BSKG September Meeting

Fall is coming fast... although it feels like summer only just got here! Many BSKG members have been together at various times throughout the summer, but I know we are all looking forward to the yarny goodness of fall and seeing everyone at guild meetings.

Our first meeting of the year is Tuesday, September 10, at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Birmingham. Doors open at 6:30 pm, so you can check in and socialize for a bit before the meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Should you find yourself sitting next to a new member or guest, please make them  feel as welcomed as you were at your first meeting. 

This meeting is our welcome back meeting - we would really love to see what you've been knitting or been excited about over the summer. Please bring items - knitted, crocheted, maybe new yarns or fiber treasures - to show and share. We will also be having a Silent Auction of some fabulous items, so bring your money/checkbook! 

Thanks to all who provided feedback through the survey we sent out. We reviewed your thoughts and suggestions with the BSKG Board when we met over the summer. The feedback helps us continue on the right track as a guild - to be a place for all of us to come and enjoy the experiences we have as a group. Our calendar for the year is set and we've got some wonderful programs and plans that you're sure to enjoy. Bring your calendar so you can make plans to venture out on some field trips. 

Also at the September meeting, we will be talking about some opportunities for you as a guild member to step up and become more active in the guild. These are excellent chances to be more involved in making the guild a great place for all members. We'll be asking for nominations for the office of Vice President at the October meeting and the guild will vote on the nominations at the November meeting. 

We're looking forward to seeing you all on the 10th!

Be sure to check the Events page for Stitch 'N Pitch information -- and join the fun on September 15!

Knitter's Picnic on June 19th

Pat from the Oakland Knitting Guild has passed along this info - if anyone is available, it looks like a good time and it would be wonderful to have some Black Sheep go and mingle with our fellow knitters!

You are invited to the Knitter’s Picnic hosted by the Oakland Knitting Guild. We have reserved the pavilion at Firefighters Park from 4-9 p.m. On Wednesday June 19th. The park is located on Square Lake Road between Coolidge and Crooks on the North side of the street. You will see the pavilion on your right, there is a parking lot north of the pavilion. Bring your knitting, a show and share project, a potluck dish, beverages, and a chair. We always have a lot of fun, hope to see you there.
Pat

You Are ... 18 Blessings

You might not consider this related to knitting, but maybe you will.  My yoga teacher this morning recited these lines throughout our class and I thought it might be interesting to some or all of you Black Sheep.  It comes from a Shabbat booklet from Shir Tikvah (a Jewish congregation in Troy), but it does not necessarily have to be interpreted as something religious, just something to think about.  I do not know who the author is.

You are strong when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
     You are brave when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy when you see a flower and give it your blessing.
     You are loving when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise when you know the limits of your wisdom.
   You are true when you admit that there are times when you fool yourself.

You are alive when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.
    You are growing when you know what your are, but not what you will come to be.

You are free when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.
     You are honorable when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous when you can take as sweetly as you give.
    You are humble when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.
     You are merciful when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful when you don't need a mirror to tell you.
    You are rich when you never need more than you have.

You are what you are, and that is enough for anyone to be loved.
     You are what you are, and that is enough for anyone to be loved.


Harriet

WWKIP - 2013

Well, we had a good showing of about a dozen knitters at 12 Oaks Mall on Saturday, June 8 for World Wide Knit in Public Day.

 Including our sheepie who had a nice cold drink:

I'm not in any picture, as I was taking them.  We were there for several hours and had a good time.  Actually, I think this whole week is Knit in Public Week.  So, if anyone else is out in public knitting and gets some pics, let me know and we can put them on the blog.

Harriet

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Hello Sheepies! World Wide Knit in Public Day is fast approaching and we’d like for as many of you as possible to meet with us for some public knitting to celebrate.

We’ve decided on 12 Oaks Mall on June 8th at 1:00 p.m.

We’re going to sit in the area on the main floor by J.Jill and Kay Jewelers. That is right in the center of the mall - it’s likely easiest to enter from JCPenney’s, but Macy’s and Sears are also relatively close (Nordstrom and Lord and Taylor are a bit further). In case you’re unsure check the mall map.

Let us know if you’re going to be joining us!

RETREAT

Well, the 2013 retreat at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center at Higgins Lake is officially over!  We had 40 Black Sheep attend, which is the highest number so far.  The weather was a bit wonky, but no one seemed to mind.  We knit, ate, drank, had massages, got henna tattoos, walked around, and, did I say, we knit!!!  A couple of Black Sheep even went kayaking on Higgins Lake early Saturday morning.

Here are just a few pictures of Black Sheep having fun.

 

We had a beautiful display of items making up our door prizes.  Here are just a few pictures.

Saturday we had a class on color pooling with Lynn Hershberger.  Lynn taught the same class at the Sock Summit.  It was a very interesting class and a great learning experience.  Thank you Lynn!

Thanks to all who helped in making this retreat the success it was.  And thank you to all who attended.  We love ya and hope to see you next year.  And, to those who couldn't make it this year, we hope you will be able to do so next year.  Just ask your friend and fellow Black Sheep who went how great a time we all had.

H.

Last meeting til fall.

Last meeting of the year was held  on 5/13 and lots of fun was had by all.

We had fruit and cake.  Cake was so beautiful, sheep were taking pictures of it.

Tables were filled with items for sale/swap. Great deals and fun, fun, fun.

Judith brought lovely yarn susans to sell.  Note the stuffed animals to the right which were brought in for our charity project.  Not due til October, but knitters are having fun already making cute animals!  Keep it up.  The elephant wasn't even a pattern given out, but used by one of our sheep.  Isn't it great?  Feel free to substitute your own pattern if you like.

More tables filled with items to sell/swap.

Enjoyed several "show and share" projects.  Our Black Sheep are SOOO creative.

Next meeting will be September 9.  Hope everybody has a wonderful summer.  See you in September.  Unless you come by Panera to knit on a Tuesday night.  If so, I'll see you there.  Come join us everyone!

Harriet