Not Wind, nor rain, nor black ice.....

Nothing stops an eager smocker!

Yes I am in Vegas at the SAGA Retreat with a cast with a fractured right wrist, but am smocking, albeit using my right hand to place the needle in the fabric and my left to pull it through!

I can't work on my class project so I am (slowly) smocking a Wee Care bonnet. Thank you Sew Cal Gals chapter for making the kit I am using.

 



Having fun in Vegas!

Wes was in class today and enjoyed himself smocking on a small dress for a quilt block, The first of two Brenda Shade classes. Other attendees were having fun with Judith Adams, Carol Ahles and Phyllis Brown.

Tonight there is a small market and Wee Care Stitch In so lots of fun and time to spend with friends.

Wes really enjoyed the Welcome Reception last night where he had coffee and desserts!

Wish you could all be here, but it is nice to be a small group as there are over 30 raffle baskets-nearly one for every attendee! Wes hopes he wins one (or two) at banquet tomorrow night!

Elvis Lives!

Here is Wes at the SAGA Smock Across America Retreat in Las Vegas. He has found Elvis!

He also found two swans for his new friends.

 

Things are starting to take shape for the retreat. All of the teachers are here, including Phyllis Brown who changed her flights and came yesterday to avoid being stranded at Charlotte Airport due to the snow! Hope all of the attendees have safe travels to get here.

So, Viva Las Vegas!!!

Las Vegas here I come!

Today I leave for the SAGA Retreat in Las Vegas!

Am I ready?

1. Class requirements.

2. Artisan Card

3. Basic Sewing Supplies.

4. Camera etc.

5. Clothes.

Yes, I am packed and ready to leave.

One thing- the expression:

"What Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"

Not happening!

I will share all that happens!

If you aren't coming to Vegas, we will miss you but maybe you are going to Chicago or Valley Forge? I hope so because you don't want ot miss out on all the fun, do you?

So visit the SAGA website www.smocking.org and get signed up as we Smock Across America!

2015 Wee Care Gown Trunk Show

The new 2015 Wee Care Gown Trunk Show is in the process of being cataloged, photographed and prepared for a year of bookings with the SAGA chapters across the country.  The show contains 40 gowns, 3 bonnets and 2 blankets which provide a fabulous array of colors, styles, smocking designs and embroidery embellishments.  The show’s purpose is to share and inspire our members.  

 

The show can be booked by contacting the Wee Care Gown Trunk Show chairman (Linda Patterson) at weecaretrunkshow@smocking.org.     

 

Booking times are still available in the latter part of the year.   

 

The cost of booking is $40 with a $30 deposit which is refundable minus return shipping costs.   

The 2015 Wee Care Gown Trunk Show will be donated following the Valley Forge Retreat in October and a new show will be assembled for 2016.

Places to Visit in Las Vegas

Is there anything to do in Las Vegas besides visit the casinos and theme hotels? Of course there is!

If you have some spare time and are going to the SAGA Retreat here are a couple of places that sound fun and interesting:

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

500 E. Washington Avenue

The first permanent non-native settlers in the valley were Mormon missionaries who built an adobe fort in 1855.

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort/

Neon Museum and Boneyard

770 Las Vegas Blvd North

Museum features rescued architectural landmarks from some of the celebrated properties dating from the 1930’s to present day. The two acre facility includes more than 150 unrestored vintage neon signs.

www.neonmuseum.org

Mob Museum

300 Stewart Ave

This museum presents an authentic view of the Mob’s impact on Las Vegas history. Stories are brought to life via exhibits, theatre presentations and over 600 artifacts.

www.themobmuseum.org

                                   

You can learn more about Las Vegas, how to get around, places to visit, eat and shop at:
                                                                                 www.lasvegas.com

 

It's in the mail!

                                                  SAGANews Volume 36 Issue 1 that is.

We have gone 'green' for this issue with two great smocking designs.
It also contains details of the second SAGA Retreat of the year in Chicago.

Will you be stalking the mailman waiting for your copy to arrive?

(If you really can't wait for the hard copy to arrive, then you can view the PDF by visiting the SAGA website www.smocking.org , but you have to be a member to see it!)

Cactus Garden-A hidden gem!

Did you know that there is a wonderful cactus garden hiding behind a chocolate factory in Henderson, Nevada not far from Las Vegas and on the way to the Hoover Dam?

If you are planning on some sightseeing while in Las Vegas at the SAGA Retreat, I would add a visit to the Ethel M® Chocolate Factory to your list of places to go. Of course, who can resist the chance to see chocolate making and get to try a sample or two? But then there is also the wonderful cactus garden to walk around! The garden is the largest cactus garden in Nevada and features four acres of drought-tolerant ornamentals, cacti and succulents.  Over 300 species can be found and many of the plants are native to the American Southwest. 

The self-guided factory tour and Botanical Cactus Garden are open seven days a week.

The factory is located at:

2 Cactus Garden Dr.

Henderson, NV 89014

 

Visit the website at: http://www.ethelm.com/about_us/cactus_garden.aspx

Smock Across America Contest

The Smock Across America contest starts at the SAGA Retreat in Las Vegas, which is only 10 days away. Have you made something to enter?

There is still time to get an entry into this first contest.  You don't need to be attending to enter. You can mail your entry in.

The rules, regulations and other information can be found on the SAGA webite (www.smocking.org).

I hope I will be seeing lots of red when I am in Las Vegas!

Mystery Smock Along-Progress

I have been taking part in the second  SAGA Mystery Smock Along and have three pieces to work on.

Wes waiting for Clue 3.

 

All three are ready for Clue 3 which we should get later today!

BUT I have a little problem.

Can you guess what it is from this photo?

Yes, a cast on my right wrist and yes, I am right handed!

Oh well, I guess Wes and I will just be a tad later than anyone else in completing our pieces......

Happy Valentine's Day!

I found this vintage hankie on one of my trips. I thought it strange that the man should be plucking the feathers from the wings of cupid!

It says " She loves me... A little.... Lots"

Do you see what must be his love on the bridge?

Las Vegas-Fun Facts

40 Million people visited Las Vegas in 2012

Fourteen of the twenty largest hotels in the world are in Vegas

Las Vegas has more hotel rooms than any other place on Earth.

The Golden Gate is the oldest continuously operated hotel and casino in Vegas.

Vegas gets about 4 inches of rain per year.

With the millions of lights Las Vegas is one of the brightest place on Earth

Over 22,000 conventions are held in Vegas each year.

And the first SAGA Retreat of 2015 will be held there February 26 through to March 1!

Visit the SAGA website (www.smocking.org) to find out more details.

National Smocking Month Library Display

My chapter, Thimbleberry in Connecticut, have a display at a local library (Fairfield Woods Branch library in Fairfield) for National Smocking Month.

The cabinet isn't very big, but is full of smocked items (and not just childrens clothing) to show what you can smock. The library has arranged an afternoon for us to share our smocking skills with the public. It is wonderful as the library print flyers, put articles in the local papers and publise the event for us. I hope we get lots of attendees and maybe pick up some new members, but that aside at least we are trying and proving smocking is still something people do and enjoy!

I know many other chapters have displays at their local libraries during National Smocking Month and also plan events to stitch in public. Let me know what your chapter (or just you) have done.
email me at saganews@smocking.org

A Full Bin

A full bin next to my sewing machine makes me very happy!

Why?

Well it means I have had time to be busy at my machine. 

I try and do hand work every evening while watching something recorded on TV (yeah for PBS and BBC Amercia!), but sometimes it is hard to find time to sit at the sewing machine.

I like to sew on the machine during the day and  often there are other prioirities: SAGANews; meetings; the laundry; cooking to name a few! But then along comes a day or rarely a few days in a row and my machine gets uncovered and the bin gets filled!

Do you have something in your sewing room that makes you happy when you see it?

Mystery Smock Along

The second SAGA Mystery Smock Along just started!

SAGA Secretary Karen Austin is leading this Mystery Smock Along.

I have decided to join the fun and below are my pleated pieces of fabric and my print fabrics.

I am being optimistic and have pleated three pieces.

 

 

The finished piece is something for a baby.

I wonder what it will be?
To find out you should join
And Smock Along with me! 



You can find a link to the Mystery Smock Along Facebook page by visiting www.smocking.org.

 

February-National Smocking Month

Yes, it is February and National Smocking Month.

 

Do you or your chapter have something special planned to highlight smocking this month?

My chapter will have a display at a local library and hope to have a 'Smock In' at the same library one Sunday afternoon. We did the same last year and it drew interest. It takes very little time and effort but you never know what may come of it.

The display is simple with a few smocking books, smocked dresses and smocked ornaments. We include a few copies of SAGANews and leave SAGA brochures out with our contact information. The library love the attention the display receives as it looks so pretty!

So let me know your plans and Smock On!