Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • Pacific Southwest Region Seminar • Other News

President’s Message

If you are on the fence about signing up for the Betsy Morgan workshop in June, you only have until April 25 to make your decision and get your deposit in. Betsy sent us the project card with samples of the silk threads, the linen choices, and the coordinating silk lining material (see p. 9-10); we’ll have the card at the April meeting. There is a bit of pre-stitching with this workshop and we hope to have the necessary materials in each stitcher’s hands by May 20, so you can have the outline of the pieces stitched or at the very least basted. This will allow us to dive right into the fun parts of this workshop.

We have started sign-ups for the Jane Nicholas workshops (to be held Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 1-2). We are confident that there will be waiting lists on both, so I urge anyone who is interested to get their name on those lists. So far we have only determined the kit fee and know Jane’s teaching fee. We are still calculating costs for travel and where the classes will be held. Don’t forget to check our website for the most up-to-date information on these workshops.

Jean  and I attended the Pacific Southwest Region meeting in Tucson on April 9. We got to see our newsletter editor, Shelly, spend some time with her to catch up on her life and see what she’s stitching. Ina was there in her capacity as Assistant Region Director. The meeting was informative and provides a personal way for bringing PSR and the EGA national resources directly to the chapters. It also provides the pathway to let national know what the chapters’ needs are. I’m happy to report to our members that the portion of the dues that are sent directly to PSR will not be increasing this year. This means that we will only be passing on to members the increase in dues that have been imposed by national. Jean, our region representative, will have more to report at the meeting and in the next newsletter.

I can’t say that going to Tucson was all work and no play. We managed to do some shopping at The West, a needlework/gift shop that is non-profit and supports women’s and children’s charities in the Tucson area. There was also a bead store that had a wonderful array of items. We both left with very small bags and large credit card receipts. Personally, I would have to say that I need to get out of this stash acquisition mode and into a stitching mode very quickly.

Hope to see everyone at the next chapter meeting on April 18. Jean will be leading the Aztec stitch notebook cover. If you didn’t have a chance to purchase the kit and will be attending the meeting, Jean has a couple of kits that are not spoken for. Lois K. is the designer of this project and supplier of the kits. She sent a few extra so that everyone would be able to choose colors that they liked. Until the meeting, hope you can keep your needles flying.

Heather

Pacific Southwest Region Seminar

Pacific Southwest Region Seminar is scheduled for May 21-22 in Fullerton, California.  Please see the PSR website for more information.

We are looking for donations for the opportunity basket that our chapter is submitting to the Pacific Southwest Regional (PSR) seminar in May.  PSR is splitting the proceeds from the tickets that are deposited for each opportunity basket with the donating chapter 50-50. Charts, canvases, kits, threads, linen, and accessories in new condition are needed. Our theme is animals: think San Diego Zoo and Sea World.  Please bring all donations to the April program meeting, or the May 4th open stitching at the latest, so that we can get it all together for the May 21 seminar.

Other News

• The Del Mar Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival will be held Thursday May 12th through Saturday May 14th. The show hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM. The demonstration shift hours will be the same as last year: 10 AM to 1 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM. We will also be offering a Make it and Take class in our booth. This will give us a better opportunity to draw new stitchers into the guilds.  Contact Margi to sign up or for more details.
• It’s time! …to start thinking about what you would like to enter in the San Diego County Fair (June 10 to July 4). The theme this year is “Race to the Fair”,  and we will be awarding a ribbon and a year’s membership to the chapter and national!  The calendar is now available for signing up to demonstrate at the fair. Demonstration shifts Monday through Friday will be 11 AM to 2 PM and 2 to 5 PM. Weekend shifts are 10 AM to 1:30 PM and 1:30 to 5 PM. The fair admission is $13 but as a demonstrator you will receive a free admission ticket to the fair for every shift worked.  Your admission tickets will be given to you at a chapter meeting or mailed to you. Contact Margi to sign up or for more details.
• Don’t forget about the Soldier Kissing Pillows.  This is our outreach program for the year.  Kits are available at every meeting.
• Upcoming meetings:
  • Monday, April 18, 2011, at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. Jean will be teaching the Aztec Stitch Notepad Cover.
  • Monday, May 16, 2011, at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. Laura will be teaching Dorset Buttons.  (She made a bunch of them and showed them at our November meeting.)
  • Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. Betsy Morgan will be teaching a needlecase project.
• Upcoming chat and stitch evenings:
  • Wednesday, May 4, 2011
  • Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • Pacific Southwest Region Seminar • Other News

President’s Message

Gosh, but do we ever have things to look forward to this year! First there are workshops coming up. Betsy Morgan will be here from Virginia to teach in June. We will be the pilot stitchers for her project entitled Exact Change Etui. There are choices to be made in this fabulous project, so I expect that no two will look alike, from the base fabric to the threads. Betsy uses silk threads exclusively because of the beauty of the finished project, so the cost of the kit is higher since you’ll be making an etui to enjoy for your lifetime; destined to become a stitching heirloom. She will conclude her stay with a needlecase project to be taught at our June meeting.

We are fortunate to be a location chosen by Jane Nicholas for our second workshops, yes two. We will be doing one of her new Persian tiles the first for two days, then a more traditional stumpwork piece on the weekend for two more days. The board, along with Shirley, Margaret C. and Marque, is working on all the particulars of these two workshops scheduled for the last two days in September and the first two days in October. As we finalize details, we will post information on our Yahoo group site so that everyone who wants to participate will be able to sign-up. This is a super opportunity to work with an international stitching teacher whose classes at seminars always go to lottery because of their popularity.

Hopefully everyone is working on their projects that they will be entering in the San Diego County Fair. Our chapter will again be awarding a ribbon and a year’s membership to our chapter and EGA. We will be looking for a piece of work that best exemplifies a sampler of stitches.

Jean and I will be going to the PSR meeting in Tucson on April 9. We are looking forward to seeing our newsletter editor, Shelly, and finding out what is going on in the rest of the chapters. Please bring any concerns you might have about the region or national activities to the next chapter meeting.

Time to turn my attention back to one of the many stitching projects I have going. Once again I have put my money on finishing three UFO’s, one of which isn’t even started, so I better get stitching. See everyone at the meeting.

Heather

Pacific Southwest Region Seminar

Pacific Southwest Region Seminar is scheduled for May 21-22 in Fullerton, California.  Please see the PSR website for more information.

We are looking for donations for the PSR opportunity basket that our chapter will have at the PSR seminar in May. Our theme is animals: think San Diego Zoo and Sea World. PSR is splitting the proceeds from the tickets that are deposited for each opportunity basket with the donating chapter 50-50. It would be great to have items by the March meeting, and no later than the April meeting, so that we can get it all together for the May 21 seminar.

Other News

• The Del Mar Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival will be held Thursday May 12th through Saturday May 14th. The show hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM. The demonstration shift hours will be the same as last year: 10 AM to 1 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM. We will also be offering a Make it and Take class in our booth. This will give us a better opportunity to draw new stitchers into the guilds.  Contact Margi to sign up or for more details.
• It’s time! …to start thinking about what you would like to enter in the San Diego County Fair (June 10 to July 4). The theme this year is “Race to the Fair”,  and we will be awarding a ribbon and a year’s membership to the chapter and national!
• Don’t forget about the Soldier Kissing Pillows.  This is our outreach program for the year.  Kits are available at every meeting.
• Upcoming meetings:
  • Monday, April 18, 2011, at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. Jean will be teaching the Aztec Stitch Notepad Cover.
  • Monday, May 16, 2011, at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. Laura will be teaching Dorset Buttons.  (She made a bunch of them and showed them at our November meeting.)
• Upcoming chat and stitch evenings:
  • Wednesday, April 6, 2011
  • Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

Two highpoints occurred this month since our last chapter meeting. The first wasn’t really an event that I was looking forward to attending, and that was how I was approaching the celebration of the life of our stitching friend, Barbara Lawson. What happened turned out to be a real celebration of life! There were wonderful pictures from all the years of Barbara’s life along with treasured memorabilia. A table held expertly crafted stitchery, including her award-winning Golden Pomegranate and one UFO, with needle and thread at the ready. Her husband, Herb, presented an uplifting eulogy that told of all of the passions in her life and truly left me wishing I had known Barbara better on more levels than the obvious creative stitcher that she was. Many people in attendance shared special stories of moments with Barbara and how she’ll always have a special place in our hearts. We are still collecting money for a donation to Doctors Without Borders, one of her favorite charities. Margi is collecting checks made out to Muchas Manos. After this month’s chapter meeting, we will write one check, including the $100 from our chapter to donate in Barbara’s memory.

Secondly, we gathered for our stitch-in-public at the San Diego airport in Terminal 2 on February 5. We were a friendly bunch and enticed people to come over and see what we were all about. We talked to lots of people and let them know that embroidery is available to anyone and it is fun. Each of our members was working on a different piece, with almost as many different techniques being explored. We shared our love and passion for needlework and I thank Barbara for suggesting the airport as the perfect spot for showing off to the world. Next time we need to bring more finished pieces so we have more techniques to interest people and get them talking about their experiences.

Our meeting this month is in the room upstairs from The Shepherdess, on Tuesday, February 22, 2011. We will be concluding Silk Road, the program lead by Ina. Hope some of you are trying this darning project. We are starting to collect items for our opportunity basket, think San Diego Zoo or Sea World, which means animals and maybe a bunch of “furry” threads. Look through your stash and see what you may have to donate.

We’d like to extend special congratulations to Ina, for being given a Silver Beaver Award! This is a distinguished service award that is presented by the Boy Scouts of America to an adult leader that has made an impact on the lives of youth. It recognizes Ina’s many years of service to the Council, dedication and self-sacrifice.

Looking to our March meeting, daylight savings time will be back and spring will have sprung for this year. Jean is working on all sorts of programs and will have lots to tell us so keep your needles handy.

Heather

UFO Challenge

The UFO Challenge is restarting.  More to come.

Other News

• Please join us for the next chapter meeting on Tuesday, February 22. This will be held at The Shepherdess (in Old Town), 2802 Juan Street #18, San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm. The program is Silk Road: Completion. Reminder:  Find the instructions on the Caron website http://www.caron-net.com/10jundesclass1.html.
• Pacific Southwest Region Seminar — May 21-22 in Fullerton, CA
  • There is a Feb. 15 registration deadline. Check out the region website for more information.
  • We are looking for donations for the PSR opportunity basket that our chapter will have at the PSR seminar in May.  Our theme is animals: think San Diego Zoo and Sea World.  PSR is splitting the proceeds from the tickets that are deposited for each opportunity basket with the donating chapter 50-50. It would be great to have items by the March meeting, and no later than the April meeting, so that we can get it all together for the May 21 seminar.
• It’s time! …to start thinking about what you would like to enter in the San Diego County Fair (June 10 to July 4). The theme this year is “Race to the Fair”,  and we will be awarding a ribbon!
• Upcoming meetings:
  • Monday, March 21, 2011: This meeting will be at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA.
  • Monday, April 18, 2011: This meeting will be at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA.

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

The passing of Barbara L. is not easy to share with our group, especially when it came as such a shock. One day Barbara was calling Shirley F. to see how she was doing in the hospital, just as she had kept tabs on how Susan F. was doing after her recent surgery, and the next day she herself was in the hospital.

We will all miss the vital, creative lady that Barbara was to us. Her bubbling enthusiasm over a new project was truly contagious. She would get just as excited over someone else’s completion and was always complimenting others on their work. She liked to try new things in stitching and was on the lookout for things she could share with her stitching buddies back home when she was traveling around the world.

There will be a celebration of Barbara’s life on February 12, 2011, beginning at noon. More information follows in this newsletter. The board has voted to donate $100 to Doctors without Borders in Barbara’s memory. Because other members may also wish to contribute, you can send a check to Margi, made out to Muchas Manos. She will keep track of the donations, and the chapter will write one donation check.

It was Barbara’s suggestion that the airport would be a great place for our EGA stitch-in-public day. She was the person who made the initial arrangements that are now finalized for Saturday, February 5, 2011. We have room for 10 people to stitch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with 10 paid parking vouchers. We won’t be doing any teaching or anything other than just stitching and talking to any people who might be interested about our love of the art of stitching. Hope we can fill all those chairs for the whole time.

A reminder that we are looking for donation items for the opportunity basket that Muchas Manos will present to the PSR seminar in May. The theme…Animals!

Our meeting place and day of the week have changed for January and February this year. We will be meeting on Tuesday, January 18, at 7:00 in the classroom above the Shepherdess in Old Town. Ina will be leading the project Silk Road with instructions available on the Caron website.

We have many exciting stitching opportunities planned this year with Jean at the helm of education. Don’t forget our workshop in June with Betsy Morgan, and there is also the PSR weekend seminar in May. Looks like it is going to be a year to keep those needles flying.

Heather

UFO Challenge

The UFO Challenge is restarting.  More to come.

Other News

• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–Photos of the tree in its new home can be found in the Photo Album entitled “Charlie” on the Muchas Manos Yahoo Group site.
• Please join us for the next chapter meeting on Tuesday, January 18. This will be held at The Shepherdess (in Old Town), 2802 Juan Street #18, San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm. The program is Silk Road: Overview and Thread Selection. Members need to download the instructions from the Caron website http://www.caron-net.com/10jundesclass1.html.
• Upcoming meetings:
  • Tuesday, February 22, 2011: Chapter Meeting, with Silk Road Completion as the program. This meeting will again be at The Shepherdess in Old Town, San Diego, CA.
  • Monday, March 21, 2011: This meeting will be at the Live Well Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA.

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

This is the last newsletter for the year, so looking back at the year and forward to the year ahead seems like a good idea. It’s been a year of transition for Muchas Manos, but we seem to have our groove back. Shelly has been instrumental in keeping our members informed about our chapter’s programs, what everyone is working on, and what else is going on in the chapter and region. Angelina has kept our web presence, new social media presence, and membership together so that members can access information quickly. Ina has kept our books, both financial and library together, worked on our upcoming workshop, along with working on the region level, now as Assistant Director of PSR (plus in her spare time completing a master’s degree). Susan has kept our minutes at board and chapter meetings, and been our “card lady”, with Barbara L. backing her up as she recovers from surgery. We had Laura B., now a chapter member, do a program on Sashiko. Sandy H.  showed us lots of examples of ways we could make tote bags. Margaret C. presented Or Nué at the October meeting, with hope of seeing some finishes this meeting. Margaret B. taught us how to do Tyvek flowers, and has been coordinating our Christmas tree outreach project.

I’m sure this list isn’t complete, but with everyone’s help and vision, this chapter is moving forward, and I am deeply grateful and thankful for every member’s contribution.

This month’s meeting is a celebration of completions. We conclude our UFO pledges for this year, but we will have an opportunity to refocus for next year. Please bring completed projects for our Gallery Night. We’ll have a bit of bubbly, and some nibbles while we admire each other’s work, along with open stitching. There is more info later in the newsletter about our Holiday party on Sunday, December 12, 2010.

Think I’ll save my “looking ahead to the New Year” for our January newsletter. I hope all of our members and their loved ones have a relaxing Holiday season. Remember to plan in some stitching time to de-stress.

Heather

UFO Challenge

The UFO Challenge is almost complete.  Please bring your final projects to the November meeting.

Other News

• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–Margaret B. says she’ll be bringing Charlie to our next and last meeting in November. Then it will be installed in the nursing home. Please bring your ornaments and cameras. It’s looking terrific. Many thanks to all of you for participating in this remarkable gift.
• January and February meeting location is tentatively The Shepherdess in Old Town. And also note the Tuesday instead of Monday dates – due to holidays.
• Holiday Party is the 12th at Marque’s home.  Please bring your favorite potluck dish, gift exchange item (stitching-related, not over $20, or a stitched ornament), and your own stitching.

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

Looking at the calendar and seeing October makes me think about the home where I spent the first 18 years of my life. Upstate New York is ablaze with color this time of year with the glorious fall foliage. The kitchen windows of that house looked out on a hill that was far enough away that my family would watch the colors march up the hill over three weeks. It would go from green, to spots of yellow, then oranges and reds, until the whole hill looked like a patchwork quilt.

That was my visual clue that the busy time of the year was upon me, which is how I still think today. Time for reassessing my stitching goals and all that I hope to get accomplished before the end of the year. There are only a few weeks left for all of our Muchas Manos projects. Charlie, our tree outreach project, is starting to fill out nicely, but could still use some more garden themed ornaments. We’ve had three people get their money back on their UFO pledges, with a few others working at a feverish pace for our November 15th deadline.

Our nominating committee has come up with a slate of officers for the next year, and we will be voting at the November meeting, along with ooohing and aaaahing over each others’ finished works of art.

Before our October meeting is the workshop that Threaded Needle is hosting, along with the Pacific Southwestern Region meeting. We will present whatever is discussed to the members to keep you all updated on regional and national issues.

Margaret C. has asked that the stitchers participating in the Or Nue project at the October meeting arrive by 6 pm to get started. She is contacting the participants with the final costs before the meeting. The business portion of the meeting will be as short as possible, around 7:30.

Even in San Diego we can find hints of the changing seasons. There is an occasional tree with leaves no longer green and hillsides looking faded and worn, waiting for some winter rains. Hope you can all take a moment to appreciate the subdued colors of nature this time of the year and think about how those colors might translate to your stitching palette.

Heather

UFO Challenge

The UFO Contract can be found in the file section of our Yahoo group. Just print one out for each item, attach $5.00, and give it to Heather at the meeting. The end date is the November chapter meeting, where there will be a gallery night celebrating everyone’s work.   Look for the UFO points to date on our Muchas Manos Yahoo group site.

Other News

• Please join us for the chapter meeting on Monday, October 18 for Or Nue with Margaret C. This will be held at the Livewell Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm.
• In November, we will celebrate the end of the UFO challenge and view a member gallery.  Please bring your pieces to share.
• Outreach Update: Soldier Kissing Pillows–We did send 32 Soldier Kissing Pillows to Pennsylvania on Sept. 21 and I received confirmation that they arrived, making their total 1262 on Sept. 24.  They were trying for 1800 by the end of September.
• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–The tree is looking wonderful! Ornaments are due at the November meeting. Ina will go to with Margaret B. to present the tree to the nursing section of St Paul’s Senior Homes.
• Special Open Stitching Saturday Oct. 30 9:30am-4pm
  • Come join your fellow chapter members for a relaxing and fun day of stitching. This is a joint open stitching event with San Diego ANG, and is open to any stitching friends.
  • Located at Jill R’s clubhouse off Soledad Mountain Road in Mount La Jolla.  Look in the full newsletter or contact a board member for the exact location.
  • The clubhouse has great light and lots of room. Bring your lunch!

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

We’re in the home stretch now to the holidays and the end of the year. Hope everyone is working hard on their UFO pledges, and garden ornaments for our tree outreach program. There is also the continuing outreach of the Soldier Kissing Pillows, with more about that on another page.

A few of our members seem to be enjoying their Sashiko choices and I’m looking forward to seeing some completions. This month’s program on making a tote bag is the perfect use for a piece of stitching, like the Sashiko napkins. Sandy H. will be sharing her expertise with us on the finer points of tote making.

There is a poll on our Yahoo group site asking members about our Betsy M. workshop that will be held in June 2011. Please answer it so that we can see how many members are interested. We are looking into different options of where we can hold this 2-day event, and having a rough idea of participation will help greatly with planning.

Also, on the Yahoo site, you will find the UFO tally. Ask Sandy H. how fast those little Kissing Pillows add points to your total. That is not all she has done, but she is definitely our point leader right now.

Threaded Needle’s African Folklore Embroidery Workshop is Saturday, October 16, and registration closes on October 5. Janet L. did a great presentation last month about the teacher, Leora, and her work. I’m signing up for what should be a fun day, and I’m bringing a friend. I’m really looking forward to adding some special threads to my stash.

I start looking at my calendar this time of year and try to figure out how I can get all the things done so that I can have a “Better Homes and Gardens” type of holiday season. So far it hasn’t happened for me, but I am the eternal optimist, thinking this year will be different, and just maybe it will be. Let’s see, how many days till…

Heather

UFO Challenge

The UFO Contract can be found in the file section of our Yahoo group. Just print one out for each item, attach $5.00, and give it to Heather at the meeting. The end date is the November chapter meeting, where there will be a gallery night celebrating everyone’s work.   Look for the UFO points to date on our Muchas Manos Yahoo group site.

Other News

• Please join us for the chapter meeting on Monday, September 20 for Finishing with Sandy H. This will be held at the Livewell Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm.
• Coming in October:  Or nué (pronounced: ornway) is the embroidery technique of couching coloured floss over horizontally laid gold threads. Margaret took a class in May with Royal School of Needlework/San Francisco on the technique and will be sharing what she learned.
• Outreach Update: Soldier Kissing Pillows–We are trying to send as many Kissing Pillows as we have completed to PA the day after our September meeting. Please bring whatever you have stitched to the meeting on the 20th. The PA call has been raised from 1800 to 2400. They have a little over a thousand at this point with everyone working feverishly to fill this request.
• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–Margaret B. says to “keep on stitching” those garden-themed ornaments! If any of you are stuck see her for ideas and designs. (*As organized by Margaret, we are making ornaments for a tree to be given to the nursing section of St Paul’s Senior Homes.)
• From our friends in the Threaded Needle chapter, a unique stitching opportunity in October! On October 16, from 10am to 3pm, a workshop on African Folklore Embroidery, taught by Leora, will be held at Elderlink, 1151 S. Redwood Street, Escondido, CA.  Contact Janet L. from Threaded Needle for more information.
• Special Open Stitching Saturday Oct. 30 9:30am-4pm
  • Come join your fellow chapter members for a relaxing and fun day of stitching. This is a joint open stitching event with San Diego ANG, and is open to any stitching friends.
  • Located at Jill R’s clubhouse off Soledad Mountain Road in Mount La Jolla.  Look in the full newsletter or contact a board member for the exact location.
  • The clubhouse has great light and lots of room. Bring your lunch!

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

Our July program on Sashiko embroidery was fun. Laura B., a Torrey Pines chapter member, and now plural member of our chapter, taught this technique. She did a great job and promised to attend the August meeting to help anyone who may have hit a snag with their project. I’m working on finishing my piece before Sandy H. teaches tote bag construction at our September meeting.

I am also working on a couple of ornaments for our Christmas tree outreach that Margaret B. is spearheading. That’s what our August meeting is all about, finishing our Sashiko pieces or working on ornaments. If you don’t have ideas on what you can make for the tree, Margaret has lots to choose from.

The date for payment on the PSR fundraiser, Scrumptious Soups and Stews, has been extended to September 1, 2010. These $5 cookbooks would make great gifts or addition to the other three that have already been released. We will be taking orders/collecting money for a group order, in time to mail a check by the Sept. 1 deadline.

Threaded Needle will be hosting a workshop on October 16, the day before the Region meeting. Janet L., their workshop coordinator, will be at our August meeting to show a sample of the African Folklore Embroidery. This is quite different from my usual choices in stitching, so I’m looking forward to stretching my creativity at this workshop.

Update on our chapter workshop to be presented by Betsy M: save the date–June 18-19, 2011. The project will incorporate design and stitching using silk threads on linen, in your choice of four fabric colors. We are planning to have a poll on our Yahoo Group site to gauge interest in this selection. Also, Betsy will be presenting the chapter program on Monday, June 20, 2011, which will be a nautical themed needle case.

Just so everyone is aware, registration for one class of choice at next year’s national seminar in Florida is open to all EGA members during the upcoming national seminar in San Francisco, September 5-10. This is the same opportunity given to members attending the seminar. The only difference is that seminar attendees actually get to see the class projects in all their glory, while those signing up online will only get to see photos of the projects.

With all the demands on our stitching time, I hope everyone has the ability to set aside at least a few hours every week to stitch on something that they truly love.

Heather

UFO Challenge

Two people have completed their pledged UFOs and have gotten back their $5.00. Guess everyone else is working hard on their projects. It’s still not too late to join in the fun for a $5.00 donation. The end date is the November chapter meeting, where there will be a gallery night celebrating everyone’s work.

The UFO Contract can be found in the file section of our Yahoo group. Just print one out for each item, attach $5.00, and give it to Heather at the meeting.

Look for the UFO points to date to be posted soon on our Muchas Manos Yahoo group site.

Other News

• Please join us for the chapter meeting on Monday, August 16 for open stitching. This will be held at the Livewell Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm.
• Thank you to all the members that volunteered to demonstrate at the fair and loaned their needlework for the booth display. We received many compliments on the new look of the booth. Margi
• Outreach Update: Soldier Kissing Pillows–There is a new push for Soldier Kissing Pillows that was posted on August 8th. A deployment of 600+ combatants will leave sometime in September from Williamsport. A chapter in Pennsylvania is looking to supply 2300 pillows for those families affected. There are kits for the pillow tops available at the meetings. The great thing is you don’t even have to think about the finishing, just the fun part of stitching the tops and knowing that any you make will be going to ease the pain of military separations.  Heather
• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–This year we are making ornaments for a tree to be given to the nursing section of St Paul’s Senior Homes.   The tree needs a lot more ornaments, especially those that are 3″-3.5″ in size. The theme is “a garden”. If any of you are stuck please ask – I’m not short of ideas and have prepared some designs that are ready to be stitched. Margaret B.

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

I’m really looking forward to the July program on Sashiko embroidery. Laura B., a Torrey Pines chapter member, will be teaching this technique. The materials have been ordered and are on their way. If you missed out on the order, come and join in learning about this Japanese style of quilting. Who knows, you may decide to try it at a later date.

If you haven’t heard, EGA has a member survey on the website, www.egausa.org. Please, take a moment as soon as you read this to go to the website and participate in the survey. It is on the front page before you log in. Only one response per computer will be allowed, so if you need a paper copy, you will need to call EGA offices at (502) 589-6956. According to Needle Arts, this is just a two-week survey that started July 1, 2010 and its goal is to find out more about members, identify strategies for further growth, and make sure that members realize a value for their membership dues. The more response they get, the better we are represented in all our different views.

Ina and the board have been working on a workshop to be presented by Betsy M., tentatively scheduled for March 19-20, 2011. Please look for a poll on our Yahoo group site. You will get an e-mail announcement that the poll is posted, and we are looking for everyone’s input on whether or not you are interested in each of the pieces that we have chosen as possibilities. These pieces are all on linen fabric with silk threads. They vary in complexity and price and we really need to know how many of our members will tentatively participate, and how many people we will have to have attend from outside our chapter to make this workshop viable for all concerned. Looking at Betsy’s teaching schedule, she rarely leaves the east coast or mid-west, so this is a wonderful opportunity.

Our August meeting will be an open stitching. It will give us a chance to finish the Sashiko piece, or perhaps to work on one of the pledged UFOs. Also, August would make a good date for stitching a couple of Christmas tree ornaments with the garden theme for our outreach.

I’ve truly been enjoying the cooler than normal weather that we were having, but I understand that I had better get my stitching projects lined up and ready for the inevitable summer heat. No pool to stitch by, but I am good with a glass of iced tea and the fan on. Hope all of my stitching friends can find a cool spot to stitch in and you are all able to get lots done.

Heather

UFO Challenge

It’s not too late to join the UFO (Un-Finished Object) challenge for 2010. For an investment of $5.00, you pledge to complete your chosen project before the November meeting, where we hope to have a huge display of all the prolific work of our stitchers. Finish the project and you get your $5.00 back. If your project is still not completed by the November 15, 2010 meeting, you’ve made a donation to the chapter. So far we have pledges for 22 items.

The UFO Contract can be found in the file section of our Yahoo group. Just print one out for each item, attach $5.00, and give it to Heather at the meeting.

If this seems like more than you want to do, we are still celebrating each and every piece of finished stitchery at the meetings. Please bring whatever you finish so everyone can see you wonderful handiwork. We love to oooh and ahhh over finished goodies.

Other News

• Please join us for the chapter meeting on Monday, August 16 for open stitching. This will be held at the Livewell Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm.
• Thank you to all the members that volunteered to demonstrate at the fair and loaned their needlework for the booth display. We received many compliments on the new look of the booth. Margi
• Outreach Update: Soldier Kissing Pillows–I mailed all 82 of the Soldier Kissing pillows that we had finished to Leigh S. in Sedona.  She is trying to get over 1000 pillows for Ft. Bragg by August.  She said our contribution brought her up to 80% of goal.  I’ll have kits at the meeting to start building our stash again. Consider picking up a couple to stitch in an evening.  Heather
• Outreach Update: A Christmas Tree–This year we will be making ornaments for a tree to be given to the nursing section of St Paul’s Senior Homes. The Activities Director, Chris, was quite excited when I first contacted her in February. Apparently no one has done this for them before! Right now, the tree is rather empty looking like something Charlie Brown selected. So I’ve named it “Charlie”.  As this is a community outreach project for Muchas Manos and because many visitors will be passing it while calling on friends and relations, we should make it the best ever. You’ll remember that last year the tree made $700 for the Model Railroad Museum’s educational programs. So our efforts are worthwhile. Charlie needs a lot more ornaments, especially those that are 3″-3.5″ in size. I’ve been working on it too and have completed 30 of the smaller sizes. I’ve asked that each of our members contribute at least two. If you can make more it would be wonderful. Currently I’m stitching a red skirt and and am trying to think of a topper that would reflect the theme. Please remember that the theme is “a garden”. If any of you are stuck please ask – I’m not short of ideas and have prepared some designs that are ready to be stitched. Margaret B.

Chapter members–click here to access the full newsletter.  You will be directed to our private Yahoo group and you will need to sign in.

President’s Message • UFO Challenge • Other News

President’s Message

Where to begin…

Let me start by thanking many members for their efforts to keep our chapter functioning. First, you are reading this because our long-distance member, Shelly, volunteered to get our newsletter back up and running as a way of communicating with all our members. We’ll do our best to have it in your in-box a week before our meeting.

Angelina has just completed the renewal process for the year, now that EGA has switched to having everyone renew at the same time. Our membership has shrunk by a third and we are really hoping that some of the changes that are happening will attract the attention of those non-renewing members, and they will return to our stitching fold.

The San Diego County Fair is up and running (“Taste the Fun”, June 11 to July 5). We have Cassie and Margi to thank for coming up with a new look and a more interactive booth for all the stitching guilds. Margi still has the unenviable task of keeping the calendar for who is manning the booth and tracking down people to stitch and share with folks what fun it is to be in a guild. This year the handout at the fair has an invitation to new people to come to a meeting and get a stitching gift. We’ll be looking to have members help anyone who comes to a meeting with these beginning projects. The projects were already tried at the May craft fair as “make-it and take-its”, with success.

Angelina and I got to view all of the beautifully stitched items that were in competition for our Muchas Manos ribbon at the fair. Jean LK again expertly stitched our logo, over one, on the center of the ribbon. We awarded the ribbon, which includes a year’s membership to EGA and our chapter, to an incredible piece of Brazilian embroidery, using the loose definition of sampler as “a piece with many different stitches”. The winner is Mary Kay from El Cajon and we hope we can entice her to share some of her secrets for flawless bullion stitches executed with rayon threads.

Lastly, I would like to thank Karen K for her service to Muchas Manos, most recently as president of our chapter, for the last year and a half. She has decided to resign her position for personal reasons and we are looking forward to supporting her in her quest to carve out just a bit of stitching time in her busy life.

Take a look at the rest to the newsletter for the things that are happening in our chapter and think about what changes you would like to see and how we can move toward a more vibrant, active chapter. Hope to see you at the next meeting with lots of ideas!

Heather

UFO Challenge

It’s not too late to join the UFO (Un-Finished Object) challenge for 2010. For an investment of $5.00, you pledge to complete your chosen project before the November meeting, where we hope to have a huge display of all the prolific work of our stitchers. Finish the project and you get your $5.00 back. (Angelina has already gotten one of her projects completed and her money back for that project). If your project is still not completed by the November 15, 2010 meeting, you’ve made a donation to the chapter. So far we have pledges for 19 items.

The UFO Contract can be found in the file section of our Yahoo group. Just print one out for each item, attach $5.00, and give it to Heather at the meeting.

If this seems like more than you want to do, we are still celebrating each and every piece of finished stitchery at the meetings. Please bring whatever you finish so everyone can see you wonderful handiwork. We love to oooh and ahhh over finished goodies.

Other News

• Outreach Update: Soldier Kissing Pillows.  The EGA message board has been active with requests for large numbers of Soldier Kissing Pillows. Muchas Manos members have been stitching away quietly and we have over 75 pillows that are ready to answer the call. We’ll send what we have completed before the next meeting and start building our treasured stash of pillows again in preparation of the next request. These pillows have become very popular with service members and their families, and word is spreading faster than we all can stitch. Consider picking up a couple of kits to stitch in an evening.
• Please join us for the chapter meeting on Monday, July 19. This will be held at the Livewell Center, 4425 Bannock Ave., San Diego, CA. There will be open stitching from 5 to 7 pm and the chapter meeting from 7 to 9 pm. The program is Japanese Sashiko Embroidery taught by Laura B.