The monthly meetings start with a social time from 7pm to 7:30pm. Meeting business and the program for the month follow at 7:30pm. The meeting location is the Hessel Park Christian Reform Church at 700 West Kirby in Champaign, Illinois unless otherwise noted. Exceptions are noted below or announced in the newsletter.

Theme: Fiber Arts: Connecting Past, Present, and Future

September 14: What I Did On My Summer Vacation: Guild Member Project Showcase
We’re starting with a classic beginning of the school year theme: “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” Instead of an essay, it’s a show-and-tell. Bring your best projects from this summer and discuss them with your fellow fiber artists. The leaders of the Guild’s study groups will also speak briefly about their group’s plans for the upcoming year.

October 12: RSVP and C-U One-To-One
These two organizations help guild members make connections within the community. RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) is a national program that places senior citizen volunteers with organizations in their community. C-U One-to-One is a K-12 mentoring program in the Champaign and Urbana schools. Karen Bodnar from RSVP and Marilyn Mastny from C-U One-to-One will be tonight’s speakers.

November 9: Travelogue: China and Tibet
Guild member Sue Cutter recently traveled to China and Tibet. Join us for her travelogue, which will feature photographs, stories, and textiles from this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

December 14: Holiday Potluck
Our annual festive holiday potluck, held at a guild member’s home. Bring a small handmade gift for the gift exchange.

January 11: Bourse
A bourse is a bourse, of course, of course…but what is a bourse? For the uninitiated, it’s a term derived from the Middle French word for “purse,” and it’s an exchange of goods. Bring your unwanted fiber arts supplies and sell (or barter)…then purchase things that you want!

February 8: Fiber Arts Online: Sources for Community and Inspiration
The internet has changed the way we work and live, and it’s also changed the way we create. Guild VP Nanette Donohue will talk about places to go online for inspiration and motivation to take your love of fiber to the next level.

March 8: Spurlock? (NOTE: THIS PROGRAM IS STILL TBA PENDING SPEAKER CONFIRMATION)
CUSWG members will partner with the University of Illinois Spurlock Museum for a temporary exhibit in 2014. This program, presented by XXX from the Spurlock Museum, will kick off the planning process for the exhibit.

April 12: Nalbinding
Nalbinding is an ancient, single-needle form of knitting that is still popular in parts of the world. Join local fiber artist Julie Watkins as she describes and demonstrates this fascinating textile-creation technique, focusing on early medieval textiles.

May 10: Potluck and Installation of Officers
Our final program is the annual end-of-year potluck, held at a guild member’s home. Join us as we install our new officers.

See the 2006/2007, the 2007/2008, the 2008/2009, or the the 2009/2010 Programs.