Mouse Tales

Vol 1 #1                       March 2002

PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE: The Magic of  Purple and Yellow.  Make a bookmark for a literacy program.

Contents

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

Hi all, I am so glad to have everyone join us in reading this newsletter and sharing our chapter in this manner. I want to thank Mary Lou Holshouser for making this happen for us. I hope that everyone's working on their bookmarks and challenge pieces for this years president’s challenge.

I’d like to encourage everyone to volunteer for committees in our chapter to help the board members with the running of CyberStitchers. If you would like to volunteer for one of our committees please let any board member know or send a message to me here.  The committees include Internet, Membership, Education, Newsletter, Publicity, Outreach, and By-laws.  Any one of these committees can use energetic, interested people to help them run.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the meeting.

LoriBeth Etengoff
President, CyberStitchers EGA

Stitch Graphs:

Needlepoint Now (Jan/Feb 2002) has started a series on Ornaments of the United States. The first states featured are Arizona, Arkansas, and California. While the ornaments are graphed for needlepoint, they could be done in cross-stitch. Each ornament will be in the shape of the particular state and there will also be one for the entire country. This series will take several years to present, according to Needlepoint Now editor. The designer is Pamela Harding.

Web Sites:

www.needleworkdesign.com

Two new articles that can be found on this website are: "Mounting Needlework Without Lacing" and "Learn to Finish a Scissors Fob". Step by step instructions are given for both.  Also look for the free pattern "Chromatic Study - Design One". This pattern is small and could be used for the scissors fob but it is only available at selected needlework stores. To find the location of the nearest store carrying the pattern, check the website.

Region News:

Heartland Region:
Fall Region Meeting - Sept 14-15, 2002, St. Paul, MN
Spring Seminar 2003 Meeting - May 14-18, 2003 Moline, IL

Tennessee Valley Region:
Share a Stitch XXII - June 20-23, 2002, Marriott Perimeter Center, Atlanta, GA.

I will include information about programs in the other regions as I receive it.

Education Opportunity:

Extended Study Program:  Class will be held at the Camberley Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY, September 19-22, 2002.

From Steel to Silk: “A Book in a Bag” taught by Maureen King. Deadline for registration is July 18, 2002. Cost is $245.00 The class is based on medieval patterns found in theCotehele Manor House, Cornwall, England. You will create a 3”x4” book and a bag for the book. For more information and registration form, look on the EGA website or in the December issue of NeedleArts.

CyberStitchers Classes:

Group Correspondence Courses:

"Nutcases": There are 15 members participating in the "nutcases" class, to be finished in April 2002. According to Aura Perez, it must be a fun group. (This is not a GCC.)

"Elizabethan Floral": 5 members, concluding August 2002.

"Fan From my Attic" (9 members); "Whiligig" (10 members); "Color Theory 1" Group 2 (21 members); and "Drawn Thread Sampler #2" (20 members) will conclude in June.

"Color Theory 1" Group 1 will conclude in February (they were given an extension).

"Winterspring": 12 members, concluding Mid-2002.

"Lace Ribbons" (17 members) concluding in May.

18th National Counted Cross Stitch Show: June 1 to June 16, 2002. Rockome Gardens, Arcola, Illinois. There are 65educational seminars covering many techniques, such as bargello, cross-stitch, blackwork, hardanger, pulled thread, etc. Seminars start on Jun 7 and run through the 15th. There is also a judged competition. To enter, application must be made before May 18, 2002.  Check out the Rockome Gardens web site for pictures of seminar projects and more information or call 217-268-4106.  It's a fun place to visit; the food is good in the area; and you pick up a lot of tips and ideas for future projects (as if we need more of those).

Stitching Tips:

It is important that we take time to stitch every day - even if it is only for a period of 15 minutes. Those 15 minute time increments add up and soon your project will be finished. Make it a habit to end your stitching time with a full needle so the next time you can sit down and start stitching you don’t have to waste time threading a needle. (from "Stitch Chat" by Elaine Bricker in NeedleNetworkNews, Feb 2002)

Stitching tips for Silk and Metallics:

1. Cut threads 12 inches to 18 inches long to prevent snagging and fraying. Longer thread lengths mean more passes through the fabric.
2. Use stab and poke stitching method; this will help threads to lay flat and parallel.
3. Use a laying tool when stitching. This is an easy way to ensure that threads don’t twist on themselves. This technique is especially helpful with silk Mori.
4. Use stretcher bars or scroll frames to hold fabric taut. This will eliminate much of the need for blocking. If you must block a piece that has incorporated silk, use a dry blocking technique.

(Needlepoint Now, Jan/Feb2002, page 15)

Mark Your Calendar:

March General Meeting:
Starts Thursday, March 14, 2002, at 9:00 p.m. EST
Ends Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at 9:00 p.m. EST

April Board Meeting;
Starts Thursday, April 11, 2002, at 9:00 p.m. EST
Ends Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at 9:00 p.m. EST

May General Meeting:
Starts Thursday, May 9, 2002, at 9:00 p.m. EST
Ends Tuesday, May 14, 2000, at 9:00 p.m. EST

Comments and Suggestions Requested.

This is the first issue of our newsletter and I know it is not perfect. I am sure there are many improvements that can be made. I would welcome any feedback anyone has about things that need to be done to make the newsletter easier to read, the content better,

While you are making suggestions about improvements, I also need your help in getting articles for the newsletter which is scheduled to come out quarterly. There are many things that can be included in the newsletter. For instance: if you know of a class that is appropriate for our group and accessible to our members; if you find an interesting website and want to share it; if you won an award or received some recognition in regards to your stitching (or your friend did and she’s too bashful to let me know); PLEASE let me know so that I can put it in the newsletter. My address is [ed].

I look forward to working on the newsletter and hope you enjoy readying this first issue.

Mary Lou Holshouser, Editor

WATCH FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IN JUNE 2002!