MAY-AUGUST 2011
NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Happy Spring!
We are finally getting some wonderful sunshine, and the flowers and trees are waking up. Throw in a few days of rain, and what could be better?!I’ve used a couple of not-so-nice days to work in my stitching space. The urge to clean has bitten, and that means going through file drawers, boxes and bags. Besides finding things I haven’t touched in too long to think about, I’ve discovered that my taste in stitching has changed over the years.
Has that happened to you? There’s a project you worked on, set aside for one reason or another, and looking at it now, you are wondering, what was I thinking?! There were several of those UFOs in my stash. I have taken them out, placed them in a bag of projects to be taken to a new home. I am hoping that someone will have a desire to finish some of the “hearts and strawberries” that I once thought would be absolutely perfect in my kitchen.
I hope this note finds everyone ready for a new season, and that each of you gets a bit of the cleaning bug; at least as far as your stash is concerned.
Happy Stitching!
Carolyn
CALENDAR
May Dates
9 - Sampler Group Monday at 12:30 PM - Call Susie H.
26- Board Meeting, Thursday, 5:00 PM at Heather Hills Retirement Village
26- Combined Day and Evening Meeting -Annual Potluck Thursday 5:45 PM at Heather Hills Retirement Village
June Dates
6 - Sampler Group Monday at 12:30 PM - Call Susie H.
15 – NEWSLETTER INFORMATION due
23 - Board Meeting Thursday, 5:00 PM at Heather Hills Retirement Village
23 - Evening Meeting Thursday at 6:45 PM at Heather Hills Retirement Village
25 – Summer Stitch In - Saturday at 9:30AM at Gaines Township Library
DAY PROGRAMS
May
Combined meeting with the Evening group at Heather Hills. Rumor has reached your editor that the Day Group will be doing an EGA Group Correspondence course over the summer. As more information is received, it’ll be shared with you. (NOTE: Neither a GCC or a date to begin has yet been selected. Opportunity to sign an interest sheet will be available at the May potluck. GCCs being considered are Dresden Kitty, Moonlight Sonata, Morning Glories, Dresden Garden, Liesel-Schwalm, Roses, and Hummingbird and Honeysuckle.)
EVENING PROGRAMS
(Note: the Evening Group meetings will continue through the summer months.)
May
Annual Potluck dinner. Program will be the UFO Challenge discussed later in the newsletter.
June
Hardanger needlebook.
* * * UPDATE * * * Here is a picture of 2 finished Hardanger needle cases and 1 stitched but not finished. Finished size of the folded needle case on 28 count Lugana is approximately 3" x 2-3/4". The following is a supply list for the project. Model used: 28 count Lugana linen (10-1/2" wide x 9-1/4 long.This gives you a 2" margin and 10 threads between the outside and inside designs for one needle case.)
No. 8 Pearl cotton (DMC)
No. 12 Pearl cotton (DMC)
Embroidery floss (DMC same color as Pearl Cotton)
Lining fabric (3" square)
Felt (3" square)
1/8" wide Ribbon (12" length)
Invisible sewing thread (optional)
BREAKING NEWS ON DUES
Carolyn has received news from the regional EGA organization that the increase in regional dues was defeated by a small margin. Therefore, the Great Lakes regional dues will stay at $1 per year. The 2010-2011 GGREGA dues will be $49 and are due to Betty H on May 1.
REMINDER
Some of our members are allergic to or sensitive to perfumes, aftershaves and other scents. Our EGA Meetings will be Perfume /Aftershave /Scent-Free out of consideration for those who have these sensitivities.
ANNUAL POT LUCK
We will hold our annual pot luck dinner at the Heather Hills Retirement Village. We’ll set up at 5:45 PM, dinner will begin at 6:00 PM.
Sign up sheets for what to bring were passed around at the April day and night meetings.
If you didn’t sign up then, plan to bring dishes based on the following groupings determined by the first letter of your last name.
Main Dishes A-F
Side Dishes G-K
Salads L-R
Desserts S-Z
Plates, glasses, napkins and plastic ware are being provided by the GGREGA.
After dinner, the Great UFO Challenge registration will get under way. Even if you are one of those rare stitchers who doesn’t have any unfinished projects, come and enjoy the entertainment as the history of the unfinished projects is recounted during registration. There’s always the possibility that someone will share!
GREAT UFO CHALLENGE EVENT
The Great UFO Challenge will run from May 2011 to May 2012. Here’s how it will work – at the May Potluck Dinner, bring in one or more UFOs that you want to “enroll” in the challenge. The UFO must have been started before 2010. The registration of the project and its “before” photo of the UFO will be taken at the May potluck. During the coming year, as each UFO project is completed (i.e., finished into a gift giving state), an “after” photo will be taken to be added to the registration, and the stitcher’s name entered in the Grand Prize Drawing. You may register as many projects as you want to – uncompleted projects will not count against you. Every project that is finished and shown in gift-ready state will result in an entry in the prize drawing. Prizes for oldest, largest, etc. will be given (when the project is completed) as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place drawings.
CHAPTER NEWS
2010 – 2011 DUES
As mentioned earlier, the regional dues increase was not passed, and the GGREGA member dues will be $49.00. In a change to EGA policy, EGA National has said that dues for members joining after May 15 will only be pro-rated for those who are not rejoining members. The dues must be to Betty Houtman by May 15. Please contact Betty, Carolyn or Kelly with any questions.
SATURDAY SUMMER STITCH-INS
During June, July, and August, arrangements have been made to hold the Stitch-Ins on the 4th Saturday of the month at the Gaines Township Library from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
FUNDRAISER
Our chapter has been approached by Younkers Stores with an invitation to participate in Younkers Community Days. This would involve selling Younkers discount coupons either at the store on Community Days or in advance. It does not require any investment by the chapter. More information to follow as it becomes available.
HABITAT SAMPLERS
This was discussed at the April evening meeting. Several samplers are in progress and will be turned in for framing. A show of hands was taken to determine how many members wanted to continue stitching the samplers. Three members indicated that they would continue to stitch them, with the majority declining to stitch further samplers on a regular basis.
KISSING PILLOWS
Geri J-B will continue to accept Kissing Pillows through the May Potluck Dinner meeting. Keep in mind that the kissing pillows do not need to be finished, only stitched.
MEMBER DIRECTORY UPDATE
Please change the name on the entry for Karen V to Karen A. Karen’s address and phone number remain the same.
GGR-EGA LIBRARY
The list of the library contents has been located and validated. Bobbie has volunteered to add it to the GGR-EGA Newsletter blog.
If you find extra copies of needlework related books, etc. while spring cleaning, please consider donating them to the library. While we have many wonderful books and resources, some are becoming dated.
CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANNING
Yes, it’s that time again. Jane W, Betty H, Alice R and Kelly L have volunteered as the Planning Committee. This year may take on a different format, as the Radisson Hotel, where we’ve held the Christmas party for the past few years, has a requirement that 30 meals must be purchased or they will charge the chapter $300 for the use of the room. Options to be explored are whether to invite spouses to the party, change the venue, or whether the Radisson would place us in a secluded area of the regular dining room, with use of the regular dinner menu. If you have suggestions or questions, please contact one of the committee.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Chapter Special Interest Project
Pat P will teach a puffy crystal heart pendant to those that have signed up. Pat has asked that the groups of students at the class be in groups of 2 or 3 as this project is more involved and will take some time to do. It has 72 4mm Swarovski bicone crystals. Talk with Pat P at the May dinner to arrange when your session will be.
EGA NATIONAL GROUP CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
May June Online Courses:
Crewel Choices taught by Judy Jeroy - $65
Finishing with Flair taught by Marion Scoular - $64
Needle Arts Quarterly Correspondence Courses (Register by May 31):
Morning Glories taught by Ilse Alther - $61
My Favorite Bracelet taught by Jeanette Carmichael- $63
For more information or to register: http://www.egausa.org/html/correspondence_courses.html
NEEDLEWORK ACTIVITIES
EGA's National Tapestry
America The Beautiful has come to Farmington Hills. The Tapestry is on display through Friday, May 29, 201, at William M. Costick Activity Center, 28600 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, ((248-473-1800) in the City Gallery at the main entrance facing Eleven Mile (between Inkster and Middlebelt). Exhibit hours are: Monday thru Friday, until May 27, 8:30am-4:30pm.
This tapestry, depicting the US, its flora, fauna and geographic features, is in five panels, each 24” x 48”. In conjunction with the tapestry display, Farmington Hills Chapter will also display a selection of its members’ work.
For more information on the National Tapestry, please go to www.ega.org/html/national_tapestry.html.
2011 National Button Convention
August 1 – 6, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Programs:
Monday Evening
100 Years of the Automobile Button —William Hentges
Thursday Evening
The Lure of the Orient: Asia, Art and Buttons —Maggie Whitson
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
• The Beauty of Fabric Buttons
• Flights of Fancy: Insects, Art & Buttons
• Dragon’s Blood: Asian Cinnabar Buttons
• The Mikado and the Buttons it Inspired
• Hi Ho, Hi Ho – Off to Work We Went
• Once Upon a Button: Children’s Stories and Kate Greenaway
• Once Upon a Time in Japan – one family’s journey
• Classification of Clear & Colored Glass
Show Schedule (subject to change without notice):
http://www.nationalbuttonsociety.org/2011_NBS_Show.html
Michigan State Day
"A Michigan Picnic" will be hosted by the White Pine Chapter on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center, Frankenmuth MI.
EGA Regional Conferences
June 23-26, 2011 –“Stitching in the Magic City” - Share-A-Stitch XXXI, presented by The Tennessee Valley Region of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. at the Birmingham Marriott, 3590 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham, AL. A great selection of classes with nationally recognized teachers will be offered. The techniques and projects are varied and exciting. There is something for stitchers of all levels. In addition to the classes, there will be a bookstore, boutique, merchandise night, Thursday night lecture and Saturday night banquet all on site. For more information, please visit: www.egatvr.com.
August 4-6, 2011 –“Star Spangled Stitching”
presented by Foothills Chapter in beautiful Denver, Colorado as the 2011 Rocky Mountain Region Seminar. Classes with nationally known teachers in pulled work, needlepoint, silk and metal, counted thread, photo transfer, mixed media, beading and temari will be offered. Registration runs through May 15. For more information, hotel link and class list with pictures go to www.rmrega.org/id100.html
From the Web
Fabulous, fabulous crewel designs/ideas – and a new book due out April 2011:
http://www.talliaferro.com/index.html
The Last and Best Book on Art Needlework, originally published by the Brainerd & Armstrong Company, New London, Connecticut in 1894-1895, is now available in digital form!
http://www.victorian-embroidery-and-crafts.com/art_needlework_1895.html?hop=fergusfish
CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
Our chapter newsletter is provided to our members in different ways: through US mail; via email; and online at www.ega-ggr.blogspot.com When you can’t access your email or find your newsletter, you can always find our newsletter online at our BlogSpot.
