Special Announcements

The Textile Center newsletter and calendar can be found on-line at http://www.textilecentermn.org

Events and Exhibitions:

6/6 – 7/19 Shibori Cut Loose
7/25 – 8/23 Purpose-Process-Progress: Mentor/Protegee Exhibition
7/20 – 8/28 Minnesota Knitters Guild
8/29 – 10/18 Freedom, the Fiber of our Nation
(entry deadline July 4)

Special Events

Aug 15 Hot Art Cool Jazz at 6:30pm
Sept. 13 Family Day - Preview of fall workshops. Member guilds can have two tables to give demos, present information and sell items. Mystery (Barbie) Fabric Challenge Exhibit

Fabulous Workshops

June 4-10 Shibori Symposium - offering lectures and workshops
July 31 - Aug. 2 - Design Process: Elements and Principles for Fashion with Anna Carlson
Aug 22-24 New Age Looping -small pouches using Stone Age looping techniques - Donna Kallner

Check out the website for information on all the summer workshops. I highly recommend Marbling on Fabric. Wonderful class and teacher. You'll go home with a pile of marbled paper and fabric samples.

Please see the Textile Center website for complete information on all exhibits, classes and other opportunities to be involved in our local textile community.

Textile Center Liaison: Patricia P.

Textile Center
3000 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-436-0464 FAX: 612-436-0466
www.textilecentermn.org

Textile Center Hours: Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Shop and Gallery Hours: Mon-Thu 12 - 7 p.m., Fri 12 - 4 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Library Hours: Mon 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tues 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Wed - Closed, Thurs 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 5 - 7 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sat 12 – 4 p.m., Sun - Closed

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Top 10 Tips for a Successful Retreat!

You have sent in your Retreat Registration Form and if you find yourself thinking more and more about Retreat . . . here are Carrie & Kim’s Top 10 Tips for a Successful Retreat!

Tip #10. Bring a LIGHT! (And maybe an extension cord or power strip, if you have one.) Being a retreat center, lighting may be less than perfect, particularly in the evening. You will be much happier if you bring your own light. And a FLASHLIGHT – some of the hallways are dark at night.

Tip #9. Dress in LAYERS! It’s 90 degrees outside and air conditioned inside – what to wear? Be sure to bring a sweater, sweatshirt, or a lightweight jacket that you can put on if the air conditioning is too cool for you.

Tip #8. Dress for COMFORT! While we are talking about what to wear – be sure to be comfortable. There is no dress code – other than to be comfortable.

Tip #7. Bring your STITCHING SUPPLIES! You’ll be at a needlework retreat for four to seven days – be sure to bring a needle, a scissors, and your “usual” stitching supplies. Although, should you forget, I’m sure there will be a classmate with an extra pair of scissors to help out.

Tip #6. Bring a PROJECT(S) TO WORK ON! Especially if you are in independent study. In fact, it’s not out of line to bring a bin of projects or at least 3-4 tote bags. And if you are taking a class, you might want to stitch on something new outside of class – just for fun.

Tip #5. What about MEALS, BEVERAGES, and SNACKS? We recognize you will need to keep up your strength so you can stitch all night. Therefore, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served beginning with Thursday’s lunch. There will be fruit and cookies for snacks. The menu for meals will be in your confirmation materials. If there are meals that do not meet your needs – you can bring your own food and use the full kitchen in the new building – and there is a grocery store within walking distance. There is a refrigerator, ice machine, and coffee in each main building. Just remember to keep your snacks and beverages away from your tablemate’s stitching supplies and projects in the classroom!

Tip #4. What about the CLASSROOMS? You will be assigned to a classroom. A daily schedule will be in your Confirmation material, and all independent study and classes will be on the same schedule for breaks and meals. Please respect the teachers and your fellow students by keeping “traffic” to a minimum during the official class/teaching hours – but feel free to visit other classrooms during breaks and free time!

Tip #3. What about “personal comfort” – otherwise known as TOWELS, PILLOWS, and SOAP! Depending on whom you talk to, towels might be considered small or thin and the shower has liquid soap. So, if you’re like us, you’ll throw in an extra towel, a bar of soap and bring your own pillow. After all – you might want to take a nap or shower sometime!

Tip #2. Come prepared to have a GOOD TIME, STITCH a lot, and LEARN something new! Your Retreat Chairpersons and Volunteers will try their best to make sure everyone enjoys retreat. If you have questions or concerns or something is not quite right, be sure to let one of the Retreat Chairpersons or your Class Angel know, so we can help find a solution.

Tip #1. Did we mention bringing a LIGHT? And a FLASHLIGHT? Enough said.

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By this time, you should have received the Retreat 2008 invitation. If you find yourself wondering whether you should attend Retreat, here’s Carrie & Kim’s Top 10 Reasons to go to Retreat THIS year!

Reason #10. A chance to get away from your day-to-day routine. No TV, no DVD, no phone (unless you need to make a call). This should be reason enough!

Reason #9. Spend some quality time in Buffalo – being able to shop, walk, and enjoy small town life for a few days. The Retreat Center is located right on the lake, and Lake Buffalo is beautiful in the summer. While the Retreat Center is not a luxury resort – it is comfortable & pleasant!

Reason #8. 3 to 7 days with no responsibilities – no cooking, no cleaning, no chores, no job! Being able to eat a meal and walk away from the table – Really!

Reason #7. Learn new techniques to enhance creativity – breathing, movement, relaxation, and imagery - with an award-winning designer and speaker. And it’s included in your retreat fee! If that’s not enough, there’s a Friday night lecture on Color!

Reason #6. See what all the fuss is about – Show & Tell and Merchandise Night. These have been long-standing, popular Retreat events – and they be sure to become one of your favorites as well.

Reason #5. Enjoy independent study! Bring your projects and catch up or start a new project. You decide. Take a break, take a walk, sleep in, stitch late, stitch fast or stitch slow, needlepoint, bead, or quilt – all while enjoying the view and good conversation.

Reason #4. An opportunity to take a class from a national teacher – and your only expense is your kit fee! Spend 1, 2, or 3 days with one or more of our exceptional teachers to learn a new technique and stitch a wonderful piece. Kit fees range from $7 to $120 – something to fit everyone’s budget!

Reason #3. Three to seven days of uninterrupted stitching time – during the day or in the middle of the night! Whether you are in a class or independent study, there is ample stitching time. How often does that happen?

Reason #2. A chance to see what other people are working on. We confess – this might be the BEST reason to go to Retreat. Walking around the Retreat Center and seeing different projects, different techniques, and talking with people about their projects can add a new perspective to your needlework. It really is inspiring!

Reason #1. Which leads us to the most important reason: it’s the people! If you have never been to Retreat before, this is a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends. If you have attended Retreat in the past, you know you’ll be renewing old friendships and catching up on all the news. We really have the best members in our guild!

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Retreat 2008

Since it’s the middle of winter, it’s the perfect time to think about Retreat. Here is an introduction to our wonderful instructors for Retreat 2008. A more complete biography of each instructor can be found in the Retreat 2008 Invitation or on our Retreat 2008 page.

Kay Stanis – Silk & Metal

Kay Stanis is an internationally known fiber artist, designer, Master Craftsman, Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery. Kay’s embroideries have received numerous awards and have been shown on the covers of Kurenai, Inspirations, NeedleArts, and Needlepointers. Kay has been juried into Fiber Forum and has studied at L’Ecole de Broiderie D’Art (Lesage), at The Royal School of Needlework in England, and was invited to study in Japan with Master Saito at Kurenai Kai. She regularly teaches for ANG, EGA, and numerous independent groups. She owns and operates The Gilded Edge as a retail company in Wisconsin.

Lauren Sauer – Counted Thread

Lauren Sauer was taught embroidery at age 7 by her paternal great aunt, and has been embroidering ever since. Lauren has been teaching embroidery and conducting workshops for EGA chapters, needlework guilds, and specialty shops across the USA, England and Australia. For many years, Lauren has been on the faculty for The Spirit of Cross-Stitch Festivals, The Silver Threads Seminars, Christmas in Williamsburg and A Sampler Gathering. Currently Lauren is teaching annually at the Celebration of Needlework. In 1988 she started her own needlework design business, Forget-Me-Nots In Stitches, and for 13 years, she has exhibited annually at the International Needlework Retailers Guild (INRG) trade shows in Charlotte, NC and Nashville, TN.

Tricia Spitzmueller – Fabric Painting, Embellishment, Quilting & Collage

Tricia Spitzmueller is a retreat facilitator, spiritual director, fiber artist, teacher, and speaker. She lectures on a variety of topics including the woman’s journey, creativity, finding your passion and an array of other motivational, spiritual and creative subjects. As an artist, Tricia specializes in contemporary quilt and doll making. Tricia studied at Carleton College in Minnesota and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History with a minor in Studio Arts. She is also a graduate of The Institute of Spiritual Companions in Chicago, IL and the Inner Focus School for Advanced Energy Healing in Madison, WI. She has given workshops and lectured extensively at more than 90 venues in 10 years, including conventions, symposiums, conferences and quilting guilds in both the United States and abroad. She is the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Jewel Patterson Scholarship for Quilt Teachers given by Quilter’s Inc., Houston, TX.

And last, but certainly not least – You – Independent Study

Continuing the tradition you can choose Independent Study at Retreat and set your own course of study, stitching, and learning, as well as being able to share with other independent study stitchers. The amount of knowledge, talent, inventiveness and willingness to share among our guild’s membership is amazing!

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NGM Has Landed

The location saga started February of 2006 when our previous home, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, was sold and the new owners decided not to rent to NGM. So we packed up everything, put it into storage, and found a temporary home at Byerlys and the Lenox Center. With the results from last year’s survey and direction from the Board, an Ad Hoc Location Committee convened and went to work. After phone calls, site visits and church Board meetings, we found a new home. Our new home as of May 1, 2007 is St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Richfield. St. Nick’s met all of the requirements: administration easy to work with, handicap accessible, lighted parking lot, on a bus route, storage available, home for the library, lease, reasonable charge for rent, kitchen, lighting and electrical outlets to plug in lights, and centrally located. Oh yeah, did I mention they want us? As with any place of worship, there may be times that we will have to meet in a different room or make other arrangements due to a wedding, funeral, etc. Each member will receive a map by either email or snail mail.

As expected a change in location is bringing about changes in some of our meeting procedures. St. Nick’s is locked most of the time. Several of our members have agreed to hold keys. They will try to be at meetings 15 minutes ahead of time. The front door will be locked 15 minutes after the start of meetings. When possible a cell phone number will be posted for late arrivals. If you know you are going to be late to a meeting, please let someone know so that she can watch for you.

The kitchen, including the coffee maker, is available for our use. Please remove all food and food-related garbage – wrappers, plates, utensils, cups, etc. – when you leave the church.

The Guild would like to thank Susan A., Julie C., Elaine F., and Carol P. for their hard work as the Ad Hoc Location Committee. Job well done!

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