September 2019 - Hill Country Smocking Guild Meeting

Hill Country Smocking Guild 

Meeting Minutes

Monday, September 16, 2019

September meeting called to order

8 members present

August minutes approved as posted on Blog

Old Business:

SAGA convention raffle basket completed and it looks wonderful. Mary will deliver the basket to convention on Tuesday.

SAGA convention starts tomorrow in Addison, TX (a suburb of Dallas).

Election of officers. one member motioned to accept the list of officers submitted by committee. Another member 2nd the motion. Motion passed.

New Business:

This year's vice president offered to set up a beginning smocking class, possibly in early 2020. Thinking the class will last about four weeks and will culminate with a smocked project. 

The vision is we will advertise. Limited number of seats available. We will look for a location to host the classes.

Also discussed - the possibility of quarterly programs. Moore discussion next meeting.

Door Prize - Melissa

Next Meeting: October 21st

Show and Share:

Patty shared a personal experience. She also shared her completed needle minder with fun and surprising beading on the back.

One member shared her mother's Rosary making pliers and instructions. Very cool.

Lise showed her finished needle point canvas in nostalgic 1960s colors. The 60s and 70s are popular again!

Program:

Patty lead the members in creating fun insect themed scissor fobs. We were all a-buzzed (Ooohhhhhhh)

See you in October

August 2019 - Hill Country Smocking Guild Meeting

Hill Country Smocking Guild 

Meeting Minutes

Monday, August 19, 2019

August meeting called to order

9 members in attendance

May minutes approved as posted on our Blog

Officer Report - 


     We are welcoming 2 new members: Davis H. and Desiree H.  And we welcome a
long-distance friend Elissa P.

Committee Reports:

     Nominating committee submitted a list of names for the membership to thoughtfully consider as officers in 2020. The names will be sent via email to all members. Since the September meeting falls one day before SAGA conference, we will vote electronically, in September, for officers.

     A By-Laws review committee has been chosen. They will review our by-laws it see if we need any revisions or additions. Expect a report in October.

Communications:

     An up-dated membership list has been sent out. If anyone has changes or updates, just let Mary know.

     New car 'flow' pattern at the church. There are signs posted. This new flow of automotive traffic is to help the school manage drop off / pick up during the school year.

Old Business:

     We enjoyed two great summer workshops - 
     June - creation of a dress using Children's Corner's 'Lee'
     July - creation of colorful felt pincushions

     SAGA raffle basket - 
     We have a wonderful array of items for the raffle basket, including a fabulous pleater stand /thread box made and donated by the husband of a member.

     Thank you all for helping make our basket donation a success. Mary will wrap everything up and take it to convention.

New Business:

     There was discussion about the reduction of the guild's library. Although we do not have the best shopping in Austin, with the internet we have better-than-ever access to patterns and books. With this in mind we will offer no longer needed items for sale as our January 2020 program. (More information will be sent in an email). We will keep a few items for checkout.

Show and Share:

     Mary shared her completed Lee dress and her pincushion that she completed from the summer workshops.

     Deanna - share a super cute make-up bag created from a place mat!

     Marguerite and Sabitha both shared their completely stitched pincushions.

Next Month:

     Patty will offer a program on making cute scissor fobs. Everyone needs to have placed their order with the Vice-President . The kits will be only $5 each.

Program:

  A fun felt needle minder.

Hill Country Smocking Guild - New Parking Lot 'Flow Pattern'

 Important note concerning the 

church parking lot 'flow pattern'.

Beginning August 12th, the parking lot 

is going to flow in a clockwise pattern 

(opposite of the current flow of the lot). 

This change is to keep the students safe 

as the exit their cars in the morning and 

enter their cars in the afternoon. 

Sandwich board signs will be put-up in 

the parking lot to assist with directing 

folks around the building. This reverse 

flow will be during both day AND night. 

One of the main changes as a result of 

this will be that the parking spots along 

the north (right) side of the building will 

turn into back-in angle parking during 

the week.

If you come up to the building during the 

weekday between the hours of 7:00 a.m.

- 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, you 

will need to undergo a security check using 

your driver's license and the Raptor 

software, which is common in most 

elementary and middle schools these days.

Remember: there are 2 entrances to the 

church. We now need to take the 2nd 

entrance on Balcones Drive. This means 

that you will drive past the big church and 

enter the 2nd drive. (Hope this makes 

sense) You will still drive to the back of 

the church and enter through the back door.

2019 Summer workshops

We enjoyed 2 wonderful workshops 

this past summer:

June - In Georgetown, members
worked on their own dresses, using
Children's Corner 'Lee' pattern. Even
with everyone using the same pattern,
all the different colors of fabric created
unique creations.

July - In south Austin, members
created luscious felt pin cushions. 
Watching Helen fill the final project
was poetry in motion!

May 2019 - Hill Country Smocking Guild Meeting

Hill Country Smocking Guild

Meeting Minutes

Monday, May 20, 2019

May Meeting called to order
5 members in attendance

New Business - 
2 wonderful workshops are planned
for this summer: 

June - In Georgetown, members 
worked on their own dresses, 
using Children's Corner 
'Lee' pattern. 

July - In south Austin, members will 
create luscious felt pin cushions. 
Watch for emails about color choices.

Mary asked for volunteers for the 2020
officer nominating committee. Anyone
interested can contact her via her email.  

Mary asked or volunteers for a 
By-Laws review committee. Lise and 
Marguerite were able to offer help

Old Business -

Members contributed items for our 
SAGA convention basket. This 
basket is a donation for the 
'famous' raffle. The money goes to 
help support the convention. We 
will also accept any basket 
donations (small supplies, needles, 
floss, anything 'Texas' 
related ...) in August. Mary will 
assemble the basket and take it 
to convention.  

Reminder: We will not have a regular
meeting in June or July. Our first 
meeting after the summer will be 
Monday, 19 August. Hope 
everyone enjoys a safe,
family filled summer. 

Door Prize - Marguerite 

Show and Share: 

 - Member shared a unique book for 
   creating doll clothing based on 
   Children's Corner patterns. 
   (This book is still available 
   through Children's Corner, 
   Nashville) 

- also shared was the handy printed 
  index for the Inspiration's magazine  

- Kim gave us a few ideas for preparing 
   our fabric before the June 'Lee' 
   dress workshop  

- Kim also told us about an upcoming 
  trip to Belize. Can't wait to hear all 
  the good work that took place  

- A sweet lady came in with an arm-
  load of vintage magazines for our 
  group. Everyone was excited and 
  they were quickly scooped up. 
  She had stitched in the past and 
  we hope she will find
  time to visit with us again.  

Program:

A sharing out of extra sewing items, 
magazines, and sewing tips 

Respectfully submitted,
Hill Country Smocking Guild

Hill Country Smocking Guild 
information can be found: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hillcountrysmockingguild/

The Hill Country Smocking Guild (HCSG) 
is a group of dedicated individuals 
who share a love of fine handwork. 

We Call Austin, Texas home. 

Monthly meetings except: 
June, July, and December 
Meetings include:
 techniques in the fabric arts,
and friendship. 

We welcome others who share these interest.

April 2018 - Hill Country Smocking Guild Meeting

Hill Country Smocking Guild

Meeting Minutes/Notes

April 16, 2018

In attendance:

Kim D.                   Helen                    Melissa A

Sabitha                 Lise                        Mary

Roberta               

Guest – Jacque

Old Business – Helen wants to set up a Facebook page for the chapter

New Business – 

- Helen wants to apply for a grant to help bring in an instructor

  

- Dates for summer meetings were set.  Both will be at Helen’s house in south Austin.

- June 15-16, a capri set from Sew Beautiful magazine

- August 10-11, heirloom items sewn on a serger

Door Prize – set of projects bags won by Jacque

Show and Share Items –

Mary – two Wee Care sets in pink 

Roberta – dolls dressed by her grandmother, one about 2 inches long and the other about 16 inches long also a doll dress pattern from the early 1900s

Melissa – finished all the choir costumes

Helen – a small machine embroidered Wee Care gown, knit outfit for 5 inch doll

The program was a smocked dress and pants set for 5’’ inch doll.  Helen offered these additional program notes:

1) The dress is a bishop with the sleeve built into the pattern piece.

2) The front is slightly shorter than the back due to the neck curve

3) The neck of the dress is bias bound. Use a bias strip about ¾ inch by 6-7 inches long

4) Pleat four (4)  ½ rows

5) Deal with folding and ironing the sleeves  before drawing up the smocking threads

6) The panties have elastic on the back only – Helen recommends 1.5 mm beading elastic.

Respectfully submitted,

Lise Waring

Secretary

Hill County Smocking Guild