Mouse Tales
Vol 6 - Issue 3 July
2007
President's Message
Warm hellos to everyone!
I hope everyone's staying nice and cool in the heat! Here in OK,
it's definitely summer, but it seemed to take forever to get here!
We set rainfall records for the month of June and just recently came off
a record-smashing 20-day streak of rainfall every day - beating the
old record of 14 days, set back in 1937! While it's been incredibly
wet here, I know we don't have nearly the flooding that some areas
do, so if you're in a flooded/flooding area, please stay safe and
dry, and know our prayers are with you.
I hope everyone has found something terrific to stitch on - I've been
finishing UFOs right and left and can't wait to finish my current projects
so I can move on to others - UFOs or not! This 'finishing' idea is getting
addictive! <gg>
While you're planning your stitching projects, please remember the
BEE courses we're offering - this is a GREAT bargain for all
our members! You get part of the cost paid for you for one class, and
it's a terrific opportunity to take a class to learn something new,
or just to be able to stitch a piece that you've seen and loved.
Whatever your reasons, please do take advantage of this program -
you won't regret it!
Also remember the President's Challenge - a second year of
Artist's Trading Cards. I actually dreamed up one of these the other
night - now to make it reality! I'm eager to get started on
mine! If you aren't sure where to begin or how the swap (near the
end of the year) will work, contact Rissa, our VP (and ATC coordinator)
and she'll tell you whatever you need to know.
We are starting on our annual ornament donations again - for Breast Cancer
and Diabetes research. Stitch as many ornaments as you can/want, and we'll
send them to shops for auctioning - the proceeds are donated to these
two very worthy causes. Also, we are always looking for bookmarks to donate,
so if you are so inclined, we'd love to see more donations on that project!
Meg is still collecting Kissing Pillows for our military service families
(I've *got* to get mine stitched! :) ). Contact our Outreach committee
for more information on any of these worthwhile outreach projects.
Take some time during your busy schedule and relax with some stitching.
Sometimes it seems selfish or lazy to be stitching when you think you
should be doing something with your family or working on the laundry ;),
but no time is wasted time if it's spent in the pursuit of something
you love. I know I'm a better person to those around me because I
take time to calm myself and relax with my needle. As the saying goes,
'try it - you'll like it!'
Have a blessed day!
Kelly Jackson
President, CyberStitchers
Back to Contents
Chapter News
A reminder, we have a new mailing address for CyberStitchers. It is actually
simpler.
CyberStitchers
PO Box 15235
Scottsdale, AZ 85267-5235
Kudos to our own Lisa Dunn and Margaret Shaffer, 2007 Legacy Scholarship
Winners. Congratulations!
As time approaches for National Seminar in Chicago, there has been talk
of CyberStitchers getting to meet one another. If you are going to Chicago
in September, be sure to drop a line at Chat4CyberStitchers and let folks
know you are going, and what dates, so that perhaps a get together, or
a CyberStitchers table at lunch or the banquets, can be arranged.
Planning ahead? The Region's Share-a-Stitch regional seminar for June
2008 hasn't even formally listed classes yet (it will shortly) and our
chapter is already talking about it. Discussion took place about the fact
that CyberStitchers should have a 'basket' to donate to the Tea Cup Auction
fundraiser. No, they aren't offering tea cups <grin>; the idea came
from using teacups to put tickets in them for the baskets you wanted to
bid on. Each chapter has a basket of goodies: threads, patterns, fabric
- you name it - dontated by chapter members to be auctioned off. We have
decided that our 'basket' is going to have the theme, 'The Blues' and
our 'basket' is being discussed as perhaps a tiny suitcase or duffel bag
for easy transportation home by its winner. Meanwhile, put on your thinking
caps of things that are 'blue' - blue fibers, blue fabric, a blue teacup,
a blue box of chocolate, a blues music CD, etc. Sometimes we aren't as
visable in EGA as we could be - this is a good opportunity to participate
in OUR regional event.
For our new members, besides the GCCs you have heard about, and our BEE
(see below in Education Report), we also have Special Interest Groups.
Different stitchers have gotten together for specific interests: Beading,
stitching a Christmas ornament each month, Victoria Sampler/Lavendar &
Lace designs, Brag Book, "Heart of My Heart" pattern stitch-a-long,
Inspirations Magazine projects, the Dragonboat class, and of course, a
UFO (Unfinished Fiber Object) group for members to encourage each other
to finish GCC and EGA class pieces. Go to SIGs
on our website to see what is going on.
ATC/President's Challenge: It has been decided to extend the Artist's
Trading Card challenge for another year. You can read about the President's
Challenge for more info. As autumn 2007 approaches, plans for an exchange
will be set up - keep stitching and designing Folks!
We have our first non-EGA-announcement Advertister!! One of our new members:
Susan Sorrell of the Creative Chick. Please check our new advertising
section at the end of the newsletter.
Back to Contents
The education committee, composed of Anne Long, Irene Staker, and Rissa
Peace Root presents the following report....
We have a number of GCCs in various stages of progress:
Algerian Eye to cZar
Beaded Nutcrackers, section 1
Beading Colorplay
Beginning Drawn Thread Sampler
Casalguidi & Lavender (projects on the way for evaluation)
Crewel Choices
Fantasy Remembered, section 2
Grrcia (projects on the way for evaluation)
Handy Huswif
I Do, I Do
Luck of the Irish
More Options in Hardanger
Silk & Metal Embroidery
Star of Hearts
Swiss Sampler
Tiramisu, section 2 (projects on the way for evaluation)
Tiramisu, section 3
Tiramisu, section 4
To the Acorn (projects just being returned from evaluation)
A number of GCCs ended since our last meeting:
Fantasy Remembered, section 1
Finishing with Flair
Gracie
Star of Hearts
Tiramisu, section 1
This year's BEE classes have been selected. For our new members, BEE
means Big Education Event. For the past 4 years, CyberStitchers has
been allowing its members to take 1 class for just the cost of the book; the chapter
picks up the course fee and postage. Which classes are available is
determined by vote. This year we are offering 13 sections of BEE
classes - 10 different courses. Our BEE4 classes are:
Beaded Nutcrackers - closed since it's already in progress
Beaded Nutcrackers, section 2 - 2 open spots
Beginning Drawn Thread Sampler - closed since it's already in progress
Color Play - 11 open spots
Crewel Choices - 4 open spots, registration in progress
Finishing with Flair - full, registration in progress
Meadowsweet - 1 open spot, registration in progress
More Options in Hardanger, section 1 - closed since it's already in progress
More Options in Hardanger, section 2 - 4 open spots
Swiss Sampler, section 1 - closed since it's already in progress
Swiss Sampler, section 2 (full)
To the Acorn - full, registration in progress
Winterspring - 3 open spots, registration in progress
In a nutshell, there are openings in Beaded Nutcrackers, Color Play,
Crewel Choices, Meadowsweet, More Options in Hardanger, and Winterspring.
:-)
I am also registering a section of Tiramisu this quarter. It is NOT
eligible for your BEE class so you would responsible for your share
of the course fee and postage. If you would like to join it, please
contact me offlist.
People have expressed an interest in having some other GCCs
too. These would not qualify for a BEE class and each student would
be responsible for her/his share of the course fee, plus postage
costs. Some of the potential classes are:
Crazy Patch Adventure
Handy Huswif
My Favorite Bracelet
Teapot Cosy
My Favorite Bracelet looks like it will get enough students to
register it later this year, but I am still looking for more people
to join the class! I think there are 9 openings left.
Email me offlist if you're interested in joining any of these classes.
Don't forget to check and see which classes are being offered online
by EGA National. There are 2 classes offered every 2 months, and this
is another option for taking GCCs. The July-August offerings from
National are Sampling Needlepoint (aka "Algerian Eye") and Tiramisu.
Petite Projects:
The latest petite project has been uploaded to our yahoogroups website.
The project is called "Filet Ornament" and was designed by Pat
Krahn. This is going to be finished within the next week, so get it soon,
then check to see what the new one will be.
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".
There is also a photo album labeled "Filet Ornament" 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!
Enjoy the project!
BAM:
BAM is Bead-a-Month and grew out of a SAM, Stitch-a-Month, program we
purchased for several years. Our own Rissa picked up with BAM when SAM
ran out of new files. The current SAM/BAM stitch is the Lazy Stitch. All
diagrams are maintained 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
Stitch-a-long:
We have a few stitch-a-long groups going now such as the ornament group
and a bead group. 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.
Please address Education Committee questions to:
Anne L
Education Chair
Back to Contents
Star Pillows
This project is still in full swing. Using the cross stitch pattern provided
by the chapter, you stitch a small design on a 6x6 inch square of 14ct.
white Aida and then mail it to our Chapter Project Coordinator. The stitched
squares will then be assembled into small pillows with similarly-themed
backing fabrics. The completed mini-pillows will be donated to Bergstrom
Air Force Base Youth Development Center in Shreveport, La., and Lehigh
Valley Blue Star Mothers of Allentown, Pa., who will give the pillows
to their military personnel who are about to deploy to various locations
overseas. The soldier will kiss the pillow and give it to his or her child,
as a keepsake that will hopefully comfort the child during the separation
from their parent.
The pattern may be found here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberstitchers_ega/files/KISSING%20PILLOWS%20pattern/
as a PDF document (or, go into the Files section in this group, and
click on the folder Kissing Pillows Pattern); if you need technical assistance,
please contact Lynn
via e-mail. As you can see, the stitchery is very simple and uses only
three colors of floss. It stitches up very, very quickly; I was able to
stitch one in spare moments during one day!
Meg has volunteered to serve as Project Coordinator for the Kissing Pillows
Chapter Project. She is the chapter member you will mail your stitched
design to, and she will be sure that the squares are assembled into mini-pillows
and sent on to the final distribution point. Contact Meg
via email for her mailing address. We hope that many chapter members
will find this project to their liking and that Meg will receive many
stitched squares!
Just a few items to bring to your attention:
(1) You will notice a copyright on the chart of the designer Geraldine
Trappey, an active member of EGA's Yellow Rose Chapter in Houston, Texas.
Please note that we have acquired Geraldine's permission to use her charted
design for a specific purpose. If another EGA chapter or other group would
like to also participate in this project, we ask that they first contact
Geraldine Trappey to acquire permission; send an e-mail to
me for Geraldine's contact information.
(2) This project is to benefit children whose parents cannot be with them.
It is designed to give comfort and solace to children who have no choice
in their parent's employment. It neither supports nor decries the current
situational operations of the armed forces, but rather supports the people
most impacted by those operations.
Yes there is a Canadian version of this project for Canadian service
folks. Lynne D., one of our Canadian members is coordinating this in her
f2f chapter in Ontario. Contact Lynne
D. by email to get the pattern and information for the Canadian version
of this project.
Ornaments for Breast Cancer
You stitch a Christmas/Holiday/Winter ornament. Send the completed ornament
to Karen,
who will deliver your and others' ornaments to The Attic needlework shop. The
shop conducts an annual auction of customers' ornaments, and the money
they raise is donated to a nationally-known breast cancer research charity.
Oh, and before Karen gives the ornaments to the shop, she'll photograph
them and post here so that we can "ohhh" and "ahhhh" over
everyone's beautiful work! We hope that many members will participate
in this worthy project!
Bookmarks For Literacy
Judi continues to accept handmade bookmarks for the chapter's Bookmarks
for Literacy project. The requirements are as follows:
- make a bookmark (or more than one, if you wish), in any technique.
- send an e-mail to Judi
to ask for her shipping address.
- send your bookmark to Judi.
- Judi will send/deliver the members' bookmarks to a literacy organization
on behalf of the chapter.
Outreach for One
Our "Outreach for One" folder is still there to provide members
with other ideas for outreach. Go to our cyberstitchers_ega Yahoo! group.
Click on "Links", then on "Outreach for One" folder.
Maintenance of this list now rests with the chapter members. We encourage
members to post other links to charities you know of that need assistance,
or you can send the information to our Outreach Chair, Lynn,
and the committee will see that it gets posted.
The committee always welcomes any ideas for chapter projects (either
from the membership or the committee). As usual, it's a bit difficult
to find something a chapter like ours can do. Any ideas will be gratefully
accepted, and will be fully investigated by the committee. Please share
your ideas with our Outreach Chair, Lynn.
Back to Contents
Do take the time to visit the national website, www.egausa.org.
It shows all the education opportunites, has a calendar of events, and
has some interesting articles on the subpage for Needlearts magazine.
Our region, Tennessee Valley, also has a website: www.egatvr.com.
Info for region seminar doesn't reflect Seminar 2008 in Memphis just yet,
but will shortly. Check it out.
From the region newsletter:
Anita Streeter is invertigating the possibility of getting a US postal
stamp that honors EGA. Also reported is that EGA will be featured on the
television show, 'Antiques Roadshow'. The filming was to take place July
27, and an air date will be announced as soon as EGA receives it.
As an EGA fundraiser, the EGA finance committee is offering the opportunity
to win an all expense paid trip to Seminar 2008 in Louisville,
KY August 31 - September 5, 2008. Tickets are $10 and are available from
our region director or an EGA officer. The prize includes a 4 day registration
fee, a maximum of two kit fees, 1/2 room for a maximum of 6 nights, $25
per diem for a maximum of 6 days, and travel expenses up to $500 (the
maximum value of this prize is $1805). The drawing will be held at the
closing banquet and Seminar 2007 in Chicago; the winner does not have
to be present to win. The winner must be an EGA member in good standing.
The prize it not transferrable to another person; a runner-up will be
chosen in case the winner cannot attend. For questions, contact Barbara
Harrison, National Fundraising Chairman.
The Little Ladies of Fashion
Exhibit May 26 - September 3, 2007 at Ventfort Hall, the Museum
of the Gilded Age in Lenox, Massachusetts. This exhibit features 59 incredible
dolls that are dressed in the fashions of the day from 1855 to 1914. They
were created by John R. Burbidge, retired Senior Designer of the famed
Priscilla of Boston. He has been creating these 29 inch tall dolls for
almost 30 years. The outfits, exquisite in every detail, are all completely
original designs by Burbidge, who after extensive historical research
imagined himself working as a designer in a bygone era. Lenox is in the
Berkshire region Western Massachusetts. There are other neat things in
the area to see. If you can't make it this summer, some of the dolls may
be viewed on the museum website in the exhibit gallery: www.gildedage.org/gallery/LesPetiteDames.
Silk fibers:
I don't talk about needlework goodies in the newsletter as often as I
should. One of my stitching buddies in my f2f chapter arrived at our group
lunch get together with a handful of Dinky Dyes silks. These are threads
hand dyed by Jo Fisher in Australia. They felt SO nice as the gang passed
them around, and the colors were awesome. There are 136 colors with great
names like Jacaranda (a purple), Coolibah (an aqua), and Billabong (a
bright blue).
There are a few other silks that you may or may not be familiar
with, beyond Au Vers a Soie, Splendor, Japanese silks, and Caron Waterlilies.
Another great silk is Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silk. This is a hand
dyed, 5 yd skens of 100% 12- stranded spun silk floss. It comes in 52
colors. Crescent also produces 5 yard skeins of 6 stranded 100% cotton
floss in 165 colors.
In addition to Silk Mori and Silk Serica, Kreinik now has
a single ply twisted silk called Silk Bella that comes on 20 meter spools.
There are 45 colors.
So many wonderful fibers, so many things to stitch!
Dragonboats Class:
The Dragonboats class is still up and running on yahoogroups. People
still continue to join - especially some of our new members. If you are
interested in making one of these cute little ornaments, the class is
free for all members. Go to yahoogroups.com and sign up for CSDragonboats,
or email Sue
for an invitation.
Back to Contents
CyberStitchers Meetings:
August 9-14, 2007:
Board meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, August 9 through
9PM (ET) Tuesday, August 14.
September 13-18, 2007:
General meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, September 13
through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, September 18.
October 11-16, 2007:
Board meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, October 11 through
9PM (ET) Tuesday, October 16.
November 8-13, 2007:
General meeting of CyberStitchers from 9PM (ET) Thursday, November 8
through 9PM (ET) Tuesday, November 13.
Regional and National:
Now - August 31, 2007 Fiber Revolution:Quilts as Art
At the Margaret Parshall Gallery, Louisville, KY.
Now - September 3, 2007 Les Petites Dame de Monde
Ventfort Hall, The Museum of the Gilded Age, Lenox, NY. Go to www.gildedage.org
for information.
July 24 - August 19, 2007 Tri-State NeedleArts Quilt and Needle
Arts Show
Sponsored by Tri-State NeedleArts Chapter. At Rountree Gallery, 385 E.
Main St., Platteville, WI. Come view beautiful needlework, quilts, wallhangings
and dolls at Rountree Gallery, Platteville, WI. Open daily from 11:00
am. to 4:00 pm., July 24 through Aug. 19, 2007. Handmade items are available
for purchase in the boutique. Item entry fee(up to 3)is $10 for non members.
Viewing cost is free, donations are greatly appreciated. Contact: Lynnette
Bloom.
August 2-4, 2007 Rocky Mountain Gems
Rocky Mountain Region Seminar 2007
In the resort of Park City in the beautiful mountains of Utah. Come and
take classes from a group of region and national teachers and visit all
of the art galleries and explore all the recreational opportunities.
Contact Bette Sargent
or rmrega.org
August 4-September 9, 2007 Fiber National
Hosted be the Red Rose chapter of EGA at the Lancaster Museum of Art,
Lancaster, PA. Featuring expressive uses of fiber.
Contact Cindi Morrison
or online at Lmapa.org
September 1 - November 30, 2007 Louisville Artisans Guild Exhibit
At the Margaret Parshall Gallery, Louisville, KY.
September 2-7, 2007 That
Needlin' Town EGA National Seminar 2007
Hosted by the Great Lakes Region
Chicago Marriot Downtown, Chicago, Illinois
September 9-30, 2007 Treasured Stitchery VI
Sponsored by Treasured Stitchery Embroidery Guild
Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center, 134 W Main Street, Wellsboro PA 16901
Opening reception will be from 2 pm to 4 pm on September 9, 2006.
Show is open from 2 pm to 5 pm daily from September 10-30, 2007
For other viewings, please contact Anne Greer or Anne
Kaminski, or go to www.members.tripod.com/treasured/
September 13-16, 2007 7th Biennial Needlework Exhibit
Hosted by the Magnolia Sampler Guild. The exhibit at Bulloch Hall, Roswell,
GA will have antique samplers, reproductions, other needlework and antique
needlework tools. A lecture by Lynn Tinley on Quaker Samplers and luncheon
will be September 13 with exhibit hours 10-4 Fri - Sat, 12-4 Sun. For information
online: www.Magnoliasamplerguild.com,
or contact Donna
Hansen or Gail
Black.
September 28-29, 2007 Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow
Hosted by the Mississippi Chapter, celebrating their 20th anniversary,
this biennial needlework show is at the Butterworth Center,1105 Eighth
St., Moline, IL. Contact Cindy
Valentine or Marcia
Meinert.
October 4-6, 2007 Oktoberfest Needlework Show
Oktoberfest Needlework Show. Sponsored by Coulee Country chapter. La Crosse Public Library Auditorium,
800 Main Street, La Crosse, WI. Contact Paula
McDonald or Renee
David . No entry fee. Entries accepted Wednesday, October 3, noon
to 6 pm at the library. Ribbons for people's choice in 7 categories, plus
ribbons from the Fest Master and Mrs. Oktoberfest.
October 22 - November 30 Dowry: Marriage Ties, Gender Divisions and
the Making of a Nomad Family
Embroidery Museum and Resource Center, Louisville, KY. Contact
Laura Olah
November 8 - 11, 2007 Globe Sampler Extended Study Program
With Nancy Nehring and Judith Tyner at EGA HQ in Louisville, KY.
December 3, 2007 - February 29, 2008 Legacy of a Lifetime: The Croatian
Cutwork of Manda Ilic
Margaret Parshall Gallery, EGA HQ, Louisville, KY
Other Events of Interest
Check the EGA website for other
interesting event listings
If anyone knows of other events that should be included here. Please
let me know. We cover a wide-spread geographic area, and with summer vacation,
people will also be traveling, and may want to check out other things
that I have missed. Sue
- your friendly cyber neighborhood newsletter editor. Please put CS in
the subject line.
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