Surprise Quilt

Maggie Olson looking with Margaret Lobberegt at the quilt Maggie finished for Margaret as a surprise at Fancy Fibers Christmas meeting, December 15th.

President's Message

We had a successful show at the Rusty Barn event at
the Puyallup fairgrounds. We have been invited back next year.

Now is the time to think about the New Year with our
stitchers.

Monday, January 26, 2009, we will have a General
Meeting at the Library Processing Center, 3005 112th
St. E, Tacoma 98446. Phone number 253-536-6500.
Meeting is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We will have our emphasis on a service project. Bring
a sandwich; tea and coffee will be provided.

No quilts this time, we will be working with fleece to
make hats and neck scarves. Fleece donations are welcome. Some sewing machines will be needed, mostly scissors, needles and a spirit of working together.

Some surprises and a guest speaker or two will be a part of our day.

Sewing Expo 2009 is February 26, 27, 28, and March 1. I would like to have a chairman for this
event; also hostesses. So please check your calendars and plan to give some time for the
guild booth.

NAGOPS Booth

at the Rust Barn Quilt, Sewing & Craft Festival November 2008.

Featured Needlepoint pieces were by Karen Garinger. Vintage Grandmothers Flower Garden Quilt owned and shared by Char Westhoff. Rave reviews on fruit jar, handkerchief and party pocket quilt by Midge DeSart.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped and hosted. We have our reservation in for next year.

The Crane and Koi

Designed and sewn by Maggie Olson.

Maggie said she received an invitation in February, 2008 to create and donate a small wall quilt in support of local breast cancer charities. The theme was to be “Fishing For a Cure.” Maggie and 25 other quilt artists responded. Various sponsors covered event expenses and the luncheon brought in $22,000. There was a silent auction of donated baskets and quilts and the oral auction with the invitational quilts being sold for a total of $7,600. The Crane and Koi sold for $550.

Maggie used fabrics from her silk necktie collection and crepe back satin. The crane is three dimensional with detailed beading. The background fabric was purchased four years ago at a NAGOPS/ Comforters meeting when fabric artist, Pam Wells, was a guest speaker. Pam dyes and stencils fabric by the yard. What a pleasant surprise to find she had exactly what she needed in her stash.

The Crane is constructed from sixty-five pieces. Each feather piece was detailed machine stitching then hand appliqued to the background. The quilt measured 24” x 36”. Quilting was minimal; done in the Oriental strata style. The pattern is an original design. The piece mounted on a painter’s canvas/stretcher bars.

When asked about the time involved, Maggie estimated it took about six weeks, four to eight hours per day and this included design time. She said it is best for her to have a deadline, then she is focused and her husband understands the challenge of time needed for the project.

Satellite News

Kent Valley Needlers
December - No Meeting
January 28 - Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A demonstration in ribbon weaving.
February 25 - Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A demonstration in black work.

Moonlighters invites visitors to meet at the Lakewood Library on 3rd Monday evenings for an action packed evening of fabric and threads. Often the display cases have an impromptu display.
The Librarian asks us to fill it and we do”. We have a button down snowman for January’s meeting. “Buttons down the front of him”.

Members work

Crochet necklace with buttons.

By Alessandra Hayden

American Hero Quilts

American Hero Quilts were born out of the love and compassion of one determined Washington State woman. Her dreams is that each of our injured troops returning home from war through Madigan Army Medical Hospital and other military hospitals, receive a "hug" of appreciation. These "hugs" are exceptional patriotic, heirloom quality quilts. Each is unique, created by many loving hands.

Needle Arts Guild Comforters group has some of those loving hands that are making quilts for the American Heros.

You can help our loving hands by donating 100% cotton fabric to our Needle Arts Guild Comforters Satellite.

• Contact Pennie Smith (253)475-9170

Needle Arts Guild General Meeting

The General Membership take a break to look at show and tell and books from our "Guild" library. Break time included tea sandwiches and cookies shared by the very same great stitchers and quilters.

October 6, 2008

Pierce County Processing and Administrative Center

Needlepoint by Karen Garinger

Karen Garinger member of NAGOPS shared with the General Membership "Needlepoint Then and Now". Karen is an avid needlepointer/canvas worker and shared the creative techniques and stitches combined with other materials such as silk ribbon.

Bits & Pieces

Taken from Sherrill Sorbets newsletter.
Sherrill Kahn develops paint for fiber artists, scrapbook makers and anyone who want great paint for many avenues of art work.
The paints work well on all surfaces including paper, fabric, wood, and cardboard. I have to share with you something that happened at my last store. I knew the owners and I had taught for the same store last year. I didn’t read my new contract carefully before I signed it. On the last day, I discovered that I had agreed to give 50% of my stamp sales to the store, meaning we made no profit on the rubber stamps.
In addition, the store took 50% of sales of my personal artwork. Please read your contracts carefully. Everyone that has heard this story has been horrified at such a large percentage being taken. I don’t want this to happen to any of you, so please read all contracts you sign very carefully before you sign them.
The artwork pictured above is something new that I am doing. I used Oil of Olay facial wipes to create the sewn textural areas of the design. I used the facial wipes to wash my face and then I washed out the wipe, let it dry, and then dyed it with paints and Jacquard’s Dye-na-flow. Since I discovered the magic of facial wipes, I have tried Ponds, Walmart’s brand, and other inexpensive wipes.
The possibilities are endless. You can collage them, sew with them, make beads, etc. Some tear easier than others after they have been dyed. If they don’t tear easily, make a small cut and then tear them. I have bags full of these to use in my art work and am writing an article for
Somerset Studio about the process.

You can learn more about Sherrill and her Sorbet paints at:
http://www.impressmenow.com/paint_set.htm

Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival

November 13-15, 2008,
Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Looking for volunteers to host our booth during the festival, 10 to 1 and 1 to 4; three hours apiece. Remember, working the booth gets you in free at the door!
We also need display items; they are always very well receivedby the public.

Contact Pennie Smith, (253)475-9170.

Kent Valley Needlers

We have a new Satellite! They meet in Kent at the Kent Regional Library, on the 4th Wednesday at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bonny Hardie (253-277-1352) and Nancy Massey (253- 333-1087) are the coordinators and you can email Bonny at: bonny-roy@comcast.net
They will have a new scheduled meeting for November. Nov. 12 Wed 10 to 12. This is for November only. December there will be no meeting January 28, Wednesday 10 to 2 Sept. - Loni is going to demo. sewing on stretch fabric. Bring samples of any fabric that you have questions about. Oct. - Nancy is going to demo Paper Piecing.
Bring sewing needle, neutral thread, and scissors. Nov. - Change for this month only. 2nd Wed. of the month and we have the room until 12 o’clock only. Nancy is going to tell us about American Sewing Guild, and if you have an event or group that you want to tell us about, we would appreciate hearing about it.
Also, if you have a web site that you like or a new product that you want to share with us, we would love to hear about it also. January 28th the demo will be ribbon weaving and in February the demo will be black stitch.

Mary Llewellyn

Mary tells us that her first and longest attended Satellite was the Narrows Needlers. Then Mary helped start the interest group Garment Workers and Comforters. She also belonged to the Doll Mamas, Moonlighters, Starlight Stitchers and PM Patchers.
About 1980 she took over the book orders and did that until a few years ago; she has been librarian for about 5 years or so. She says they have moved the library three times and that was NOT fun!
Mary feels NAGOPS has been a wonderful group of people. Her most precious item is the “Little Miss Mary” quilt that was made from the blocks given to her when she was coordinator for Comforters in 1987-88. It was designed by Jeannie Austin and 42 ladies made the blocks. It is a trip down memory lane when she looks at it as so many of our members have moved or passed away. They all signed their blocks and she absolutely loves it.
If it had not been for all the wonderful members and the wonderful classes she would never have
tried all the exciting projects, especially beading, thanks to Midge DeSart!
Mary has been on many nominating committees, worked on our exhibits, teas and luncheons, as
well as Librarian, coordinator, book orders and other times when she has been needed.

Charter Member: Yvonne Hayward

Yvonne says she was one of the handful of leftovers when the Satellites were formed by zip codes. They became the “Stitch Witches,” with members from Olympia, Gig Harbor and even Seattle.
She didn’t know to much about stitchery and gladly learned from Susie Frank who was their coordinator. She likes to dabble at different techniques; enjoying stump work, stitches like buttonhole stitch and just embroidery.
She says she know her limitations, but likes to take classes even if she becomes master of none!
Yvonne was the first treasurer and on the committee that formed the guilds constitution. She also was coordinator of their Satellite a couple times. She and Susan Parr are the last of the Stitch Witches.

Dear Members,
As of this writing we have 85 paid members. Did you notice the note on the back of the newsletter? See if you can interest a friend in NAGOPS this year.
Scholarship winners from June annual meeting are Marie Creson and Jean Thomas. We are looking forward to hearing how they use their scholarships to increase their skills.
Remember if you take a class from one of our newsletter shop advertisers you can receive $10 rebate from NAGOPS; you must save your receipt. Be sure to show your NAGOPS membership card to the shop when you pay for the class.
Sunshine cards will now be sent by Leslie Winchell. We thank Carol Dague who has been in charge of this service for many years. Carol has now moved to Nevada.
Service projects performed by the membership of NAGOPS will happily be announced and shared with our membership through the newsletter. Please submit your project, the beneficiaries, and the volunteer hours.
American Hero Quilts is one such project. Exhibiting our handwork is another example. Bibs for nursing homes etc.
Lakewood Library is the home a small display case belonging to Needle Arts Guild. We currently have a display of work by members of Moonlighters. November we have the privilege of displaying in the larger case as well as the small case. You are invited to display something in the Fall/ Christmas theme.

Contact Pennie Smith (253)475-9170

The Fair is Over by Leslie Winchell

The fair is over. As usual I had a fun time—lots of laughs, but my body is tired. Our fair is the 6th largest in the US so it needs many worker bees. Many workers are like me, retired from a good paying job, but willing to do this for a few weeks.
We say “we have the fair in our blood.” There is something fun about coming to the fair in the morning (I worked the opening to 4:30 pm each day)—the animals were always having their baths and us vendors were getting our booths ready for another busy day. I have gotten to know all the vendors around me. This Saturday was our only rainy day— the vendor next to me really had some flood issues so I helped him with soaked boxes etc—he would have done the same for me!!!
I feel very fortunate about my job. Many people have to stand all day so their feet get very tired and sore. I can sit in my booth, but with that said my knees are sore. I am not a sitter at home. We have a friend who is a knee doctor who always tells us that people that need knee surgery usually are sitters— not me! I was always glad to get my lunch break so I could go on a long walk. I can walk around my booth which is a small trailer, but it is defiantly not exercise! My stomach is very tired of cold lunches--I do not eat the unhealthy fair food, but really miss the lunches at home where I make homemade soups or salads. My ears are very tired of hearing Native American flute music which was played all day long by a vendor very near us! The music is lovely, but not all day. Actually the noise of the fair I find gets extremely tiring; I have always
been person who likes quiet.
Why do I work at this fair--well its fun. I like people. Most people at the fair are fun--I cannot tell you how many laughs I have had these past few weeks. I like the family I work for; they are hard working, but kind people. I love all the animals; I think cows are very pretty. I love the children who see all this in such wonderment.
Yes, I am a tired woman, but tired is good. The retired people who work the fair are healthy happy people who enjoy being around people. We are the seniors who are aging well, because we are willing and even like getting tired; and my guess is we will all be there next September!

*First General Meeting of the Year*

Rally Day & Tea
Monday, October 6, 11 am to 1 pm
Pierce County Processing and Administrative Center
3005 112th Street E
Tacoma WA 98446
253-536-6500

Speaker for the American Hero Quilts with Quilts on display
Speaker on Needle Point/Canvaswork and the latest news with Karen Garinger
Short business meeting and our tea. Different people have been asked to bring sandwiches
and cookies and a variety of teas will be served.
Excess books from our library will be available for purchase.
There will be show and tell, so bring something to share.
Invite a friend or/and a former member to celebrate our 35th anniversary.

Brazilian embroidery and Stump work by Pat Wilson

Most of the work pictured were worked from kits designed by various teachers in the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild.

Pat Wilson (360)893-4811 Knottypc@aol.com

35th Anniversary - We need your help!

Ideas for a 35th commemorative gift. Planning a May party. Input, Input, Input!
Whatever your idea is, let us know. You may think it is too small or insignificant, but it may spak a project that will take off and be brilliant. Send your ideas to Pennie Smith or Pat Wilson or to any of the officers and they will make sure the board hears about them.

35 Years Later!

Yes this is our 35th anniversary of the Needle Arts Guild of the Puget Sound! What an exciting
thought that is. Thirty five years of needle arts expertise. What memories we have to share.
Would you like to share a special memory? Please send it to Pat Wilson. You can email it or regular mail and we will put it in our upcoming newsletters.
Of the original charter members, there are only nine members left. They are; Marian Hawkins,
Yvonne Hayward, Hank Johnson, Mary Llewellyn, Susan Parr, Judy Reynolds, Louise Seman, Pennie Smith and Char Westhoff. We started sharing their stories last year, we will continue in this and coming issues.

Newsletter deadline November 7th

Our next newsletter will come out in November. Holidays are always really rough on all of us, so please take an extra minute to get the news to Pat Wilson by the deadline and we can all have a nice peaceful Thanksgiving! Or am I being optimistic? Thanksgivings are usually heptic but fun.

History of NAGOPS

In the fall of 1973, an organizational effort resulting in the formation of the Needle Arts Guild of Puget Sound.

The name first chosen was Puget Sound Needles Arts.

The need was established to have an organized group, by many ladies in Puget Sound area.

During the 70's, many classes were held in the high school and community college campus dealing with handwork. Now the high school rarely has Home Ec. classes. It is the computer age, and stitcher do avail themselves of the computer for lots of information dealing with the Needle Arts.

Our shops that carried threads and canvas and needlework books have disappeared from our shopping areas. It is internet shopping now. Not nearly as much fun.

We would take a regular stitchery day and go on field trips to our favorite stitchery and quilting stores.

Satellite Groups were established according to zip codes. Here are the selected names for those satellites: Needle Knotters, Eliza Janes Stitchers, Stitch Witches, Narrows Needlers and Moonliters. Many more satellites have been added and many have disbanded over the years.

There were 123 charter members in 1974. Yearly membership have been recorded in the early years of over 400 members.

Encourage others to become a part of your satellite this year.

PURPOSE:

The Needle Arts Guild of Puget Sound (NAGOPS or the Guild) was organized for educational purposes, to advance the fine art creative needlework while enjoying fellowship and the exchange of ideas. It is our goal to promote high standards in needlework and design.

ORGANIZATION:

The Guild is made up of smaller groups. Satellites and interest groups meet in homes or community center throughout the Pierce County area in Washington State, usually from September to June. Each group has a coordinator who directs the group's stitchery activities for the year.

PROGRAMS & MEETINGS:

NAGOPS has at least three general meetings a year where the business of the guild is conducted. There is usually a guest lecturer or activity related to the stitching art at each meeting. General meetings are very important for the smooth operation of the Guild and sharing fun and work of others.