Neighborhood Group Meetings Are Held on Zoom!

 

Are you worried about possible exposure to COVID-19, but still want to connect with your sewing buddies? We have the answer, and it's ZOOM!

All of our Neighborhood Groups are meeting virtually to share our love of sewing, no matter what form that might take---embroidery, quilting, crafting, and garment sewing. We are also still meeting at the same Neighborhood Group meeting times listed on our site, and we have sought out subject matter experts to do special event presentations on what we call "Fourth Saturdays!"

We have found that Zoom meetings have increased attendance as driving, distance, and traffic frequently present barriers to gathering. Zoom is an app that can be easily mastered and there are plenty of tutorials to help you adjust to this new normal. 

If you're not on our list to receive information about our Zoom meetings, contact one of the Neighborhood Group leaders on our site. We also post our meetings and reminders on Groupworks.

If you're sewing masks, we'd love to know how many you've sewn so we can add that to our tally. This helps us support our charitable organization status as a chapter of the American Sewing Guild. 

28 Days of Threaduary!

For you needle artists out there, Marna Lunt (Thread Therapy) in northern UK created a unique challenge for the month of February. #Threaduary was created because February, for her, has traditionally been a difficult month to get through. By focusing on a project each day during what is historically a dreary month (at least in the Western Hemisphere), she has sustained her emotional well-being and resilience. She writes, "The message of making to help ease mental health is very important to me. It has been my savior on many occasions."

The first year, Marna created a series of embroidered flowers. This year, she has chosen to complete a mini portrait of a great writer each day. As this is a visual endeavor, use the hashtag #threaduary on Instagram to view and support the thread artists, to "encourage each other and send lovely positive vibes out into the world."

If you have no experience in hand embroidery, Marna offers a free 30-day online embroidery course if you sign up for her newsletters. She also offers sewing retreats and workshops. She holds an exquisite collage lampshade course!

Thread artist, Elizabeth, "Sew In Love Stitch Art," has some recommendations for those eager to create: "You don’t have to be highly gifted or talented in design to be able to produce worthwhile stitched projects and you don’t need any special abilities or ‘leanings’.  Anyone with the manual dexterity to hold a needle can embroider, but it does make sense to start small and simple.  Try a few stitches on some scrap fabric, a small kit or a taught workshop.  Have a look in your local library for books and online for other sources of basic information.  By all means visit any specialist shops or retail shows you can get to, but don’t invest a lot of money in expensive materials and equipment until you’re sure this is an art form for you."

What you need to do to survive February:

1. Follow #threaduary on Instagram
2. Commit to a regular creative practice (I love this one!)
3. Try a few stitches on some scrap fabric
4. Enroll in an online stitch course or workshop
5. Check out embroidery or stitch books in your public library
6. Investigate and visit local specialty shops where you live
7. Attend a neighborhood group and discuss your ideas and show off your creations!