Time Flies By

Ruth Koski and Bruce Engebretson demonstrating the art of making spun linen from flax


So much has happened since the last blog entry.  I have been busy having my computer cleaned out and then rebuilding the database.  The Range Fiberart Guild has continued to be as busy as ever.  Members demonstrated and sold items at the annual Laiskiainen celebration, demonstrated at the Range of the Arts week, met in study groups, and held interesting meetings.
Our next meeting will be held on April 1 - no fooling!  We will be having a special speaker giving a presentation titled "Sami Band Weaving: the Practical Art of Reindeer Nomads." Visitors and friends are welcome to join us at any meeting.   

Arline Antus, Karen Lampaa, Edythe Karlstrand, Alana Maijala work on bead weaving

Spinning Study Group Meets in January

Members of the spinning study group met at Carol Sperling's house on Saturday, January 16.  We talked about many subjects regarding spinning.  One of the subjects specially addressed was spinning yarn for weaving.  Carol had her great wheel set up for those who were there to try. Many miles were said to have been walked when spinning by this method.  A "great" way to walk in the winter in Minnesota without slipping on ice!  A special visitor came to spin with us. Spinner and knitter Kristine Franklin came and spun an entire spool of lace weight yarn.  She brought roving that she dyed and spindles with her that were for sale. She also showed us a beaded lace weight shawl that she made from her handspun yarn.

Top Picture:  Kris tries her hand at spinning on the great wheel  with direction from Carol Sperling.

Bottom Picture:  Kathy Rensink looks though magazines for fun and inspiration while Kris spins on her Majacraft in the background.

Recognizing Alice Niemi's Work in Hardanger

I wanted to write about Alice in December when she showed us her most recent hardanger project.  Her work is exquisite.  This beautiful, decorative table linen was a gift for one of her daughters, so I had to wait until Christmas was well past. Hardanger is an exact art that doesn't allow for mistakes. Count, count, and count again. Kristy Balder is looking at a lightly quilted miniature purse with a spring opening that Alice made. Sue Gooden on the left side of the picture is looking at the Alice's items.

Range Fiberarts Guild Display - Forest

The Range Fiberart Guild had a display titled Forest at the Lyric Center for the Arts from November 7, 2009 - December 5, 2009. Members guild were free to design what they wished with in the forest category. The variety was amazing.  It was a tremendous show with many members having items that they designed and created on display.  Art items included items felted, woven, knitted, crocheted, beaded, spinning, rug hooking, and more. Mediums used were yarns, rags, linen, birch bark, silk, wool, cotton, antlers, roots, canes, etc.    There was a special display commemorating the Year of the Natural Fiber.  The International Year of Natural Fibres 2009 aims at raising global awareness of the importance of natural fibers not only to producers and industry, but also to consumers and the environment. One of may favorite stories about the display was when a group of youth were told that they were going to tour this display.  The response (whether it was verbalized or not I'm not sure) was "BORING."  Then they went into the Lyric Center for the Arts and they came alive.  It was not what they expected.  During this holiday season might the fiber arts liven your life whether it is by something you make, use, wear or admire.

Christmas/Holiday Celebration

Top: Carol Sperling showing the towels that she wove at the Minnesota Discovery Center this past summer.
Bottom: Jody Guy-Krulc demonstrates the how she holds the yarn and knits the stitches in the continental method of knitting.

It is December which means that the members each brought a special food item to share at our meeting.  The food was terrific. The members know how to work with more than just fibers!  It was a time to relax, talk, and get to know each other just a little better.  Afterward, we had a business meeting.  There isn't a meeting in January for the Range Fiberart Guild; thus, a number of subjects needed to be addressed.  Then the highlight of the meeting was set on the table -the ornaments for the annual ornament exchange.  The creativity and the variety of the ornaments exchanged is always interesting.  A glimpse of how exhaustive the fiber arts can be is evident in a small way in this shared experience  The meetings are never complete until we see what  our members have been busy designing and creating.  "Show and Tell" revealed that our members have been very busy.