Michiana Calligraphy Guild

 

JULY  2023 SCRIBNOTE

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE GUILD PRESIDENT

 Since it is August you all can see I am very behind in this posting Everything is going well just can't seem to find enough time. Too many rabbit holes in my life, can't seem to avoid them. Almost afraid to look at anything for fear that I will want to do that too!

I opened my home the 5th of August to guild members and had a wonderful turnout. We will continue with the zoom meeting, but on meeting day anyone that would like to come over to my house for an "in person" visit is welcome. At least until the weather gets bad again or covid rears it's ugly head.

I won't go over all the meetings since April (shame on me) but I will post an assortment of pictures from our "Show and Tell". Our July meeting, I am sure will go down as a "CLASSIC" as Judy T. did an outstanding job of dealing with clutter and she has written an article for the blog, posted below!!!! Anyone who has lost the link or would like to revisit that meeting please email me and I will send a link. Our youtube channel is private (to protect our members privacy, therefore can only be accessed with a link to each video.  I recommend that you put a folder in your email or on your computer and save these links if you want to view them again)

Please anyone who would like to contribute to the blog send in an article!

 DECLUTTERING WHILE DOING ART!

 At the July 2023 Michiana Calligraphy Guild Zoom meeting, I had the pleasure of being asked to lead a discussion on the advantages of decluttering and organizing our studio work areas. The issue was brought up by Rose, who was looking at all her supplies and wondering why they did not offer her joy and inspiration as they once had. She wondered which items she should get rid of and how to organize the rest of her things so she could quickly find them to work with. She has been feeling held down by the amount of stuff she has. She is like many of our MCG members in that she is very artistic and talented. Rose is interested in several types of creating art and she needs help to get her direction back. Sound familiar? It did to many of us!

I had already put myself on a crazy declutter/organizing journey for our home, however, I had fully intended to leave my worst area for last. My crafting area also tends to be my collection area for all things with no home.

We started our discussion on purging and decluttering. Both considered “dirty words” to hobby crafters. I was a little nervous that my guild friends would think I was trying to talk everyone into changing the way they do things. However, Tina made a comment that she could use some help, I started feeling more confident about the presentation. Tina is not only a guild member but also has spent several years practicing Fodder School challenges and making beautiful journals, books, paper and fabrics out of all the extra things she can find. I stressed not feeling forced or under pressure to do it any other way but your own way. As I called it, “You do you” and what makes you happy. But one thing I mentioned was to not think about the money since it is already gone. Think about what you want going forward.

Next, we got into what I consider more fun, organizing our treasured supplies. I enlisted the help of Renee, Rose, Ginny, Denise, Pat, Anna, and Susan. My idea was that we have all tried to find the best way to organize our supplies. We have seen far too many advertisements from companies telling us what we need. However, are we not the experts on how to store our own supplies? Yes we are! Especially if each of us has an area or topic that we feel we have found to work best for us. That is what all eight of us did. Everyone that was present, or who watched the video later, got to enjoy the ideas,see pictures of how they work and offer their own questions and suggestions.

I want to thank all of my friends who help make this discussion helpful and fun. Later, I was so impress by lovely comments about how much many of you enjoyed it and felt inspired by the presentation. I can say now that I am energized to keep going on my crafting area. I have a long way to go but intend to keep working at it a little at a time.

This did develop a couple of fun ideas. At our August 5 th picnic, we decided to include a table for anyone who has been purging and has gently used items to pass on to someone else. Yes, send your clutter home with someone else! It might have been something someone else has been looking for. Anyone present can bring or take these items. Also, our September meeting we are encouraging anyone who has “fixed” even a little something and organized an area, to please include a picture for our Show ‘n Tell.

Thank you, Judy Theuerl-MCG Secretary

 

April Show and Tell 

Laurie Heyden

Angela Michielutti

Susan Kavanaugh

May Show and Tell

Angela Michielutti

Pat West

Rose Kopec

June Show and Tell

Denise Gooch

Kristi Ryan

Ginny VanderHey

 

July Show and Tell

Paste paper by Ginny and Pat

August Book Exchange

Anna Schlemma

Barb Walsh

Ginny VanderHey

Judy Theuerl

Laura Fuderer

Pat West

Renee Tuveson

Rose Kopec

Angie West

CALENDAR for 2023

September 9  : Labor Day is Sept. 4

October 7:

October 28: Sally Penley Zoom Workshop

November 11:

December 2: Guild Christmas Party, Exchange TBD

 THINGS OF INTEREST

https://www.pendragonscalligraphy.org/

 

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

 October 28, 2023 – Sally Penley “The Art of Etegami” Free to current (dues paid) members via Zoom Noon to 3PM

 POLICY FOR MCG

Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy. There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of a workshop. If there would be an emergency, for instance the birth of a grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund. Also, if the workshop is filled, and there is someone to take your place, that would also qualify for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up foe the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment. We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times. We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors.

 ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK?

If so, look up your favorite calligraphers, because they are on Facebook also. I like to look at Barbara Blose, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.. There are lots of beautiful

 

 AMERICAN FRAME

Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and  they will give us a small stipend.

 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Annual dues of $20 are due at the July meeting. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our Make It/Take It at meetings and our annual raffle in August, and in December our donation to local charities. Please remember to bring your dues to the July meeting or send to Angie West, our treasurer at 1212 Elder Court, Niles, Michigan 49120

 

OFFICIERS

Renee Tuveson, President and Blog,  rtuveson@hotmail.com

Angie Wesr, Treasurer, angi360985@gmail.com

Judy Theurel, Secretary, judy@theurel.com

Ginny VanderHey, Consultant, gvanderhey@hotmail.com