Christmas Party 2023

This year's party was especially welcome since we had to cancel the one last year because of bad weather.  We also changed our gift policy from a raffle basket(s) in which just one, two or three people won a basket full of gifts, to an old fashioned exchange in which everyone who brought a gift, received a gift.

 For this year's gift exchange, the theme was to bring a handmade fiber gift.  You didn't need to have made the gift, as long as it was handmade.  

 

Anni tries on her new knitted cap, made by Shereé.

 

Paulie's gift was made by Anni.  The wreath was made using spinning roving, so that when you are finished with the holiday season, you still have roving for long hours of spinning pleasure.

 

 

Baxter is new to the gathering and really enjoyed the extra attention and treats.  In the photo below, he is receiving lots of love from Mary - his new best friend!

This was Faye's first RFG party.  Her gift was from Paulie, a handwoven Christmas towel. It will be the first handwoven towel in Faye's kitchen.  I don't think it will be the last one, though.

Felted snowman, made by Shelley, received by Igor

Zip purse made from handwoven and commercial cloth by Mary, received  by Polly.

Shelley received a handwoven towel made by Kathy R.

Shereé showing gift from Lorene to her.  Lorene bought this delightful elf from a vendor next to her at a Christmas sale.

Naturally, this is only a fraction of the handmade gifts.  And, I really should mention the food - a fabulous pot luck enjoyed by all.  Looking forward to next year's gathering already.

An "Off the Beaten Path" Christmas Party 2018

 

 

 The Reno Fiber Guild Christmas Parties often seems to be a magnet for a snow storm, and this year was no exception.  The day started with some light flurries and as the party time neared, it turned into heavy snow in Reno and surrounding communities.  As a result, we probably had fewer party goers than we usually do.  But - there were some hardy souls who didn't let a little bit of snow deter them from the wonderful potluck and the yearly tradition of the raffle basket.

This year's party was held at Lorene's home.  She also stores all the guild's looms and equipment.   Lorene took us on a tour to see everything that is available for checkout and there were a few surprises at just how many tools we have at our disposal. 



Pre-potluck discussions among like minded members.

The raffle basket theme (and we always have a theme) was "Off the Beaten Path"  (This theme was chosen because our 2018-2019 programs are all about embracing something different in our fiber journey.)  Each member brings a gift for the basket, interpreting the theme in any way they like.

Handmade raffle tickets because the ticket person got snowed in!

The big winner of the raffle basket  was Cheri B. and what  bounty she received.  Gifts covered everything from exciting novelty yarns, fiber books, pottery, an amaryllis bulb to a handknit lace shawl to die for.  Usually there is a second raffle for the gift that the winner brought and Kathy T. won Cheri's handmade face cloth.

The Reno Guild wishes everyone a fabulous

 Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!



Christmas Party 2017

This year we were treated to a Christmas Party in Truckee at Nancy B's home.  It was lovely and crisp (as it often is in Truckee at this time of year) with just a bit of snow on the ground. 

As usual, we came with food - enjoyed our time together with stories,  eating 
and the grand finale of the Raffle Basket, packed with presents donated by all of us at the party.

This year's basket theme was "Tis the Season of Colorful Delights" and the winner was Mary N.  Mary has been coming to these Christmas parties for years and this was her first win! 





 As always, the basket was filled with wonderful gifts. In the photo above, Mary is admiring a new pair of slipper socks that are lined to keep your feet extra cozy.



Eva and Cheri

Nisha and Shelley

Close up of those lovely slippers

Special Kumihimo necklace with a color technique that Lorene learned on a fiber trip to Mexico

Knitted Christmas ornaments

Because Mary also contributed a gift to the raffle basket, her offering was raffled off in another drawing.  Suzanne was the happy winner of the little bag Mary had sewn with special Laurel Burch fabrics.

 

 

 

 Another year  and another delightful party.  Thank you to Nancy B. for opening her lovely home to us this year.

 



God Jul - a Scandinavian Holiday party.

Reno Fiber Guild had its annual Holiday Party this past Saturday.  The tradition is for members to bring a themed gift for the big basket (Scandinavia this year), sell raffle tickets for the basket and then the winner takes all.  This year's basket was overflowing and it looks like we may need to expand into two next year.

 

 



 We also have a pot luck (this year a Smörgåsbord). These photos were taken early on before most of the dishes had arrived.  It was really a "Groaning Board" with such a wide variety of foods that you could hardly try everything because there was so much. Included were some traditional Scandinavian foods like "Swedish Crescents" and a pickled herring appetizer, but it had been decided earlier that people could just bring their favorite dish to share without worrying about it being Scandinavian.

Beryl won the raffle for this year's basket and the bounty of gifts were passed around for everyone to inspect and appreciate.  The wonderful thing about having a theme for the basket each year is seeing how people interpret that theme.  Some gifts are handmade like the pillow, tote bag and scarf.  Some are there to inspire a new project (Swedish linen yarns).  There was a bookmark woven with a Swedish 4 shaft technique, Christmas ornaments knitted with traditional Scandinavian patterns, a woven wheat heart!  And then, there were the funny little trolls, Christmas ornaments of Scandinavian skiers, and lots of good things to eat.

 

 

 A couple of recipes were shared with the gifts - so they are being passed on as our special gift to you, our readers,  in this season of giving and sharing.  God Jul!

Swedish Crescents

1 cup salted butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2/3 cup ground blanched almonds
1 2/3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Oven 325°  Use mixer on med. to cream butter, sugar and extract for 1 minute.  On low, add ground almonds, flour and cardamom until soft and dough forms.  Roll dough into 1" balls & shape into crescents.  Place 1" apart on baking sheet.  Bake 14 to 16 min. or until set and lightly browned.  Let cool and sift powdered sugar over the cookies.

Swedish Pancakes

4 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup flour
2 TBS sugar
1 dash salt
4 TBS butter

Place all ingredients except butter in blender.  Blend until combined, but don't over mix.  Let rest for 10 minutes.  Melt some butter in large skillet.  Pour 1/4 cup batter and cook.  Flip pancake when edges look like golden lace.  Cook a little longer until golden.  Top with jam or your favorite topping.

 

Christmas Party with a Pacific Rim Theme

The Reno Fiber Guild annual Christmas party was held yesterday at Jen's home.  The weather was overcast - just a little nippy but not too cold and we all enjoyed a fantastic view of Mt. Rose with snow on its ski runs from Jen's sunroom. 

Each year the guild tradition is to bring a gift for a raffle basket.  This year, the theme was Pacific Rim (which it turns out covers a pretty big area).  All the gifts are stowed away in the basket (see photo above) waiting for the lucky winner to take everything home.  But before the raffle drawing, we all lined up for a fantastic feast from pot luck dishes (again the theme was Pacific Rim).  There was a glorious array of different foods from all sorts of exotic places.  I didn't get the camera into the kitchen until after the crowd had descended on it and the other side had the deserts - yum!

 



 After we had eaten all we could hold, the raffle ticket was drawn and Nancy S. was this year's winner.

Nancy's basket was filled to the brim and overflowing with Pacific Rim gifts.  Of course there were origami kits, sashiko embroidery kits, and a kumihimo disk in the basket, but also unique handmade items, showing off the skills of this creative group. 


handmade coin purse



kimono pin

Handwoven dévoré by Anne Field

tote bag with Japanese style motifs



As you might imagine, Nancy was having a terrific time opening all the gifts in her treasure basket.  In the photo below, she holds up one of a pair of knitted bath mitts (Pacific Oceanic fishes we must presume). 

Nancy is now the holder of the basket for the coming year and she will decide the theme for next year's raffle basket.  



 Happy Holidays from the Reno Fiber Guild!





Our Annual Christmas Party (Blocks, Blocks, Blocks)

 The Reno Fiber Guild has an unusual holiday tradition.  Each year, instead of a gift exchange, everyone brings something for a themed basket of goodies and raffle tickets are sold for the grand prize.   There is one lucky person who will take home everything in the basket.  The next year, the winner selects the theme for the next raffle basket (which is reused) and the whole thing repeats at a festive Christmas party.

This year, our past year's winner selected "blocks" as the theme.  It was a difficult challenge - but guild members rose to the occasion with a spectacular group of gifts.

Gloria was our winner this year and pulled out a lot of "block" weave items from her basket.  Won't this look lovely in Gloria's kitchen or bath!

And .....how about a glass "block" with lights for

Christmas decoration!

                        Or ...... a quilting "block" pot holder.

Tongue in cheek - Nevada Bar handmade soap

 

And a couple of scarves - handwoven blocks on the top and a recycled sweater "felted" scarf peeking from underneath.

 

It was a fabulous party with good food and friends in abundance.  Many thanks go to Lorene who has hosted this annual party several times in the recent past. 

 

Happy Holidays from the RFG!