Annette Alberter (941)488-0696 barryalberter@msn.com
Kathy Hepburn (941)952-0543 turtle tootsie@yahoo.com
Our Chapter is an active chapter that, besides members who sew personal garments, quilts, home furnishings, and many different craft items, prides itself on its Community Service and charitable activities which include: Sewing for the Neonatal units of two hospitals, making Preemie hats and gowns, blankets and quilts; Sewing for Hospice in four cities; Sewing and donating ditty bags and toiletries to three adult and child protection agencies; and Sewing cancer caps and pillows for "Sew for the Cure". These activities sometimes take place at Neighborhood Group Meetings, local sewing stores or some members work on them at home. Much of the materials for these charitable projects are donated.
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November/December 2008
Our Pins & Needles Group made 17 bibs, 17 hats and 49 cancer pillows during their workshop in September! Thank you so much! The W.A.G. and Sew Much Fun groups made quite a few cancer hats, but the count won’t be in until the rest are turned in at the next meeting. Both gals I talked to (below) said they really, really appreciated all that ASG does for their groups. I have received answers from two groups that I contacted and that are in need of items. I do not have all the sizes yet, but will pass them on to you through your group leaders, as soon as I do.
Sarasota Memorial NICU needs items and sizes as follows:
1. Transport bags (9’x12”) for baby belongings; 2. Lightweight receiving blankets square for swaddling (no padding or fill in these); 3. Knitted or crocheted blankets (Min. of 22”x22”); 4. Polar-tec blankets:square for swaddling and rectangular for beds. ACS: Turban style hats made of soft materials and various colors, Small 9”x12” pillows (softly filled) for women.
by Kathy Hepburn
May/June 2008
We have received a nice thank you letter from Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We want to pass this “thank you” along to
all of you who have been so generous to these little babies. In 2007, there were
1826 baby boys and 1806 baby girls born at Sarasota Memorial. There were 93 sets
of twins and 3 sets of triplets.
Of course, we also have to thank everyone who donated to Hospice, SPARCC, VA
Hospital, and Sunset Lake Health and Rehab. Our Neighborhood groups made cool
ties, walker bags, quilts, and cancer hats. It is difficult to mention
everything that has been done. My report to National ASG always has at least two
pages! Our members are wonderful and giving, both of time and materials.
If anyone needs information or patterns, please call me, or ask your
neighborhood group leader. Keep up the good work!
Annette
July/August 2006
A big thank you to everyone who came to the community service workshop to work on St. Jude’s quilts and baby layette items.
The quilts are beautiful--hope you get to see them when they are finished. The baby layette items for the National ASG service project will make many Washington DC babies happy! We serged and sewed and have many tiny blankets, bibs, and kimonos to take to the convention this year. It is always more fun when we can work together on a project.
Annette Alberter
January/February 2006
As 2005 was my last year as Chairperson for Community Service I would like to thank all you ladies and your friends for the generous donations you have made to the local organizations we support. Your gifts are appreciated by those whose lives you have touched with your skills and generosity. I have enjoyed this position for the last three years and would like to give someone else the chance to carry on. Annette Alberter has volunteered to chair Community Service. I am sure you all will give her your support and help
Thank you, Eva Winter
This is a report on our last Chat-n-Sew in August which was mostly dedicated to Community Service projects.
We had a lot of precut articles ready to be sewn, cancer pillows, cancer caps, ditty bags, lap robes and adult cover ups for Hospice.
I was a little disappointed in the turn out of members to help. But then it was summer and a lot of people were away.
None the less we accomplished a lot and the fellowship during the day was wonderful and everybody had a good time.
Lots of articles were taken home to sew and they are coming back to me finished. We were fortunate to have all the stuffing for the cancer pillows donated to us by Jo-Ann Fabrics. They also sent me a gift card for the store. I called Laura Stutzman at Sarasota Hospital and asked her what they could use right now. They were in need of little receiving blankets. So with my 40% discount coupon and the gift card I was able to buy a lot of soft pretty flannel. Again, they were cut and ready to be finished. I will be able to deliver them soon to the Hospital and Hospice. We took a break for lunch and enjoyed all the delicious dishes everybody had brought.
Thank you all for coming and making this a successful day for Community Service.
By Eva Winter
Members working diligently, having lunch and the end result of our efforts.
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Would you like to help teach Girl Scouts??
Girl Scout Troop 703 needed a service project and decided to make "soap on a rope" for SPARCC, the girl's idea. This project consisted of sewing a bar of soap inside of a washcloth and attaching a cord for hanging. I was asked to help and it was a comfortable experience. The Troop leader was in charge, the girls were ages 10-12, the girls's Mothers also were there one on one, and some brought their sewing machines. My job was general helper. This was a very simple project but the girls were very enthused and enjoyed themselves. One or two girls had previously run a machine, but generally this was a new experience.
I heard later about one young lady. She saved her babysitting money to buy a machine, obtained free fabric and made a skirt, all on her own. The skirt was very cute but unfortunately it kind of disintergrated in the wash. The free fabric was home dec & did not wash. But just think - someone who never sewed, went ahead and designed & sewed her garment!!!
The new Girl Scout Headquarters in Sarasota will have a facility to be used by the girls for troop meetings or special projects. There may be sewing machines available. Some troop leaders may be interested in simple projects. It would be helpful to have one or two persons from ASG available as consultants or guides. Is anyone interested in such a project in the future? Give me a call.
Marie Putnam
923-6927 marielputnam@Yahoo.com
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September was National Sewing Month and American Sewing Guild sewers were busy at their machines making beautiful items that have been put on display at various libraries around our area such as Sarasota, Venice, Selby Garden and Gulf Gate.
Some of the sewers that have articles on display at Fruitville Library are members of American Sewing Guild in the neighborhood groups of “Pins and Needles” of Bradenton, “Sew What’s New” of Sarasota and “Sew Much Fun” of Venice. Some pictures are included in this newsletter. Thank you to all involved.
As a result of one of these displays the “Sew What’s New” group now has a new member.
Tedda Cooper, collaborate - Sally Childers
Display case at Gulf Gate Library with typical Community Service items.
Displays at the Fruitville (l) and Selby Libraries
Community Service Needs Help!
For some time now we have been accumulating material and sewing related articles, at our storage unit, which Elaine has been able to secure for ASG free of charge, which we cannot afford otherwise.
We have been trying to find uses for these donated items.
We just had a garage sale at Norma Holman’s house in Sarasota. She and Elaine transferred two van’s full of boxes and bags, no small undertaking I can assure you. Tables were set up in Norma’s garage, which was quite comfortable since temperatures were in the 80’s. I for one had no idea how much had been collected. While it is quite wonderful to have all these donations, it is a tremendous job for a few members to handle. We thank everybody for their efforts at the garage sale and all of you who showed up and hopefully found something “you couldn’t do without”. Our Chapter made around $300.00, which of course was the purpose of this exercise. But now there is a lot of “stuff” left over. It was decided that none of it should go back to the storage unit. We are not sure how long we can count on the generosity of the storage unit management.
We separated the leftovers. Material suitable for children’s quilts has been donated to ABC QUITS. Some of our ASG members belong to that organization, I am one of them, so my car trunk was filled to the top and I have taken it all to the ABC monthly meeting at the Fruitville Library where all donations were very much appreciated. We meet there every 4th Monday of the month. Everybody is welcome to join. The finished quilts go to various charities, wherever there is a need, but mainly ABC QUILTS.
Right now I am also storing half a dozen boxes filled to the brim with more material. We want to make good use of it all. Some of the materials, that we felt did not fit our needs, have been given to Goodwill.
So now we need everybody’s help to process what has been kept. We will have things cut for adult cover-ups and lap robes for Hospice, cancer pillows and cancer caps for the Hospital and the Cancer Society, and also ditty bags for SPARCC. We have all the supplies we need and then some.
August 4th is our next Chat-n-Sew. I would appreciate it if we could make this day a Chapter Sewing Event for Community Service. Of course you are still welcome to work on your own projects. The meeting is at the North Sarasota Library on MLK Way, (between Route 301 and Tuttle Avenue) and Newton Blvd. It’s a great place; some of you probably have been there. ““Sew” have machine will travel”. The Library opens at 10. Be there to secure a good seat, just kidding, there are plenty of tables, you might want to bring a pillow. You may bring a friend . We will have a potluck lunch, bring whatever strikes your fancy. If you don’t want to lug a machine there will be plenty to do. Even if you can stay only for a little while, many hands make light work, to use a cliché.
I am hoping to set it up almost assembly style. I hear it works very effectively. I have never done this but with the participation of all our neighborhood groups and their enthusiasm I am sure we can accomplish a lot, reduce our stash and most importantly serve our Community. Any questions: Give me a call 941-966-7786, or e-mail me at mikeandeva@comcast.net.
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Hope to see you all on August 4th at the Library.
Eva Winter, Community Service
St. Jude Quilts July / August 2005
For two years, the Pins & Needles neighborhood group has been making quilts for St. Jude. This year the Chapter members were invited to join them. There were 19 quilts made and the number will be divided so the Hancock stores in Bradenton and Sarasota will each receive some to be sent on to the hospital from out ASG chapter. One quilt will go with the group going to the ASG National Conference. Thank you to all the contributors. The quilts are all different, but beautiful.
Marie Gartley
All ASG Chapters were encouraged by National to join in this years partnership with Hancock Fabrics in the
Quilt of Dreams project.
Marie Gartley, our Education Chairperson, was able to reserve the Anna Marie Island Power Squadron Building in Bradenton on February 16, 2005, for our quilt-in to work on "The Quilt of Dreams". Members of our Chapter were invited to an all-day session with a break for lunch. Material and batting were on hand and the sewing machines were going at high speed. We all had a great time and the satisfaction that these quilts were going to bring some love and comfort to children whose lives we all wish we could help change. Most of the quilts were finished at home and a lot of additional ones are being collected.
Back row- Marie Gartley, Della Covert (peeking), Suzanne Goldman, Mary Jane Fuller, Eva Winter, Jean Johnson, Norma Holman, Judy Bennett, Pat DiMicele, Jennie Murphy and Mary Ann Acton.
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The Hands of Heritage Quilt concept for the Hands of Heritage Multi-Cultural Festival was conceived by artist and Ringling Art School graduate, Danielle Glayshur-Cobian (of Inspired Art Solutions) to be a community project and encourage involvement and self-expression.
Coordinating the quilt project was Ella Toy, owner of Alma Sue's Quilts, Sarasota. Original design blocks were created by ASG quilters Elaine Chapman, Della Covert, Norma Holman, Tedda Cooper, Mary Ann Acton, Eva Winter and Joyce Suplica. Also making quilt blocks were quilters from Friendship Knot Quilters Guild, Inc., Venice Quilting Guild, Cotton Patch Quilt Shop and Alma Sue's Quilts.
The amazingly diverse quilt blocks reflect Sarasota's history, including a representation of the Bertha Honore Palmer cattle ranch & experimental farm, the circus elephant, symbolic of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the famous John Ringling circus trains, the elegant Ringling Ca`d Zan Mansion, the old (1958) & the new (2003) Ringling Causeway Bridge to Lido Key, the 1927 Spirit of Sarasota logo, one block depicts terrazzo floor tile in the (1941) Chidsey Library, the first golf course in Florida (1886), the flamingos of Jungle Gardens, vintages autos traveling unpaved Sarasota bay front road, the Sailor Circus logo, 1920's Amish horse & buggy and fish, turtles, dolphins, palm trees, parrots, the flora & fauna of our beautiful tropical paradise!
The Centennial Quilt has been donated to the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce & is currently traveling to Sarasota city buildings and libraries & will one day be permanently hung possibly at the Van Wezel or Chamber of Commerce in a place of honor to become part of Sarasota's history.
Fall of 2003
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R.O.C.K. CAMP QUILTS
Kathy Bush, a volunteer from the American Cancer Society inquired whether we would be interested and willing to help in her project for R.O.C.K Camp “Reaching Out to Cancer Kids”. Children with cancer can spend some time there free of charge. She had 12” muslin blocks painted by kids at the camp last year. We had no problem getting our ladies involved with this project. Everybody was enthused about. It. We ended up with three quilts and 10 individual block wall hangings. They were beautiful and everybody put their personal preference on the finishing.
We invited Kathy to our next meeting to present them to her. She surprised us with having our local TV station come and video the presentation. We were shown on different newscast all day and the next much to everyone’s delight. These items were auctioned off at the American Cancer Society’s Annual Ball, this year it was the Cattle Baron Ball.
Kathy returned the next month to award our volunteers with t-shirts from the American Cancer Society. She thanked us again and informed us that we helped raise over $2,100.00 for the camp. Everybody was very pleased.
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CANCER PILLOWS:
Cancer pillows are always in great demand. These pillows should finish to approximately 8 inches x 12 inches, to 12 x 16 inches or heart shaped any size to fit under the arm and be made of soft material such as fleece, knit or flannel and loosely stuffed so that they can be snuggled against the wound by mastectomy patients.
We donate them to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the Cancer Society in Sarasota and Bradenton.
Also cover ups (bibs) for adults are always needed at Hospice.
Another very welcome item there are our shirts for patience. If anyone would like some more information how to make them give me a call.
On behalf of all the organizations listed below, which our Chapter has supported this year, I would like to thank all the members and their friends who donated the hand made items. Everything is very appreciated. I have received numerous "thank you’s" from these groups. I wanted to pass this on to you, especially if you were not at our Annual Meeting at Marina Jack's in November 2004.
The organizations we supported are: Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Heart Unit and Cancer Unit; Hospice, Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota & Venice; SPARCC, Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center; Cancer Society, Bradenton and Sarasota; ABC Quilts, At-risk Baby Crib Quilts; Hope Family Services; North Port Police; North River Care Pregnancy Center; Our Mothers House; Quality Nursing Home; TLC, Tender Loving Care Ministries, Bethlehem, PA; and St. Jude Hospital.
Items we have donated in 2004: 109 Baby quilts, 91 preemie quilts, 60 layette items, 73 sets of preemie blankets and booties (crochet or knitted), 308 hats, 119 pair of booties, 187 neck rolls, 6l hospital transfer bags, 2 preemie gowns and 14 bibs, 70 crib size quilts, 116 cancer pillows and 24 cancer caps. 244 ditty bags and 20 shoe boxes of toiletries, 118 hospice shirts, 43 adults cover-ups and 4 lap robes, 36 tote bags for hurricane victims, 8 foley (IV) bags, 10 crib size quilts to St. Jude. To TLC 16 girls dresses, 19 slips, 5 jumpers, 7 pairs of boys pants, 31 knitted hats, 1 sweater, 1 nightgown, 6 ditty bags and also underwear and socks.
Thank you all again,
Eva Winter, Community Service Chair.
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(picture from the internet)
The night after the twin light towers were turned on, 3-11-2002, I flew out of Newark Airport, NJ, to Frankfurt, Germany and saw this chilling, awesome sight. Eva Winter
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A Tribute to September 11, 2001
On the first anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, Jo-Ann Stores partnered with the American Sewing Guild to remember the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001.
“The American Spirit” quilt was designed by Jo-Ann Stores’ Team Member Cindy Casciato and is embellished with the immortal words of President Bush.
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"We
will not falter. We will not fear. We will not fail. We will not forget."
Our Chapter made seven quilts and presented them to various Fire Department in our County.
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2001 and 2002
Our Chapter had 2 special projects to help raise funds for "Sew for the Cure of Cancer" We purchased two American Dolls, Felicity and Samantha. Members and friends made clothes and accessories for these doll and these endeavors netted $ 1,800.00 for cancer. We are very proud and thank everybody who participated .
(Click on any thumb nail picture below to see it full size. To view another picture, click your back - left - arrow and then click on another picture)
