Third Thursday Night Spinners

Third Thursday Night Spinners will NOT be meeting this month - Wild Iris had an event scheduled that evening, so we are going to take a month off. See you solitary spinners in March!

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on January 20th, 2011 from 6-8 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning! Please note the time change - previously we have met from 5-7 (since when we used to meet at Hanks, we closed at 7) but since Wild Iris is open until 9 we have pushed our meeting back an hour!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on December 16th, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on November 18th, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on October 21st, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on September 16th, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Friday Photo: Third Thursday Spinners

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on August 19th, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Night Spinners

Please join us at Wild Iris Books for Third Thursday Spinners on July 15th, 2010 from 5-7 PM; bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with others to do some spinning!



Wild Iris Books
802 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-7477

Third Thursday Spinners

We had an absolute blast last night - if you didn't come by, you seriously missed a party.



1. Everybody in the front, 2. Everybody in the back, 3. Spinners, and a class, 4. Spinners, 5. Ginger on her Golding, 6. Me on the Golding, 7. Becca on the Golding, 8. Spin, Rachel! Spin!, 9. Sneaking a photo, 10. Spinning wheels, 11. Friendly faces, 12. Greg and Caitlin, 13. The Golding, 14. Greg on the Golding, 15. Caitlin on the Golding, 16. Sharon on the Golding, 17. Sharon on the Golding, 18. A room of happy, 19. Group shot, 20. Happy birthday, Caitlin!, 21. The fun begins, 22. Oh yeah, and we have shop models for sale, 23. The painted lady, 24. Happy wheels

We are working hard to line up a place to still have spinning on the third Thursday of the month; it may or may not be the same place we have Stitch 'n' Bitch on Sundays - please stick with us as we work on this, and keep checking back here because we will post when we find a place!

Charlene Schurch "Heels" class at Hanks!

A few weeks ago, we had Charlene Schurch in for a book signing and to teach a class on different heel styles.We had a great time; the students had a great time; and Charlene had a great time - so it was really win/win all around.

The day started early, with the class beginning at 9 AM. Fortunately we had the coffee brewed, and between the hot coffee and the awesome goody bags we left out for the students, everyone started off the morning happy. The early part of the class seemed to go pretty well, as Sharon and I heard an awful lot of laughing from the other room.

Lunch, pizza and garlic rolls from Leonardo's, was popular! And towards the end of the lunchtime break, Charlene sat down and began to sign autographs (I tried not to get too fan-girl on her).

The second half of the class seemed pretty divided between quiet concentration, and raucous laughter.

All in all, it was Good Times - and we hope to have her back again next year!

Thanks to everyone who made this event such a success!

Countdown to Fiber-In (32 days)

It's just a little over a month until the Florida Fiber-in - are you going? We are!

Why should you go? Over the next month, we'll give you good reasons (just in case you haven't already booked your rooms, rented a car, etc, like SOME of us)... starting with reason #1... our friend Celena, who dyes the very popular Rocket Yarn, is teaching a demo!

Sat. 19th, 2009

9:00 – 9:45 – Two Sock Yarn Dyeing Methods – Celena Crews, Rocket Yarn, Lake City, FL

Come see Celena share how she creates yarn to "Dye" for! Two of her sock yarn dyeing methods will be demonstrated and she will explain her "method vs. colorway" system of dyeing yarn.

Weaving at the Artisans' Guild

The Artisans' Guild Gallery here in Millhopper Square will have a weaver in their store front during the afternoons of Monday, July 6th until at least Friday, July 10th. Come on down to the plaza and check it out! I know I'm looking forward to chatting him or her up about what kinds of fibers are being used!

It's as American as Baseball!

Hanks is proud to say that we're one of many shops in the Gainesville and Jacksonville areas working together to help plan (...drumroll please...) Stitch 'n' Pitch at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville!

Sunday, June 7th at 3:05 PM, the Jacksonville Suns will be taking on the Carolina Mudcats, and you know you want to be there. Cheer on the Suns as you crochet or knit (or embroider... or cross-stitch...) and show other fans that your love of baseball is almost as much as your love for the fiber and needle arts. Did we mention that goody-bags are available for crafters while supplies last? Friends and family are of course welcome too!

You can get tickets (only $9 each) and meal tickets ($10 each, redeemable for a large sandwich, large beverage, and a snack) by calling Meghan Clark at 904-358-2846.

The third Uptown Art Hop

We didn't think it would be possible, but we had an even better time at this event than the last two put together!



The Uptown Art Hop was another success-- of course it was, because any time you involve two plazas, dozens of locally owned business that cater to the arts-and-crafts, demonstrations, live music, and rickshaws... of course you're going to have a great time!

Stay tuned for the next one!

Fiber Tasting - March 27th

Back in March, we had a fiber tasting. What is a "fiber tasting," you ask? It's like a wine tasting, but for spinners.



The theme this time was blends; primarily alpaca blends with some wools and silks as well. In fact, there was an alpaca/silk blend that I have my eye on for sweater quantities! We had a great time-- look for the next one in or around September!

Got plans on Friday, May 1st?

It's time for another Art Hop! We've done it twice now and both times have been a lot of fun and we'd love to have you join us! The district of Uptown at 43rd Street includes art galleries, businesses and restaurants in Millhopper Square, Thornebrook Village, and The Market Place. See a sampling of some of the best art in Gainesville, ranging from one-of-a-kind locally made art, to gifts from the far corners of the earth. A rickshaw shuttle will allow event goers to easily travel the short distance between stops. More information is available at The Uptown Art Hop website.

We will be having spinners, knitters, and crocheters hanging out and doing what they do best (having fun) - and of course we will have wine, cheese, coffee, and cookies if you work up an appetite having so much fun.

Please come out that Friday night from 6-9 PM and show locally owned business that you support us by finding out what we have to offer the community!

Fiber Tasting - March 27th

Does the sight of that interest you?

We're having a fiber tasting on Friday, March 27th, after work hours. If you are a spinner and you want to try out a bunch of different fibers, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Spaces, which are limited*, are $10. Bring your wheel or drop spindle, and come enjoy some tasty treats - wine, cheese, and a dozen different fibers!



(photos are from the first fiber tasting, waaaaay back in July)

*At the time of publishing this post (and granted, I'm at home, not at work) I believe we have five spaces left.

More hand-knits than you can shake a stick at

Remember a few Saturdays ago when we were closed for a wedding? Caitlin and Greg had a beautiful, lovely wedding that (surprise) was full of hand-knits! We hope they don't mind if we post a photo showing off some of the fantastic shawls -



And the beautiful bride, who wasn't wearing knitting but whose mother did make that stunning dress (and all of the outfits for the rest of the bridal party... yes, ALL). If you should ever be so lucky as to get to go to a wedding where most of the clothing is hand-made, you should really do it. The memory of squeals of "you look great!" and "you finished it!" are still making me smile.

We love you, Greg and Caitlin!

Meet-ups and Gatherings

Most of you know about the SnB that meets at Hanks on Sunday afternoons from 2-4:30. But did you know about these other groups that also meet at our shop?

UFO Friday: Unfinished Object Friday
Come in Friday night any time after 5, and have some fun! Get some inspiration for working on your unfinished projects over the weekend. This is a much smaller group than the Sunday afternoon group, so if smaller settings are what you prefer, this meeting might be for you. Tea, laughing, and good people abound.

First Monday Morning Spinners
On the first Monday of the month, from 11-1, bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with Lorena to do some spinning! This meeting is great for spinners who work at night and can't get to an afternoon or evening gathering.

Third Thursday Evening Spinners
On the third Thursday of the month, from 5-7, bring your wheel or drop spindle and some fiber and sit with Ginger to do some spinning! This meeting is great for spinners who work or go to school during the day and can't get to the morning gathering.

Do you have the time and inclination to run another gathering, or perhaps a knit-or-crochet-along? Contact us to set up a time-- we'll provide the couch, you provide the inspiration!