What's in a Name-Chesapeake Treasures

Chapter member Barbara Meger writes:

The Chesapeake Treasures have just celebrated their 25th Anniversary.  Today, as it was then, its members come from all areas of the Chesapeake region: Maryland, Virginia, even Delaware.  Each one is considered an invaluable "treasure." 

 

As its logo, the chapter added smocked wave stitches to the railing of the Thomas Point lighthouse which sits in the Chesapeake Bay outside Annapolis and is currently the last unaltered screwpile cottage-type lighthouse on its original foundation in the Chesapeake Bay.

Thank you Barbara.

You can visit Chesapeake Treasures on their Facebook page- Chesapeake Treasures Smocking Guild

What chapter will share the origin of their name next?

Email me at : saganews@smocking.org

Mystery Smock Along Clue 6

                                       

                                                                       Clue Number 6:

Make the ornament uniquely yours! After finishing clue 5, there are some nice open spaces between rows 5-7.

I have several suggestions on how you can fill that space, and below you can see what I did, but the final clue is to exercise your creativity and make this ornament uniquely yours!

So here are my suggestions:

                Flowerette – beaded or not.

                Holly or Mistletoe – 3 French knots, lazy daisy leaves

                Bullion Christmas Roses

                Silk Ribbon Poinsettia

                Mother of Pearl Buttons

                Repeat clue 5 with a different color, beginning 8 pleats to the right (don’t try to count the pleats – just line up with the Triple Crowns)

 

Next week there will be detailed instructions on constructing and finishing your ornament!

Finished-A Seasonal UFO!

Well, technically, it wasn't an Un-Finished Object as I had never started the project, but the little barrette kit had been moved from place to place around the sewing room, even from house to house. Then  into my sewing bag with the idea that it was a small project and could be easily stitched anywhere I was.

Did this happen, no it did not until a few days ago when I happened across the little bag again and thought that now was the time to smock and complete the project! It took just one evening and I am very happy with the result- very seasonal!

So where did I get this little kit? It was a table favour at a SAGA Convention. The bag contained everything needed to complete the project-the grossgrain ribbon was pleated; different colours of floss were included; the barrette and directions  along with a choice of two smocking designs (copied with permission from Creative Needle magazine).

So a belated thank you to the Charles River chapter in Massachusetts for the wonderful table favour from so long ago that is now finished and ready to gift to a little girl this Christmas season!

Good luck to all of you trying to finish projects for this Christmas season and remember-there is always next year.........

An Interview with Brenda Shade.

Brenda Karon Shade will be teaching at the SAGA Las Vegas Retreat at the end of February 2015. Her classes will be 'Paper Doll- Mother's Rose ' and 'Sweet Memories Cottontail'. Both pieces are quilt blocks featuring minature dresses.

 I did an email interview with Brenda to learn a little about her.

1. Who taught you needlework skills and when did you first start learning?

My mother taught me a lot at the age of 9 years 

2. What is your favourite form of embroidery?

I am enjoying the basic back stitch I am doing on some little rabbit quilts and of course smocking. 

3. When do you find time to embroider/sew?

Any moment I can.  I get the most done in the evenings watching TV with my husband.

Sweet Memories-Cottontail-class available at SAGA Las Vegas Retreat

 

4. What inspires your designs?

My granddaughters have been the greatest inspiration.

5. Do you attend classes and workshops as well as teach at them?

I have attended very few classes.  I am mostly self taught.

6. On average, how long would you say it takes for you to complete a piece, from design concept to end?

 It just depends on the project, but I usually complete them over time 

7. Do you belong to a sewing guild of any kind?

I belong to Prayers and Squares at my church.  Quilts are made for the sick and hurting.

Paper Doll-Mother's Rose-class at SAGA Las Vegas Retreat

8. Do you smock?

I do smock.

9. Where is your favourite place to stitch?

Favorite place to stitch is my chair with a good light source.

10. Are you married? Children? Pets?

 I am married.  I have three children; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter and one great grandson due in March.  I have a 14 year old tabby cat named Agnes.

11. What is your most favourite sewing tool?

Favorite sewing tool is a needle.

12. What sewing tool do you carry everywhere and why?

I carry a lot due to teaching classes, and I always carry some project with the necessary tools. 

13. What other hobbies/interests do you have?

I like to do a little gardening when I can get away from the sewing.

14. How often do you travel to teach?

I travel to teach on most Saturdays and some Fridays.

15. Have you a favourite location where you most enjoy teaching?

Quilt shops,

 

16. Where can we get to see your projects (magazines, stores etc.)?

One of my quilts was featured in the Sew Beautiful magazine, Issue #95 in 2004.  Also Country Bumpkin published a book on how to make one of my quilts, Sweet Memories.  The book is currently out of print.

17. What do you do with your completed projects-frame and keep, give away, etc.?

I give away a lot, have some in frames and keep a lot for display in shops.

 

18. Do you have a favourite colour(s) that you tend to use more than others?

Pink.

Christening Gown Quilt

19. Have you had another type of career other than in the sewing area?

No other career, I am retired from the Texas Dept. of Health

20. How do you see the future of your sewing career?

At my age, I just hope my eyesight will allow me a few more years.

21. What do you do to recharge your creative spark?

Just have an open mind. 

22. What technique still can’t you get the hang of……..?

            I would like to be better at picture smocking and shadow embroidery.

23. What is the biggest enemy to your creativity?

Cooking and cleaning.

 

 

                                      You can visit Brenda's website at:

 

                                                http://www.kreationsbykaron.com/

 

Smock Across America - Las Vegas Retreat Registration Opens Today!

Yes! Registration for the SAGA 2015 Las Vegas Retreat opens today.

Have you picked your teachers and classes?

Then get ready to register at 10:00 AM Central Time!

Whose classes will you pick?

I know which ones I want to take.......

 

Maybe I will see you there?

 

Visit www.smocking.org to learn more about the SAGA 2015 Retreats

 

 

Smock Along -Bonus Optional Clue:

Add a wave in the middle of the open spaces on rows 2 1/3 and 9 2/3. On row 2/1/3, stitch an up cable up against the bottom of the wave from Clue 4, travel down to row 2 2/3, down cable (I added a bead) travel up to 2 1/3, up cable. Take your thread to the back and cable or outline stitch on the back to the next wave on row 2 1/3.

 

Stitch a mirror image starting on row 9 2/3, stitch a down cable, travel up to 9 1/3, up cable (I added a bead), travel down to 9 2/3, down cable, take the thread to the back. Continue across the row.

 

Las Vegas- A little history

 

Registration for the first SAGA Retreat of 2015 will open on Monday, 1 December at 10:00 am Central Time. The location is Las Vegas- so here is a little information about the city.



 

Las Vegas is the most populated city in Nevada and one of three leading cities in the US for conventions and business meetings.

Established in 1901 and incorporated as a city in 1911.

It is thought that the earliest visitors to the Las Vegas area were nomadic Paleo-Indians, who traveled here 10,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs. Anasazi and Pauite tribes followed at least 2,000 years ago.

In 1829 a trader named Antonio Armijo led a 60 man party along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles and these were the first non-Native Americans credited with entering the valley.

The area was named Las Vegas, which is Spanish for "the meadows", as it featured abundant wild grasses, as well as desert spring waters for westward travelers.

John C. Fremont arrived in the area in 1844 and his writings helped lure pioneers to the area. Downtown Las Vegas’ Fremont Street is named after him.

Eleven years later members of the Latter Day Saints church chose Las Vegas as the site to build a fort halfway between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, where they would travel to gather supplies. The fort was abandoned several years afterward. The remainder of this Old Mormon Fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue.

1931 was a pivotal year for Las Vegas. At that time, Nevada legalized casino gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce to six weeks. This year also witnessed the beginning of construction on nearby Hoover Dam. The influx of construction workers and their families helped Las Vegas avoid economic calamity during the Great Depression. The construction work was completed in 1935.

In 1941, the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School was established. Currently known as Nellis Air Force Base, it is home to the aerobatic team called the Thunderbirds.

Following World War II, lavishly decorated hotels, gambling casinos and big-name entertainment became synonymous with Las Vegas.

The 1950s saw the opening of the Moulin Rouge, the first racially integrated casino-hotel in Las Vegas.

 

In 1951, the first atomic bomb was detonated at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Las Vegas. City residents and visitors were able to witness the mushroom clouds until 1963 when the limited Test Ban Treaty required that nuclear tests be moved underground.

The iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, which was never located in the city, was created in 1959 by Betty Willis, who never copyrighted it.

During the 1960s, corporations and business powerhouses such as Howard Hughes were building and buying hotel-casino properties. Gambling was referred to as "gaming," which transitioned into legitimate business.

In 1989, entrepreneur Steve Wynn changed the face of the Las Vegas gaming industry by opening up The Mirage, the Las Vegas Strip’s first mega-casino resort.

Official City Website with tourist information such as weather things to do

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Visitor/default.htm