August 2008 Newsletter

Do you have a favorite shape? I’m enamored of circles. I’ve been spending inordinate amounts of time on my bike, making those circles go round and round, dreaming of a quilt I’d like to create to tell the story of this year called “Full Circle.”
--Katy

Recap of July Meeting (July 31, 2008)
Show and tell is taking longer and longer! How wonderful. Michele brought her “trash-heap rescue” loom, plus she showed us an online magazine she’s now subscribing to called Fibre and Stitch (www.fibreandstitch.com; it’s $30/year). Journal making definitely agrees with Marilyn, since she brought three new ones to show off. Karen was inspired last month too, and brought her foiled journal. Lois had a southwest themed journal, plus some newly dyed fabric. We were all jealous of her batik stamps (called caps or tjaps). Gill showed us a variety of bookbinding methods she learned in a Sievers class a few summers ago. Her most recent Sievers adventure is learning Korean Pojagi, which includes a technique similar to French seaming with sheer fabrics. We’ve talked her into teaching us early next year (January or February). Finally, new member Lynda impressed us with her show and tell—her three dimensional felted piece and her loosely woven beaded triptych were both joyfully tactile.

We finally got around to our program of playing with paper clay. We learned that too much detail doesn’t work well with this medium, but that it will cut easily with scissors once dry. Remember that the most interesting results come after the paper clay is dried and painted. We’re looking forward to seeing these unique embellishments show up in everyone’s work in the coming months.

Announcements and Reminders
We will replace the November meeting (the last Thursday turns out to be Thanksgiving this year!) with a meeting on December 4th, which is the first Thursday of December. We might do beading with Betty, or we might relocate to a restaurant for our Christmas party. Stay tuned while we work out the details, but DO mark your calendar for December 4th. You won’t want to miss the “famous” white elephant!

August Meeting (Thursday August 28, 2008)
Remember there is no regular meeting in August—instead we’re meeting at Karen’s house for a potluck (and studio/junk drawer tour!) Bring whatever you like to share! Carpool options:

• Neenah/Menasha crew, meet at the library at 5:30. Call Marilyn to coordinate.
• Appleton group, meet at Theresa’s house at 5:30. Call Theresa.
• Sandy and Michele plan to meet at the Oshkosh Perkins at 5:30.

Upcoming Events
August 28, 2008: August meeting, potluck picnic at Karen’s
September 25, 2008: September meeting, 6:30. Paper towel dyeing with Lois.
October 30, 2008: October meeting, 6:30, Laura Murray movie night
December 4, 2008: White Elephant and TBD.

Conversations in Cloth meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 at the Menasha Public Library.