Notes from March Guild Meeting ...

The Hoosier Hills Rug Hooking Guild met March 12, 2011 at the New Hope Church in Washington, IN.  Seventeen members were present.

FIBER FAIR DISCUSSION

Member Rug Display:  A couple of members will research ways of hanging the rugs from painter’s canvas, using our existing PVC pipe frames.  One will get the canvas.  Another will use the dimensions of the frames or an actual frame so she can experiment with the canvas and the frames.  They will report back at the next meeting.

Rug Display Labels:  Labels for the rug display will once again be made by Nan Tate.  Please provide the following information about each piece you intend to display: your name, name of piece displayed, designer, cut of wool (i.e., #8 cut), backing material (monks, linen, etc.), and any personal information you think might be pertinent to your hooked piece.  Get this to her a.s.a.p.

Raffle Rug:  The raffle rug is complete except for binding and was at the meeting for all to see.  The name chosen by the Shirley Casebolt, designer of the rug, is “Spring of Hearts.”  Another guild member will bind the rug.  All members were encouraged to take home pictures of the rugs (available at the meeting) and lots of raffle tickets to sell.  Cost is once again $5 for 15 opportunities to win, or $1 for one.  This is our major fund raiser and all members are encouraged to participate.

Conservation Club Building:  The treasurer reported that the building has been secured for this year and reserved for next year as well.  Many thanks to the CC for their generosity and for working with us on the Fair!

Vendor Coordinator Report:  Shirley Casebolt, the coordinator, read the list of vendors.  She will send info on local lodging to vendors who might need to stay overnight in Washington.  A member brought the name of a broom maker she had encountered (and a sample of her product) as a possible vendor and that person will be contacted by the Vendor Coordinator.  Also Eitenne’s Farms, west of Washington, will be contact to see if they want to vend outside, selling plants.

Advertising:  Balloons will be secured by Nan Tate to use with our signs to be put out the morning of the Fair.  Once again post card reminders will be sent to past attendees; that seems to be one of our most successful forms of advertising the event.  Someone will check on using the Conservation Club’s sign that is out at the highway; last year we weren’t sure it belonged to them.  The bookmark ads were available at the meeting and members are urged to put them out in their home area at appropriate places; good places are libraries, fiber stores, antiques shops and home décor shops.  The fair ad has been sent to Rug Hooking Magazine. 

Miscellaneous:  Members are urged to bring flyers and cards of local businesses to be put on an information table; Judy Foster will get antiques dealers brochures from Worthington. 

Food Vendor:  Judy is waiting on a response from the person she had in mind as a food vendor.  We will try to get someone else if Ms. Collins is not available.  Another member has a backup food vendor in mind.

Classes:  Guild members will teach the beginning rug hooking class in the morning; the pattern to be taught was unveiled to the group.  The needle punch class will be taught by Stitches from the Heart; it is an afternoon class. 

In other business, name tags will be made for members, especially since we have several new members. These will be available at meetings leading up to the Fair and at the Fair that day.

Lynda Heines from The Evansville Courier & Press will attend the next guild meeting in April.  She is a story craftsperson and journaling instructor, and is interested in telling stories of local artisans.  Hopefully a nice story will follow her visit! 

A motion was made and seconded to move the Guild meeting place back to the Library because of lack of space at the church.  After discussion and a vote it was decided to do so.  Sheila Parker, VP, called the library immediately and though they have the room scheduled for April, the May, June and July meetings have been put on their book.  Their policy is to schedule only three months in advance.

Announcement:  The University of Southern Indiana is sponsoring a rug hooking class taught by Rita Davis, a rug maker from Poseyville.  She will present a primitive rug hooking workshop from 1:00-4:30 p.m. at the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art in New Harmony on March 13.  Three members of the guild plan to attend and will tell us about their experience at the next meeting.

When the business meeting concluded members enjoyed a social time.  Many thanks Jan Cabel and Nan Tate for the wonderful refreshments!

The next meeting of the Guild will be April 9, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. (local time) at the New Hope Church in Washington.  Visitors are always welcome!