tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post7889912740682060403..comments2024-01-29T23:43:00.923-05:00Comments on gMarie Sews: Do You Belong?gMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04301526396026815132noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-72751635133813931982008-01-20T10:30:00.000-05:002008-01-20T10:30:00.000-05:00I belong to the Maryland Chapter, but have not att...I belong to the Maryland Chapter, but have not attended any of the neighborhood groups, as the one nearest meets while I'm at work. We do have an email list and I feel connected with everyone in that way. I like the discounts (the Joann's discount alone pays for my membership LOL!). I went to the national conference when it was in DC in 2006 and it was awesome!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914124374031844785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-29990771084866015672008-01-15T22:21:00.000-05:002008-01-15T22:21:00.000-05:00*hanging head in shame* no...I'm not a member. I ...*hanging head in shame* no...I'm not a member. I have been invited to a few meetings with various friends...and thought about joining but just didn't get around to it...do you forgive me?Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-71407697858880025952008-01-15T10:02:00.000-05:002008-01-15T10:02:00.000-05:00When I retired 7 years ago at the young age of 48,...When I retired 7 years ago at the young age of 48, I wanted to get together with others who sew. However, the nearest ASG chapter was 300 miles away and there were no chapters in my state. So, with a group of others who are like-minded, we started the first chapter in TN. ASG HQ put me in touch with others who like to sew. There are many quilting guilds in our area and a large local guild that has no national affiliation. When I was employed, nothing met in the evenings or on weekends. When we started our chapter, we had 12 members and now we're up to around 35. We have 3 NG's that are in the county which meet during the week and on weekends. We tried a night group but it couldn't sustain itself. We are continually reaching out to others in the community and offer workshops and events to the public. We were even able to bring Sandra Betzina here for a workshop. I love being a part of ASG and was just elected president for 2008. Being handicapped and homebound for the most part, ASG is the highlight of my life besides family and church. I have grown so much and gained so much knowledge that would not have been possible had I not joined. It is because of ASG that I have met many who love to sew garments like I do. I even teach on occasion. It's been a wonderful supportive organization.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-2744438474447930502008-01-15T06:31:00.000-05:002008-01-15T06:31:00.000-05:00I tried to join but at the time they didn't have a...I tried to join but at the time they didn't have a chapter near me. I'll have to check if they started one around here or not. I knew about the age difference the area President explained it to me if I wanted to drive to chapter in another city. We also have allot of chapters around here that wanted to quilt instead of do garment sewing.LauraMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08646972991522827672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-33132887427311048452008-01-14T23:28:00.000-05:002008-01-14T23:28:00.000-05:00I've never bothered joining because I just figured...I've never bothered joining because I just figured it would be tainted with more of our midwest malaise, like yarn shop owners who don't teach sock knitting, or "knitting instructors" who can't purl, can't make paired decreases, and don't even know what a long-tail cast on is (I'm serious. I met her yesterday.) Do they make dress forms in the shape of whiskey barrels? If so, I might just have to give the ASG a whirl.camillaknitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245673986722217155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-23876334928646783002008-01-14T21:53:00.000-05:002008-01-14T21:53:00.000-05:00I belong to ASG. The membership fee is more than ...I belong to ASG. The membership fee is more than made up with discounts from local fabric stores. However, I rarely attend the meetings because they are held at night and I hate to drive in the cold and dark. So this spring I will again participate!Miasewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07597551802534518767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-573704343523587862008-01-14T21:02:00.000-05:002008-01-14T21:02:00.000-05:00I'm a member, and for a while co-led with Gaylen b...I'm a member, and for a while co-led with Gaylen before I could no longer keep the commitment.<BR/><BR/>I have to say, our chapter seems to be really good. We have a president who really cares about the membership and leading the guild to provide services and topics based on what the entire membership wants, not just a select few. And I'm fortunate that our different groups share information so if there's a topic at another NG that sounds interesting, it's always open for us to go to that meeting as well. <BR/><BR/>Sorry I missed the meeting Saturday, G. Was - and still am - sick with a bad cold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-80815809361302894072008-01-14T19:38:00.000-05:002008-01-14T19:38:00.000-05:00ASG member....but don't know why. i am about your...ASG member....but don't know why. i am about your age and the youngest person at the meetings i have attended. i sew garments...not crafty garments like felt vests or fleece hats. i sew the clothes i wear every day. my NG seems more geared to the "crafty" side of sewing. no one wanted to talk about garment sewing. there was a definite "cliquish" feel to the group. i felt like i was intruding. the guest speakers brought in my the regional chapter are held in venues too far from me. again...not things i am terribly interested in. i am jealous of those who have fun NGs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-31414899227410659042008-01-14T17:40:00.000-05:002008-01-14T17:40:00.000-05:00I'm a member! I'm also a member of the knitting gu...I'm a member! I'm also a member of the knitting guild. I found out about ASG and joined because my mother's been a member of ASG where she lives for a long time. Even when I couldn't go to chapter meetings because of a conflict and they had no evening meetings (I work during the day), I still paid my dues every year just to get the discounts at Joanns and Hancocks. We now have an evening group (yay!) that we "younger" (I'm also 44) ASG members who work during the day can attend.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02076620222434551530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-84114573245174387212008-01-14T15:21:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:21:00.000-05:00No, I don't sew... but I am a member of TKG - the ...No, I don't sew... but I am a member of TKG - the knitter's guild. <BR/>LOVE that doggy!Lapdog Creationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816978797409540468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-41046329971836107882008-01-14T14:56:00.000-05:002008-01-14T14:56:00.000-05:00I belong! I love ASG. Our Atlanta chapter has ov...I belong! I love ASG. Our Atlanta chapter has over 15 neighborhood groups, so I would suggest that anyone who lives too far from a Neighborhood group (NG) meeting might start a new group in their own Neighborhood. <BR/><BR/>The members of my neighborhood group have widely-varying interests, so we have programs that run the gamut from crafts to apparel sewing. <BR/><BR/>As for the discount, I saved the membership fee just buying drapery materials and Christmas gifts.Beth Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04734691039569936860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-69778233390036227272008-01-14T14:18:00.000-05:002008-01-14T14:18:00.000-05:00I am trying to join one here in NY, have any tips?...I am trying to join one here in NY, have any tips? The age difference doesn't bother me ever, and i find that it really opens my eyes, and you are right, they are a wealth of knowledge. I am usually the youngest in the room, by decades. I was in an Arts and Crafts guild in California, a quilt guild in Kansas, and now i am trying to join ASG here, and a knitting guild. <BR/>Again, age doesn't bother me, i just LOVE the opportunity to be around non-Army folks for awhile!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-969284640973302702008-01-14T13:26:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:26:00.000-05:00I do belong, and it's probably worth it for me jus...I do belong, and it's probably worth it for me just for the Joann's discount. I have to admit that I haven't made it to a local meeting yet. Lots of the local neighborhood groups are during the day or at other inconvenient times. I used to attend the local quilt guild meetings fairly often, but I got tired of being the youngest person there by a couple of decades (not that they weren't nice, we just didn't have anything in common). It seems easier to find people closer to my age online that are interested in quilting and sewing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-62304902163876032142008-01-14T11:14:00.000-05:002008-01-14T11:14:00.000-05:00I was a member this past year, but have let my mem...I was a member this past year, but have let my membership lapse. <BR/>I will probably re-up it soon, just because I do believe in the good of such an organization. But the closest meetings are *very* inconvenient for me. At least an hour away to two hours.<BR/>Meanwhile, I belong to a Fiber guild that just started here in my hometown. It's not sewing oriented at all, but there's spinning,felting, knitting, weaving and rug hooking... all interesting. And some I do or would like to learn more about.<BR/>If there was a closer ASG I would definitely attend more. But I sure don't have time to start a new neighborhood group.Kathleen C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09985361663328017340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-61622818999372685682008-01-14T11:01:00.000-05:002008-01-14T11:01:00.000-05:00I am not a member of a guild. I'm not quite sure ...I am not a member of a guild. I'm not quite sure what a guild is and what they do. Although I have been curious. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure each one varies depending on who is in charge and the interests of the group. I assume they have meetings and I know they give you discouts. When I have tried to look into guilds in my area, I didn't find anything local. <BR/><BR/>Since they charge a membership, I probably would not join unless I knew someone who was a member of that chapter and recommended it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-64773778972407809622008-01-14T10:50:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:50:00.000-05:00no, i don't. the chapter here meets on saturday m...no, i don't. the chapter here meets on saturday mornings, on the other side of town. it's very inconvenient for me, so i didn't join (i went once to check it out). i do think about joining 'at large', just to support the ASG.mamafitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00532203067920083845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-16951744829579196012008-01-14T09:56:00.000-05:002008-01-14T09:56:00.000-05:00Um, no, because I can't sew a lick...Um, no, because I can't sew a lick...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21513612.post-84680894518207766542008-01-14T09:33:00.000-05:002008-01-14T09:33:00.000-05:00I just emailed my local chapter and within five mi...I just emailed my local chapter and within five minutes, the president sent me all kinds of info. about upcoming meetings and events! Thanks for the idea.Bonnie O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10337963671634796459noreply@blogger.com