HEART FELT SEW-IN Held February 2

The February 2^nd date for our Heart Felt Sew-in turned out to be a perfect choice for our annual winter sew-in!  Based on the current weather forecast, choosing this weekend (2/9) would have made the gathering impossible.

A fantastic turnout of 27 eager sewers, reflected a representation from all of our Neighborhood Groups.  Everyone brought a snack to share, and many new acquaintances were made.  Some members worked  on their own projects, while others used this time to do some charity sewing. We had a raffle for a Craft Caddy Ott Lite, which was won by Shirley McCaffery.  

As part of our afternoon activities, we featured a "Jelly Roll Race". The “race” takes 40 2.5" jelly roll strips, sewn together into one long strip and then, folding and sewing the strips 5 times, creates a quilt top. Mary Stiegler was the race winner with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes to complete her quilt top. These tops will be finished by members of Charity Chics Neighborhood Group and donated to local community service agencies. If you would like to help in this effort, contact Mary DuBois for more info me21dubois@aol.com.

If you need more information to complete your own Jelly Roll quilt top, check out this YouTube video http://youtu.be/2bEJLnaZQOU

Our next planned Sew-in will be the Christmas in July on Saturday July 13^th. In the mean time you can enjoy sewing with other Chapter members on the 1^st and 4^th Thursday from 9 am to 2:30 pm at the Fishkill Town Hall.  

LANCASTER QUILT SHOW - BUS TRIP

Do to unforseen circumstances, plans for this trip have been cancelled.  1/6/13
I am considering organizing a bus trip to the Philadelphia Quilt Show for Saturday, March 16th, 2013. I need at least 25 people seriously interested in going. If you are interested, please contact me by February 1 at my email margefuller@yahoo.com

Thank you.

Marge Fuller

Crafty Stitchers support Pike County Safe Haven

Wednesday, December 19, was open house at Pike County Safe Haven in Milford, PA.. Carol Haas, Gigi Lamanna, Vickie Kraus and myself, members of Crafty Stitchers neighborhood group, met together and delivered personal care bags we had made at one of our meetings. The bags were filled with personal care items donated by our group. We also donated a few blankets made by Carol, toys, clothing and food items. We had a chat with the staff and enjoyed refreshments provided by them. After Carol and I left Pike County Safe Haven, we made a quick stop at the new Beary Patches Quilt Shop in Milford. It was a very pleasant afternoon.

Marge Fuller, Crafty Stitchers NG

The Sewphisticuts go MaDD!

The Sewphisticuts go MaDD!

 The energy and camaraderie that I’ve come to expect at an ASG Sew-In was evident at the recent Sewphisticuts-sponsored Make a Difference Day event held at the Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall on October 27th.  This neighborhood group has sponsored an annual MaDD event since the group’s inception six years ago.  The event is open to both ASG members and the community at large.  The Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall has generously found space for our use for the past several years, and Sew ‘N Vac always provides tables and chairs.  The event is open to all ASG members and the public.

One of the many hats made that day

This year’s project was fleece hats and scarves to be given to Hudson River Housing.  Past year’s projects have included flannel pajama pants for the children’s cancer ward at Westchester Medical center, anti-ouch pouches for breast cancer patients at Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, pillow cases for area shelters, and baby bibs and blankets for the Young Mother’s program at the Poughkeepsie Children’s Home.

To make our membership stand out this year, Veronica Hill suggested we wear T-shirts with a slogan.  Maura Kristofik thought of the slogan “I’m Making a Difference today.  Sew can you!”  Joan Gadonniex digitized the slogan for embroidery machines adding “Hudson Valley NY Chapter Make a Difference Day” and the ASG logo.  Mary Dubois donated T-shirts and Connie Pennisi picked them up.  Linda Clark and Joan (I think?) handled the embroidery.  What a team effort!

Judy in one of the embroidered T-shirts

Cutting out more hats and scarves

Fourteen ASG members and 10 people from the community including 6 students (4 girls and 2 boys) from the Friends of Rachel club at Arlington High School pitched in to complete 171 hats and 59 scarves for a total of 230 items!  Ann Bierce did a great job of teaching some of the students to use a sewing machine while Mary Stiegler helped the boys cut out hats and fringe scarves.  Linda Clark showed her usual poise by doing a video clip for the Poughkeepsie Journal in a single take, while Connie Pennisi focused on her sewing for the photographs that were published in the next day’s paper. 

(Sue may not look it, but she really was having a good time!)

A good time was had by all and the Sewphisticuts thank everyone who participated for their contribution to another successful event. 

Some of our young helpers

Peggy Norton

Hudson Valley Chapter 2^nd VP