01/28/12

Happy New Year everyone!  Last month I took a look back over the year, so I thought it only fitting that I should look forward into 2012 for this letter.  Wow, we already have a bunch of exciting stuff planned and happening. 

We have kicked off the New Year with our stitching challenge – $5 lets you participate.  At our January meeting, each member participating brought in 2 or 3 unfinished canvas pieces and the members at the meeting voted on one for her to try to complete in 2012.  If you forgot in January, you still have a chance to enter at the February meeting. Bring the piece back, with measurable progress done (we are taking photos to keep you based in reality), in April, July and October and you will receive a $1 each time.  Bring your piece back to the December meeting and everyone who has finished their piece will have their names put into the hat and one of us will win all the $$’s remaining in the kitty.  While I laughed so much my cheeks hurt by the end of the January Monday meeting, we also are already working on a service project. 

We are continuing sign-ups to stitch on the children’s canvas to be donated to the new children’s hospital.  What is really great about this project is that it offers an opportunity for all our members to participate no matter if you are a new stitcher or a lifelong stitcher.  See the article on page 2 for more info.

Registration is open for the Lois Kershner class and closes February 15. However, if we haven’t reached our required minimum by January 15, we are opening up registration to the other guilds in town.  A registration form is included in this newsletter so stop thinking about it and sign up now!  If taking the class just isn’t in your future for whatever reason, then still put the dates of May 5 & 6 on your calendar because we also have a separate room reserved for a general stitch-in for any member that weekend.  Plus, an all member potluck is planned for the evening of May 4.  Eating and stitching – can it get any better???

There are many programs and projects already on the meeting schedules so be sure and watch the program section of the newsletters to see what is coming up and to make sure you don’t miss something that you really, really, really need in your stash.

Yes, we have indeed kicked this year off in good form.  I received the following from a friend this week - I have a wonderful older neighbor who knits, hooks rugs, sews and loves to cook. She said on the phone today that "If I can't make something (including a mess) every day I am not happy".  So I’m setting a 2012 goal for myself to make something, even if just a mess, every day this year.

 Happy Stitching,

Janet W.

President, MN ANG