News & Events

The Birmingham Chapter of SAGA enjoyed a wonderful Christmas party and a good time was had by all!

The Waving Girls Chapter in Savannah, Georgia, planned a special "reunion" meeting for National Smocking Month in February.  SAGA president Susanne Brisach visited the chapter, and invitiations were sent to former members as well as SAGA Members-at-Large in the Savannah area.  Five lapsed members rejoined the chapter (and SAGA) that night, and there were several new members as well. 

Vice presidents Katherine Jones and Mickie Deal presented a program on Shark's Teeth, several members brought special creations for the chapter's monthly "show and share," and special refreshments were enjoyed by everyone.

"Workshop With A Difference - Something For Me!"

 

Are you tired of making beautiful things just for the little ones and others?

Would you like something showcasing fine sewing skills for yourself - that you can actually wear?

Curious about pattern drafting and altering?

Have ideas for garments and would like to learn techniques to alter your commercial patterns?

With Lyn's expert instruction you will design and stitch a lovely, custom designed blouse, tunic top or night gown you can keep for yourself and wear!

 

This 3 full-day workshop will give you the instruction and confidence to

Draft or alter a pattern to use for a ladies blouse, tunic top, pajama top or night gown.

 

Workshop sponsored by Plantation Pleaters Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America.

Location - The quaint fishing village of Cortez, Florida, on the beautiful coastline of the Sarasota / Bradenton area.

Registration is not limited to SAGA members.

Skill level - Suggested for advanced beginner and up.

Must be familiar with the sewing machine and feet attachments you will use in class.

Must have experience using a commercial pattern for garment construction.

 

Tuition for all three days including lunch $150.00

 

Several bedrooms are available in Chapter member's homes. First come, first serve.

The Bradenton, FL. mainland offers an assortment of near-by hotel accommodations.

For those that would like to stay Gulf-side, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key are just over the bridge from Cortez.

Many condo/villa type accommodations are available on the Islands.

We would be happy to assist you in finding accommodations.

 

For more information about "Workshop With A Difference" or to register contact Sharon at jdemetree@gmail.com .

See attached brochure for more information.

At the 2012 convention, the Board of Directors issued a challenge to chapters to grow their membership.  For each 10% increase a chapter achieves, it will receive a free download of a SAGA Stitches program.  At the 2013 convention in Frisco, Texas, the chapter that has the most growth will be recognized and receive a very special prize commemorating its success.  Chapters may contact region reps for more information.

Simply put, an elevator speech is a 30 second answer to a question, such as one might be able to give when asked on an elevator.  Are you never ready when someone asks what the handwork is you are doing when you are smocking?  Has someone seen your SAGA tee shirt, water bottle, or pin and asked, "What is SAGA?"  Would you like to have a ready answer? 

With this short group exercise, designed by SAGA past president Liz Perch, you will never be tongue tied again!  Develop an answer that is personal to you and your chapter, with input from your group.

Chapters considering using the Writing a SAGA Elevator Speech program may have one or more facilitators participate in a conference call training.  The training is very helpful to conducting the exercise but is not required. 

Trainings will be scheduled as needed, by dial in conference call with internet access preferred.  Our conference call system requires a long distance dial in, that is, each participant will pay for her own phone call.  The calls will last about 30 to 45 minutes.  Contact pastpresident@smocking.org or call 817-350-4883 for more information.

The smocking chapter of Desert Rows in Phoenix, Cactus Cablers and Old Pueblo Pleaters of Tuson,  met for the annual state workshop.  For twenty-five years these chapters have been meeting to celebrate smocking and embroidery.  The chapters rotate hosting the event and this year it was hosted by Desert Rows.  The theme was Everything is Coming Up Roses.  There is always food, fun, a raffle and things to learn.  One of the most special items,s for the raffle was a beautiful christening gown ensemble donated by Desert Rows in memory of their friend and former president, Barb Tingom, who passed away in October.  The beautiful gown, bonnet and slip were constructed by guild members Barb Littlejohn, Luan MacDonald, and Joyce Wieler.  Carol Wilson taught the group Huck towel embroidery.This was a wonderful day of renewing friendships, laughing and stitching! attendees

With this exposure Grace and Yolanda decided to start their own chapter with 3 of their friends. They have have more friends who are anxious to join.   
Grace has sent First Mexico's Smocking Chapter first picture of their chapter officers and members, In order of appearance, left to right Graciela Flores, President Yolanda Fernandez, Vice President , Olivia FLores, Treasurer, Damaris Guajardo, Newsletter, and  Elisa Chabrand, Secretary.

All of us want to take the oportunity to welcome this trailblazer new group!

Elaine Berry

Region 5 Rep

elaineregion5rep@yahoo.com

     On April 29, 2012, the Chesapeake Treasures Smocking Chapter hosted a Barbara Meger Workshop on Drawn Thread Embroidery. The class project was a matching pincushion, needle book and student choice of either a magnifier glass case or padded top for a handcrafted oval Shaker embroidery box to hold the pincushion and needle book. The students learned how to withdraw fabric threads from easy-to-see 32 count Belgian linen to create lacey open areas secured by basic embroidery stitches, which included Italian hemstitch as well as van dyke, herringbone, cable and chain stitches identical to smocking stitches. The effect of the drawn thread embroidery was absolutely beautiful!
 

A nice article about a chapter!

The Dogwood Chapter of SAGA makes Wee-Care gowns for the local hospital as well as for a group which supports families who have been given a poor pre-natal diagnosis.  The poor pre-natal diagnosis does not necessarily mean death,  although that often happens.  It can be mental retardation, downs syndrome, heart defect, whatever.  We recently received a call from them requesting a gown for conjoined twins.  There is no such thing as a pattern for conjoined twins, as the joining can be anywhere.  Kathy Dykstra of our group took on the task of trying to make a gown.  She researched conjoined twins on the computer and found nothing that would help her in making a pattern--the different cases were just too different.  In this case, the twins were conjoined in the abdomen area.  There were two heads, four arms, four legs, but only one heart.  Kathy took a basic yoke dress and cut an upside down "U" shape out of the front, beginning a couple of inches below the neckline and flaring out towards the side seams.  A ribbon sash was added at the side seams that could tie on both sides to bring in any fullness.
Although the girls did not live long, they were presented to the family in the lovely dress made by Kathy and were able to have their picture made, giving the family a lasting memory of the beautiful girls dressed in a beautiful dress that was made with love.  The spirit of Wee-Care extends to all corners of the world and in many different ways, but most importantly, it spreads love.
Please visit the blog site to see recent activities of this chapter.  http://charlottesmockingguild.blogspot.com

The Monticello chapter of Virginia in Region 2 donated 16 Wee Care gowns to the University of Virginia Children's Hospital in December of 2010.  The first meeting of 2011 in January was cancelled due to inclement weather but February's meeting was well-attended for a discussion of silk ribbon embroidery.  Several members took a field trip in March to Woodlawn Plantation at Mt. Vernon, Virginia, to attend the 48th Annual Needlework Exhibition.

The Waving Girls Chapter (Savannah, GA) reports that they have begun having monthly "sit and sew" meetings, hoping to alternate between a Saturday and a weekday so all have an opportunity to attend, to teach members new skills or techniques they may not know, utilizing the talent within their chapter. They've received 6 new members in the past 2 months, and are thrilled to have them join.

The Magnolia Stitchers of Vicksburg, MS, have another featured article and photo shoot in Sew Beautiful. Those ladies are prolific sewers!