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Mouse Tales

Vol 3 - Issue 4                October 2004

Contents

Letter From LoriBeth

Hello everyone.

This is the last time I will be addressing this chapter as president of CyberStitchers EGA. I have enjoyed being president of this wonderful chapter for just over 4 years now. I have never doubted that this chapter is strong and growing in its ability to reach the members who need additional, more, or different things than a face to face chapter can give its members. I believe that CyberStitchers answers many questions and meets many needs of its members and will continue to do so far into the future. It is now, and has been, forming itself into a vital need for stitchers all over the world.

I want to thank all of the wonderful people in this chapter that I have had the pleasure and honor to work with over the past four years. Everyone's dedication and hard work have made this chapter what it is and what it will become. It has taken many people over the years to help CyberStitchers grow into the wonderful and great chapter that it is, I especially want everyone to know that. I hope that all of the wonderful board members, chairmen, executive officers, and committee members know that I leave with a heavy heart at ending this portion of my experiences with CyberStitchers.

I hope that everyone will continue to participate to the best of their availability in the working of the chapter and I look forward to remaining active in any way I can. May everyone enjoy a wonderful fall and holiday season.

Sincerely,
LoriBeth Etengoff,
Pres., CyberStitchers EGA

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Thank You

As LoriBeth steps down as our president, and passes her mantle to Kelly, let us all give LoriBeth a hearty round of applause for all her hard work and caring. She has given a lot of her time and self to help make our unique chapter a special one. Thank You LoriBeth!! Please, sit back, get out your stitching, and continue to enjoy time spent with your CyberStitchers friends.

Sue Sherburne
Newsletter Editor

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Education Report

GCC's:
Our remaining Big Education Event classes are:

Grrcia - which is full, Meadowsweet - 12 openings, Plum Blossoms - 11 openings, Star of Hearts - 14 openings, and Ukrainian Openwork - 1 opening. Contact Ann immediately if you are interested in taking any of the other four. To calculate your cost as a full tuition student, take the cost of the book and add $15.50 if you're in the US or add $18.50 if you're outside the US.

There are several retiring GCCs as well: Bead and Comanche Stitch - 5 openings, Excalibur - 15 openings, Fun with Beads & Peyote Stitch - 17 openings, Ornamental Delight - 17 openings, and Schwalm Serenade - 10 openings. No one expressed an interest in Blackwork in Red and Green or Nature's Cradle. We will definately be offering Beads and Commanche Stitch and Schwalm Serenade. We need to get more students for the other 3 classes to run. Again, let Ann know ASAP if you are intereste

Petite Projects: The current petite project, "Pulled Thread Pincushion" by Diane Snyder. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberstitchers_ega/files/Class%20Previews/ to preview the project. Select the Petite Projects Preview folder, then pincushion.jpg . The future project is "Navajo Churro Sheep". If you're not a member of the Petite Projects groups, send an email to CSPetiteProjects-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and I can add you to the group. Once you join, you will have access to the project in the files section of the Yahoogroup CSPetiteProjects group.

SAM:

We have reached the end of the four years of SAM, the Stitch-A-Month program we purchased from the Vintage Stitchers chapter. We will keep the files up indefinately for all to continue to reference and learn. If you are not a member of CS-Stitch-a-Month and would like to be, send me an email and I'll invite you to the group.

Stitchalong:

Our next stitchalong project, due for the November meeting, is "Pearl Drops" by Judy Dixon. It is found here: http://www.kreinik.com/HTML/freebies/free_pearl_drops.htm. A new stitchalong will be announced at our October meeting, and will most likely be a beading project.

Please let me know if there is an interest in a group stitchalong, a small meeting stitchalong, or any other similar ideas you might have. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me.

Anne L
Education Chair

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Outreach

Bookmarks:

A reminder of our ongoing Bookmarks for Literacy outreach project. Members stitch a bookmark. It is sent to the project coordinator, who then sends all bookmarks in a batch shipment to a literacy organization for distribution to its clients as a gift. Lynn has volunteered to be the Bookmarks for Literacy project coordinator for 2004. When you have your bookmark finished, please send an e-mail to Lynn to receive the mailing address.

The Center for Literacy in the Philadelphia (Pa.) area was chosen to receive our bookmark donations in 2004 (http://www.centerforliteracy.org). This 36-year old community-based, non-profit organization serves over 4,000 people in two large counties, both children and adults. Their client/student base encompasses both those who are English-speaking and those for whom English is their second language. In a telephone conversation, the executive director told me that their students/clients originate in just about every country of the world. The Center for Literacy tutors/teaches not only reading, but also writing and mathematics. Many uses will be found for our hand-stitched bookmarks within their varied programs -- graduation gifts, progress awards and the like. The Center will enthusiastically accept our bookmark donations at any time of the year; they are quite happy that we want to donate to their organization in 2004.

You can stitch the pattern of your choice, but if you would like some ideas, we have a few pretty patterns created by Lynn, Cameo, and Lori Beth in a folder titled "Bookmark Patterns" in the Cyberstitchers_EGA Yahoo! Group Files area. Please post a photo/scan of your finished bookmark so that we can all be inspired by your unique creative touch.

A reminder: there is NO deadline. Your bookmark will be gratefully accepted at ANY time during the year.

Thank you for your participation, and we're looking forward to seeing your beautiful handiwork!

Christmas Ornaments:

Chapter members are invited to stitch an ornament (in any technique; Christmas- or winter-themed) for the Breast Cancer Outreach project. Karen has taken over as project coordinator and has posted her address at Chat4CyberStitchers, or you may contact Karen for her address. She will need to receive them by November 15. These ornaments will be going to the Attic Needlework store in Mesa, Arizona (http://www.atticneedlework.com). During their sixth annual silent auction scheduled for late November, your ornament will help raise money for research grants and awareness programs by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Sloan-Kettering Hospital, New York. Last year, $6,770 was raised at this event.

The second project, ORNAMENT DONATION TO COMBAT DIABETES, had a deadline of October 12. However, you may check with Sara at The Busy Needle store in Rogers, Arkansas some time along to see if they find they need more ornaments this year. Each year this shop sells handmade ornaments and donates the proceeds to the American Diabetes Association. In 2003 -- their Fourth Annual Diabetes Ornament Tree -- they raised $1,390.64. See http://www.thebusyneedle.com for more info on the shop; click on "Ornament Tree" down near the bottom to see info about the project.

In addition to the ornaments, Sara has a special designer packet of charts, but the info on the number of charts and the designer won't be available until November 1st. (Last year, she had about 29 different designers and has a limited number of last year's packets left - they mailed out over 100 packets.) Again, this is for the "price" of a donation plus $1 for mailing - but the Ornament of the Month members might want to check this out this with Sara.

There is also an online auction of stitched items from designers, plus some merchandise. This year, Sara is going to try a more "e-bay" style auction.

I corresponded with both stores, and they were VERY enthusiastic about having our members participate this year!

We'd LOVE it if each member could stitch one ornament for an Outreach project. Your ornament will then be donated to the charity of your choice. More details will be posted in the near future as to where to send your completed ornaments.

Lynn B
Outreach Committee Chair
and
Coordinator, Bookmarks for Literacy 2004

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Review of Organized Expressions(TM) for Needleworkers
by Rissa Peace Root

Organized Expressions(TM) for Needleworkers Personal Inventory and Journal Software by LNS Software Solutions is a wonderful tool for organizing your threads, beads, books and magazines. It is a windows based database program with an extensive thread dictionary, conversions, and preloaded lists of hundreds of types of threads, ribbons and threads from over twenty five companies. And most important to many of you, it is easy to use!

I stumbled onto this database tool several years ago and have recently upgraded for a second time to the latest version. I originally purchased it to keep a running inventory of all of my DMC threads. Then I added all of my YLI, Needle Necessities, Caron, Appleton, Elsa Williams, Anchor, Kreinik, Paternayan and most of my Edmar threads. I also created custom files for some of my hand-dyed threads and ribbons from smaller companies.

The hardest part of using the software is taking the time to enter your data in the first place. The actual data entry is pretty easy, because of the large number of preloaded items and drop-down boxes. Just select "Threads & Inventory", then choose the manufacturer and product. A numbered list of the colors will appear. Double click on the item you want to edit. It sounds complicated, but it only takes a few entries to master the software.

The real question is, why use Organized Expressions(TM)? Well there are many good reasons, not the least of which is having documentary evidence for your insurance company in case of the unthinkable. The software is inexpensive and can potentially save you money by preventing duplicate purchases. It is also a great place to keep track of all the classes you have taken and projects you have completed. You can even scan in pictures of projects, book covers or kits and add it to your records. All of this really does make is easier to track what you have on hand and to create lists for what you need to purchase.

Although I have used Organized Expressions(TM) for years, I have spent quite a bit of time updating my inventory during my move. I did find a few things that I had failed to update while my home computer was out of commission. I have a large number of threads and ribbons left to enter, but so far I have discovered at least two duplicate books that I purchased this summer. It was a great motivating experience, I will be more diligent in keeping my records current.

In the past, I would print out a list of my magazines, books and threads to take with me when I went shopping or traveled. It was an excellent way to know what to buy and what I already had on hand. With the newest version of Organized Expressions(TM) for Needleworkers (version 3.5), you can export your data to Word or Excel, so that you can either print them or store the files to your PDA. That one feature was the primary reason I upgraded. I am now able to send a copy of my book and thread inventories to my Pocket PC, so that I always have it with me. Now I never make a trip to the needlework shop without looking at what I already have first.

Organized Expressions(TM) for Needleworkers is widely available on line and well supported. Laura at LNS Software was very helpful to me when I had questions about upgrades and features. You can learn more about the software from their website:

http://www.LNS-software.com

Calendar:

CyberStitchers Meetings:

October 14-19, 2004:

Board meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Wednesday, October 20 through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, October 26.

November 11-16, 2004:

General meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, November 11 through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, November 16.

Regional and National:

October 23-29, 2004

EGA National Seminar 2004
"Heartland Harvest: A Season to Stitch"
Hosted by the Heartland Region. Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, MN.

November 8, 2004 - January 24, 2005

18th National Traveling Exhibit
Creative Arts Guid, Dalton, GA

September 4-5, 2005

EGA National Seminar 2005
Stitching Southern Style
Hosted by the Tennessee Valley Region, Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, GA Includes the TVR's 25th Birthday Celebration

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