October, November, December 2024
Volume 15, Issue 4
News From Your President
Seasons Greetings
As the song goes, “It’s a wonderful time of the year.” Although it may be hectic to shop and get projects completed on time, we always seem to get them done somehow.
In our sewing world we might ring in the new year with resolutions to finish UFOs, start a new quilt pattern, organize our sewing room, or whatever. But this year let’s do something a bit differently – let’s keep at least one resolution and share it with everyone at one of our meetings. Ladies, I challenge you.
In 2025 we’ll be looking forward to field trips as well as workshops, and in September, our first ever Regional Conference in Chattanooga Details about the conference will be sent out later in 2025.
I thank all of you for your help and support this past year and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.
Happy holidays to all.
welcome new members
Thank you for renewing your membership
A complete list of all current members can be found
on our Members page.
Community Service Report 4th Quarter 2024
The last quarter of the year has been a productive one, and I wish to thank all those who worked so hard contributing their time, talent and fabric, cutting and sewing. By the end of the year the following items will have been delivered to:
- DSS - 347 Christmas Stockings (three times what we did last year!) and 11 tote bags.
- Bon Secours Cancer Center - 11 chemo caps and hand warmers. Thanks to Jerene Daniels.
- Safe Harbor Women’s Shelter - 36 tote bags. Thanks to Kathy Hammeran for taking on this part of our community service.
- Serenity Place - 1 quilt
- Asheville Humane Society - 4 mats and 2 pillows
- Zambia, South Africa - 80 “Sew Powerful” hygiene bags. Be sure to read the article from Santie Coestar about this wonderful charity below.
Totals for the year 2024:
- DSS - 113 tote bags, 18 pillow cases, 3 quilts, 347 Christmas Stockings
- Safe Harbor - 86 tote bags
- Bon Secours Cancer Center - 54 chemo caps, 11 hand warmers
- Serenity Place - 36 bibs. 35 changing mats, 6 quilts
- Asheville Humane Society - 20 maats, 27 pillows
- Zimbabwe - 80 hygiene bags
And just look at all those Christmas Stockings! Many thanks to all those who made stockings and a special thanks to Linda who made 50, Lois who made 55 and Phyllis who made 83! Wow!
Erica Cunningham from DSS receiving 347 Christmas Stockings for foster children.
You can find patterns and guidelines for making charity projects by clicking here:
Community Service
4-H FUN!
We had another fun and productive sewing Saturday. The girls made a pencil case and a notebook cover in 4h of July fabric. The pencil case (free patterns from By Annie) was quilted and had a zipper closure. Our next sewing day will be in February. It’s nice to see some of the girls who have come to our sessions gain in their confidence and skills needing less assistance
80 “Sew Powerful” hygiene bags
I have made an eclectic mix of 80 cross body bags in 2024. They will eventually reach the hands of a young girl in Zambia or South Africa..
I became aware of the lack of hygiene products in Zambia when I visited a friend who operated an orphanage in Zambia. She expressed the need for reusable sanitary pads as the poverty level is such that they cannot afford it, even if available. The impact the lack has on the future of a young women became clear when I visited a Sew Powerful booth at the Houston International quilt show. I started sewing for them soon after.
SewPowerful help girls stay in school all month, even during their period. Donors worldwide make cute cross-body purses, and we ship those to Zambia. The sewing team there makes reusable feminine hygiene pads, and the soap team makes soap, and then the school outreach team does school assemblies to educate the girls, give them purses, and challenge them to stay in school all month — even on their period. The Sew Powerful Purse Program isn't just education, it's true empowerment. Six weeks of school per girl is unlocked on average, and fuel their academic success
The flap of the bag is my favorite piece to make, as it acts as a canvas to test my creative ideas and/or new techniques I want to practice. Over the years I have embellished with couching, embroidery, ribbons, rosettes, bows, buttons and so much more. I allow nothing to go to waste. If it is in my sewing room, it may end up as a design element on a purse flap. The size of the bag is perfect for using remnants of fabrics. Fun patterns like the crazy rose, scrappy quilting, or appliqué breaks the monotony of repeating the same pattern. I often strip piece coordinating fabrics from my fabric stash for the body and the strap. I thoroughly enjoy the process of making the most with what I have, knowing it will change the life of a girl forever. And it is in line with the Sew Sustainable” ASG group philosophy.
Members of the FaceBook group, Sew Powerful Purse Project have a strong sense of community and the group serves to inspire, inform and educate. The photo gallery of their bags speaks of the love, craftsmanship and enthusiasm of the sewists.
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To download the pattern and learn more about this issue, visit www.SewPowerful.org. The web page also provides a very informative free PDF book on the program.
origami star ornament class
I taught at the Augusta Road library in November. Everyone enjoyed seeing their stars come together and had a good time. Most had little sewing experience but caught on readily.
Carolyn Fields
What's going on in the neighborhood?
Greenville Neighborhood Group Meeting
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Asheville Feisty Stitchers
I’ll be doing a presentation on natural dyes in January, and we’ll have a speaker coming in for a talk about the history of women’s pockets.
Cindy
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Simpsonville Sew It Alls
Simplicity Bias Tape Maker with 6 Tips
After Debbie's presentation on weaving with bias fabrics, several people were asking about the most efficient bias tape maker and the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker was mentioned. Click here https://www.shabbyfabrics.com/p160541/simplicity-bias-tape-maker-with-six-tips to the bias maker so you can see for yourself.
a light hack for your sewing machine
It may be because I have an older machine but I cannot seem to get light where I need it — right on the presser foot! Phyllis showed us these tiny LuxPro lights that stick firmly anywhere you want them. They can be found at Lowes in the picture frame section. They are lightweight and really stick. Easy to press to turn on and off.
Tired of tangled thread?
Hugo's Amazing Tape only sticks to itself and is reusable. It really is amazing. I cut off a piece long enough to go around my thread spool with about an inch overlap. I then place it around the spool catching the thread end. No more tangled thread ends! When I want to use the thread, it comes off easily, and I just put it by my machine to put back on when I'm done sewing. It isn't sticky at all so it doesn't stick to your fingers or anything.
It only sticks to itself. You can purchase it from https://www.amazingtape.com/products/copy-of-hugos-amazing-tape-original-clear?variant=31674802503740.
what else is on the website?
About Us: History of ASG Upstate
Blog: Latest Show and Shares. To see all the photos from a particular meeting, click on the photo or click on Read More. Also, if you can't make it to a meeting and have something to share, send a photo and description to bgcyclist@gmail.com.
Community Service: Download patterns and instructions for all our community service projects.
And a whole lot more. Just go back to the top of the page and see the whole selections. For Members Only, you will need a password. If you are a member and don't have the password, please contact bgcyclist@gmail.com.
