Greetings to all of you.  

It's hard to believe that March is almost over and Spring has arrived. What a wonderful time of the year this is with colorful flowers that might be our inspiration for quilting and garment sewing. Now is a great time to visit our quilt stores and view the new fabrics that have recently arrived. At National they are currently offering virtual master classes with both Sandra Betzina and Janet Pray. For further information on these classes refer to ASG's weekly Notions News Letter, as well as other periodic notices from ASG National Headquarters.

Until now, our chapter has not had a vice-president. At November's annual meeting we were fortunate to have ASG member Santie Coester, volunteer to fill that slot.  Santie (nick name) or Anna (given name) Coetser was born in South Africa. “Change” should have been her middle name, as she followed her husband across the oceans to Canada, Israel, Japan and within the borders of the USA. Her career as a pharmacist did not do so well with all the legal requirements and language barriers. Therefore she had time to make the best of what these countries offered and thrived as a tourist and a transplant. Santie enjoyed a successful volunteer “career” in many communities. 

Santie’s mom instilled in her the desire to be creative and she grew up sewing, knitting and crocheting. Her mom’s  Bernina sewing machine also moved many time, until  the 110 volt power in the USA ended it’s life. Her sewing came to a halt but beading became the new addiction. She enjoyed teaching an international women’s group in Greenville.

She describe her skill set as a “Jack of all trades and master of none” as her endeavors included costumes for school plays, garment sewing, garment alterations and home decor. Her most memorable sewing event was teaching ladies in Zambia to hand sew small bags, using Chitenge fabric bought at a local market. The most challenging sewing projects were alteration of prom dresses for emotional teenage girls and a Mother-of-the-groom dress for her pastor’s mom, as failure would have been a disaster and embarrassment. 

The frustration of unprofessional alterations costing a fortune, convinced her to purchase a new sewing machine. The new Bernina sewing classes, Bernina Academy and Pattern alteration class by Lindsay Rae (Sew to Grow) resurrected her long forgotten talent. The world renowned Houston quilt show reignited her creative fire. At the same quilt show she teamed up with Sew Powerful charity organization to make purses for girls in Zambia and South Africa. The contents of the purses, sanitary products, enable the girls to stay in school and prevent a period gap therefore empowering them to succeed in life. The flaps of the cross body purse is an ideal place to display her latest sewing technique experiments. Her passion for charity work is evident as she had mailed off at least 200 purses over the years.

Santie was introduced to ASG by the Feisty Stitcher’s leader, at the Asheville Cotton Company quilt store during a Shop Hop event. She marveled at the opportunities the Upstate Chapter offered. She is an enthusiastic participant of the guild and will continue to sew with the motto “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there”. Please welcome Santie, our new V.P.  I look forward to working closely with her.