MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members,

Happy New Year! I decided against New Year’s resolutions this year. My standard resolution to lose weight has become so much a part of my being that it didn’t seem worth even thinking about it. Last year’s resolution to “add a day” at Bizarre Bazaar did fall by the wayside some months, so for 2020, because I can’t say “NO” to Diane Arrants, I just added another Team Leader day.
 

But, what is on my mind today is that cupboard or closet or file drawer, which I’m pretty sure we all have, that contains those projects that we save to do in the winter or next year or someday or . . . never? My repository is one of those huge old steamer trunks. I’m beginning to think of it as the Hopeless Chest, once something enters it, there is no chance of its return to the light of day. Whatever it is, it is doomed. I decided to take a peek the other day after I mended several objects that had been on the sewing table since last April and September, respectively. I didn’t get to the one that is now entering its second winter. But back to the Hopeless Chest, or the Chest of Winter Fantasies; it was like an archeological dig.

On the top and from Bizarre Bazaar, there was a bag with pieced squares for a quilt. All I have to do is lay it all out, sew it together, find a backing and so on, and on. Next, the knitted sweater that only has to be sewn together and the band put on; followed by the sweater that needs to have duplicate stitching done on it, which is something I will never do because it took me approximately as long to do two decent duplicate stitches as it did to knit the whole darn sweater. Besides that, it probably doesn’t fit anymore. Below those was a large bag of yarn to make felted slippers and mittens out of, but since no one I know has an agitator washer anymore, I’m not able to felt anything (If you have such a washer, please let me know, and I’ll get knitting). Below that, a really cute red coat cut out with the pattern pieces still pinned to it; it’s been there at least 15 years and ought to be right back in style now. Have we gotten to the Eocene yet? The Pleistocene? Then I unearthed rolls and rolls of beautiful carded and dyed merino wool just waiting to be spun - maybe after I dust the cobwebs off the spinning wheel. Oh, and there was that bag of lovely yarn from a sweater that was deconstructed 20 years ago. Need I go on? At that point, I gave up, removed the quilt top to return to Bizarre Bazaar and closed the lid. My decision-making faculties had been taxed enough for one day, but, oh, how I would like to dive into all those projects . . . this winter!

Bizarre Bizarre is humming along nicely; it looks clean and bright and can always use some more helpers.

We would like to continue with our CAL Mixers and are inviting members besides the Board to host. Just write your name/s, a date and time (brunch, lunch, cocktails) on a sign-up sheet at Bizarre Bazaar. We’ll make sure it’s announced to the membership. It’s a great way to connect with members you already know and to meet newcomers. 

Sherry Ennis
President