December Christmas Party

Members celebrated Christmas with our traditional potluck and ornament exchange.  After a delicious meal and a friendly game, we each emerged with a lovely stocking.

The theme for this year's ornament exchange was a stocking.  It was interesting to see how each member of the chapter interpreted the design to make a stunning and unique stocking.

Our potluck lunch is always delicious, and this year was no exception.  Some of us remembered past members by preparing some of their favorite foods.  It was a good time for remembering old friends and happy times.  Carol had made a gift of a beautiful poinsettia pin for each of us.

November Retreat

In November, members went on a weekend retreat to a lovely house in Bella Vista.  We each were responsible for one meal for the weekend, so we ate very well!  We brought projects, UFO's, and bonnets that we wanted to finish.  Saturday morning, everyone was up early to go to a local church bazaar, and several members found wonderful bargains and treasures.  We celebrated Tawana's birthday with a cake appropriate to our love of sewing...a sewing machine on top and spools of thread around the outside.

October Program - Sashiko

 Sashiko (刺し子^?, literally "little stabs") is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. Traditionally used to reinforce points of wear, or to repair worn places or tears with patches, this running stitch technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in quilting and embroidery.  (Wikipedia)

Diana taught this technique on a little bonnet kit from Wendy Schoen.  The back of the bonnet has a flower outlined with a running stitch with a bullion bumble bee in the center.  The front edge of the bonnet has Sashiko embroidery in a scalloped pattern with lace on the edge.  A ribbon rosette of silk ribbon is used to attach the silk ribbon ties.  Diana completed the ensemble above which is on display at The Stitchin' Post in Little Rock. 

September Program - Faggoted Bonnet

Bedetta taught this lovely bonnet using faggoting to connect pieces of lace to make the fabric for the bonnet.  There are tiny pintucks at the back of the bonnet and the entire bonnet is edged in entredeux and lace with silk ribbon ties.

August Program - Boutis Bonnet

Boutis is a cousin to quilting.  It is a hand-sewn form of decorative needlework that uses a whole-cloth technique in which two layers of fabric are stitched together in decorative patterns into which loose batting and cording are then inserted.    This kit from Marie Yolande makes a beautiful white bonnet.  Diana taught this unique technique which has a sculptural surface in a beautiful pattern.  The bonnet edge is accented with lace, and the ties are silk ribbon.

July Program - Stumpwork Peaflower Roundel

The July Program was beautifully embroidered roundel using stumpwork Embroidery.  Diana taught this class with an embroidery kit by Jane Nicholas and detailed embroidery instructions.  The first photo is of the completed roundel, and the second photo is a work in progress.  Beads make up the peas in the pods and dimensional embroidery accents the flowers and leaves.  The background is white satin.

June Program - Tucked and embroidered organdy bonnet

The program for June was a beautiful organdy bonnet with a tucked brim and sweet embroidery on the crown from the November/December 2004 issue of Creative Needle. The pattern came from Sarah Howard Stone's French Handsewing for Infants.   Joan taught this class, and her finished bonnet was exquisite.

May Program - Shirring bonnet

In May, Susan will be leading us in making a bonnet designed by Jeannie Baumeister.  This is called the Snail Shirring Bonnet.  It gets its name from the way that the ruffle is attached to the entredeux of the bonnet.  Kits will be provided, but members need to bring regular sewing supplies.  If you have a light box, you might bring that to help in copying the embroidery design onto the bonnet.

April Program - Marietta's Bonnet

The bonnet for April was Marietta's Bonnet named after a much loved former member.  This bonnet has a turned back ruffle with lace placed on the inside of the ruffle so that it frames baby's sweet face.  Tawana taught this class and brought a bonnet from this pattern that she made years ago for her daughter.

2012 Programs - Bonnets and More Bonnets!

The theme for programs for OFC for 2012 is bonnets!  A different bonnet will be taught each month so that members can learn new techniques, use new fabrics and laces, and learn all the different styles that a baby bonnet can have.  Each month a kit will be made available containing directions and all the supplies for that month's project.

In January, a tailored bonnet of blue linen was taught by Debbie.  Hand embroidery on the brim and around the edge of the brim accented this bonnet.

February's bonnet was constructed of strips of lace and ribbon joined together to make a very frilly and feminine bonnet.  Carol taught this project.

Stitchin' in the Foothills 2012

Stitchin' in the Foothills 2012 was a wonderful spring weekend of sewing with Judith Adams.  There were unique and interesting projects to learn, great food, fabulous raffle baskets,  new friends to meet, and old friends to greet. A good time was had by all!