Special Announcement for the November 8 Meeting

By Threadbender, on November 3rd, 2011

THIS MONTH ONLY

The second Tuesday meeting is being held at the Tangerine Improvement Society on Wright Road just off of Orange Blossom Trail. As you head south (towards Orlando) on 441 past Mt. Dora, you’ll go over Route 46, and pass a Circle K on the right, then a Chevron on the left and then JUST AFTER the feed store on the left you’ll see Wright Road. I’ll try and put a fluorescent green sign out that just says EGA.

Our November class will be a Teneriffe lace project taught by JeanD. Teneriffe is a wonderful, easy type of embroidery I know you’ll love. Please bring a 6″ MINIMUM hoop and Aida fabric 3 or 4 inches LARGER than the hoop you choose and one color of floss. Don’t forget your usual stitching supplies as well.

Also, on November 8 you’ll have to pay for your December Holiday meal. We need final counts and cannot wait until the last minute, so come with your $14 and think about the wonderful meal AliceW has planned.

CaroleK will also have the patterns for the kissing pillows should you choose to do one or more. These must be back to her BEFORE THE DECEMBER 13 party so she can get them shipped to Pennsylvania by the deadline for the troops. Carole will be stitching the patriotic fabric on the back so you don’t have to, so please be considerate and get them to her by the 13th.

The December meeting is also our ornament exchange! YAY! Bring a special ornament to participate in our Chinese exchange. We will only be “stealing/trading” twice.

Come Join Us...

By Threadbender, on November 21st, 2010

As a chapter of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., the purpose of this organization shall be to foster the highest standards of excellence in the practice of the art of embroidery, with a threaded needle, through an active program of education and study and to preserve the heritage of the art of embroidery.

Prospective members are invited to attend the general meetings held on the 2nd Tuesday and 3rd Wednesday of each month in wheelchair-accessible in the locations listed below:

2nd Tuesday, 6:30-8:30PM
St. Philip Lutheran Church,
1050 Boyd Dr., Mt Dora, FL

There is always a chance that a meeting could be canceled or relocated. If you’re not on our mailing list, it’s a good idea to check with Threadbender to confirm that a meeting will be held where it’s supposed to be.

Guests are welcome to attend several meetings before joining.

President’s Message — February 2012

By Threadbender, on January 29th, 2012

Hello, Sister Stitchers,

Amazing how life speeds like the Indy 500. I hope everyone is taking time to enjoy their families and day to day activities. As you know by now, we lost a dear member, Jane Jones this month. Jane had been a Chain Stitchers member since 2008 and will be dearly missed.

February 4th is Stitch in Public Day for the Embroiderers Guild and I’m hoping everyone will participate in their own way. We MUST keep our passion in the eyes of the young as they will carry forth this wonderful art. Even if you stitch at the doctors office, in your community room or in the company of friends, please expose our art in your own way! I will definitely be stitching that day on my vacation so I’ll be thinking of you. (Editor’s note – and if you can get someone to take a picture of you while you’re stitching, please do. They’d look great on our website!)

We have some exciting programs for the balance of the year. JenniferN has lined up some very good talent and I’m excited about it. Don’t forget to check her list.

Keeping this short and sweet I hope you stay happy and healthy!

Your Stitching Sister,

ClaireN

October 2011 - Leesburg Library Showcase Exhibit

By Threadbender, on November 3rd, 2011

The Leesburg Public Library has a lovely display window in its open-air foyer. For October, we filled it with samples of our embroidery.

Since it was in a display window, we could only photograph it through plate glass.

Ever notice how you don’t notice the glass when you’re standing in front of it, but in a photograph, that’s all you see?

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Moonlight Sonata -- Our 2011 GCC

By Threadbender, on July 17th, 2011

CaroleK has agreed to be the leader for our 2011 Group Correspondence Course. Students will meet once a month for five months in the clubhouse at CaroleK’s community. Contact her or Threadbender for directions. Class will be held from 9:30AM to 12Noon. A refrigerator is available for anyone who wants to bring their lunch and stitch until 1:30PM

Meeting will be held on

September 12, 2011
October 24, 2011
December 5, 2011
January 16, 2012
February 27, 2012

JenniferN will collect the pieces for teacher comment. Students wishing to have the teacher comment on their work should give it to JenniferN before March 15, 2012

The Chapter Library Is Open For Business!

By Threadbender, on April 10th, 2011

Deby’s finished cataloging our books and videos. We’ve added a “Library” page to the site (the click-able tab is above the chapter banner).

The library is open for borrowing at our 2nd Tuesday evening meetings at St Philip Lutheran Church or you can contact Deby or me directly and we’ll arrange to get the book/video to you.

(And, if you’re looking to lighten your personal bookshelves, don’t forget to think of your chapter library!)

February 2011 - Sue's Valentine Surprise: Bargello Heart

By Threadbender, on February 15th, 2011

For our February meeting, SueB scoured the local dollar stores in search of heart-shaped boxes and then adapted a bargello flame pattern to fit the opening….

Stitch In Public -- 2011

By Threadbender, on February 9th, 2011

We went to the Mt. Dora Art Festival with every intention of Stitching In Public, but the weather didn’t cooperate.

But we managed to get a few pictures before the rain came down…

Setting up for Stitching in Public at the Arts Festival

Who we are and what we do….

Our 2011 Hospice Opportunity — Santa’s Sleigh

Ornaments for Hospice

Tips and Tricks -- November 2010

By Threadbender, on February 5th, 2011

Tips and Tricks

November’s program was “Tips and Tricks from the Board.” JenniferN took careful notes…

1. Our President LindaF gave us two tips:
A. How to thread metallic floss, Linda had handouts , however here is a video, the second tip on the video is how Linda showed us.. or this link is on paper really good

B. Linda’s second tip is starting by a vertical thread. You will have to scroll down on this link, but it shows you the vertical thread.

2. Our Treasurer CarolP gave us two techniques.
A. The first is when finishing a bag. She takes the super magnates and hides them in the lining of the flap and body of bag. But first she puts them in a lining that she stitching onto the inside of the lining of the bag. She cautioned not to glue them, as they will slip and you would have to take your lining apart to get them out.

B. Then she demonstrated Ruched Ribbon . I have attached a tutorial but it isn’t as good as Carol showing us. Here is a second tutorial:

3. Our Programs and new President ClaireN spoke about a mounting tape that she uses for finishing. She cautioned that you can’t move your project after attaching to this tape. She buys the tape at Michaels. It comes in ¼”, ⅜”, and 1 1/16″ widths. It is in the scrapbooking area . Here is the website: http://www.michaels.com/Terrifically-Tacky-Tape/gc0393,default,pd.html

4. Our Region Rep GeniD gave us two tips also.
A. Cording, her favorite tool and also about using a fishing weight for the center when cording. Here are instructions on how to use the cording machine: Here is one location to buy it from There are many others.

B. Her next tip was about counting in and down to start a project from a corner. Did you know that a dollar bill is just about 6″ long? (6.14″ by 2.61″ to be precise.) So if you plan on leaving 3″ for fabric around your project, you can fold a dollar bill in half and use it to measure your 3″ down and in.

5. Our fundraiser MargeH told us about how to use all those rubber jar openers. Take a quarter and outline it on the opener, cut out with some old scissors. Now you have a needle puller for when your needle is hard to pull out.

6. Our Secretary (that’s me) JenniferN gave a couple of ideas.
A. I use a Loran Chart Stand to keep my charts are eye level, so I’m not looking down, which hurts my neck. Here is a website so you can see it, but it can be bought many places.

B. My favorite Hardanger scissors are the serrated edge ones from Gingher. They are being discontinued, but Karen has a few left at A Stitcher’s Dream.

7. Our webmaster, LynnA showed us several of her favorites. I ‘m sure this is just a small sampling.
A. You know those band they put on your arm to take blood, she uses them as needle pullers.

B. You know the picks the dentist uses on you, she asks for the one they use on her. Uses them to pick out threads.

C. Lynn has a ruler with an O in the middle and it counts in both directions…great way to see how many inches you are from center for framing or whatever. You can find them here and elsewhere.

D. She has rubber rods, but pencils would also work. You wrap the ends of your thread around them , then stretch them apart. It takes the wrinkles out of the thread . You can find them here

E. (This is the one I really loved.) Take some of the magnet strips that you can cut and a piece of ribbon. Put a small length of the magnet on each end of the ribbon. Now you have a chart minder. You move it as you stitch.

I hope you have enjoyed this write up. Please see person who demonstrated for clarification.
JenniferN

President's Message -- February 2011

By Threadbender, on February 5th, 2011

President’s Message

I am honored and excited to be your President for the next 2 years. Needlework is my passion and now I get to lead my flock, no matter where we may go.

There are so many talented ladies in our chapter I know we will compliment each other and have fun doing it. I have some ideas we are already implementing and I really expect and hope many other ideas come from you. Communication is my focus and you are a part of it.
February 5 is NATIONAL STITCH IN PUBLIC DAY and I want you to join me stitching at the Mt. Dora Arts & Crafts Festival! We had thought about Lake Square Mall, but Carol Newton came up with the most wonderful thought…..why not stitch in front of 350,000 instead of about 35? That’s a “no brainer” for me, but I can’t do it alone, so I need you! We are hoping to do it both days, Saturday and Sunday. Would you please obligate for at least one hour either day? I will be providing the set-up of the tent & table, signage on Saturday and then the tear down on Sunday. You just bring your stitching and a folding chair and your wonderful smiles. Piece of cake, right? Here’s the catch: If you don’t participate, you will be requested to bring a potential “member” to at least 1 meeting in 2011. So let’s get out there and have some fun!
Part 2 to the above….Carol Newton came to me with a fundraising idea. Do you really want to sell “opportunities” for a gift card again, or make ornaments for a tree we don’t know if it will sell? Well, Carol is DONATING a wonderful Longaberger basket that has sleigh rails. She made an adorable Santa and wrapped real packaged gifts with a total value of approximately $150! Yes, we are going to sell “opportunities” for this Santa & Sleigh at the Feb. 5 & 6 Festival and all other events we can possibly participate in. This money will be our gift to Hospice this year!

Santa will be traveling to our meetings and anywhere else we feel he’ll do us some good. So, think about how you can help promote him.

This is my first presidential plan! Now aren’t you excited?

Your stitching sister
Claire

Pictures from the 2010 Retreat

By Threadbender, on November 22nd, 2010

Over the weekend of November 12 thru 14, some Chain Stitchers decamped to the Florida Carriage Museum and Resort for our Third (!) annual retreat.

The weather was wonderful — cool nights, warm days, lots of sunshine, just what you hope for in Florida in autumn.

The food was fantastic. Everyone brought two ready-to-eat (or reheat) dishes, so we never had to cook and we never had to leave out retreat.

We talked and got to know one another better; we laughed and played games; we embroidered and we took pictures

Chain Stitchers, EGA

Look who’s talking

The Embroiderers' Guild of America