October is Drop In Month at MERA

October is drop in month at MERA. Come and visit our regular activities (such as the art circle, knitting, weaving, pottery, book club and more) in October and be eligible for a membership until January. The most up to date calendar of events is on our website here. Visitors will be required to follow COVID protocols.
In order to continue to provide a safe environment for our members, we are asking that you please book your drop in time with MERA admin at meraschoolhouse@gmail.com.
Below is a run down of the groups we currently have at MERA. Have a friend who might be interested in one of these groups? Share this newsletter with them, and invite them to “drop in”!

Pottery

We are a joyful group of potters who share space, tools and experience in the basement of the MERA schoolhouse. We are organized as a co-operative, sharing responsibility for making our studio a fun, open, supportive and safe place to enjoy creating works in clay both on and away from the wheel. Each studio member is encouraged to participate in both individual and collective projects, to contribute to studio maintenance tasks, and to teach and learn from the other potters. MERA potters also organize learning and teaching opportunities in the form of in-house workshops and sessions led by professional potters and contribute to the Annual MERA Christmas Fair.

Meeting Times: Tuesday at 1 pm and 5 pm, Wednesday at 5:30 pm
Contact Person: Jan Griffiths

Heritage Weavers

Tuesdays and Thursdays the weavers gather to plan and work on projects and are available to share ideas, advice and enthusiasm with each other and newer weavers. It’s an apprentice-like learn-as-you-go environment suited to those who have taken an introduction to weaving weekend workshop at a guild.
**Due to limited number of space and equipment, the weavers may not be able to accommodate new members at this time. Please check in before dropping in on this group.

Meeting Time: Tuesday at 10 am, Thursday at 9 am
Contact Person: Lise Loader

Quilting – MERA’s Needle Pushers

We welcome anyone who might have new techniques or designs to share or perhaps just has a desire to try something new.
Most of the fun of quilting is being with the people we quilt with. Newcomers learn by doing. If you would like to try quilting with us we will share our supplies with you until you figure out if quilting is your thing or not. The requirements for quilting are minimal. Those who have a portable sewing machine, rotary cutter and mat will bring that equipment when we are starting a quilt and we work together cutting out the pattern and assembling the quilt. Once the hand quilting begins each person needs their own thimble, scissors and quilting needles.

Meeting Time: Wednesday at 1 pm
Contact Person: Bonnie McQuat

Arts Circle

Be prepared to learn from and be inspired by what others in the group are working on. Informal presentations or technical instructions to the group will occur when a member feels they have something to offer. However, there will be plenty of time to work on your own piece and trade ideas and techniques with others in a casual way.
After only 6 years in existence, the group has hosted five art shows at MERA displaying a delightful variety of works. The pieces at each successive show has demonstrated a marked improvement, and have sold very well. Each sale gives 20% of the purchase price to MERA to help keep the doors open. As well, some members have held individual art shows during the year in Dean Hall.
This March, 2020, the Art Circle is mounting a fund-raiser for MERA, called Cruise the ReUse, wherein we will be incorporating articles found at the McDonald’s Corners reuse centre in our art for sale. This will include repurposed furniture, clothing, original art in old frames, etc. The vernissage time and possible auction for these items to be announced.
Come and join us, whether you are a beginner or more experienced. Each attendee will be required to bring their own paints, brushes and materials. Be sure to bring your laughter and sense of play.

Meeting Time: Fridays at 10 am until noon
Contact Person: Gloria Shoebridge

Fibre Arts & Knitters

If you’re interested in the fibre arts (knitting, spinning, weaving, etc.) why not drop by MERA on a Thursday, when you’ll find members and would-be members sitting around the table in the kitchen working on our projects.
Fibre Arts includes the knitters and the fibre arts free workshops group. The knitting group can best be described as self help. The members share techniques and new ideas with each other. We welcome anyone looking for assistance or wanting to start from “scratch”. All of us benefit from the interaction. And we just to talk – about everything. There have been tongue-in-cheek complaints from others in the building that we laugh too much.

Meeting Time: Fibre Arts meets Thursday at 9 am, Knitters meet Thursday at 10 am
Contact Person: Hilary Barrett

Zoom Book Club

The book club is currently running monthly meetings on Zoom. Each month, a different group member facilitates an engaging discussion on the book of the month.