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BETWEEN FRIENDS

ONE COMMON THREAD
The regular newsletter of the Friendship Spinners - Summer 2008

Between Friends is the quarterly newsletter of the Friendship Spinners. We meet on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at various locations around Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Lunch is usually potluck. Dues are $20 per calendar year. For more information about meetings or to place and ad, contact the newsletter editor Ken Linfield. To join, contact treasurer/membership chair Anne Littlebird.

Upcoming Spin Ins

November 8	Franklin Co. Extension Office	Annual Spinners Market
December 5 & 6	Shakertown of Pleasant Hill	Shakertown Retreat
January 10, 2009	Franklin Co. Extension Office

Click on the location for driving directions.

In Addition

There will be a spin in at the North American International Livestock Expo at the fairgrounds. It will be Sunday, November 16 from 12-4. Tori Kleinert will have tickets and parking passes. If you want to participate, please email her.

Treasurer's Report

Our bank account is currently very healthy with a balance of $2570.61.

This is a reminder that January is just around the corner and it's time to pay your membership dues. I will have dues envelopes at Shakertown like last year or you may mail them to me.

Anne Littlebird

From the Program Chair

So far, 2008 has turned out to be a challenging year for most, if not all, of us. There has been the economic challenges, as well as family, health and personal challenges. Thank goodness we all have our fiber fetishes to help keep us sane. I can't imaging life without lost of fiber, wool, knitting, spinning, weaving and sewing. I just finished a Fairy Princess and Geisha Girl Halloween custumes for two of my granddaughters. Thank goodness for my hobby space!

All of the challenges so far this year should make the December Shakertown Retreat that much mor enjoyable. I hope each of you is looking forward to the retreat as much as I am. We all need the time to quietly regroup and reconnect.

The tentative schedule for Shakertown looks like this:

Crone Parade - TBA (Friday night or Saturday morning) Due to the lack of responses, there will be no Crone Crowning.

Saturday:
11:00 am - Scarves for the Scarf Exchange need to be turned in to Martha Richard or Nancy Reid.
11:30 am - Scarf Exchange
12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 pm - Short Business Meeting to include Election of Officers
1:30 pm - Raffle
2:00 pm - Gift Exchange

A reminder that the Gift Exchange is optional, needs to be fiber related and about $15.00. Information on making reservations for meals and overnight accommodations is later in this newsletter. Be sure and read the whole newsletter!

There has been a turnover of officers this year, and it would be remiss of me not to knowledge the wonderful efforts of Sandy Duffy, Linda Donahoe and Nancy Reid. Thank you for EVERYTHING! You have made us what we are, and for that, we are extremely grateful.

I hope to see everyone at Shakertown. Until then, keep spinning, weaving, knitting sewing, whatevering.

Carol Wixom, Co-Program Chair

Bernheim Color Fest

I would like to thank all those who made this year's Color Fest a success. These people braved cool temperattures in order to make sure that we will be able to meet at Bernheim Forest next year.

Over the years this arrangement has worked out very well for Friendship Spinners and the folks at Bernheim. It's a great family event and exposes many people to spinning over the weekend.

Claude Stevens at Bernheim wanted all of you to know how grateful they are for us to demonstarte each year. If you haven't taken part before now, remember there's always next year.

Thanks again, Sandy Duffy

Shakertown Retreat

December 5-6, 2008
Shakertown, Pleasant Hill, KY
3501 Lexington Rd., Harrodsbury, KY 40330
1-800-734-5611
Driving direcitons can be found on their website: www.shakervillageky.org

Nancy has reserved a block of rooms at Shakertown this year. Rather than collecting monies, you will need to call and make your own reservations. Call Ann Voris at Group Sales 1-800-734-5611, ext 1548 and say you are reserving a room for the FS Retreat. (If Ann is not available please leave a voice mail. Her direct line is 859-734-1548.) This way you will get the group rate. Remember we are able to get the meeting room free if we all stay overnight at Shakertown.

Room rates are:
Single - $72
Double - $82
Triple - $99
Please note: There is a maximum of three people to a room.

Meal reservations at the Shakertown Restaurant are on your own. You may call ahead to make reservations for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner (1-800-734-5611) or when you check in.

We will have the beverage service during the retreat as before. Please feel free to bring snakcs and other foods if you wish.

Room Cancellation: If you need to cancel your reservation, Shakertown policy is: More than 30 days out - full refund; 30 days to 2 weeks prior - 50% refund; anything short of two weeks - full rate of one overnight stay.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let one of the board members know.

We are now in the process of planning next Summer's Retreat. We will be featuring in-house presenters for our classes.

If you are interested in teaching a class, please email Carol Wixom by January 1, 2009 and include the following information:
- What you would like to teach.
- Minimum and maximum number of students.
- Ability levels of students.
- How long the class would last (all day, 1/2 day, etc.).
- Approximate cost of the class per person.
- What your fee would be.
- Any equipment needed for you or the students.

Library Report

We are still in need of one more person to take a library box for storage.We like to have the boxes for people to peruse at the Berheim meeting and again at Shakertown. If you can help, please contact Tori Kleinert.

Tori Kleinert

Archivist's Report

On the Dyer's List, there was a discussion about maximizing dye color when dyeing wool. The question asked was: At what point is the dye bond between acid dye and the fiber complete? Can I safely take fiber that is around 180-200 degrees and put it and its water into a colander to drain and have no effect on the bond of dye and fiber?

The responders agreed it's not a good idea. While it might work, cooling slowly does have a practical purpose.

Acid dyes actually do their most permanent bonding during a range of temperatures. The temperature range probably differs depending on the class of acid dye you're using, but it's somewhere in the 150-180 degrees F. The dye actually has two time periods (or temperature periods) to become fixed to the yarn or fiber -- once on the "way up" the temperature range to a boil, and once on the "way down." So removing the yarn before it cools below these temperatures is actually short-changing the dye process somewhat.

It is the amount of time spent in this temperature range that is the most important. The time at boil is for actually getting the dye molecules "on the move" and is more for "leveling and penetrating" than "fixing" the dye. Bring the dye pot slowly to a boil (45-60 minutes) and then turn it off to cool. When you can handle the yarn with your bard hands comfortable, it's cooled below the dye range and you are good to go.

So, while there is no actual harm to the fiber to pull it out of the dye bath hot, the fiber (or yarn) will continue to pick up additional dye during the cooling process.

Spinning Exchange

This year's Spinner's Exchange is a handspun scarf, using your own handspun.

If you haven't started on your scarf, now would be a great time. You still have a little over a month.

This exchange will take place at the Winter Retreat at Shakertown on Saturday after lunch. If you can't be there in person, you can send your scarf with a friend and it will be exchanged for you.

Here are the rules:
1. Must be your own handspun- no ghost spinners.
2. No ghost weavers or knitters.
3. Challenge yourself- stretch your boundaries.
4. Minimum size of 6” x 60” excluding fringe.
5. As usual, we will have someone go over the entrees to make sure there aren’t any howlers.
6. Last but not least, when your scarf arrives at Shakertown, it must be completely done. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Rent-A-Loom

Don't forget, the club owns a lovely little 4 harness floor loom that rents out for only $25 a month, with a $100 deposit. If you've been wanting to try weaving and have hesitated at the high initial capital outlay, try it first to see if you like it! The library also has the books to get you started, and there are several qualified teachers in the club as well. Contact Nancy Reid to reserve the loom.

Want Ads

For Sale: Two folding tables. 4 ft x 23 1/2" x 28" tall. Used three times. Good for craft fairs. $30.00 each. Contact Linda Donahoe.

Menu Corner

Pumpkin Stew

2 lbs stew beef in 1" cubes
3 Tbsp cooking oil
1 cup water
3 large potatoes, peeled & cut into 1" cubes
4 medium carrots, sliced
1 large green pepper, cut into 1 1/2" pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp instant beef bouillon granules
1 can (14 1/2 oz) tomatoes, undrained, cutup
1 pumpkin (10 - 12 lbs)

In dutch oven, brown meat n 2 Tbsp oil. Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Stir in bouillon and tomatoes. Wash pumpkin; cut a 6" to 8" circle around top stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan. Spoon stew into pumpking and replace the top. Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining 1 Tbsp of oil. Bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.

Serves: 8-10

Newsletter Musings

In addition, I will be bringing my camera to spin-ins for a while. I would like to get pictures of many members for a pictorial directory, which would especially help new members (as well as some established members) remember names and faces.

Ken Linfield (newsletter editor)

Officers

As is mentioned elsewhere in the newsletter, we have already had some changes in officers this year as several folks who had already served with distinction for more than five years were finally able to take well-deserved breaks. As the year winds down, it is time to prepare for elections for officers for 2009 - with each office either to be filled with someone new or with the current officer continuing for another year. Elections will be held at the Shakertown Retreat.

So, between now and the Retreat in December, nominations are open. You may nominate someone else or nominate yourself. If you wish to nominate someone else, please confirm that the person s willing to serve before submitting the name. Names are to be submitted to Sandy Duffy or Carol Wixom -- Co-Program Chairs.</p>

Any questions - please check with Sandy or Carol.

Driving Directions to Spin-Ins

Franklin County Extension Office

From I-64, take Exit #58 to US 60W. Travel about three miles to a large intersection with overhead green signs. Turn right onto Georgetown Road (US 460E) and travel eight tenths of a mile to the next light and turn left onto KY 2822 (Steadmontown Rd). The extension office is the second left on the corner of Lakeview Court behind Lakeview Park.

Shakertown, Pleasant Hill

Driving directions can be found on their website: www.shakervillageky.org