Tawe Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers
Committee meeting Friday 23rd October 2009
19:00 The Cross Community Centre
Present
Debb Reid, Michelle Solomon, Ann Fox, Eirian Roberts, Clare Binnie, Liz Flaherty, Nell Brown, Gill Jenkins
Apologies
Carol Haller, Isabel Heard
Insurance
Decision made to go for public liability cover of £5 million. Cost £196.75 with Ansvar. Gill to sort asap. Contents can be sorted out later.
Debbs to check out Cross’s insurance obligations as regards fire, water, vandalism etc
Grants
Cerbyd, a grant awarding body that links active artists with community groups – Ann Jordan gave us the information. Debbs to put our name forward.
Carys Miles Development officer for NPT is coming on 27th Oct at 10:30 to talk to us about grant applications. – Gill Jenkins has arranged.
Youth Opportunities Bank Grant – Megan to complete
Lottery – Liz progressing
Affiliation fees
Letter about this has gone astray. Gill/Debbs to contact Association and get another letter sent and then to send fees asap.
Vistaprint
Business cards have arrived. Debbs also got some postcards done.
Contact list and data protection
All previous contacts have been emailed, telephoned or had postcards sent, giving deadline for response. Can now tidy up our contacts list and remove those others so we can comply with the data protection regulations.
Pat Johnstone – exhibition in Penarth running until end of next week. Debb to put details on blog. Pat has confirmed that she will do April workshop.
Fests and fairs
Cancel 14th Nov in NPT – clashes with workshop day
Ystradgynlais 21st Nov – volunteers to be confirmed. Payment for stall on day
NPT 28th Nov – to confirm. Nell to pay deposit
Pontardawe Winterfest – 5th Dec, Arts Centre. Payment sent.
Green Fayre 6th Dec, National Waterfront Museum. Guild has been accepted but don’t know exactly where stall will be as yet.
Waterfront Museum 13th Dec – no more news about this yet.
Past committee meeting minutes to be put on blog.
Next meeting Friday 4th Dec 19:00 at the Cross
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
September 09
The start of another Tawe Guild year.. Almost our 30th year as a Guild. What an achievement! It has been wonderful looking through the old scrapbooks and getting a feel for the history of the Guild and all the wonderful characters that formed the original group. We are still a group of wonderful characters, and we are still achieving great things!
The AGM took place on the 1st September. The officers are published on the blog page, but for those of you who don’t have access, Debb remains as Chair, myself as secretary with Ann Fox helping out with the diary, and Michelle Solomon takes over as treasurer. Gill Jenkins has moved to Vice – Chair.
We are in a good financial position, but what will hit us hard this year will be the insurance costs. We can no longer run the studio without this insurance, but it does not come cheap. The committee will make a decision about the best way forward.
Ann F has done a sterling job in getting our workshops planned and organised. My appreciation, Ann, I know how much goes into this. There will be a group of us starting to plan the 30th celebrations – if anyone is willing to help out, please let Debbs or myself know. There are so few guilds with our history that we have to celebrate this anniversary will bells on. There have been a few suggestions put forward, and no, we had not been on the sloe rum at the time…
The All Wales event is next Saturday, the 3th October. Eirian is organising us for this event and we are running the raffle for the occasion.
Our first workshop in October – we are working towards workshops being on the second Saturday of each month, will be felting the fleece donated to us from Gill Dobson. We are planning to make a new banner in December, in readiness for the 30th anniversary. This will be a great opportunity for us to work together on a project.
!4th November will be a double dyeing and indigo dyeing day, run by Isabel and Debbs. Get spinning team. Bring fleece, yarn, various t-shirts etc for the day. Oh, and don’t forget the marigolds and pinnies. You will get covered!
The second Pontardawe Winterfest will be taking place on 4th and 5th December in the Arts Centre. This was a very successful event for us last year. We even managed to get the Community Support Officers from the local police station, spinning! Fair play to them.
Our Christmas lunch will be at the Dillwyn Arms on the 12th December. Either side of lunch, we will be making the new banner. Hhmmm – could get interesting after a few glasses of festive spirit. I do wonder what the Chairwoman’s challenge will be this year. I can get nothing out of Debbs so cannot even give you any warning about her cunning plan for us. I have to say that the challenge last year was brilliant and we ended up with an exhibition all ready to put on display. Some of the ideas were stunning and very cleverly done. All with a ball of wool and some bits and baubles.
Ann Jordan has been our star! Fancy getting on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square! I watched the video in awe. The reviews were wonderful and didn’t she do us proud? Good on you girl!
Nell
01792 830106, mobile 07977 538086
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
June 2009
Tawe Guild Newsletter, June 2009
Summers is here, and are we all ready for our bikinis? No.. well spinning works off 150 calories per hour. If that’s right, I should be a size 10 by now…
Another busy season ahead of us folks. As a result of our very successful Exhibition at Aberdulais, we have been asked to demonstrate at a number of new venues for the Guild. This is one of the main aims of our Guild – to take these ancient crafts into our local community. I had a lovely letter from Pam Spender, thanking the Guild for inviting her to open the event. Thank you Pam!
I attended the Association AGM in April. A new experience for me. There was some hard talking done about the finances and I was left with the impression that our Guild was faring significantly better than most, both financially and in spirit. Well done to all of us. Our blog site has been noted and I have been asked to write an article for the Journal about “Extreme Spinning” Oh why did I go?
A few members are going to the Summer School events. There looks to be some interesting courses and I hope that the skills and knowledge gained will be brought back to the Guild. One year, I might get the time off to attend. Oh bring on retirement!
On behalf of the Guild, I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Debbs and her team for putting in so much work into preparing, cleaning, painting and various plumbing in our newly acquired storage area. This has released so much working space in the studio that it is a pleasure to come to class and be able to actually WORK!
At our last AGM, we decided that we would bring forward the AGM date from October to September. This was to enable the yearly fees to be discussed before new members joined in September. At the workshop yesterday, the date was decided: Tuesday 1st September at 14.00. We will meet in our newly revamped basement at the Cross, offsetting the usual Saturday fee. There will also be a wool exchange on that day. If you have various fluff or fibres in your stash that you want to move on, give it to Debbs at least 1 week before the event, with your name and price that you want. There were 2 other items mentioned to discuss at the AGM: the purchase of an electric drum carder (cost in region of £950) and the need for reviewing our contents insurance at the Cross. Gill will find out more about this in preparation for the AGM.
I have attached the minutes of the previous AGM for your perusal.
Mumbles Navy Days 2009 – yet another opportunity for some extreme spinning. This time it was wearing the full respirator and wet suit. I might get the hang of this rubber thing….. Many thanks to Dave and Karl from “Bay Divers”
Button making – we had fun! I was in the naughty corner yet again, but this time I was joined by Ann. Poor Debbs, trying to keep order… I am very proud of my efforts. Once I got home, walked the pooch, I watched Andy Murray whilst squishing the Fimo to the right mix. Very therapeutic.
Our July workshop on 25th July is spinning on the beach at Aberavon. Very conveniently, this will be in close proximity to Remo’s – wonderful ice cream to be had! Lunch can be brought or you can indulge in something from the aforementioned gastronomic gurus. On that same weekend, there is the “Big Cheese” at Caerphilly. We have been asked to demonstrate at that event on both the Saturday and the Sunday. I know that it is a fair distance, but a few of our members live over that way, so I hope we can get enough volunteers to help out. I will be attending both days, so have an ice cream for me at Aberavon please!
August will be a busy month for us. We have another exhibition, using the same exhibits as we did at Aberdulais – panic over team – running from 19th – 25th at the Cross. These dates are different from those advertised in the Journal. Those Guild members attending the Summer School will spread the word. The weekend of the Pontardawe Festival has changed from previously advertised. We will set up on the Tuesday 18th and take down the following Tuesday. A rota will be in class for volunteers to attend, but if you want to give either Debbs or myself a call, we will be happy to put your name on the rota if you would prefer.
We have been asked to demonstrate at Cefn Coed Colliery (by Aberdulais) on the bank holiday Monday in August. Debbs and I will cover that but any other volunteers would be welcome. We are also demonstrating at the Brecon Beacons Mountain centre that weekend. Claire has agreed to do the rota for that event, so please can you contact her if you can cover a session. We are in demand folks!
We have a mission – to find the collective noun for a group of spinners! Any suggestions, thoughts? My husband has come up with a few suggestions, but none of them are suitable for print!
Some websites of interest:-
Fimo colour blending tutorials
http://maggiemaggio.com/color/
Pontardawe Festival
http://www.pontardawefestival.
Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre
http://www.brecon-beacons.com/
Cefn Coed Museum
http://home.clara.net/l.a/
Big Cheese Caerphilly
http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/
Nell
01792 830106, mobile 07977 538086last yearrs agm
Tawe Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
AGM 25th October 2008
Present:
Liz Flaherty, Gill Jenkins, Del Morgan, Gill Dobson, Chris Cundiff, Eirean Roberts, Richard Chandler, Carol Haller, Margot, Hollyer, Joan, Roach, Debb Reid, Nell Brown, Chris Lewis, Ann Jordan.
Apologies: Marj Hembury, Lesley Rolls, Isabel Heard, Megan Reid, Michelle Solomon.
Welcome from the Chairwoman
Liz welcomed everyone to the AGM. Due to various personal issues, Debb has stepped into help out and Liz thanked her for this. Classes continued and the workshops have been well attended. Lots of new members, which is great news. This is last year of Liz working as an officer of the Guild and everyone was thanked for supporting her. Norma has been very much missed and everyone has rallied round to support our new and old members. Both exhibitions have been successful. Debb thanked Vilma for all her work that was “found” for the exhibitions and to all the volunteers who helped to man the Grand and the Cross.
Minutes of AGM 2007
Accepted as true record. Proposed by Richard, seconded by Chris C
Matters Arising
Norma thanked for al her work at the Cross Exhibition and was presented with a bouquet by the Mayor.
The gazebo has demised. Not to be immediately replaced.
Secretary’s Report
Attached
Treasurer’s Report
Attached. Proposed by Debb seconded by Eirean
Made a loss last year. £942.81.
Rent for next year. Letter from Phil Southwood states rent will be £1084.57 but that has been reduced to £542.83 and there is an expected contribution to 1 week of exhibition during the Pontardawe Festival and various cultural evenings.
Ann J asked about an actual sponsor for the Guild. Arrangements for the Festival exhibition to be negotiated in March 2009.
Election of Officers
Debb becomes Chair. Need vice chair Clare Binnie proposed by Nell, seconded by Gill J. Megan is interested in helping out as vice treasurer. Will also need secretary in waiting.
Committee – need to ask Megan to join. Gill Dobson, Eirean Roberts, Carol Haller, Richard Chandler.
Guild Fees 2009
Debb went through various options. Important that we maintain our membership with the National Guild – need the insurance cover. £3.75 per member goes to the national guild.
Much discussion.
£50 for full membership for those who use the studio any day, with no termly limitations reduced rate workshops, insurance, library workshops, National guild
£15 for associate membership insurance reduced workshop rates, no library or equipment
Workshop fees £10 per Saturday, £20 non members with expensive workshops to be individually priced, and workshops must be booked and paid in advance. Room hire fees on a Saturday has doubled. Average cost of speaker has gone up to £140
Full membership to start in 1 September £50 1 January £30 and 1 April £20
Specific needs of the group can be set up ad hoc and paid for separately with tutorials
Proposed by Debb Reid, seconded by Clare Binnie
Calendar of Events 2009
AGM first week of September
Eirean
Karen Trimble – write to thank for donation of £50
Ann Jordan – letter to Guild outlining proposal for Brecon project. Asks Guild to participate and support if permission granted. Donation for spinning. Write letter of support Ann to email
Very interested and will support
Clare – AGM National Association attended, has info for people to see. Some changes – fee must be paid by end of Oct each year. 5 – 6 Guilds have less than 10 members and they must now pay min of 10 member fee. Association conference well worth attending. Bursary available for next year’s summer school in Lincoln Programme on web site
Debb – Guild owed for fleece from sponsorship spin. Community Farm workshop – 3 fleeces given to Guild. Missive from association – new policies for data protection. Only hold info for live members and lapsed over 2 – 3 years.
Chairwoman’s challenge – all getting present to make water theme for Aberdulais. Finished by Feb – take photo of contents and photo of finished product.
Registered charity status. Need to check category and can then apply. Guild supported
Nell Spinning lessons – asked for volunteers
CVS training days
Marjorie – library books to be returned
Gill J – picker –
Electric drum carder – apply to Town Councils
Gill D – cost of warp cotton etc for studio users – need list. New leaflets. Need to keep track of who new is coming when.
Spinning wheel for selling onwards.
Membership cards to be laminated so that the Cross staff can
April 2009
Tawe Guild Newsletter, April 2009
Well it is time to work off all that chocolate and do I have a few suggestions as to how that may be achieved??
The events over the International Womens weekend were very successful. I attended the function at the Dylan Thomas Centre. I had a brilliant time spinning to the beat of the African drummers as well as catching up with some “lapsed” members. All pass on their regards and good wishes.
Our dyeing days in March were very successful and because of the relaxed and vaguely structured approach, we worked very well as a team to support each other and learn from each other. Debbs was in lab heaven with pipettes, rubber gloves and calculations – say no more! The effects produced were stunning and enthusiasm engendered to continue our experimenting.
Now have you been squirreling away funds in readiness for “Wonderwool” on April 25th? Go cash limited if my trip to the haven of fleece last year is anything to go by. One does tend to get carried away… We are car sharing and leaving as early as possible. Michelle and I are the nominated drivers so far, but we do need more. Eirean and Isabel will be helping out on the Association stand and will be leaving very early. Cost of the fuel expected to each driver please. It is up to individuals to sort out who they are travelling with and to make their own arrangements. Tickets £6 on the door.
The May workshop is a general spin on the 23rd at the Mumbles Navy Days. I am NOT bringing sloe rum this year – see what trouble it got me into last time? It is usually a very light hearted event and thoroughly enjoyed by all. If the weather is not brilliant, do wrap up warm. All in aid of the RNLI.
The June workshop on the 27th, is all about Fimo buttons. This is a chance to bring those garments which have never been finished because you just could not get the right buttons to complete the effect. Worry no more!
Saturday 9th May - Adult Education Day. We have been asked as a Guild to demonstrate in Aberavon shopping centre between 10 – 3. Names to Debbs please. Star Trek theme – I can’t wait!! Enterprise model already glued on to spinning wheel – how sad am I?
The Chairman’s Challenge
Remember those innocuous little boxes of “stash” we were given at Christmas? Well, they need to be turned into something “watery”, ready to exhibit by the week after Easter. There are some wonderful submissions so far – all very different, all demonstrating our creativity.
Aberdulais Falls Exhibition
This is our annual exhibition and will take place on the first May Bank Holiday weekend. We can set up Friday afternoon and any volunteers would be appreciated please. I will be putting up a timetable for members to say when they will be coming to help. For those of you who do not come to the workshop, please can you let me know your preferences either by email or phone.
Ann Jordan, one of our members, is asking for support for her art project.
“A unique opportunity to take part in a public art project to be located within a bronze age funeral cairn on the top of the Black Mountain for the period of one month next April. Ann is looking for knitter and spinners to help create “cwtch” a 20 foot diameter circular knitted blanket, made from 12 miles of yarn, spun from the fleeces of Welsh mountain sheep. The spinning is chunky and robust. The work celebrates the history, the environment and the people who live in the locality of the Black Mountain.
Members of the Guild have already kindly spun the yarn for the site specific performance art work “Metamorphosis”. Images and the shroud/cocoon will be exhibited at the Walcott Chapel in Bath during the Bath Fringe Festival, which supports the music festival in May/June.”
Ann can be contacted on most Tuesday evenings at the Guild studio. Every yard and every row counts. If you can help to support Ann with this project, please get in touch.
There is a photo attached on the email version, an image of the performance on top of the Black Mountain.
Keep spinning – it is GREAT for the blood pressure!
Nell
01792 830106, mobile 07977 538086February 2009
Tawe Guild Newsletter, February 2009
I must start by apologising for my tardiness with this newsletter. A few things compounded this delay, however at long last I can put fingers to keyboard.
We had a very successful period running up to Christmas. The day at the National Waterfront Museum was very busy and we were proud to be demonstrating what we did. At one point there were 5 wheels going, all different. The Winterfest at Pontardawe was another exciting event – one which I hope will be repeated to support our local community. Can I thank everyone who came along and helped out?
Workshops
February 28th – Get to warp speed with Norma! Bring yarn if needed plus all the other accoutrements one usually expects for a warping session.
March 27th and 28th – these will be dyeing days. We have a fair amount of dyes in our wee workshop and we intend running a “free” session. Have a go at what you need to practice. There are some silk scarves left and the dyes to go with that. Payment for what you use.
April 25th We are having a jaunt to Wonderwool Wales. Cars leaving the Cross at 09.30 (from the car park at the back). Hilary Miller has asked for volunteers to help man the Association stand – any names to me please and I can ring her to let her know.
AGM – this year it is in London – at the Conway Hall WC1 on 18th April. If anyone is interested in going, I have all the papers for perusal.
International Women’s Weekend
We have been asked as a Guild to get involved with this event on a number of fronts.
Friday March 6th – daytime – Brangwen Hall (to be confirmed)
Friday March 6th – evening – Dylan Thomas Centre from 19.00
Sunday March 8th – Pontardawe Arts Centre – all day Star Trek theme – Yippee!!
All of these events have asked us to be demonstrating our craft. I can do the Friday evening and the Sunday but would appreciate names to support all these events. We are getting famous! I was a wee bit concerned that we were presumed to be a female only group – be assured I have put them right on that front!!
Friendship Day
Once again we have been kindly asked to join the Ceredigion Guild in celebrating their friendship day on Saturday 11th July. Amanda Hannaford will be giving a talk on the Certificate of Achievement.
Big Cheese Festival, Caerphilly
The Guild has been asked to demonstrate all weekend at this festival on 25 – 26 July. It does clash though with our “spin on the beach” day in July. Can I give up the promise of an ice cream from Remo’s??
Chairwoman’s Challenge
Just a gentle nudge to remind you to get those creative juices going!
Annual Exhibition
First May Bank Holiday – our efforts on the theme of water will be on exhibition! I hope I haven’t gone overboard!
Nell
01792 830106, mobile 07977 538086
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Tawe Guild Newsletter, September 2008
The start of a new term.. Are we all raring to go and get spinning??
So far this “summer” has been pretty busy with exhibitions. We have had our fair share of highs and lows:
- Excellent exhibition at the Cross and the Mayor and his wife seemed to enjoy the proceedings too
- Great venue at Aberdulais Falls, we were made very welcome there
- The blue haven was blown away at the Brecon Mountain Centre and is beyond repair
- The inventiveness of our members in keeping the show on the road.
In the next few weeks, there will have to be various decisions made regarding
fees. Debbs and Gill are meeting with the Cross management to determine rent costs on the 23rd Sept. This will give the committee a benchmark for fees over the next year. There are a few options to consider before the AGM, when final decisions will be made. I will go through these now so you have time to ponder and make your thoughts known to the committee.
Option 1
Annual membership fee of £25. For that, members will be affiliated to the National Association, have their insurance cover, get reduced rates for the Saturday workshops, and be able to attend Association summer schools to further their skills and knowledge. In addition, if members want to avail themselves of the basement studio, then a further £20 per term will be payable and this will include the costs of tea and coffee.
Option 2
Annual membership of £30, plus the above
Option 3
Annual membership of £25, but a charge of £2 per session/day in the basement studio
The full breakdown of costs will be shared at the AGM, but the current fee of £10 per year is no longer sustainable.
Please can we all have a look around for Eirean’s tapestry loom. She had some work on it and would like to find it again!
Please can we all put our names down for covering some sessions at the Swansea Grand Exhibition. Email me or phone with your availability. It cannot all be left to a very few willing, but rapidlying exhausted, members. Remember, everyone is expected to participate in some way at the sponsored spin. I am very aware that a few of you cannot attend, or bring wheels to the event. I shall be transporting the wheels from class to the Grand. If any of you want to drop off your wheels at the Cross, I can take them down to the Grand for you. Another way may be to pick up your fleece from the Cross, from any time now onwards, spin at home on your honour, and bring your bobbin (or two!) down to the Grand for counting on the Saturday afternoon. Some of you, quite understandably, might be happier with that arrangement.
Wingham Wools
The Carmarthen Guild is again hosting the annual trip from Winghams at Llangathen Village Hall, Aberglasny, Carmarthenshire, Saturday 27th September and WILL BE OPEN ON SUNDAY 28th September for sales to us. I do not have an entrance fee, but it was around £3.50 last year. Chris Cundiff has offered to be our “purloiner” – get your orders to her and she will hold onto items for our visit on the Sunday. Alternatively, contact Wingham’s direct and get them to bring certain items ready for you. Saves postage – ever the Aberdonian!!
See you all at the Preview Evening at the Grand on Tuesday 23rd at 18.30 – we are selling tickets for this event - £2 to non members – to cover costs of wine and nibbles. Gwenda Thomas AM has agreed to open the exhibition, so we are very appreciative of her time and commitment to the Guild.
All for one and one for all – we are the Tawe Guild, and proud of it!
Nell
01792 830106
07977 538086
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