An awesome start to 2024!
It’s been a busy start to the new year. Back in January for a clean up of the rooms – and so many dead crickets to dispose of!!!
Louise has been busy making wonderful coats, and there was a frenzy of test fittings in between cleaning – not the most comfortable on a hot day, even with the air conditioning on.
Our Dyeing day workshop was heaps of fun.
Our official year started in February with our first Business Meeting. There was lots of over summer Show & Tell.
Then there were side trips to Wangaratta, fun full day and tiring.
The start of the Show season saw Guild members getting behind the local Shows in Wodonga and Holbrook, supporting them with entries and demonstrations. Our participating members did well with many firsts and seconds in Show sections.
The fun is only just beginning. Our Workshops are now in full swing, and new potential members have been trying out our Wednesday Guild days. Meeting days Show & Tell has sparked many interesting discussions and off course we get a sneak peak of projects destined for Shows. Speaking of Show & Tell, Coming up below is what we have so far this year …
Cheers all,
KathyW, Editor.
Current & upcoming events
| April 3rd | Casual Workday | |
| April 10th | Business Meeting | |
| April 17th | Casual Workday | |
| April 24th | Entralac Workshop. Crochet with Julie, knitting with T.B.A. |
Committee 2023 – 2024
President:
Deb Carpenter
Vice President:
Jane Manning
Minute Officer:
Ella Teuben
Secretary(communications/events):
Amanda Eaton
Assistant Secretary:
Julie Hofer
Treasurer:
Rhonda Delahoy
Assistant Treasurer:
Julie Hofer
Newsletter Editor:
Kathy Wheeler
Library Equipment Officer:
Rhonda Delahoy/Heather Mulqueeney
Social Media Officer:
Kathy Wheeler
Public Officer:
Julie Hofer
KeyHolders Roster
Wednesday Work Days and Meetings
1st Wed of month – Amanda
2nd Wed of month – Deb Carpenter
3rd Wed of month – Rhonda
4th Wed of month – Louise Quirk
5th Wed of month *IF* there is one – tba
The Showground Trust also has keys.
| Morning Tea Roster 2024 – Business Meetings | |
|---|---|
| 14th February | Judith/ |
| 13th March | |
| 10th April | Rhonda/ |
| 8th May | Heather M / (Deb) |
| 12th June | Julie/Jane |
| 10th July | Heather A / |
| 14th August | Louise/Kathy |
| 11th September | Ella/Jill |
| 9th October | Judith Jones |
| 13th November | Amanda |
| 11th December | Everyone bring a plate!!! |
Show & Tell - 14th February 2024
Lousie
Heather A.
Rhonda
Deb
Pam
Darlene
Jane
Kathy
Show & Tell - 13th March 2024
Heather M.
Darlene
Debbie
Kathy
Workshops 2024
To Dye For …
January 31st 2024
Our first Workshop for the year was a comparatively quiet affair compared to pre-Covid years. Only a few members participated as many were still away on holidays. The weather was also mild as a pleasant change.
Ella demonstrated dyeing with food colouring in the microwave, using a three compartment plastic dish – ingenious! Other members worked with natural dyes from avocados, carrots and eucalyptus.
Trauma Teddies & Bunnies
March 27th 2024
A fun morning with knitters and crocheters working on a variety of patterns for Care Critters. Acrylic yarn, filling and a choice patterns were supplied, as was a yummy morning tea of Hot Cross Buns.
Much mirth was had in around the table discussions while needles clicked away and rows and stitches counted. We hope to see a range of finished soft toys at the next Meeting!
Out & About
Wangaratta Woollen Mills & Weaving Eucalyptus Exhibition
A group of members decided to take in the Weaving Eucalyptus Exhibition while it was visiting Wangaratta. An amazing display of fiber dyed with eucalyptus grown all over the world.
Some took the bus (as the train was not running) and others car pooled.
And if you’re in Wangaratta and the Woolen Mills is open … Fortunately there was at least one member’s car there to take all the booty back home to Albury!
On the Show Circuit
The Wodonga Show
For the first time since Covid, the Wodonga Show is making a comeback, with new committee and management.
A number of our Members got behind the initiative and entered a variety of pieces in the Show, taking a number of firsts and seconds.
The Show was a great success and should be back next year!
The Holbrook Show
A regular favourite for Guild members, there was a strong contingent demonstrating spinning and weaving all day, joined by our friends from Holbrook. It was a pleasant day, not too hot and fairly relaxing.
Guild members again supported the Show by entering pieces, bringing home lots of firsts and seconds, and our Jane received a well deserved Champion Craft Exhibit with her marvelous lace shawl.
(Click on any image above for the slide shows.)
Fleecy Follies
Mac says “nuthin to seez here folkz … move along …”
Dry. Not very hot, but very, very dry. For the year to date as of the 27th of March our weather station has recorded the grand total of 69mm. Over the past month, only 19mm and nothing for the last 3 weeks. While there is a hint of green on the paddocks there is also a lot of fine, powdery, hydrophobic dust. Like Mac says, “nuthin to seez” and very little to eat.
You can see the promise of pasture grass just waiting for it’s autumn break. But while we wait, many trees are turning brown and dying off with no surety they will return with the coming rain.
And the rains will come. Natures’ signs all point to more rain coming. Unfortunately nature is not that forthcoming with when that break will come. So we wait, and keep feeding out the hay needed to keep the sheep and alpacas fed and happy. At least the dams still have water.
2024 Program
| January 10th | Casual Workday starting with a clean up to remove residue from the insect “bombs”. | |
| January 17th | Casual Workday - Come and spin and hear what we need to do in preparation for Dyeing at the end of the month. | |
| January 24th | Casual Workday - Come and do your own thing! | |
| January 31st | Workshop - Dyeing Day!!! "Dye or Be Alive 😉 " |   |
| February 7th | Casual Workday | |
| February 14th | Business Meeting | |
| February 21st | Casual Workday | |
| February 28th | Casual Workday | |
| March 6th | Casual Workday | |
| March 13th | Business meeting | |
| March 20th | Casual Workday | |
| March 27th | Workshop - Trauma Teddies, Charity Animals. With Deb. | |
| April 3rd | Casual Workday | |
| April 10th | Business Meeting | |
| April 17th | Casual Workday | |
| April 24th | Entralac Workshop. Crochet with Julie, knitting with T.B.A. | |
| May 1st | Casual Workday | |
| May 8th | Business Meeting | |
| May 15th | Casual Workday | |
| May 18th & 19th | Canberra Wool Expo, old Bus depot Markets | |
| May 22nd | Workshop - Rigid Heddle - colour & weave. With Heather. | |
| May 29th | Casual Workday | |
| June 5th | Casual Workday | |
| June 12th | Business Meeting | |
| June 19th | Casual Workday | |
| June 26th | Workshop - equipment & fiber sorting | |
| July 3rd | Casual Workday | |
| July 10th | Business Meeting followed by annual clean-up | |
| July 19th – 21st | Australian Sheep & Wool Show (Bendigo) | |
| July 17th | Casual Workday | |
| July 24th | Workshop - Christmas in July Decorations - Needle felted decorations with Kathy - Paper Star with Julie. |   |
| July 31st | Casual Workday | |
| August 7th | Casual Workday | |
| August 14th | AGM, Business Meeting & Guild’s Birthday | |
| August 21st | Casual Workday | |
| August 28th | Workshop T.B.A. | |
| September 4th | Casual Workday | |
| September 11th | Business Meeting | |
| September 18th | Casual Workday | |
| September 25th | Workshop T.B.A. | |
| October 2nd | Casual Workday | |
| October 9th | Business Meeting | |
| October 16th | Casual Workday | |
| October 23th | Casual Workday | |
| October 30th | Possible closure for Albury Show? | |
| November 7th | Possible closure for Albury Show? | |
| November 13th | Business Meeting | |
| November 20th | Casual Workday | |
| November 27th | Lavender Wands with Kathy |   |
| December 4th | Casual Workday | |
| December 11th | Business Meeting, Christmas Lunch | |
| December 18th | Clean up workday? | |
| More Workshop Ideas | Tatting with Heather M's sister? Inkle Loom Weaving? Online weaving workshop with Elizabeth Calnan? |
Last words ...
Sorry this issue has been so late coming out. Getting entries finished for the local Shows, plus washing fleeces from last year’s shearing just kept getting in the way!
A few housekeeping items:
1 – Some members have been getting spam type emails saying they are coming from Guild members. If anyone gets a suspicious looking message, do not open it or any links within it.
2 – Please do not park in front of the Guild’s side double doors. This could cause a problem in the case of an emergency. Please park in the undercover area well clear of the doors and grandstand stairs, or on the grass area.
3 – The drain area outside the Guild door that fills up with water when it rains is becoming DANGEROUS with one of our members slipping in the mud and algae growing there. PLEASE KEEP WELL CLEAR OF THE DRAIN AND MUD even when it appears dry!
Newsletter contributions are always welcome. So, if anyone has anything they want to contribute, or requests for articles, email me!
Cheers for now,
KathyW, Ed.
