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APRIL NEWS Hope everyone enjoyed our Spring Gathering. If you were not able to attend, you missed a delightful afternoon of fun with your sewing friends. Dr. Karen Zupanic from Heard-Craig Center for the Arts gave an outstanding overview of how art influences sewing. Several creative members presented their art inspirational sewing projects. Thank you to the special events team for organizing another great event. At the end of this email enjoy some of the pictures from the Spring Gathering. Announcing our SPRING FABRIC SALESaturday, April 26, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Willowbend Mall, Farmers Market. Be looking for the email from Pam Walker, our organizer. We still have needs for tagging fabric, packing, working the market, and packing any leftovers.  Next week you will receive the invite for the Sneakers Making Workshop on Saturday, May 17, given by our member, Joann Jensen. Be watching for details. This workshop will fill up quickly. We have three new members this month. Vickie McCartney – She has so many sewing experiences with Daughters of the American Revolution. Hope you get to meet her soon and see the beautiful period clothing she makes. Linda Nord – She wears beautiful muumuus with fabric from friends on a Pacific island where she frequently voluntarily teaches sewing. Jessica Medley – She is the teacher for the Fashion Design Department at Plano Senior High. We are hoping Plano ASG can adopt the fashion design program at Plano Senior High. Our participation was a pilot program this winter. We had so much fun that we anticipate opportunities for the entire guild next year.  Join us as several guild members are attending the Plano Senior High Fashion Design Students’ Fashion Show this Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m. at Plano Senior High Auditorium. (Reserved will be a section just for Plano ASG). To get tickets, go to https://www.pisd.edu/domain/14369 We are tentatively restarting Material Girls Neighborhood Group in May. It will be the second Monday of each month at the home of Pam Walker. This is a hands-own fiber arts group. Fun activities are already planned.  Have you heard that American Sewing Guild is sponsoring great classes virtually for the spring? Beginning today Sandra Betzina is doing a series of six classes, and Janet Pray is scheduled for two classes. Wonderful opportunities to learn new skills at great prices. Just like being at conference in the comfort of your own home!To register, go to https://www.asg.org/members-only/virtual/ (Note – on the website, https://www.asg.org/, you must log in to the Members Only section to be able to register)  SAVE THE DATE – July 11,12 – Suzy Furrer, owner of Apparel Arts Productions, will teach a moulage/sloper class. More details in June.Hope to see you this month at the various Neighborhood Group meetings, virtual classes, and the Farmers Market Sale. Happy Sewing, Debby Bowles |
President’s Highlights – March 2025 Spring is in the air! Hope you are already planning to attend our Spring Gathering Saturday, March 29, 1-3 P.M. Monday, March 3, you should receive your invitation. Here is the latest note from our Special Events Team about the Challenge: Have you ever wondered where fashion designers, interior decorators and accessory designers get their inspiration from? Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more the you use, the more you have.” We hope you have been using your creativity in preparation for our March 29th Spring event. Bring something you’ve created inspired by art, fashion, interior design or nature. And tell us what inspired you! The “Best of Show” winner will receive an awesome gift! SIGN UP NOW What: Plano ASG Spring Gathering When: Saturday March 29th, 2025 1:00 PM Where: Harrington Library in Plano, 1501 18th Street, Plano, TX Member Cost: $15.00 // Non-Member Cost: $20.00 Did you know you can keep up with Plano ASG News daily, weekly, monthly? Stephanie Shaw is doing an awesome job posting twice weekly our info on Instagram and Facebook. Check it out by joining Plano Chapter American Sewing Guild on both sites. https://www.facebook.com/PlanoASGsews (I use my cellphone Instagram app for Instagram viewing!) Kris Peterson is keeping our neighborhood group calendars up to date on our website, https://www.planoasgsews.org/calendar/ Deb Ramseyer is doing a great job posting on our website blogs and info about what is happening in the chapter. https://www.planoasgsews.org/ ————————————————————————- The Collin College Foundation and The Texas Wendish Heritage Society both acknowledged our generous donations in memory of Markita Gumble and Louise Schubert. Families of the ladies requested our contributions to these foundations, respectively. Another great contributor to the sewing education for the American Sewing Guild passed away in January, Claire Schaeffer. Here is her tribute. https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2025/01/11/shaeffertribute ——————————————————————  MATERIAL GIRLS Neighborhood Group is returning in April! Pam Walker has volunteered to once again lead our fiber arts neighborhood group. Meetings will be at her home on the 2nd Monday, 10 a.m. Watch for an update on the first meeting.——————————————————————- DATES TO REMEMBER: March 29 – 1-3 pm Plano ASG Spring Gathering Harrington Library, Plano Special Speaker – Karen Zupanic from Heard-Craig House April 3, 7 p.m. – Plano Senior High School Fashion Show by Senior Fashion Design Students – tickets are $5 at the PSHS Auditorium (several members have been advising the students as they create their ensembles) April 26 – Farmers Market Sale (more information next month) May 17 – Sneakers Making Workshop led by Joann Jensen (This is a date change. Invites will go out in April.) —————————————————————– NEW MEMBERS IN FEBRUARY : Jane Macalla Vickie Scott ————————————————————— GALentines Luncheon was very special, thanks to Maria King for planning. We love our sewing friends!     I finally attended my first overnight sewing retreat. Amazing! You wake up in the morning and think, “What am I going to do today?” With a broad smile you answer – “SEW!!!” A big shout out to Sharon Merlo who has this retreat down to perfection. Amazing ladies with amazing projects. Enjoy the pictures below.                     |
Neighborhood Group Spotlight – Couture
At the February Couture meeting the Plano ASG member behind Tape Free Patterns, Kathe Campomanes, is explaining her company. Here’s a chance to meet her and learn all about pdf patterns.
Couture: Wednesday, February 5, 10 a.m.
Plano Sewing Center 2070 W Spring Creek, Plano, TX 75023
**Plano Sewing Center is having an embroidery thread sale. Plus, on Couture Meeting Day discounts apply on in-store purchases.
New Member – Let’s all welcome Pat Fuller as a January new member. Pat works with the State Fair Creative Arts Department, and through your entries she has learned about Plano American Sewing Guild!
So many fun pictures! First from the Intown Retreat, then from Designing Divas where Jami demonstrated how to draft supply carryalls.
Intown Retreat February 7-9
Designing Divas January 28
President’s Highlights – January 2025
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were wonderful. It was definitely a time to reflect on how wonderful the Plano Chapter of ASG has become. As I review all the different aspects of our group, I am amazed at how many of you volunteer your time and effort to encourage and spread our love of sewing.
I challenge you to join me in one of my many New Year’s resolutions – to attend a new neighborhood group or activity I haven’t tried.
An easy group to try will be held this Friday, January 3, from 9-noon for the Community Sew at the Richardson Senior Center. This is the perfect time to try it out since no sewing machines are needed this month. Just scissors or rotary cutters and pins or weights to cut out baby and toddler bibs for Hope’s Door. Sewing will be done in February. Give it a try!
Perhaps try out the Stay at Home Retreat Friday – Sunday, January 17-19. You can attend 1, 2 or 3 days. The link to sign up for the retreat is REGISTRATION
The Special Events Team is getting excited about our Spring Event in March. They are being very creative in their challenge this year. It will be called “Unleash Your Imagination.”
What inspires you to create beautiful clothing, accessories or home decor? Is it a piece of art, a picture, nature or maybe something you’ve seen on Pinterest? The ASG Special Events team has decided to switch up our spring challenge to showcase your creations and hear what inspired you to make them. All creative endeavors are welcome! As you have come to expect, there will be a grand prize for the Viewer’s Choice award.
The spring event date and location will be announced in January, once a venue has been booked. So get those post-holiday juices flowing and we’ll see you this spring. Possible links to include: 10 Fashion Designs Inspired by Iconic Artworks Domestika or Vintage Inspired Accessories – Nataya or Pinterest
Also save the date on April 26th for a Tennis Shoe making class hosted by Joanne Jensen. Details will be coming out soon.
Happy Sewing,
Debby Bowles