Black Sheep Knitting Guild

December Black Sheep Guild Meeting Kathy Stasys Although our December meeting was moved from the 13th to the 6th, we had a great  turnout for the evening. Thank goodness as we missed the big snow storm and Arctic air that came the following week. Much happened in our November guild elections thanks to so many willing to take on the various tasks involved in the BSKG. Here are the election and new volunteer results: Vice-President : Kate P. Membership Secretary : Harriet A Treasurer : Diane D. Sneaky Sheep: Tanya T. and Kim W. Blog Mistress : Dorinda B. Stitch and Pitch : Barb C. who will work with anyone else who is interested Retreat : Kitty C., Linda D. Kelley G., Pat K., Rita P., Sarah T. Monthly Knit Along : Noreen S. Each of these women new to a position brings with her exciting ideas for the Guild's coming year. Congratulations and thank you! During the December meeting, the BSKG addressed one of its primary goals: education to improve  knitti...

November Black Sheep Guild Meeting  by Kathy Stasys November is always an important month for the Guild members as it is the time that we vote for the new vice-president. And we did! Unlike many previous years, this election had three women who put their names forward. Luckily, our process is far less contentious than the national election of 2016.  Thanks to Diane D., Vangie A., and Kate P. for their willingness to take on the VP position. And no, you can't find out now who won. That big announcement comes at the December meeting. THE DECEMBER MEETING IS ON THE 6th November is also the month you find out who your friends are in the guild. Someone is likely to steal a great item right from under your nose. The Brown Bag Swap also proves that old adage about judging a book (or bag) by its cover. Many members brought in a knitting related item packaged in a brown bag to swap by a time honored lottery system. Of course, many members also stol...

Wouldn't these colors make a beautiful scarf? First, apologies for the delayed and deferred blog postings. Computer problems: operator and machine. In September the Black Sheep welcomed Alex and his mother, Nicole. He is a 4th grade student who is a most remarkable young man. He saw a need in the Oxford and Lake Orion School Districts and enlisted his mother's help. Alex recognized that many students did not have enough to keep them warm in the winter; it was his idea to provide knit scarves for 17 schools. He asked his mother to knit if he could find the yarn. (She learned how to knit to help him out!) The Black Sheep Guild members were more than happy to spend some of their summer knitting for his great cause. BSKG knit a variety of scarves for Alex

Black Sheep in the Summer Kathy Stasys Judith enjoyed the June Knit in Public Day with food in one hand and knitting in the other. Guild members spent the summer knitting scarves for our Charity Project which will be presented in September. Mimi, Erika, and Chris enjoy our second August Summer Camp Ice Cream Social. Everyone else was in line for seconds. In spite of August heat and tornado threats, many Black Sheep members attended the Allegan Fiber Fest. Notice the food and knitting again? Hope to see you at the September 12th meeting. Crazy Beavers are not invited.

Summer Camp First Session: Tuesday, June 14th at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Judith will introduce a special charity project you may have read about in the Free Press . A young man named Alex VanHaren (10 years old) started collecting yarn so his mother could make scarves for fellow students in the Oxford School system who needed the warmth. She could not knit it all because the donations were so overwhelming. We can help! Yarn will be provided.  Camp will continue on the second Tuesday in July and August.  World Wide Knit in Public Day June 18th Have You Any Wool is offering workshops, but even better, a chance to sit and knit at Patrick J's Irish Pub from 1:00 to 3:00.  Or you could head to Leon and Lulu's in Clawson to knit. A $10 fee goes to benefit Mittens for Detroit. Michigan Fiber Fest August 20-21 Organizers of the annual Festival are asking Michigan guilds to help with the Fiber Fest Demonstrations. Since th...

May 2016 by Kathy Stasys Bargain One Bargain Two May is a great month to be a part of the Black Sheep Knitting Guild! During this May's guild meeting, members sold items from their stash...and bought others' stash. It was a win-win situation for everyone. Sometimes sales were already completed, or at least contemplated, before the meeting formally began. And, of course, there was a lot of window shopping, bargaining, and admiring purchases.  May is also the annual retreat at the Higgins Lake MacMullan Conference Center. The 2016 Retreat was one of the best. We had great weather for walks in the woods; Donna met a tree branch before crossing an icy stream (barefoot) with Denise and Kathy. Sara and Kelly sat by the lake to knit in the sunshine. Erika brought her new marshmallow stick to Friday night's campfire. Two Mini Coopers caravanned on a hunting expedition for yarn on Saturday. The blue bags are proof of many purchases. Those who stayed back line...

by Kathy Stasys Guild members enjoyed a full agenda at the April's BSKG meeting. We welcomed several guests and potential members as well enjoyed two guest speakers. The regular business included reminders about the May Retreat which promises to be as much fun as ever. The committee procured some fantastic yarns for door prizes. The MacMullen Center also promised great weather again. (Next committee meeting is May 3rd at Panera's.) Anyone interested in attending the Tiger game on June 5th should contact Harriet about tickets. Don't forget your charity knitting; Judith will bring more kits soon. Participants in the Sneaky Sheep exchange received and presented beautiful "Spring Into Summer" themed items. These are only two of the creative Sneaky Sheep projects. Our two guest speakers are friends and business partners. Tanya Thomann and Carla Kohoyda-Inglis explained the start to finish process in the creation of their gorgeous yarns. While...

THE BLACK SHEEP KNITTING GUILD RETREAT IS COMING SOON!!!! THE VERY LAST MINUTE  IS APRIL'S MEETING!!!! YOU KNOW IT'S FUN!!!!! DON'T MISS OUT!!!!! THE WEATHER SHOULD BE GREAT!!!!! and so is the company you'll be with!

And these are a few of our favorite things.... The Black Sheep Knitting Guild had a busy February meeting, but the highlight had to be the members who presented a few of their favorite knit items highlighting vibrant colors and unusual pieces.  We got down to business when Suzanne S. shared an extensive list of Event and Field Trip suggestions. If you did not get her handout, more are available or look at our site. One late incoming item is a Fiber Day that the Wool Gatherers is sponsoring on April 3rd from 12:15 to 4:30 at the Plymouth Library. It's free.  Harriet spoke about Stitch and Pitch and a new date of April 23rd. Suzanne K. gave information about the new approach to Knit Michigan; individual knit shops are accepting items for donation.  Many picked up their Retreat Registration forms. Please fill them out soon and send the $75 deposit to Harriet if you have not already done so. The FINAL PAYMENT is due at the April meeting. And, o...

by Kathy Stasys As the new year starts, the Black Sheep Knitting Guild continued the tradition of Cast Off / Cast On but in a different format. Donna M., 2015 president, said good bye with suggestions learned from her knitting experience (swatch). Kathy S., 2016 president, asked the members to consider doing something new this year (sit next to someone different). From the Committee Reports , Diane D., our Recording Secretary asks that anyone who has changed contact information please notify her for our new roster.  Have any yarn you would like to donate to the raffle ? Val K. is always interested in accepting those pretty skeins that you aren't going to use. Thanks to those who have donated for January. Sue S. has graciously stepped up to head the Event and Field Trip Committee. Even on short notice, she was full of great ideas. Be sure to sign up for Sneaky Sheep . This year's theme is "Spring Into Summer" so think cottons, pastels, floaty scarves, light sha...