This avid community is supported by us, the local fiber artists. The community will grow only if we continue to support the shops. We have sadly had some shops close, but luckily the community support has another shop take its place. This year our Local Yarn Shop Tour 2017 has 26 different shops participating over the five day event, and that is just shops in the central and North Puget Sound Area. I am looking forward to visiting a few of the newer shops and welcoming them to our little community with a trade of money for pretty yarn, and I know many of you are planning the same. We also have a South Sound Yarn community, and an avid Portland community just a short train ride away. This weekend is the 2017 Yarn Train, sponsored by our guild. Many of you are shopping now, and helping our local yarn community.
Our local guild is a strong part of the fiber community. We bring together many artists and friends who support our shared love of fiber. Every month we meet formally and show off completed projects and works in progress, sharing our new finds of stunning yarns and amazing patterns. The guild only exists through volunteers who organize our events like the Yarn Train, retreats, and Monthly meetings. Each year we ask for new volunteers to lead us in the following year, so that we can nurture this supporting fiber environment. I have volunteered to help with classes at the meetings, helping with the web site, and writing this blog every month. We also need leaders to assist the Guild President with organizing next year's exciting upcoming events. Vogue Knitting in November, the Winter Retreat, 2018 Yarn Train, and the next year's monthly programs. If you have the time and are interested in open guild positions, visit with one of the existing board members at the next meeting or contact an officer directly through email. It only requires a little time each month to continue to grow and develop our great fiber art community.