K.N.A.S.S.

Texas Christmas Stocking Giveaway Held

2011-12-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

The first phase of our Texas Fire Relief Effort took place on Saturday, December 3 in Bastrop, Texas. The members of the Lost Pines Quilters set up the distribution site and played Santa's Helpers during the giveaway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SANTA'S HELPERS: Back Row from left to right: Judy Harvell, Stephanie Gaskill, Lyn Gaskill, Debbie Higgins and Renee Gray. In the front is Judy Harding. All are members of Lost Pines Quilters. Lyn, Debbie and Renee are also Stitchmap members. Stephanie and Debbie lost their homes to the fires. Debbie is currently rebuilding. Stephanie moved into a new home and was evacuated out of that in a matter of days. She is now resettled.

There were stockings of all sizes (over 100 were sent down), bags of ornaments for each stocking recipient and extra ornaments set out on the tables for those who didn't want a stocking. The ladies set all the kits and patterns and books out at the far end of the table and let everyone choose what they would like to work on during the pre-holiday season.

Lyn shared with me that there were 20 families who were represented that day, for a combined total of over 50 people given help. More than 100 stockings were donated. Several people opted not to take a stocking at all, taking only a few of the 282 donated ornaments or a couple of the 100+ Christmas kits and patterns. There seemed to be a sense of wanting to make sure there was enough left for everyone else who might come after them.

Mothers brought in their children to choose their own stockings and you could tell it was a MAJOR decision for each child. Very important stuff...had to make sure the stocking was just the right size, style, and color. Afterall, it had to be able to hold all the stuff Santa would bring. The first stocking chosen was a candy cotton pink cotton with a full lace overlay held down with strategically placed sequins tacked down with seed beads. The cuff was a quilted white fabric. The young lady who chose it.....Sugar was her name...was speechless because she couldn't believe someone had made something so perfect...just for her.

Stitchmap member, Debbie H., who lost her home to the fires of Bastrop, is helping a young mother and her children find something to brighten their day, too!

One lady, mother of a 3 yr. old, hugged a volunteer, broke down and cried, "I didn't know there were people like all of you in this world. Thank you so much!" She had watched as the first day of fires took the home of her neighbor, but spared hers. Then, her home was burned to the ground when the fire turned with the wind and roared through the same area again. She has been slowly trying to recover while living with family.

Even the grandmothers were there, choosing stockings and/or ornaments for their grandkids so that they would be able to give them "a little something" this year in spite of the expense it is going to take to rebuild. It was an emotional day for everyone.

Another lady confided that she was reluctant to remain in the room when she first got there. It all seemed too overwhelming to think that they could be getting the help from perfect strangers. But Lyn and the crew talked her into coming in and choosing something. She was immediately drawn to the large stockings made from an old patchwork quilt. She broke down and sobbed while telling the ladies that her grandmother had been a quilter and she had lost her grandmother's quilts in the fire. These stockings reminded her so much of those quilts. She had to leave the room due to the emotion. Lyn wrapped up the stockings, went out into the hall and tucked them under the lady's arm. They are going to a home where they will be very much loved and cherished.

Sugar and her mother perusing the stockings. Note the old patchwork quilt stockings on the right side of the table, bordered in a red binding mentioned above.

Since the distribution Lyn has received additional calls from ladies who were away from the area on the day of distribution or who had heard about it from friends. She is allowing them to come and pick out things at her house until the supply is gone. The final figures on the number of people who were helped might not be in until after Christmas. The Bastrop advertiser sent a reporter and a photographer to cover the event and the story appeared in the paper this past Wednesday. Hopefully, more people will get the news and contact Lyn for some of what is still available.

There were two special drawings held. Each person who attended got an opportunity ticket to put into the drawing box. At the end of the day two names were drawn for the special prizes. The blackwork wall hanging banner of the Three Wisemen was won by Annette H. and the beautiful hostess apron done in a cross stitched holiday design was won by Bobbie P. Both of these ladies were thrilled.

There was a lot of sharing going on in that room. Sharing of stories about the fire, the recovery process and the healing. Sharing of stash and stitching news. Many of the ladies asked about information on how to join Stitchmap and the Lost Pines Quilters. New friends were made and hope was renewed.

Everyone who attended will be invited back to the Phase 2 distribution of general stash in February. We have asked to tell their friends about the event. In talking with the attendees we discovered that many of the ladies who came to this event were not members of quilt groups, guilds or formal needlework groups. The majority were homemakers who loved to stitch for family and friends but had not had time to join with others for workshops, etc. They didn't shop at the local fabric or quilt shops, didn't attend the guilds. They were calling themselves "crafters" and bought most of their stitching supplies at hobby shops like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Most of them were looking for kits that were complete so that they could stitch right away and get back to something that brought them relaxation and pleasure after a busy day. Many thought it would be a much longer time before they could have afforded kits and patterns like they had to choose from in that room that day.

The smiles on their faces as they left made it all worth the effort! Thanks to everyone who sent stockings, fabric, kits, books, patterns, ornaments and anything else that we sent down there for the Christmas Giveaway. May your holidays be as full of hope and cheer as that which you gave to these ladies and their families!!!

This is Michele Pittman, a member of Stitchmap and Lost Pines Quilters. She also lost her home in the fires. Here she is making a selection of a crazy quilt kit and ornaments for tree as she starts over again and begins stitching in her new apartment.

Many thanks to those families that allowed us to use their pictures in this post. They made it possible to put a face to the story. We wish you all a Blessed Holiday Season.

Hugs, Shari

Texas Christmas Ornaments Shipped

2011-11-24T12:10:00.001-08:00

The Christmas Stockings and Ornaments from the first phase of our Texas Fire Relief Effort have been shipped and are due to arrive in Texas on this coming Tuesday. Lyn and her committee from the Lone Pine Quilters in Bastrop have secured a distribution site for Saturday, December 3, 2011. The local newspaper ran a nice article about the distribution, flyers have been put around town and word of mouth is spreading the news that help is on the way. The list of those contacting Lyn for help in the way of stockings, ornaments, kits and Christmas decorations is beginning to grow.

Here is a breakdown of what was sent in the boxes for Phase I:

104 Christmas Stockings - small gift card size to full traditional size.

282 Tree Ornaments that were received from all over the world.

Some were from family collections of antique glass ornaments.

Some were done in ethnic techniques like huckweaving.

Many were sent in sets of multiiples like these smocked fans. Others were in silk ribbon and even iron on applique. Many were done in machine embroidery.

There were store bought ornaments of all types- ceramic, wood, and even feathers.

The majority of those received were handcrafted and/or hand stitched ornaments. There were a wide variety of techniques represented - feltwork, beading, cross stitch, needlepoint, quilting and plastic canvas, to name a few.

Many tatted, crocheted and knitted ornaments also were included in the donations.

Other Christmas related items were received and sent in the shipment to Bastrop. They include:

-- 7 Holiday Decor Items for around the house and even tinsel for some trees
-- 18 Christmas Pattern Sheets for cross stitch and candlewicking
-- 84 Complete Cross Stitch Ornament Kits
-- Crazy Quilt Ornament Kits: 7
-- 1 Needlepoint kit of a Jewish Menorrah Applique Kit
-- 1 T-shirt Iron On Kit
-- There were several cuts of red and green 14 ct. Aida cloth
-- Multiple packages of Plastic Beads for stringing garland
-- 2 Already Beaded Garlands
-- A wide variety of Christmas Cotton Fabric pieces - from scrap size to yardage.
-- 40+ Christmas Pattern Books & Magazines for cross stitch, candlewicking, crochet, knitting and needlepoint

There were also some one-of-a-kind specialty items that were donated. The committee has decided to use these for special drawings throughout the distribution day. They include:

A Beautiful Cross Stitched Hostess Apron

A Blackwork Wall Hanging of the Three Wisemen

And several of the Beaded Ornaments will be included in the drawings.

If I left an item off the list, it is not for want of trying to remember, lol. I have been told that there are more packages on their way and if they get here in time I will ship them overnight to Texas. If they arrive late, I will include them in what is taken down in February, for it is never too early to begin planning for next Christmas.

I want to thank everyone who sent items for Phase I. There really aren't words to tell you how special everything really was. Lyn has promised to take pictures on the day of distribution. I will post again right after the distribution to let you know how it went.

Shari

Fabric Yardage & Tools

2011-09-30T22:38:00.001-07:00

We have really begun to receive some wonderful donations for the Texas Fire Relief Effort. I am going to post pictures over the next few days of some of the goodies that have been received and that will be taken to Bastrop for delivery in February.

Here are some of the very first books that came in. They are from MAP member Carolyn W. and her friend who donated the applique books.

Melissa H. of Japanesque Accents sent a very large package of wonderful stitching supplies, a part of which are shown in the pictures below:

A great book on sweatshirt embellishment ideas.

Needles and various other tools and sewing notions.

Flexible lights which will surely bring a smile to someone's face.

Wonderful fabrics for quilting, sewing and embroidery.

Thanks go out to these ladies for helping to get the ball rolling. My daughter, Moon and my DH have also just returned from Michigan. While they were there they stopped by Karol's - a StitchMap member - house and picked up some wonderful stash that I will share pictures of as soon as we get it unloaded from the trailer.

Hugs, Shari

Ornaments

2011-09-30T22:36:00.001-07:00

Phase One of our fire Relief Effort is the donating of Christmas Ornaments and stockings. We have asked that the donations be received in Colorado no later than the weekend of November 19. Today I want to show you some of the first ornaments we received.

Various types of hand crafted ornaments made by Stitchmap member Annette A. of Virginia.

Marjorie H. made these darling appliqued wool mittens. She also sent some Christmas Kits. Marjorie shares that she actually intended to deoorate these mittens for Christmas last year but never got around to it. She says it is just proof that they were intended for the families in Texas. This is one of those times she is glad she procrastinated. I have to say, "So are we!" These are so cute in person!

Hugs, Shari

And So It Begins.....

2011-09-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Donations have begun to arrive for our Fire Relief Effort. The first donation that came was from a MAP member in Alabama. It contained some really great books

.......and a wonderful assortment of perle cotton threads.

Later in the week my husband graciously agreed to drive me to Denver to pick up a large donation from a member of the Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilter's Association. The lady helped to fill the backend of our Suburban with 7 large boxes and 15 very large black garbage bags. Let me tell you that there isn't any garbage in those bags!

I have just begun to sort out what is there and it will take me several more days to finish. So far I have discovered that she has donated quilting patterns, magazines, fabric, q-snaps, buttons, quilting templates, and some specialty yarns. There is stuff that I haven't even been able to get to yet.

In these pictures you can see my hubby and I are unloading the first bags once we got home. To tell the truth, I took that one bag in the house and then Moon helped him unload the remaining bags and boxes while I held the front door open! They are real troopers!

If you have extra stash items that you would like to donate to the ladies of Batrop and the surrounding communities, please email me at ladyjspice@aol.com I will be keeping everyone updated through this blog from now until we deliver in early February. We are accepting donations of Christmas ornaments and stockings up until the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov. 19-20). These will given to the ladies who lost their cherished holiday items when their house burned to the ground. Email me for details.

Hugs, Shari

Texas Fire Victim's Relief Effort

2011-09-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Relief effort is underway. We have several members who have been directly involved in the most recent devastating fires that ravaged East Texas. Some have lost their homes and everything in them. Others have suffered smoke damage. The community there is full of women and men who were avid needleworkers. You can see photos and read a personal account of the fire experience on Lyn's blog at http://quiltinglion.blogspot.com/

The moderators of MAP have decided to launch a relief effort to try and help the people in this community with needlework stash replacement. This will be done as part of the outreach associated with our Stash Angel Program.

The following letter is being sent to several needlework sites and organizations. We are hoping we can get a response that will rock the socks off of the Bastrop community!

We are all aware of the devastating fires that recently shook eastern Texas. We know several ladies who have been affected by these fires. For instance, Michele P., and Debbie H. both of Bastrop have lost their homes comletely to the fires there this past week as have several other of our stitching friends. Even Lyn Gaskill, who is also from Bastrop, has her home still standing but she was totally without power/electricity for several days. Frannie S. and Kay F. of nearby Cedar Creek have their homes still standing but they had been evacuated. All three of these last ladies have suffered a great deal of smoke damage to everything in their homes, including their stash.

The members of Stitchmap are working on coordinating donations for helping to replace the stash of the ladies who lost everything and those who may have suffered smoke damage beyond repair. We are accepting donations of all types of stash from scissors, floss, fabric, mags/books, needles, etc. If you use it in CQ, embroidery, quilting or other types of needlework, they can definitely use it to replace what has been lost. We have also had a suggestion that a donation of gift cards for the local needlework supply stores - such as the local quilt shop, Joanns, Hobby Lobby, etc. - might be a good idea so that they can replace those items like cutting mats, etc. that are awkward to mail. Whatever we can do to help will be done.

It is our intention to collect the donations at one central location here in Colorado. Then we will personally transport a delivery as soon as we hear that they have had a chance to regroup, talk with their insurance agents and that they have decided whether to rebuild or move into some already built place. Some are living in 5th wheelers right now. We are coordinating with one of our Austin members (just 30 miles away) who will help oversee the distribution of the Christmas ornament donations. Without a place to store the needlework stash donations, and with the holidays soon approaching, it seems senseless to send that to them right now. I am sure they have more important things to worry about at the moment than where to put a new donation of stash. We have had a watertight, covered 8 'x 12' trailer offered for hauling the things down to Texas (can we say Road Trip!) and to deliver the stuff to these stitchers personally. Several of us from Colorado will be going down at the time so there will be a complete accounting for all donations.

Here is the plan: Once the fire victims who have lost everything have had an opportunity to take what they can use we will arrange for the members of their local quilting group (who were also affected but not to the degree of losing everything) to have an opportunity to take what they can use. If there is anything left at that point we will offer it to the local community to help replace what may have been lost by any stitchers in the area. We are working on establishing a site to set the donations out so that these needlwoman can come and see what is offered/donated. We are working on a method of advertising this opportunity to the community beforehand. It is our intention to come home with an empty trailer.

In the meantime, we have agreed to work on helping to replace precious handmade Christmas ornaments for these fire victims. We would be more than willing to include your ornaments among the donations if you are inclined to make some for them. Everyone will be credited on a list of donors that will be given to the recipients. We are targeting the week of Thanksgiving as the completion date for Christmas ornaments so that we can get them to Texas before Christmas. We will take stash donations between now and the end of the year, to be delivered in person right after the first of the year, hopefully. Exact delivery date will depend on their ability to receive something at the time.

If you would like to help in this effort please contact me privately (if you haven't already) at ladyjspice@aol.com or call me at 719-392-6303. I will be in touch with you right away with more information and details.

We will post photos and information about the delivery in a future blog post. Please feel free to share our appeal letter with others who might be able to help.

Hugs, Shari

Christmas In July & Mug Rugs

2011-06-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

On StitchMap we have some wondeful swaps several times during the year. Connie, our Swap Coodinator, makes sure that they run smoothly. With all of the very talented and generous stitchers on StitchMap we are never disappointed with the items we receive in the swaps.

One of our most popular annual swaps, Christmas in July, is coming up soon and we hset up a poll this time to find out exactly what type of Christmas/Holiday item the members are interested in swapping this year. The Christmas in July swap is always fun. Last year we swapped Christmas ornaments done in our own favorite technique. There were ornaments done in Hardanger, cross stitch, needlepoint, blackwork, silk ribbon embroidery and crazy quilt. There were even some Chinese Dragon Boats swapped......very unusual and soooo beautiful. I still get excited remembering all the beautiful ornaments everyone made for each other!

This year our members got to choose between making Christmas ornaments again or Mug Rugs or swapping both items. Oh.... the agony of having choices! I have been dreaming about possibly making or receiving a Christmas Mug Rug. Perhaps a Mug Rug that could be used all year round would be best? Personally, I believe I would use my Christmas mug rug all year around! I just love the choices this year!

The poll results showed 58% in favor of swapping just Mug Rugs, 29% in favor of swapping both and just 19% in favor of doing a holiday ornament. So, Mug Rugs it will be. I suppose I can always stick in some Christmas cocoas or a special little hand stitched item. That is the fun of a swap....giving the unexpected too.

The mentors of MAP recently had a Mug Rug Swap of their own. Each mentor could make and swap as many as 3 of these little beauties. Here are some pictures of a few that were done.

This quilted mug rug was made by Ruby R. for Susie J. Loving the Christmas colors here.

This reversible mug rug with the matching snack bowl and tea caddy case was made for List Mom Shari by Amber R. Isn't that a clever little bowl for Shari to put her jelly beans in?

This cozy mug rug was made using selvages and a simple coffee cup embroidery of redwork stitches done in brown. It was made by Shari for Mona D. She also included a variety of teas in the package.

See you on StitchMap.

Lyn G.
aka;Ms Mischief

Mischief On Map

2011-05-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while we have an activity on MAP that does not seem to be really stitching related. These little Off Topic Events are much enjoyed by the membership as they are usually done at the expense of our List Mom's embarassment. They mostly occur when I, fondly called Ms. Mischief by the members, come up with something a bit sticky to get into. This past week I came up with the idea of having a contest for which I would offer a skein of floss as the prize for everyone with the right answer. The idea came to me while I was watching a late night movie starring several classic western heros.

One of the actors in the movie I was watching was someone I knew that our List Mom, Shari, had a big crush on when she was younger. So, I devised a way to let the ladies tease her while trying to win the floss. I am sure we have all had similar crushes on movie stars or musicians, etc. My own crush was a rock singer who gave my mother the fits....David Lee Roth. I remember I had a great poster of him that my mother really did not like! But, back to torturing Shari.......

The next day I posted an email to the members that contained a list of characters in the movie. They were to guess the name of the movie. Whoever guessed the name of the movie right would win a skein of DMC floss which would be sent in the mail. Can you guess the movie?? Here are the characters:

John Wayne
Dean Martin
Walter Brennen
Ward Bond
Angie Dickenson
Claude Akins
Ricky Nelson.

Of course, I had to ask them who they thought she had a crush on and why they chose that particular person. In the end everyone had so much fun teasing her about her crush that they lost sight of the movie title. Like Mischief sometimes does, it took on a life of its own and became more of a contest for guessing her crush guy than the movie. Shari, with great humor, regaled us with stories about this fellow. In the end I sent everyone who even responded a skein of floss (everyone became a winner!) because I so enjoyed the hilarious comments they made about the fellow and Shari. Could you have guessed the name of the movie? What about her crush guy?

Let this be a lesson to everyone......it can all be brought back to needle and thread somehow. Don't miss a chance to play with Ms. Mischief on MAP from time to time.

H'mmmm.....Can anyone remember a David Lee Roth song? (Shhh.....don't get me started!)

Have a great day!

Lyn G.
aka; Ms Mischief

Pins - Get It Straight

2011-04-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

PINS! Have you ever contemplated this seemingly simple little thing that you probably use every day when stitching or sewing? Where was it made? How was it made? What is its story? Am I the only one who does this? I don't think so. However, I like to peak the intrest of those who don't wonder about these things. I want to urge people think about this stuff.

Happily, I run the StitchMap Teaser which is run in the even numbered months. I get to exercise my desire to make the members think about the small stuff associated with needlework. Most of the time the subject is more currently relative, like a certain designer or quilt pattern names, etc. But, sometimes I do pick some off the wall/crazy subjects for the Teaser. You learn so much from researching them! This month, April , I chose the topic of Pins for the StitchMap Teaser. The ordinary little straight pin.

Everyone uses pins for sewing and other things. Pins are an everyday object used in sewing of all kinds and Quilting. Have you ever wondered how such a useful item came into use? What were the first pins made of? Did you know that in some early cultures they used thorns for pins? Here in Texas with all the mesquite trees we would have had an endless supply of those pins!

My own intrest in pins was sparked by a TV show on the History channel called The Worst Jobs In History. The particular episode was on The Tudor Times. In this episode they had a segment on manufacturing pins. Did you know that in Tudor Times pins were made in little dank rooms with no light? The hours were long for the pin makers and they only made pennies a day. Just enough to buy a loaf of bread, maybe. It got even worse when King Henry VIII put in effect this law: "No pin should be sold unless they be dauble-headed and have the headdes soundered faste to the shanke of the pynne."

Would you be surprised to learn that they needed pins in those times to literally stay dressed? Yes, all those ruffles were held onto the wearer by -- you guessed it -- pins!

That is where the saying "pin money" came into our language. People had to set aside an allowance to buy the little pins just so they could stay dressed! It also did not help that those pins were expensive.

We learned in this month's Teaser that at one time the USA was a major producer of straight pins. Now there are only a few US manufacturers. Most of the pins made today are made in Asia. One pin factory can produce 3 million or more pins a day. We also learned how the metal is made into a long wire, how it is cut and treated. There is more to that little pin than most of us ever thought about.

Have I caught your intrest yet? Did you learn something new? I hope so! I also hope that you will be able to participate in the next StitchMap Teaser. If you are not a member you need to join now......we have so much fun learning together!

Congratulations to MAP members Theresa E. and Angela W. They were our Teaser winners this month. Great research skills, ladies! Each of you will receive a stitching related prize for your efforts.

Lyn G.
aka: Ms Mischief.

The Art of Repurposing

2011-03-15T07:43:00.001-07:00

In these times of having to stretch the dollar everyone everywhere is probably stepping back and taking a long hard look at the objects that they are getting ready to throw away. They are most likely asking themselves, "Can I reuse this? Is it worth repurposing?"

If you spent any amount of time with your grandparents while you were growing up you might have seen lots of repurposing going on. I picked up the habit of keeping and finding new uses for butter tubs. Both of my grandmothers did this all the time. It drives my husband a bit crazy but it does save him money when compared to my buying lots of Tupperware or bead storage containers.

Keeping in step with the times, StitchMap recently had a repurposing contest. The ladies of StitchMap were asked to send from 1-3 pictures of items that they had repurposed. They were to tell the original function or use of the item and then share how they converted it to use for needle work. There were 20 ladies that answered this challenge. Between them they shared 39 great ideas for repurposing everything from tape rolls and ice cream cartons to rain gutter sections and furniture pieces. Many of the ideas were truly inspired!

All of the ideas were so great that we took the names of the ladies who so generously shared and put them into a drawing to win some great prizes. We had two winners:

Erica C. - who shared how she repurposed some silverware divider trays for storing sewing supplies in her drawers. They held everything from pins & needles to knitting needles, scissors to rotary cutters and so much more.

Ginny M. - who shared how she took a walk in closet and converted it to a place for her computer and sewing supplies. The shelf was lined in storage containers for beads and supplies and there were plenty of peg boards filled with spools of thread mounted on the walls. There was even room for her computer! This was less expensive than adding on a new addition!

Another idea shared was from Merle R. of Australia. She used a half gallon ice cream carton and repurposed it as a current project box. She simply cleaned it well and then added a decorative fabric covering. She carries her current project and supplies around without worry.

Theresa E. showed us how she uses peg style clothes pins as bobbins for her silk ribbon and her laces. Here is a picture of her silk ribbon wound on the newly repurposed "bobbins".

The final idea we would like to share with you is from Rhonda P. She loves to keep her spools of satin, wired & novelty ribbons stored in some repurposed rain gutters that her husband cut and capped the ends of for her. He then mounted them on the wall in her sewing room. This keeps everything fairly tidy and within easy reach.

If you would like to know all the other great ideas that were shared during this contest just join StitchMAP and check out the Photos in the Repurposing Album. We learn so much from each other it is amazing!

Lyn G.........Ms Mischief.

A New Year & No Knots

2011-01-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the New Year! StitchMap is gearing up for a year of excitement and great stitching opportunities. We will have many new classes and other learning opportunites to offer in 2011. There will be GREAT new Challenges, Trivia Teasers and Courses that will be free to all members. Our first course of the year already began this week. We have 9 mentors working with 23 apprentices on Color Theory. The waiting list is filling up for the April Color Theory Class as you are reading this. March will see us beginning a new group of apprentices in the Basic Crazy Quilting Course. There will be some new to MAP courses beginning after that.

We asked our members to give us an idea of the types of things they would like to see shared on this blog. Tutorials was a popular answer. So, in keeping with the spirit of StitchMap and all the sharing that we do on our group, we are going to share one of our picture tutorials with the cyber world. We hope it helps everyone who has a problem with twisted threads .

We have a bunch of short picture tutorials on MAP that cover a myriad of useful things a good needlewoman should know how to do. This one is for those who are tired of dealing with twisted threads while they are stitching. If you will take the time to separate the floss into single plies and then set them back together side by side before threading your needle it will make a world of difference. Your floss will be less likely to twist around itself and snarl while you are stitching. Many stitchers are reluctant to separate their floss because they don't like the tangles and knots that are so frequently the result when they tackle the job. This is a simple and very effective method that will almost always avoid causing knots if done correctly.

HOW TO SEPARATE YOUR FLOSS
© A StitchMap Tutorial

Cut a strand of 6 ply DMC floss into a length of 24 - 30”.

Using your left hand, hold the floss in a semitight pinch about 3/8” from the top so that all of the floss ends are exposed and the freshly cut ends are hanging down below your fingers. (Left handed people can just reverse the instructions)

Using your right index finger, tap the ends of the floss lightly until the plies begin to separate.

Grasp one of the separated plies of thread with your right index finger and thumb. Pinch it securely and pull it slowly upward and away from your left hand moving slightly to the right.

The excess floss in your left hand will bunch up somewhat behind your fingers as the single ply of floss is being pulled out.

When the single ply of floss is totally removed from the strand simply shake the floss in your left hand and the bunching should fall back down without making knots. If need be, you can lightly stroke it back into a straight strand in order to pull out your next ply.

NOTE: This method works well with many types of threads and fibers.

We hope this proves to be something that you will begin to do automatically each time you get out your needle and thread to embroider or quilt. If you would like to learn more about how to do traditional hand stitching techniques and join in the fun we have planned for this year....please click on the StitchMap button in the sidebar.

Everyday is a good day if you are learning needle play! Happy stitching in 2011!

Member of the Month - Our List Mom

2010-11-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

Here at StitchMap we think of ourselves as one big family. We believe our members are the best and every one of them has unlimited talent! With that being said, each month we are going to introduce you to a member of our StitchMap family. We are very proud of our members and their accomplishments. I am starting the introductions with our list "Mom". Without this lady's dream and vision StitchMap would not exist today.

Without further ado I am pleased to introduce our Lady J --- Shari Jensen:

Shari and her husband live in Colorado near Pikes Peak. They have 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. She is a Colorado native raised in California and has lived in several different parts of the country while her hubby was in the military. She has owned and operated several businesses as they moved around. She had a cake decorating shop and bakery. She is a founding member of the International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) and at one time published a monthly newsletter for sugar artists around the world. She recently sold an herb, spice and gourmet food business that she had for over 20 years. Soon after she retired she took on the business of raising her 3 young grandchildren. They and their father moved in with the family after "life" took an unexpected turn for them. Having them move in helped her make the decision to do something from home rather than go back into business. So, she decided to share her other passion -- the art of hand stitching and she soon discovered the world of online stitching groups. You will find her blog - Lady J's Cache - listed in the sidebar.

Shari learned her first embroidery stitches from her grandmother. She also learned crocheting, tatting and some sewing skills from her grandmother. She is a Life Member of the Embroiderer's Guild of America and has been associated with her local chapter, Pikes Peak EGA, for the past 30+ years. She is also a member of the American Needlepoint Guild and a founding member of her local chapter, Little London Stitchers. She has helped both of these groups out by volunteering to hold various offices, teach classes and organize functions over the years.

It is well known in her circle of friends that she is not at all comfortable with the sewing machine. However, she does admit to using the sewing machine to piece together her crazy quilt blocks and to zig zag the edges of her linens for counted thread work. She may even make the occasional drawstring bag or Christmas ornament. But...she is more inclined to let someone else do her finishing work for her...often trading services with friends. She might bake them a cake while they sew together her stitched projects.

Shari has a passion for teaching needlearts and spreading "needle fever". Her favorite techniques include stitching reproduction antique samplers in a wide variety of counted thread techniques, including drawn thread, pulled thread, and hardanger. She loves crazy quilting because she sees it as an extension of her interest in samplers. She feels that each crazy quilt is a sampler of stitches and small samples of various techniques. She loves Assissi, blackwork, redwork, surface embroidery, beading, punchneedle, needle felting, silk ribbon embroidery, dyeing of lace and fabrics, making dimensional needlepoint figures, shadow embroidery and stumpwork. She credits the EGA and ANG for helping her have access to many wonderful national teachers whose classes she took as often as possible.

Recently Shari took a class in creating fabric painted landscapes from Judith Baker Montano. Here is a picture of her completed landscape.

Since starting StitchMap in 2009, Shari has spent her time working on organizing the group activities and handling the membership applications, etc. There isn't much that goes on at MAP where she hasn't been one of the creative forces behind the scenes. She has a hand in the writing and editing of courses, challenges, and our group tutorials. She is a mentor in Crazy Quilting and Hardanger and she mentors the members who would like to become mentors in any of the courses. She sets up the classes and handles the class placements. One of her favorite jobs is creating the questions for our Thursday Talk Shop Segments because of the amount of sharing that takes place as a result.

When asked what she sees for StitchMap in the future, Shari said, "I hope that we can add to the actual number of courses we are mentoring. We have several new courses in various stages of completion right now. I would be happy if each one of them could actually be released for Pilot Classes in 2011. I would also like to see growth in our Stash Angels program and I am looking forward to working with our new Community Outreach Coordinator to make that happen. I firmly believe that what we give away we get back 10 times over. So, I want to keep MAP as a place where women, and men, can come to learn stitching for free and even get help with supplies, if need be, for free. I get excited about the family feeling that exists at MAP. I definitely want to find ways to ensure that everyone who joins this group realizes that by belonging to MAP they are also committing to our common goal of keeping needlearts alive by sharing stitches. I would like all MAP members to feel confident enough in their skills to go out and spread the joy of the needle and what they learn about needlework by taking the courses at MAP."

Color Theory Proved Successful

2010-10-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

How many of you know what a true color really is? Do you know what constitutes a true blue or a true red for instance? Does it even really matter? Do you know the differences in the way a needlewoman should be looking at color while using her thread and fabric as compared to the person who dyed that fabric or thread? Does a painter/artist look at color differently than a stitcher? Do they handle colors differently? Do they share any common ways of looking at color?What do they share in common when it comes to the use of colors? You can find all of that out in the Stitchmap Color Theory Course.

Some people are lucky and the skill of being able to pick out colors that go together seems to come naturally to them. There are others out there that have no "sense of color". Where can these needle women go to learn about using colors in the way a needle worker needs to use them, not a painter, not a dyer, but a stitcher??? How many of you are even aware that threads and fabrics can work differently together than dyes and paints in some ways?

At MAP we believe that taking a Basic Color Theory Course is the best way for the color challenged to brush up on their skills! And we have one such course written just for MAP! It consists of 6 lessons and several short assignments that will help you unravel the mystery of color as it relates to thread and fabric. Learn how to make your colors choices so that they work for you, not against you. Learn how to choose frames and mats that make your projects more pleasing to the eye.

Recently we started another class of apprentices in the StitchMap Basic Color Theory Course. We have 8 wonderfully talented mentors helping their fellow member apprentices. The comments on our recent course evaluations showed that even those who thought that they knew about colors and how they work together got new insight on how to apply "color sense" to their stitching with information garnered from this course.

Here are some examples of a small exercise completed by members of a MAP Basic Color Theory Course. The exercise was regarding the recognition of and the use of Warm and Cool colors. The top photo is an exercise done by Gayle Morris. The bottom photo was an original stitched exercise done by Thelma Bradshaw, a Stitchmap Color Mentor.

The StitchMap Color Theory class is now one of the pre-requisite courses at MAP. Everyone who wants to take a class in Crazy Quilting, surface embroidery and other needlework courses, where color is very important to the success of the stitchery technique, will have to go through this class first or they must have had an equivalent course at some time in the past.

The ladies who have taken this class really seem to enjoy themselves while learning about color and how it works in the needle world! You can work in thread, paper, paint chips or even crayons, but you cannot use dyes, paints or other similar coloring agents.

How many of you say, "I wish I could do that. I wish I could make my colors 'POP', harmonize, or even, not stick out like a sore thumb"? Well actually you can. You just need to take the right course! We think we have the right course, for free, right here at Stitchmap.

Lyn Gaskill
AKA: Ms. Mischief

Let's Talk shop!

2010-10-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

On StitchMap we have a regular feature entitled the Thursday Talk Shop Segment! Nearly every Thursdays our list mom, Shari, posts a question to the group about some aspect of stitching and everyone gets to discuss it!! These segments are greatly informative for the beginner and experienced alike! Sometimes the discussion will go on for several days. The most helpful hints and advice comes out of the Thursday Talk Shop Segment (TTSS)! We all learn from each other new sources, ways of doing things and ways to get motivated, etc.

Here is an actual TTSS Post from Shari:

"Everyone should be getting their first Challenge Installment today (if they remembered to sign up with Ann). Part of the Challenge is finding a certain type of needlework pattern. This made me think ......... where do people go to get their patterns? Do you look on-line under certain topics? Do you check out coloring books, the commercial pattern transfers or something else?

I will share that one of my favorite (out of the ordinary) places to look is in my cake decorating books. They are especially handy if I am looking for simple embroidery or applique patterns. The shapes in cake decorating are usually very simple and lend themselves to being done with applique, needle punch or surface embroidery techniques like redwork and crewel.

I have other sources that I check but I am waiting to hear where you look for patterns. If it is on-line can you share the link? If you have a favorite transfer book or company please tell us which one and where can we find it ourselves? "

And here are acutal responses from some of our members:

"These are great ideas Shari, I have found a lot of patterns at antique stores and estate sales. I love the coloring book idea especially for children"..............Shelly R. UT

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"I occasionally do an online search and actually find something worthwhile. My most recent find was on http://www.flickr.com/

There's a group call Hoop Love Vintage Transfers. Great source.

I have used coloring books. I collect vintage transfers and embroidery patterns whenever I can find them or afford them. Aunt Martha, The Workbasket, Vogart . I have Workbasket magazines and patterns mailed in an envelope marked The Workbasket and Modern Handicraft. I have used applique patterns for embroidery or punch needle. I use to go to a lot of auctions (estates) but now mostly what I buy is online with occasional finds at the thrift store or yard sale"......... Ruby

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"Y'all, I buy my Aunt Martha's patterns from the source. www.colonialpatterns.com and I've never been disapointed at all. They have patterns that are soon to be retired and some really great patterns that are new but look vintage. Someone was looking for peacocks earlier and they have 2 that I have seen"...... Eileene

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So? Where do you find your stitching patterns? Is it an online source or from your local shop?

Lyn Gaskill
AKA: Ms Mischief

The Mystery Was In the Challenge

2010-10-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

How many of you in the Land of Stitching have been so bored that you would do anything to relieve it? Well, let me tell you that the ladies of StitchMap are never bored! At Stitchmap inspiration and projects abound!One of the main priorities of StitchMap is that no matter what you are learning, you will be creating something that you can use after you are done.

This month we had a floral theme as a part of one of our regularly scheduled Challenges. We had nearly 1/3 of our membership sign up for this Challenge. Fun is being had by all! For this Challenge every lady first declared her specialty in needle work and/or one she wanted to brush up on. The fun of it was you had to use that declared type of needle work and finish certain steps in order to get the next part of the lesson! Did I mention that the final project was a mystery? We were given a theme in the first installment of the Challenge but we weren't told exactly what the finished project would be until the last installment. It was amazing to see how so many ladies could interpret the same theme given only a few clues as to the final mystery project.

We had some eager beavers and they finished their mystery project in a week! Here are some pictures of a few of the completed projects:

These Victorian Heart Pincushions were stitched by MAP members Ann Flowers, Shelly Rebol and Debbie Higgins (from top to botton). There was a lot of fun and hard work that went into making these wonderful Victorian Hearts Pincushions!

If you are interested in learning how to make such beautiful projects and participating in Challenges such as this you might consider joining Stitchmap right away. If you were a MAP member you would be able to check out our group photo album and see the other beautiful Victorian Heart Pincushions completed in this Challenge. In fact, you could arrange with our Challenge Coordinator to take this Challenge at any time and make one of these pincushions yourself! I will let y'all in on a little secret........We have many more delightful items like this just waiting in our files to challenge you!! Our creative needle work challenges are the best!

Lyn Gaskill

AKA: Ms. Mischief

Stash Angels Help A Member Be An Angel

2010-03-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

We recently had a new member join who makes child sized blankets and comfort articles for small children at a shelter near her home. She told us she was running low on supplies and wondered if our members could help. Our Stash Angels came to the rescue, sending fabrics, threads and whatever they thought might help. Here is a copy of her letter to the Stash Angels of MAP.

"I've been very remiss in not writing this sooner. Truth be told, words failed me....Stash Angels!!! How well you wear your name!

Truth is that by your generosity and caring I am now able to help 'my' safe houses children feel loved and cared for. Not only by me but as I tell the children, most especially by all those wonderful ladies who have sent the fabric/floss that is coming from quite far away for them.

Words cannot tell you the difference you have made in 'our' lives ladies! Even that special word: THANK YOU!!! is barely enough to show my appreciation.

The greatest gift one can receive and that YOU have given me is to feel needed, to know I can make a difference. I am truly blessed and I have received so much and to be able to help others, specially children, is a true miracle. Being home/wheelchair bound,living alone, I could not, without you, feel that special kind of warmth that comes from giving.

Your caring, generosity, dedication, is well above and beyond what anyone could expect. You truly ARE ANGELS!!!!!

And this I say not only to my stash Angels but to all of you, whether or not I have been touched by you personally. Anyone who has ever given to others, anyone who has wished she could be an angel but could not for one reason or another, you will be included in my prayers each day. I hope you will always be blessed because you truly are the Chosen Ones.

May you be blessed always!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sybil"

It makes our collective hearts feel warm when we know that our help has done so much good and the recipients can feel the love that was included in the package.

You are welcome, Sybil and so are the children....who are so lucky to have you watching over them

Use What Mother Nature Gives You!

2010-03-02T13:47:00.001-08:00

The second week of February the ladies of StitchMap were, for the most part, snowed in just like most of the rest of you across the country. In order to relieve the doldrums we participated in a dyeing challenge -- SNOW PAINTING ON FABRIC. Oh my goodness but we had fun! We learned a lot about how the kids in the family were probably better at this than we were, LOL! It definitely turned into a family affair in many households. We would like to think it gave the kids a new found respect for the needlework preparations we all go through. At least that is how we justified doing it with them while they were out of school due to snow days!

We were free to use what ever fabric we wanted - most chose cotton or muslin. We could use whatever dye and colors we wanted as long as it could be put on the snow. Various dyeing agents were used: powdered food colorings, paste type food colorings watered down, acrylic liquid craft paints, acrylic paint from a tube watered down, powdered dyes and probably other colorings too.

First the work area had to be prepped. Most of us used a cooling rack spread over a cookie sheet or a roasting pan of some sort, maybe a sheet of plastic or a newspaper underneath (highly recommend - now that we know better, lol). The fabric was scrunched up and placed on the cooling rack in a tight wad - some of us soaked it and wrung it out first, others went the totally dry route thinking the snow would wet it anyway.

Then the kids (if you had them home) were sent out to collect the cleanest new fallen snow possible. At least a bucket full. Can you guess what the ladies of MAP who live south of the equator did in order to participate? They are in the middle of their summer right now. They defrosted their freezers and collected the frost/ice! Very innovative.

The snow was piled on the fabrics and the coloring of choice applied in the manner of choice: sprinkled, poured, plopped, squirted, spooned, you name it. We were fairly loose with the rules of the challenge.

Here is a picture of Cynthia G's two pieces of fabric, under snow with lots of coloring applied. More on her results later.

Tania W. chose to work with deep magenta and raw sienna acrylic paint watered down. She shares that she "plopped" the acrylic down on the ice using a cotton swab.

This picture shows her finished fabric piece after it was heat set in the microwave and ironed. Can't you just see cutting it into several different pieces that would be perfect for embroidering a tropical scene, a still life of flowers, a garden scene or some other design on? So much potential here.

Amy A. let her teenage son, Noah, help her make several pieces of snow painted fabric. Noah enjoyed working on the muslin and decided he would like to have some of the fabric made into an autograph pillow for taking to school and having his friends sign. Amy says she will make one for him out of one of the pieces they dyed together for the challenge.

Here is one of the pieces that Amy and Noah finished for the challenge. We wonder if this is the one Amy will use for Noah or herself? Can't you imagine a multitude of uses for this fabric? Great job!

And what about Cynthia G's piece? Well.....as Cynthia relates it, "...it was very promising until I nuked it to death!" Yes, she burned it up in the microwave! Lesson learned? Don't walk away when you aren't sure how long to set the timer for! But she did get her chance at the opportunity drawing for taking part in the challenge. The day of the drawing Cynthia's luck changed. She WON the prize! Congratulations Cynthia.

Progress On The Replacement Wedding Quilt

2010-01-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

In a previous post you read about how StitchMap had taken on, as a group project, replacing a special wedding gift that had been lost in a house fire. Nekkid blocks were made up and sent out to some of our members to embellish. The holidays kind of interrupted our progress. So, for the new year we are all hopping back on the bandwagon to get them done. We want the quilt to be put together and sent on to the owners as soon as possible. These are pictures of the blocks that have been sent back as of today's date. The names of the members who signed the blocks are above the pictures.

They are so beautiful! All the ladies have just outdone themselves! Also returned is one of the 2 cross stitch labels that will be attached to the back of the quilt. This one is from Deb O. of Colorado.

As the blocks are returned they will be posted for your enjoyment.

Lyn G

Wedding Quilt Replacement Project

2009-09-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

The members of StitchMAP have volunteered to help replace a wall hanging that was recently lost in a fire. The wall hanging belonged to the aunt of our member Donna. It was a crazy quilt commemorating the wedding of her aunt and uncle. A total of 16 blocks, measuring 8" each, done in pink and white satin were pieced by our project coordinator Lyn G. You can see all of the naked pieced blocks on Lyn's blog here.

The blocks have been sent out to various members who have volunteered to embellish them. Colors have been coordinated, motifs, lace and other trims chosen. Everyone is in stitching mode right now. Our members who do not crazy quilt wanted to be involved so they are making two cross stitched labels for the back of the quilt. One label will have the wedding date and the couple's name. The other will acknowledge StitchMAP's involvement in the recreation of the original quilt. Other members have volunteered to make tatted lace to be used on the blocks.

Here is one block that has already been completed and returned to Lyn.

It was stitched by Mentor Kathy S.

Summer Challenged Many of Us

2009-09-03T12:54:00.001-07:00

Where has the summer gone? Many of our members took extended vacations in July and/or August but that did not stop the needles from flying at MAP! Work continued on the One Stitch Challenge. The first step in the challenge was coloring the fabric in one or more of several methods taught. All of the participants completed this step and remarked about how much fun it was getting to play with the paints and dyes. The next step of the challenge was to make an under the sea scene using just the Feather Stitch and the additions of some simple beads or other embellishments. Everyone was quite proud of their first attempts and were eager to move on to the second stitch in the series, which they have done. It is a two step challenge using another stitch in two ways. We will be sharing the results when it is complete.

Here are some of the pictures of the Feather Stitches Under the Sea pieces as completed by several of our members.

Stitching & Tatting By Donna H.

Stitching & Beading By Cynthia G.

Stitching & Embellishment By Sharon G.

We also continued with the Pilot Class of our Basic Crazy Quilting Course. The first order of business was cutting out and properly marking the muslin backing pieces. No one had any idea what they were going to end up being when they first got the cutting instructions. Can you guess?

Completed by Donna D.

Next, everyone spent some time auditioning fabrics for their projects. There was much to learn about balancing the blocks with color, textures, printed and solid fabrics. There was a lot of oohing and aahing as the sharing of the auditioned fabrics progressed.

Jeanne Z shares one of her fabric auditions

Each of the apprentices participating in the BCQC managed to complete the piecing of the required blocks by the end of August and they are eager to begin stitching the seam treatments. Templates for use in marking the stitch placements have been run off and prepared to use. Supplies have been purchased for the embellishments to come. Yes! We are ready to have FUN! Let the needles fly!

Here are some of the blocks that were pieced by the apprentices in the BCQC for their first projects. In addition to learning a bit about carrying the observer's eye around the block by balancing color, etc. the apprentices learned one method of applying a curved patch to their CQ block. They have actually learned 3 methods of block construction in this course: the flip and sew method, the "T" construction method common in same quilting and the strip quilt method with an 'end cap'.

Square block done by Amy A.

Round block done by Eileene G.

Rectangle blocks done by Renee G.

Congratulations to everyone on their accomplishments so far! This summer was challenging and fun. Registration is now being taken for the Pilot Class of our Basic Hardanger Course - through Sept. 10. We hope others will come and join us on our journey to keep needle arts alive by sharing stitches.

BCQC Classes Have Begun

2009-07-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

There are currently 16 members of StitchMAP participating in a pilot class for our Basic Crazy Quilting Course. They are deep into Lesson 3 at this time. Each participant has studied about various types of fabric and thread. Each has studied a bit about scale and proportion as it relates to crazy quilt block construction and embellishment. They have had time to download and prepare their own set of CQ stitching templates. They have submitted their fabric and color choices to their mentors for approval and have begun to collect their embellishments for the CQ blocks they will be creating.

This past week they started the construction of the CQ blocks for their first project. For several of these ladies it is the first time they have ever constructed a crazy quilt block. Each lady is receiving one-on-one mentoring from one of our volunteer mentors. Before the month is over they will have also made 2 smaller blocks to complete what they need for their required class projects. They will be learning 3 methods of block construction in this first lesson. The class is set up to provide each student with 3 finished projects at the end. Those that wish to may make an optional 4th project using one of the construction methods they have just learned.

We also have 8 other members who are participating in a fun exercise called The One Stitch Challenge. They have each submitted the name of 3 embroidery stitches that they would like to learn or perfect. The goal for this Challenge is to make 3 small projects from a list of choices supplied to them. They have received their first lesson and are busy trying their hand at painting their fabrics.

Here is a picture that shows the painted fabric that one member, Theresa E., has prepared as her One Stitch Challenge background. It will become the top of a round Altoid tin when she has completed the stitching part of the challenge. She is off to a great start!

We are happy to report that we had 22 new members in the month of June and already have 10 new members this month. Welcome to each and every one of them.

Welcome to our SAM/MAP Group Blog

2009-06-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today the members of Stash Angels Mentors (SAM) and StitchMAP (MAP) are launching our group blog KNASS. This is an acronym for KEEPING NEEDLEARTS ALIVE BY SHARING STITCHES. This is a great name for our blog, voted on by the members as being the name that best explains the group's mission and vision for keeping needlearts thriving into the future.

Congratulations to Kathy Shaw for coming up with the winning name. And to our 2nd place winner Pam Coombes for her entry - Itching to Be Stitching. Here are pictures of the prizes that they have won.

Kathy won this lovely stitching organizer and these two pages of silkies.

Pam won this Stoney Creek Collection cross stitch kit and tin with a built in frame. It is entitled Special Tweet.

StitchMap (MAP) is home to those who are in our Mentor Apprentice Program to learn more about their favorite stitching techniques. It is also the home base of our Stash Angels who give so generously from their own stash to those who are in need of a small stash enhancement experience to complete one of our mentored projects or some special project of their own. This is the social center of our groups, where we chat about our love for stitchery, family and some things totally unrelated to needle and thread. We share hints and tips, links to our eye candy, shopping resources, special projects that can be completed in many techniques, contests or giveaways on other sites, and information on contacting various guilds and groups related to stitching.

We have our own contests from time to time, like our Group Teaser. This is a brain teaser/triva type contest in which we research the answers to a group of questions about stitching related matters such as various techniques, tools and fabrics. There may even be questions about our own site's logistics, various needle artists or authors, and stitchery related guilds or groups. All in all, it is very educational and informative. All of our swaps are done through MAP.

Stash Angels and Mentors (SAM) is home to the mentors who teach the apprentices of MAP. This is where the mentors gather to plan the upcoming classes, discuss their mentoring assignments and share tips. They also frequently participate in RR's. The RR pieces are then assembled to be used for a special prize at MAP or as a charitable fundraising item for groups that deal with Alzheimers, Diabetes and/or other special needs.

If anyone reading this blog is not already a member of MAP or SAM and would be interested in joining, all you have to do is click the Yahoo Groups button in the side bar to get to the application. We will send you a Membership Questionnaire to fill out so that we can use the info on it to introduce you to the membership. When that is returned, your application to join will be approved right away. Don't miss out on all the fun. Join today and find out about our mentoring programs and contests.

In the first week of June we held our first Group Teaser. Lyn G. is the coordinator for this activity. She prepares the questions and hides the answers from us until someone has the answers right. The subject of the first Group Teaser was Judith Baker Montano. The Bonus Questions for this Teaser were set up as a Scavenger Hunt of the MAP member's blogs and information that could be derived from them. The week we had this contest there were some internet hiccups going on all over the world. As we do have members from Canada, Australia, Turkey and Finland, Lyn wanted to make sure everyone was getting the messages...so she invented the Teaser countdown and posted a big TICK TICK TICK every so often for about 18 hours - going from 10 to 1. Members were on the edge of their seats. One member, Beckie, even wrote a poem about it in the 7th session of the countdown:

Here I sit, glued to my chair,
Watching for emails and pulling at my hair.
I should be cleaning and pushing the broomstick.
But I can't 'cause I'm afraid --
I'll miss the next darn TICK..TICK.. TICK!!

Here are pictures of the prizes that were awarded to the winner of the first Group Teaser:

Congratulations go to Norma for winning the Super Squishie donated by Lyn.

And to Beckie for being first to get all the bonus questions correct and winning the Silk Ribbons and Silk Ribbon Embroidery Book package donated by Shari.

Now, here is a SURPRISE for you, the general public: You can also win a prize from SAM/MAP. Below is the first half of our June Teaser about Judith Baker Montano (JBM). All non-members of SAM/MAP who answer the questions correctly and leave a message with their e-mail address (but not the answers - see below) on this post, by July 5, 2009, will have their name put in a hat. The winner's name will be drawn on our founder's birthday July 6, 2009.

1. What was the first quilt show that JBM ever won a prize at?

2. What is the name of JBM's first book?

3. What brand of silk ribbons has the name "Montano Series" in their line of SRE ribbons?

4. What brand of fabrics has the Montano Design? Name the design of the fabric.

5. Name 5 of the JBM color combinations from her line of silk thread and ribbon combinations.

You could win this sweet cross stitch Pillow Insert Kit from Pine Mountain Designs:

Do not post your answers to this blog (you don't want to help the others, lol). Send your answers to Lyn at: glynpg@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your own e-mail address so we can contact you if you win. Good Luck.

Angels

2009-05-30T04:47:00.000-07:00