Virginia knits ... imagine a wheel with Richmond as the hub ... knitters all over the place ... from Virginia Beach to Bristol, from Winchester to Danville ... fiber folk are everywhere
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tonight I was a at missions conference in our area and the area (Richmond/Fredricksburg) of concern was helping out refugees in our area coming from numerous areas.
One of the groups they are helping is the Burmese Hill People. These people are looking for someone to build them a loom/s like the kind they had to leave behind in Burma so they can continue to work their craft here. They are a very agrarian people and so that is the only skill they have. Here of course, with the language barrier and no other skills they have to work very menial low paying jobs. Nothing was said about they kind of fiber they were using or what it was spun on.
The speaker has no experience with any fiber arts at all but she wants to help these people practice their art. She was wearing and example of the cloth they wove and it is wonderful fine colorful cloth. I have volunteered to help with this project if I can.
I asked their director to email me more information and someone is going to try to get us some pictures of the looms. I don't weave and know very little about weaving. I am thinking perhaps there is already something already here that would be comparable. Would any of you have information that would help with this project... and while you all are at MDS&W and other local festivals, perhaps you could collect some information for us.
I am also going to try to contact the local weaving and spinning guilds. I think it'd be a great to get the two groups together. There may be similar programs going on in your area also. Some of you might want to check in on it.
One of the groups they are helping is the Burmese Hill People. These people are looking for someone to build them a loom/s like the kind they had to leave behind in Burma so they can continue to work their craft here. They are a very agrarian people and so that is the only skill they have. Here of course, with the language barrier and no other skills they have to work very menial low paying jobs. Nothing was said about they kind of fiber they were using or what it was spun on.
The speaker has no experience with any fiber arts at all but she wants to help these people practice their art. She was wearing and example of the cloth they wove and it is wonderful fine colorful cloth. I have volunteered to help with this project if I can.
I asked their director to email me more information and someone is going to try to get us some pictures of the looms. I don't weave and know very little about weaving. I am thinking perhaps there is already something already here that would be comparable. Would any of you have information that would help with this project... and while you all are at MDS&W and other local festivals, perhaps you could collect some information for us.
I am also going to try to contact the local weaving and spinning guilds. I think it'd be a great to get the two groups together. There may be similar programs going on in your area also. Some of you might want to check in on it.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Fleece to Shawl in Heathsville
On Saturday, May 17th at the Heathsville Farmer's Market, the Northern Neck Spinners and Weavers Group will be holding a fleece to shawl demonstration. The demonstration will begin at 8:30 and conclude either when we are done or 4 p.m. whichever comes first.
We hope to finish before 4...
We will be demonstrating and teaching how to flick and comb wool, spin it on both wheels and spindles and weave the finished singles into a shawl.
The shawl, once completed, will be donated to the Hughlett Inn - Rice's Tavern organization for either a raffle or auction to benefit this teaching and historic preservation organization.
What makes this fleece to shawl demonstration unique is that any visitor interested in participating will be brought in, handed and spindle with some fleece and taught how to spin. Your resulting yarn will be incorporated into the shawl.
That same day at the Farmer's Market they are also celebrating Crab Crawl and will feature food, organic vegetables, locally grown plants, local crafts persons, and more. The Blacksmith shop will be open and the members of that guild will be doing blacksmithing demonstrations next door to where we will be spinning and weaving.
We hope to finish before 4...
We will be demonstrating and teaching how to flick and comb wool, spin it on both wheels and spindles and weave the finished singles into a shawl.
The shawl, once completed, will be donated to the Hughlett Inn - Rice's Tavern organization for either a raffle or auction to benefit this teaching and historic preservation organization.
What makes this fleece to shawl demonstration unique is that any visitor interested in participating will be brought in, handed and spindle with some fleece and taught how to spin. Your resulting yarn will be incorporated into the shawl.
That same day at the Farmer's Market they are also celebrating Crab Crawl and will feature food, organic vegetables, locally grown plants, local crafts persons, and more. The Blacksmith shop will be open and the members of that guild will be doing blacksmithing demonstrations next door to where we will be spinning and weaving.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
May 24 - Sedalia
Sedalia Fiber Festival is coming up quickly -- anyone planning on attending? It is near Lynchburg. I am open that weekend and would love to have a day trip... (hint hint). It won't be as exciting as MS&W, but it sure should be worth attending. I have not been before, but I hear it is a nice event.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Knitting Workshops in No VA
Sounds like it was a busy weekend for Virginia Knitters. Olivia-Lee and Cat, while you were getting good, useful information from Pat, I was taking classes from Margaret Radcliffe, aka Maggie's Rags. She presented three workshops for KANV (that's Knitting Artisans of Northern Virginia) in McLean on Saturday and Sunday. The 6 hour class on Sat. was Fantastic No Gauge Scarves and Shawls. On Sunday AM class was I-Cord Intensive, and PM was Lazy Knitter's Guide to Pattern Stitches. What a fantastic group of workshops. So much good information. I am currently suffering from information overload! I love taking classes like this because there is always something new to learn. Knitting is such an evolving craft. There is always another skill to master, other ways of acheiving unique knitted items.
Margaret Radcliffe has another book coming out this Fall on color knitting. Another example of Virginia knitters, as she lives in Blacksburg.
Margaret Radcliffe has another book coming out this Fall on color knitting. Another example of Virginia knitters, as she lives in Blacksburg.
Hanover Knitting Guild
What a nice group of ladies / girls! Olivia and I attended the knitting guild meeting yesterday, albeit arriving a little late ... me due to back up on 95 and her b/c of a dog-gone circular needle disaster involving lace and rapidly dropping stitches! Anyhow we both made it (after going to the incorrect library location first), and arrived in time to hear Pat's talk on pattern basics for ample figured girls. When you have a chance to hear her, make sure you go - she knows lots of good stuff!! She also brought a small fortune's worth of yarn and patterns and sample sweaters from her store ... Olivia and I can't wait to visit her at the store and just wander through it all at our leisure. Pat seems to know more about pattern designing that I will probably learn and forget before I leave this world!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Event Reminder
This is a reminder fo all you who live in the Richmond, Fredericksburg and surrounding areas. Our own Pat Kirtland of the Yarn Barn in Dillwyn, VA will be speaking to the Hanover Guild at the Hanover Courthouse Library tomorrow (Saturday April 19) from 9 to noon. She will be instructing us on how we can adjust patterns to suit our sizes. She will also be bringing along "Stash Enhancement Opportunities" from her shop.
Cat and I plan to attend. Hope to meet some of you there.
We were unable to get to Pat's Enterlac Class at Grave's Mountain last weekend because Cat was sick, so we are looking forward to this opportunity to meet Pat with extra enthusiasm.
Cat and I plan to attend. Hope to meet some of you there.
We were unable to get to Pat's Enterlac Class at Grave's Mountain last weekend because Cat was sick, so we are looking forward to this opportunity to meet Pat with extra enthusiasm.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
New Shop!
Hey, I finally did it - opened a shop on etsy! I put ten items in on Sunday afternoon, and I've sold four - all handspun or hand dyed yarn. I will be adding more items soon. Check it out sometime: wildhare.etsy.com.
- Melissa
- Melissa
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Rainy Saturday/
How is everyone this rainy Saturday morning? m I am neither knitting, gardening or cleaning house...all of which I am way behind on. I am going to Greenville, VA tomorrow to pick up yet two more (daddy) bunnies.
I heard from Pat Kirkland this morning from the Yarn Barn.
For those of you who are members of the River City Knitters, Pat is your instructor for the Grave's Mountain Retreat on the 12th of April. Cat and I are going to try up for just the day that Saturday.
The following Saturday, Pat will be speaking to the Hanover Knitting Guild at the Hanover Courthouse Public Library Meeting 10-12:00. If at all possible I will be trying to make that meeting too. I have scheduling conflict that I hope to be able to work around. Hope to meet some of you there.
I am not a member of either of these guilds ...yet.
Pat will also be returning from a Knitting Connections Retreat in Columbus the weekend of the Rustic Tarts and Old Farts so she will be stopping by that day also.
Perhaps if we ask really sweetly, she may arrange an activity for us at the shop when her garden is in bloom in Dillwyn.
I heard from Pat Kirkland this morning from the Yarn Barn.
For those of you who are members of the River City Knitters, Pat is your instructor for the Grave's Mountain Retreat on the 12th of April. Cat and I are going to try up for just the day that Saturday.
The following Saturday, Pat will be speaking to the Hanover Knitting Guild at the Hanover Courthouse Public Library Meeting 10-12:00. If at all possible I will be trying to make that meeting too. I have scheduling conflict that I hope to be able to work around. Hope to meet some of you there.
I am not a member of either of these guilds ...yet.
Pat will also be returning from a Knitting Connections Retreat in Columbus the weekend of the Rustic Tarts and Old Farts so she will be stopping by that day also.
Perhaps if we ask really sweetly, she may arrange an activity for us at the shop when her garden is in bloom in Dillwyn.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Animal on the loose - 04.01.08
Posted as a community service:
Escaped Animal from the National Zoo
I want to alert all to a bulletin I just received:
A loof lirpa has escaped from the National Zoo. The animal ran out of its enclosure about 10 minutes ago when the zookeeper on duty was texting while the enclosure was unlocked.
The lirpa was last spotted heading north on Connecticut Avenue, and is probably in the vicinity of Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue about now. It may have stopped to snack on the vegetables at the outdoor carts at Magruder's.
DO NOT TRY AND CAPTURE THE LOOF LIRPA ON YOUR OWN. The lirpa stands about 4 feet tall, has a gazelle-like horns, weighs about 350 pounds, and comes from Patagonia. In other respects the lirpa resembles an alpaca. Normally the lirpa is gentle, but during its mating season (springtime, which is now), it can become aggressive. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE DOG, PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG INSIDE. The naturally nearsighted lirpa may mistake your pet for its mate -- and it was the male that escaped. German shepherds, golden retrievers, and dalmatians are especially at risk, but even smaller dogs like miniature poodles and dachshunds may be a mating target, too, if the lirpa's sex desire is strong enough. Cats should be safe, unless they are abnormally large
and overweight.
The loof lirpa is a rare species and only about 12 zoos in the United States have one; half that number have a breeding pair, as the National Zoo does. Males in solo captivity lose their mating desire, but this male lirpa was planning to mate Friday or Saturday night (after dinner); its hormones are therefore likely to be at or near
maximum.
If you're driving, please keep a lookout and drive carefully. The lirpa is quite a leaper. When a lirpa escaped from the San Diego Zoo in 2003 it caused a 7-car pile-up. The lirpa makes a clop-clop sound when it runs. Also, it has an aroma that can best be described a smelling like "cheap cologne," so you should be able to tell right away if the lirpa is or has been nearby.
The zoo has temporarily banned cell phone texting --for employees and visitors-- in the wake of this incident.
Please be careful. Treat the loof lirpa with caution -- it's a wild animal, and you can't tell how a wild animal will behave.
If you see the lirpa, please contact officials right away -- contact information here: http://zooalert.notlong.com .
--Bill Adler
Here is the response for the Commander of our local police station about the escaped animal:
Mr. Adler and community,
Thank you for this alert.
I would like to also alert the community that our officers are on the lookout for this animal. Our helicopter is up in the air right now, and we are responding to several lirpa sightings in the Cleveland Park community. Many of our officers who work near the Zoo are specially trained in animal capture and retention, and we feel confident that this situation will be brought under control at some point today.
Please go inside if you smell the aroma mentioned in the previous email. Our officers are also releasing a chemical which imitates the odor of the female lirpa when in heat, in order to facilitate capture, so the male's natural odors combined with the chemicals we are releasing produce an overwhelmingly interesting, and perhaps negative, smell. We ask that pedestrians who may see or even encounter the animal
avoid any sudden gestures which startle wild animals, and we ask that motorists
who catch a glimpse of this lirpa please alert us by cell phone only after
safely pulling to the curb. We will continue to provide periodic updates and I want to say again that we are committed to a speedy apprehension. I understand the
lirpa is normally subdued during evening hours, so if we are not successful in
assisting the Zoo with finding the lirpa today, I have the utmost confidence we
will probably get him tomorrow.
A. S., Commander, Second District
Escaped Animal from the National Zoo
I want to alert all to a bulletin I just received:
A loof lirpa has escaped from the National Zoo. The animal ran out of its enclosure about 10 minutes ago when the zookeeper on duty was texting while the enclosure was unlocked.
The lirpa was last spotted heading north on Connecticut Avenue, and is probably in the vicinity of Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue about now. It may have stopped to snack on the vegetables at the outdoor carts at Magruder's.
DO NOT TRY AND CAPTURE THE LOOF LIRPA ON YOUR OWN. The lirpa stands about 4 feet tall, has a gazelle-like horns, weighs about 350 pounds, and comes from Patagonia. In other respects the lirpa resembles an alpaca. Normally the lirpa is gentle, but during its mating season (springtime, which is now), it can become aggressive. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE DOG, PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG INSIDE. The naturally nearsighted lirpa may mistake your pet for its mate -- and it was the male that escaped. German shepherds, golden retrievers, and dalmatians are especially at risk, but even smaller dogs like miniature poodles and dachshunds may be a mating target, too, if the lirpa's sex desire is strong enough. Cats should be safe, unless they are abnormally large
and overweight.
The loof lirpa is a rare species and only about 12 zoos in the United States have one; half that number have a breeding pair, as the National Zoo does. Males in solo captivity lose their mating desire, but this male lirpa was planning to mate Friday or Saturday night (after dinner); its hormones are therefore likely to be at or near
maximum.
If you're driving, please keep a lookout and drive carefully. The lirpa is quite a leaper. When a lirpa escaped from the San Diego Zoo in 2003 it caused a 7-car pile-up. The lirpa makes a clop-clop sound when it runs. Also, it has an aroma that can best be described a smelling like "cheap cologne," so you should be able to tell right away if the lirpa is or has been nearby.
The zoo has temporarily banned cell phone texting --for employees and visitors-- in the wake of this incident.
Please be careful. Treat the loof lirpa with caution -- it's a wild animal, and you can't tell how a wild animal will behave.
If you see the lirpa, please contact officials right away -- contact information here: http://zooalert.notlong.com .
--Bill Adler
Here is the response for the Commander of our local police station about the escaped animal:
Mr. Adler and community,
Thank you for this alert.
I would like to also alert the community that our officers are on the lookout for this animal. Our helicopter is up in the air right now, and we are responding to several lirpa sightings in the Cleveland Park community. Many of our officers who work near the Zoo are specially trained in animal capture and retention, and we feel confident that this situation will be brought under control at some point today.
Please go inside if you smell the aroma mentioned in the previous email. Our officers are also releasing a chemical which imitates the odor of the female lirpa when in heat, in order to facilitate capture, so the male's natural odors combined with the chemicals we are releasing produce an overwhelmingly interesting, and perhaps negative, smell. We ask that pedestrians who may see or even encounter the animal
avoid any sudden gestures which startle wild animals, and we ask that motorists
who catch a glimpse of this lirpa please alert us by cell phone only after
safely pulling to the curb. We will continue to provide periodic updates and I want to say again that we are committed to a speedy apprehension. I understand the
lirpa is normally subdued during evening hours, so if we are not successful in
assisting the Zoo with finding the lirpa today, I have the utmost confidence we
will probably get him tomorrow.
A. S., Commander, Second District
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