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Mouse Tales

Vol 4 - Issue 1                January 2005

Contents

President's Message

A Note from the Prez -

Welcome, all, to 2005! I don't know how you feel, but it seems to me that 2004 went way too fast! How many of you have started stitching for next Christmas already??

I'm looking forward to a wonderful year with this chapter. We'll have lots of exciting opportunities for advancing our knowledge of this craft, not the least of which is our BEE 2, which was just recently announced. What a terrific benefit! Being a member of EGA sure does have its advantages. I haven't decided yet which class I'll take, but I've narrowed it down to 4 or 5, if that counts. :)

I'll be announcing the 2005 President's Challenge soon, so be looking for it. I haven't made my final decision yet, but I will soon, and then it will be time to get started!

Finally, I'd like to send heartfelt condolences to those who have lost so much over the last year. Between the Florida hurricanes and the most recent disaster, the tsunami and the terrible devastation that has followed, there has been much suffering in the past 12 months. I know I speak for all of us when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with those so horribly affected by it all. May they find solace in whatever faith they hold and aid from their neighbors, near and far.

I hope everyone has a safe, prosperous and happy 2005! Welcome to a new year!

Kelly Jackson
President, CyberStitchers EGA

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Note from Sue

Here it is, another new year. My mother was right; as you get older Time seems to speed up.

I would like to have a round of applause for our new president, Kelly, our new vice-president, Rissa, and our new By-Laws chairperson, Mamie. I know they will help to ensure that 2005 is a great year for us.

I also want to welcome all of our newest members: Jakkie, Joyce, Christina, Rachel, Lorraine, Alice, Becky, Linda, Betty, Cherly, and Barbara. If I forgot someone I apologize much - everyone is special. As CyberStitchers continues to grow, each and everry new member makes us better as a whole.

A great, and wonderful New Year to everyone. Happy Stitching!
Sue Sherburne,
Newsletter Editor

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Education Report

GCC's:
The BEE was so successful in its first year, that, as you may have heard, we are having a BEE2. A poll is open on Yahoo for everyone to vote for their favorite.

Just getting started for our last BEE1 are the GCCs Grrcia, Meadowsweet, Plum Blossoms, Star of Hearts, and Ukrainian Openwork. Have fun if you are taking one of these!

Petite Projects:

The latest petite project has been uploaded to our yahoogroups website. The project is called "Anything Goes" and was designed by Eleanor Jollay.

Instructions on how to save and print the petite projects is in the Files area of the petite project group. Here's the link to the petite projects group files:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CSPetiteProjects/files/

The project instructions are in pdf (Adobe) format. You will find the pdf file in the folder labeled "Current Petite Project" . This file is about 760 kb so please be very patient as it downloads to your computer.

There is also a photo album labeled "Anything Goes" in the CSPetiteProjects yahoogroup where you upload photos, scans, etc of this project. If you upload a photo, etc, please put your name somewhere in the title so we know who it belongs to!

SAM and BAM:

As we know, SAM, the Stitch-A-Month program we purchased from the Vintage Stitchers chapter is completed. If you haven't taken advantage of this yet, 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 an email to Anne and she will invite you to the group.

We are now offering a new program, courtesy of our Vice President! Rissa has graciously offered to supply us with bead embroidery stitch diagrams!! I uploaded a third diagram recently: beaded feather stitch. These diagrams will be in the CS-Stitch-A-Month yahoogroup. Look in the Files section in the Folder labeled "Files for BAM". If you are not a member of the CS-Stitch-A-Month group but would like to be, send an email to:

CS-Stitch-a-Month-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Thank you Rissa for providing us with these excellent bead stitches!!

Stitch-a-long:

Our most recent stitchalong project, due for the January meeting was "Peyote Diamond Bracelet" by Elizabeth Towners. For all you beaders, this is a beading design!! I have uploaded the project to the cyberstitchers_ega website, Files section, folder "Education Department". It is the file labeled "bracelet.pdf". The project for the March meeting will be announced shortly.

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

The Tsunami Quilt '05:
From Sue:
We have all been saddened and shocked by the recent tragedy in Southeast Asia. I was shocked to see that the effects from the waves actually touched every bit of coastline in the world - even in the Atlantic tiny unnoticable ripples touched the coast. While we all feel helpless in the face of such devestation, stitchers always pick their needle up to try to do something. Having experienced the Oklahoma City Memorial Quilt and the Memorial Flag Project, I wondered if someone would start something to remember the tsunami victims. Indeed, here it is at http://kukulla.tripod.com/tsunami/tsunami.html.

The idea of this quilt is to have folks stitch 15cm (6inch) squares. The quilt created will be auctioned off on eBay as a fundraiser for UNICEF. It is indeed a short time frame with squares needed by February 15, and they are mailed to Madrid, Spain. I emailed Marta and asked her if embroidered squares were welcome. Marta shared:

It's not only intended for quilted squares, a needlework square would be wonderful!!!!
Thanks a lot for participating and please share the word with people that may be interested.
Thanks
Marta

I remember someone (when and where escapes me) saying that sometimes stitching can help stitch down the horrors. It is an enormous undertaking to organize a project like this; I remember reading what it took to put together the squares for the other two quilts - yards and yards of backing fabric and thread and a whole lot of love. I hope I can get something finished and off to Marta and I look forward to seeing the quilt be a success.

Our Christmas Ornaments:

As Outreach Committee Chair for the chapter, I'd like to thank everyone who donated ornament to the two projects. I don't have final figures to tell you yet, but I heard from the two project coordinators that the ornaments were SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL! Karen, who took charge of the breast cancer research ornament auction at Attic Needleworks store in Mesa, Arizona reported that she received 19 ornaments. Karen was waiting to hear from the store about their final numbers of the auction. In addition, our ornaments went to the diabetes fundraiser at The Busy Needle store in Rogers, Arkansas.

Unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume that we'd like to continue the ornament donations during 2005 as well. (if I'm wrong, somebody let me know! <g>)

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 were quite happy that we wanted 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!

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

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New Goodies for Stitchers:

DMC Linen Floss:
This is a brand new collection of 12 threads. They are linen floss. This reminds me of Londonderry Linen, which I loved, so I am anxious to try it. When I asked my LNS about it, she found it is only available overseas at this point. I have spotted it in Herrshner's Needlework Shoppe catalog. The colors are muted tones with beiges, a pink, and a powder blue. They would be just the thing for doing "whitework" in color, and great for drawn and pulled thread.

Yazzii Storage Organizers:
Ok, I confess, I saw the word "Yazzii" and was tempted to yell YAHTZEE!! (I played too many games as a child evidently.) However, these craft organizers are just the thing for making your stitching portable, and organizing materials for them. They are carry cases with zip up sides. Inside are zippered compartments with see-through plastic sides to hold fabric, threads, patterns, scissors, whatever. There are four sizes ranging from 5 x 6 x 2 inches up to 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 7 inches. The smallest size has six zippered compartments; the largest has an upper section with two pockets and a large storage area and a lower section with eight pockets. They are available in Navy or Maroon. I actually have something similar that someone in my f2f chapter had found - a bunch of us ran and bought them.

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Calendar:

CyberStitchers Meetings:

January 10-15, 2005:

General meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, January 13 through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, January 18.

February 10-15, 2005:

Board meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, February 10 through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, February 15.

Regional and National:

November 8, 2004 - January 24, 2005:

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

July 30, 2005:

The Dayton Ohio Chapter of the EGA is hosting Ohio State Day. It's a one day workshop with a project designed and team taught by Jane Ellen Balzuweit and Marylyn Doyle. Information and a Registration form for members of an Ohio EGA Chapter can be found at the web-site: www.ohiostateday.sundrysites.com .
Any questions can be directed to Bette Kelley, the chair for the event, bkelley@phoerising.com

September 4-9, 2005

EGA National Seminar 2005
"Stitching Southern Style"
Hosted by our own Tennessee Valley Region.
and including our 25th Birthday celebration.
Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, GA

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