Bookmarks

The EGA's Literacy Bookmark program is still ongoing. I've been neglecting it and need to get back to work and hopefully motivate you to make some bookmarks, too. We're still supporting Hammond Reads.This morning Needle 'n Thread featured a lovely bookmark pattern that is plenty inspirational to me. Go to Mary's blog to download a line drawing of this lovely Hungarian bookmark and to see some other lovely bookmark designs. Hopefully I'll see you at next month's meeting with some completed bookmarks. Marjorie

YMCA Classes

Last night was our last class of the year at the Hammond YMCA. We had a great group of students. I was sad to see the session end. Renee S. is showing off some student work.In September we worked on cross stitch samplers (thanks to Jamee for the deisgn). In October we "tattoed" their jeans--one student completed her design of a grape vine and proudly wore it to class. And November's class was holiday ornaments made with felt and sequin waste (also known as punchinella).

Below are a couple of proud students. The ornament project was the most popular and most students made several ornaments. Each time our class grew and just as we were ending last night, two potential new students came by.I love the creative chaos--the students really "ran" with this projects and came up with lots of creative ideas.We're getting organized for next spring. We will teach in February (continuing with the sampler, finishing them up and adding them to a pillow top--there are some other projects students want to reprise and we'll do that, too), March (needlepoint on plastic canvas napkin rings and a planned field trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics), and April (beaded bracelets). The class is Thursdays--6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

We'd love to have you join us. This fall the teachers were Renee R, Renee S and Marjorie. We had a blast!

Thank you, Thank you!

Many, many thanks to all of our members who stitched bookmarks for the Hammond Reads program. We donated 66 bookmarks to the program. I am so excited! This will make this year's program even better for the participants.

The bookmarks pictured here are from the September meeting.These lovely lighthouses were all done by Pam S-Y.These were by Carol P., Cheryl L. and Janet C.I played with sequin waste and made a bunch of these. We are all invited to attend their festival.

More EGA Outreach Bookmarks

Thank you very much, ladies.

Just look at these gorgeous bookmarks!By Margaret Shaw, a new member.By Janet C (cross stitch) and Marjorie HolmeMore by Margaret Shaw--is she a whiz or what?

For Hammond Reads

Literacy Program Bookmarks

At the June meeting, these bookmarks were collected to give to Hammond Reads for their October extravaganza. They were stitched by Chris Retseck (the two on perforated paper in the middle), Pat Bellenger (the Hardanger bookmark), and Marjorie Holme. They have been given to Hammond Reads along with a box of donated books.


Please continue to stitch on your bookmarks and collect your gently used books for the project.

New Inside EGA

Member Jamee J. and our Indiana State Day program are featured in the newest issue of Inside EGA. Thanks to Renee R. for sending in the article. And, of course, thanks to Jamee and all of the members who worked so hard to make Indiana State Day 2009 the wonderful event it was!

NANI Outreach

We have a variety of outreach projects ongoing or coming up. So many it's hard to keep track of them all. Here's an overview:

Stitching:
Hospice of the Calumet Area: We need 2" square stitched designs for their cards* and hand-stitched holiday ornaments, any design or style.*

Hammond Reads: Bookmarks, primarily aimed at children. Standard bookmark sizes are between 2" and 3" wide and 6" and 8" long but other sizes and styles are welcome.* Any designs or materials that you wish. Some designs and more information are available at Stitching for Literacy. This is an EGA outreach project. [We are also collecting new and lightly-used books of all types, for all ages, for Hammond Reads to distribute.]

*Marjorie Holme will have precut pieces of Hardanger fabric, donated to the outreach projects by Karen Uebler, for the Hospice cards, ornaments and Hammond Reads bookmarks at the June meeting. These are all nicely portable projects ideal for summer stitching.

Threads That Bind: We are collecting hand-stitched ornaments for our show boutique. The deadline is the September meeting. All profits go to the chapter. (more details in an upcoming post)

Your finished embroideries! Please don't forget to submit one or more (or many) pieces for display in the show.

Members' Boutique: more details on this opportunity to support the guild and also make a little money for yourself will be in an upcoming post.

Volunteering:
There will be a number of volunteer opportunities for our show. We hope everyone will participate before and during the show. Watch this blog for more details on volunteer sign up for the show.

Camp Quality Illinois: We will be teaching at the Camp on Friday August 6. We will need volunteers one night to help kit the project (date to be determined) and as many volunteers as possible to come and stitch with the kids on the morning of August 6. Camp Quality Illinois is in Frankfort, IL.

Beginning Stitching at the YMCA: We plan to expand our experimental program at the YMCA and make it more organized and formal. It was slow at first but we ended up with nicely sized classes of children and adults. We plan to teach this fall on Thursdays at 6:30pm from September to Thanksgiving. September's project will be a beginning cross stitch sampler, designed by Jamee Jecmen. October will be "tattoo your jeans": how to decorate your clothing with embroidery, something popular with teens right now. November will be simple holiday ornaments. We would like volunteers to commit to coming for one month to work with the beginning students.

Bookmark Thank You!

Thank you to all of our members who participated in the EGA Outreach Bookmark Project to date. The 14 bookmarks below were donated to Hammond Reads for their literacy programs. Program representative Nancy Machnikowski accepted them on behalf of the group and outlined some of their many projects.The bookmarks above are by Diana Schafer. Those below are from Pam Schopp-Young, Renee Stern, Violet Strimbu and Marjorie Holme.This is an ongoing project so anyone who took Hardanger fabric for bookmarks at the April meeting will have time to complete their bookmarks before Hammond Reads' big event October 1st. We will accept all bookmarks, any time. We'd like to keep this going. Marjorie Holme will also be collecting books for Hammond Reads: adult and children, fiction and nonfiction new or lightly used books are welcome.