President’s Message

Ladies, I am really excited to embark on this New Year as president of the Muchas Manos de San Diego chapter! And the rest of the board is also rarin’ to go.

This year and month marks the ten year anniversary of my first visit to open stitching into the former Community Room in the Clairemont Square Shopping Center. I became a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America at the next regular meeting. I’ve had so much fun and learned so much that it doesn’t seem that long ago.

Becoming an avid Hardanger stitcher has been the biggest change for me as a stitcher since joining the guild. At last year’s San Diego County Fair my entries swept the Hardanger category – OK, my two bell pulls were the only two entries in that category. (To paraphrase another president, “We’re going to have to fix that.”) I’m actually planning to teach a small Hardanger project this year. Watch the newsletter for more information.

This past Christmas my mom and I visited a family friend who is of Norwegian descent. One of her friends is native Norwegian, who came to the U.S. in her late teens. I was able to speak with that friend and asked her if she’s ever done hardanger embroidery. She told me she had never tried it, because she didn’t like the idea of cutting her fabric. Sounds like what I used to say!

I actually finished Nordic Needle’s 2012 Hardanger Club project on Christmas morning. And then I realized I was drinking my coffee from a mug that said Uff Da, the Norwegian rough equivalent of “Oy vey.” (Or as I also sometimes say, “Ding-dangety!”) I’d done enough reverse stitching on that Hardanger project to make Uff Da an appropriate comment! We all had a lot of giggles about that. Here’s a picture of the Uff Da mug with a portion of the completed project.

We have a lot of exciting plans and opportunities coming up in 2013, and I’d love to have all of you involved and having a lot of fun. Happy Stitching!

Gini

Upcoming Meetings

• February 18:  This meeting is going to be fun as we all share our “First or Worst” projects in embroidery.  Come and bring a project to share with friends that was your first embroidery project or one that, once started just never came together, AKA your worst embroidery project.
• March 18: Liesel-Schwalm course with Heather.
• April 15: Hardanger Emery Cushion.

President’s Message

This year has flown by, with this being our last newsletter of the year. At the November meeting we will have the election for the new officers that will guide our chapter through 2013. It’s also time to get in all your UFO’s. Remember, each piece earns you a ticket in the drawings that will be held at the Holiday Party.

Oh, it’s dessert fest for our Holiday Party on December 9th at the Scripps Ranch Community Center. Bring a dessert to share and a container for leftovers. We’ll have coffee, tea, and cider.

We promise lots of fun and surprises. There will be our fun gift exchange for those that would like to participate. The gift must be stitching related with a limit of $20, or a hand-stitched ornament. Remember, the more creative the wrapping the more fun we have “stealing”.

The paperwork has been submitted for the EGA Group Correspondence Course, Liesel-Schwalm. We’ll start the project at the January 2013 chapter meeting, but more specific information will be sent out to the ten members participating. Karen K. is welcoming the chapter to her home for both the January and February meetings.

I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the special people that I have worked with in this last year of my tenure as president of this chapter: Jean L., Angelina H., and Gini M. have kept the board running smoothly. Laura B., Jean, Gini, and Susan S. answered the call to teach programs. Margi T. sent us cards and took care of the calendars for the San Diego Fair and May craft show, and put up and took down booths for both events. Angelina expanded our presence in the cyber world and kept us connected. A huge thank you to Shelly P., who each month puts together this newsletter that keeps everyone informed. A chapter is only as good as the people who volunteer their time and energy, and I have found this to be a very giving group of stitchers, and for that, I am truly grateful.

As I start thinking about the New Year, there are so many wonderful stitching opportunities. I’ll be trying to stay ahead of everyone on the Schwalm course. There will be more Soldier Kissing Pillows to do and bookmarks to stitch. Before you know it, it will be Fair time again, plus there will be wonderful chapter projects that will call to me. I know it is possible for all of us to have time for our stitching passion, and that is what I wish for each and every member of our chapter in the New Year. Thank you all for a great couple of years!

Heather

Upcoming Meetings

• Sunday, December 9, from 1pm to 5pm:  Holiday Party, at the Scripps Ranch Community Center, 11885 Cypress Canyon Road, San Diego, CA.
• Monday, January 21, 2013:  Chapter Meeting at Karen K.’s home.  We will begin the Group Correspondence Course.
• Monday, February 18, 2013:  Chapter Meeting at Karen K.’s home. Program will be “First or Worst”, with potluck.