November 2006 - River
Cities Fiber Clan - In The News
(photos included at bottom of article)
By KELLY HOLLERAN
The Lawrence Herald
South Point -- Judy Ross and her daughter Mitzi Ross raised llamas for years before Billy Bannerman, a master spinner and weaver, taught them how to spin the animals' fur into yarn.
Once they learned the craft, the Ross' wanted to share the joy of spinning with others and began the River Cities Fiber Clan, a group that meets to spin, knit, crochet, weave, needle felt, cross stitch, and appliqué.
"We wanted to see if there were other spinners in the area," said Judy Ross, one of the founding members. "As a direct result (of Billy Bannerman), this group was formed."
Right now there are about 40 members in the group, which has grown from six people who met at the first meeting in 2004.
"We meet to participate in and promote and educate people in all types of fiber arts," Mitzi Ross said. "We have people who are willing to teach. We welcome people of all skill levels."
The members hope to see the group continue to grow.
"We love it when new people come," Mitzi Ross said. "It's a very friendly and accommodating group."
The group finds comfort in crafting while talking to each other.
"It's cheaper than a psychiatrist," said Susan Gillette, a member of the group.
"The camaraderie is fantastic," said Ruth Ann Thomas, another member. "People are talking the whole time they are spinning."
For Cathy Flashman, spinning is a calming activity. "It's kind of like a Zen thing," she said. "You can meditate. It's rhythmic." Flashman, who is originally from Massachusetts, moved to Spencer, W.Va., about one year ago, but could find nowhere and no one to spin with. She finally found the River Cities Fiber Clan and has attended two meetings. "I was searching throughout West Virginia," she said. "I knew there had to be something around. It's a real nice group."
Alaine Thomas, who is a recreational therapist, enjoys the group's monthly meetings because it is relaxing and it is helping her achieve a life-long goal. "This has just been a dream come true," she said. "It's something I've always been interested in. I'm practicing what I preach (recreational therapy)."
She went even further to connect her therapy to spinning when she purchased a spinning wheel built by developmentally disabled Americans. The tool is made of PVC pipe and the wheel is actually a wheelchair wheel.
Although spinning and knitting are usually difficult for beginners, once the craft is mastered, it is easy and rewarding, said Nancy Crockett, a group member.
"It doesn't require a lot of thought," she said. "Initially it's frustrating, but after it comes to you, it's relaxing. You're producing something that's originally your own."
The group members are glad to teach their skills to other people. Most members learned how to spin from attending group meetings.
"I've learned a lot," Gillette said. "I've found out where my yarn at T.J. Maxx comes from."
Flashman actually spins the yarn for a company in Maine. The company sends her the fiber, she spins it, then sends it back to them.
"It's an ideal situation," she said. "I do the part I like and they do the part they like."
While Flashman is the only person in the group who sells her yarn to a company, other members participate in community service activities such as collecting food for the needy and the Linus project, in which people make blankets for preemie and needy babies at area hospitals. Still other members are part of living history reenactments.
To learn from or socialize with other crafters, attend a River Cities Fiber Clan meeting, which is on the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. The meetings are free and take place at the First Southern Baptist Church in South Point.
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Kelly
Holleran/The Lawrence Herald
Ruth Ann Thomas, left, and Susan Gillette, right, work on knitting projects during Monday's meeting of the River Cities Fiber Clan, which meets monthly at the First Southern Baptist Church in South Point.
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 Kelly Holleran/The Lawrence Herald Cathy Flashman spins fiber into yarn during Monday's meeting of the River Cities Fiber Clan, which meets monthly at the First Southern Baptist Church in South Point. Flashman spins yard for a company in Maine, which sends her fiber that she sends back when finished. |
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Kelly
Holleran/The Lawrence Herald
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