting. Tuesday night I picked up two beautiful Border Leicester fleeces from Barbara Thompson. One is white, the other black. I've got them packaged up so that each of our members can take some home to process and spin. There are nearly 5 ounces in every bag. It will be interesting to see what each person does with it. I wonder how many have spun BL before, who will spin it in the grease, from the locks, card it together? What will we learn from one another? Let's use this as a jumping board to get some new ideas.











Also, please remember to bring any old cd's that you may have to use to make spindles.

For directions to the meeting, click here. See you!

Sheep Shearing Watson Farm May 12th

Heather M is having her shearing day at WatsonFarm with fun and frolic on Sat. May 12,from 12 to 4 PM. She welcomes any spinners interested in coming.

A visit to Watson Farm on shearing day is great fun. Sheep are plentiful as well as fine fleeces, roving and yarn. We pack a lunch, bring a chair and spinning equipment to enjoy the day.