Home of the Minneapolis/St. Paul ASG Chapter

Serving the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota

                               Fashion Show

The Fashion show starts September 27, 2008 and it's scheduled to run from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. A breakfast is planned, and Sandee Brick is working on other details and we speak. She will need help; planning a fashion show solo is not something I would wish on anyone. To volunteer, you can reach her at  sewingsandee@yahoo.com.

The fashion show is going to be at Northland Inn, which is on the corner of 694 and 169. To volunteer, participate, or just watch, please contact Sandee.

Plant a Seed; Growing new ASG members.

 For years. skills and knowledge have passed on  to the next generation through apprenticeships, schools, and mentoring.  A mentoring relationship is one of respect and trust, founded on advice and new skills.

Plant a Seed is the new ASG mentoring program.  Adults with an interest in learning to sew, or in improving their sewing, are matched with experienced sewers, to the benefit of both.  The benefit to the person wanting knowledge is obvious, the benefit to the mentor is more subtle, but still very real.

How often have you made something, and been justifiably proud of the work you've just done?  Maybe the quilt colors you picked were just right, or the fit of the new jacket was really, really good.  Being able to pass those skills on to another can enrich your life.  Sharing the knowledge you've gained can give you immense satisfaction.

The mentoring will be done at retail locations where the mentor and the client can meet to work on projects.  Hancock Fabrics in Woodbury, and Sew Amazing are already on board, and are making classroom space available.  More places will be opening up to the program soon.

The retail location will collect the names of people wishing to learn to sew.  A CAB member will get those names from the retailer, and pass them one to the appropriate volunteer, who will contact the interested party.  Times will be set up by the mentor and client.

The program depends on volunteers.  Please contact Laurie Fournier to sign up. jfnier@msn.com

Chicago Convention

The convention in Chicago was a huge amount of fun.  Get up, eat breakfast, run off to class.  Eat lunch, and run back to class.  Of course, there's always time to shop, and many of the vendors from the Sewing and Quilting Expo here in the Twin Cities were at the convention, too.  Funny how you can find things you missed last time you saw them.

There were 31 people from the area chapter registered for the convention; if you missed the convention, there's a good chance that someone in your neighborhood group was there taking classes.  At your next meeting, ask around.  Maybe it could be the subject of a future program?

ASG Picnic 

The picnic has come and gone, and was lots of fun.  This year, it was held at Albert Kordiak Park in Columbia Heights, which is a very nice facility.  There was lots of room, and some pretty landscaping with flower beds.

One of the highlights was the silk screening that Sandee Brick taught.  She brought the screens and inks, and many people went home with sample pieces to add to their stash. 

The swap meet is always fun, and despite my vows, I did go home with more than I came with.  I think most people did.  I’m not sure that it’s physically possible, but it seems to happen every year.

As usual, the food was terrific.  Who knew so many people were such good cooks?  I know that a few recipes are out there floating around in the emails; be sure to check your in box if you missed them.