Friday, March 6, 2009

Camp April 2009 !!

Hello!!!

Long time since posting here. Many apologies, but no excuses!

Here are the details for the April 2-5, 2009 camp:

We moved! Camp Miller is undergoing a change of director and possibly existence. Nancy and I recently spent some time at Campfire Bay Resort, and thought we would give it a chance with knitters. The year-round “cabins” are very nice, and the amenities are great. Brian and Heather are committed to making your stay enjoyable. To those who might be new to our group, this is what happens at camp. (Or at least what I can reveal to the general public)

The weekend is very free form. Campers begin arriving on Thursday and choose a sleeping room and set up their knitting space in the common knitting area. Some bring a small footstool and a small (tv tray size) table to put their coffee cup and knitting "stuff" on. Please be a courteous cell phone user by taking or making calls from another room.

Saturday is class day. Campers teach the class for free, sometimes there is a small materials fee. You are under no obligation to take a class, it’s up to you. This time we have Wet Needle Felting, Pickled Yarn, and Bead Knitting. See the descriptions below for more details. In the evening we have Show and Tell, where campers may show 1-3 items they are especially proud of. We combine this with door prizes, so don't miss out!

By the way, how are the Knit-Along mittens coming?

Sunday we finish up whatever we need to do from the classes, get in some last minute knitting, clean up and leave sometime in the afternoon.

Since this is a new venue for us, we will be cooking and washing dishes for ourselves (there's a dishwasher...). This is a new thing for us, but I think we can handle it. We are asking campers to team up for preparing and cleaning up a meal. We only do brunch and dinner, as most of our time is spent knitting, which is not known for burning calories. How you spend your time is totally up to you. Get up as early as you wish, stay up as late as you wish, snack when you wish, just be considerate of other sleepers. Going for a walk is always a good thing. We will be mostly in Willow, with classes in Tamarack. Tamarack would also be a place to go if it gets too noisy in the common room. Sometimes you just need to get away from the group for awhile, and that's perfectly fine.

The campers are beginning knitters, accomplished knitters, spinners, felters, and have a very wide range of talent and knowledge. That's what makes it fun, and everyone is willing to share and help solve problems. I think you will find us very supportive of all. Sometimes the conversations have nothing to do with knitting, so you might want to bring an extra "no brainer" project that you can knit and talk at the same time without making a mess of something you’ve been working hard on.

Check out http://www.campfirebayresort.com/. Bring your own towels and personal needs. Linens are furnished in the bedrooms. Nancy and I will bring the misc. The camp fee will be between $76 and $90 per person. Campers should send me a $25 deposit to hold your space. We will figure the balance at camp when we have final attendance numbers. Send me an email Lynne8756@yahoo.com for a mailing address.

We really are a fun group. We've been getting together twice a year since 2000!



Classes for Camp are:


Join Angee and Molly for some Fantastic Fiber Spitballin'!

You'll discover the basics of the ancient art of felting with luxurious wool fibers. Learn how to make wet felted beads in myriad shapes: round, oblong, square, even "sushi" rolls. The colors will make your mouth water.

We will bring a glorious supply of fiber in a wide selection of colors, as well as all other supplies required for wet felting. We'll also be sharing our needles. For needle felting, of course.

It's addicting! Embellish your wet felted beads and/or make a badge with needles and a cookie cutter. Just don't poke yourself! Band-Aids will be available. All for the low, low price of $3 (materials fee).

We guarantee you'll never have felt better than when you felt with fiber freaks like us.



Pickled Yarn by Lynne and Nancy

Get ready to take kitchen cookery to a whole new level! Materials:

100% cotton yarn, could be Lion Brand, Peaches and Cream, or whatever you come up with.

Jar. Must be just large enough to hold your cotton with a bit of extra room to spare. Wide mouth is best, as the cotton swells, and that makes it easier to get the yarn back out of the jar. A tight fitting lid is not required, but highly recommended, as we can be a bit clutzy.

We will provide the dye.


Bead Knitting with Lil


Lil is bringing a few bead knitting kits to teach if there are enough interested. Cost is $7.50 for the kit.

Friday, October 3, 2008

WE HAVE A VENDOR!

Yes, we have a vendor for camp! A surprise vendor, at that. You won't know who it is until you get to camp.

How are those Houdini socks coming along? I've given up on the two socks on two circulars thing. I'm now trying out these really cool little needles called HiyaHiya. They're only 9 inches long. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I seem to be making some progress.

Get knitting, ladies!

Nancy

Thursday, October 2, 2008

It's getting closer......

Fiber Camp is only 3 weeks away!!!!

The registrations are coming in.....we're going to have a great group!

Anyone (besides Lynne) who have their Houdini Socks ready? Just send me a picture of your socks, and I'll post them here.

We still don't have a vendor for camp, we're still hoping, but it looks like it might be the perfect opportunity for us to have a big garage sale! I know I've been looking at my stash with a critical eye.

Counting the days,

Nancy

Saturday, September 20, 2008

WOO-HOO!!!

We're starting to get registrations for the fall camp!

Lynne and I have been visiting local yarn stores - rounding up hand-outs and door prizes. We were at Needleworks Unlimited in Minneapolis yesterday, and it was really exciting to see our brochure on display there (thanks, Roseanne!).

We can't wait to see you at camp.

Nancy and Lynne

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

How are you doing on the Houdini Socks?????



Here are a couple of pictures of Lynne and Nancy's Houdini Socks in progress.

Lynne is using the brown varigated sock yarn, and since this picture was taken - has finished her second sock foot. @#$%&!!!!!

Nancy (that's me) has the varigated pink/purple sock yarn. I'm attempting 2 socks on 2 circulars. My socks are in the same state as the picture. I guess I'll have to get going.

Feel free to send us pictures of your socks in progess, and we'll post them!

Now, my knitting is calling......

Nancy

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Registration Form

We discovered that if you were not a member of our Yahoo Group, you may not be able to access the camp brochure. So... We did our best to post the content of the brochure here. If you would like to join us for camp, please print the form and send it in. Space is limited. If you would like more information, post your question. Thanks!

Fall 2008 Fiber Camp
YMCA Camp Miller Retreat and Conference Center
October 23rd - October 26th 2008


Make new friends who love fiber as much as you do!
Knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing and anything fiber related happens here! Everyone can be part of the action. Large common room with gas fireplace overlooks Sturgeon Lake. Work on a camp project for charity or your own project(s) that you just haven’t had time for at home. Campers share ideas and techniques while spending your time your way.

Camp Miller is located in a pristine White Pine forest along the shoreline of beautiful Sturgeon Lake, 45 miles south of Duluth and less than two hours north of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Besides the state of the art dining hall/conference center, we have a sauna and three winterized lodges with indoor bathrooms and showers. McLeod Leadership Lodge has bunkhouse style sleeping arrangements. Two large rooms with six bunks in each.


Activities:

Your welcome packet will contain information about camp and directions for our first activity.

Thursday and Friday Evenings
Our pre-camp Knit-Along Houdini Socks will continue. With support from all campers, we will cut into our socks for the addition of the “forgotten legs” of our socks.

Saturday

Beginning Drop Spindle Spinning. Lita Doeskin will begin her class after brunch. Please bring your own drop spindle, or visit our blog for instructions how to build your own from recycled CDs. Roving will be supplied.

Coffee Class.
Amy Grittman will follow the drop spindle class with an informative session on the wonders of coffee, including taste tests and treats.

Evening Show and Tell
The evening ends with door prizes & show and tell. Bring 2-3 projects to share with fellow campers.

Fiber Camp Registration 2008

You choose how long you want to stay. Please indicate when you will be arriving:

 Thursday (3 nights, 6 meals) $150
Arrive after 10am - first meal is dinner at 5pm.

 Friday (2 nights, 4 meals) $130
Arrive after 10 am - first meal is dinner at 5 pm.

Checkout around noon on SUNDAY

Name _____________________________________________
Address __________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Zip __________
Phone ( ) ________________
Email __________________________________

 I will be taking the drop spindle class.
 I will be taking the coffee class
Sign up for a room preference, efforts will be made to accommodate sleeping requests:
 Quieter  Doesn’t matter
 I can  Cannot sleep on the top bunk.

Send completed form and payment to:

Nancy Miller
9057 Glacier Bay
Woodbury, MN 55125

Cash or checks (made to Nancy Miller) only, please.
Still have questions? Call (651) 528-2981 or see the campmiller.org website for camp rules.

YMCA Camp Miller 89382 E. Frontage Road Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 Phone: 218-3782-3188
www.fibercampmn.blogspot.com

Monday, September 8, 2008

Fall 2008 Fiber Camp Brochure Available


The Fall 2008 Fiber Camp registration/brochure is now available. The brochure may be accessed using the link on the right side of the screen.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Lynne and Nancy