Santie says:

When You Choose a Big Box

Sew Powerful is the charity organization I sew for. The crossbody bags I make need to be shipped to California. Fortunately, they negotiated a very cost effective postal deal with Give Back Box. The problem is that it is tempting to cram a large box as full as you can. The maximum weight allowed is 70 pounds, which is roughly 210 yards of cotton fabric. 

I secured a box destined for the recycle bin and it found a spot in the sewing room closet. On completion a bag was tossed in the box. But then a bigger box entered our front door and replaced the one in the sewing room closet. This one was a challenge to fill to capacity. Stubborn me refused to close up the box and send it off unless the space available was maximized. It took me a year to fill it with 105 bags (32,2 pounds). What a joyful moment when it was sealed and mailed. The knowledge that each bag filled with sanitary products will allow a young girl in Zambia to stay in school during her period and give her a future was worth the time invested to fill the oversized box. 

I pondered on this somewhat and came to the conclusion that I am not the only one that chose a “big box” that can feel overwhelming. 

Quilters keep building their fabric stash as there is always another piece of fabric that is enticing. Storage and organization becomes problematic. For others it is a large size quilt following a challenging and complex pattern. The time to completion feels endless.

Garment sewists collect more patterns and yardage than they have sewing stamina yo complete. The selection of zippers, buttons and other necessities piles up. 

Embroiderers end up with thousands of designs and establishing a filing system is tedious. Let alone finding a specific one when you need it. Not to mention the multiple thread spools that need to be accommodated. 

For all of us, notions keeps attracting our attention. We convince ourselves that this one will make life in the sewing room perfect. But we seem to loose track of them and don’t use them when we could have. 

This is in no way criticism, but a kind warning is to be careful how large the “box” is you choose. If you can identify with my issue, don’t let it become a burden and steal your joy.

Having a “Big Box” challenge, is not a problem, as long as it brings joy somewhere in the process. We sew to bring pleasure to us or others. It engages our hands, our minds and our emotions all at once. What a great investment of time. Even if it takes years to fill the box, complete the project or use the fabric stash, remember to enjoy the journey. 

Keep on growing in sewing.  

Santie Coetser 

Chapter President 

A complete list of all current members can be found

on our Members page.

It is time to call for nominations for candidates to seek election to the Chapter Advisory Board for 2027. All members have the opportunity to apply for any position.

The 2027 elected positions for the Advisory Board consist of Secretary and Treasurer.

We want to encourage all members to look at the positions and responsibilities and see if there is one that appeals to you. You have the opportunity to assist in the success of our chapter for the coming year. If you don’t want to nominate yourself for a position, perhaps you would like to nominate someone else you believe would be a good candidate.

Nominations are open for all positions. The job descriptions are included.

IMPORTANT DATES: The Nominating Committee will be accepting nominations for candidates to the

Chapter Advisory Board for 2027 between August 1st to August 15th.

RETURN THIS FORM TO: Louise Maes, 2 Walthall Ct. Simpsonville, SC 29680-6853

Or e-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARY

__________________________________________

TREASURER

__________________________________________

The members of the nominating committee are: Marcia Baker • Barb Shambo • Phyllis Fulmer

Please feel free to contact us for more information or questions.

Duties of the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB)

The duties of the CAB collectively are:

• To keep the chapter vital and worthwhile for the chapter members,

• To remain in compliance/good standing

• To appoint other CAB members as appropriate,

• To exercise fiscal responsibility in the use of chapter funds for the benefit of its chapter members

• To conduct programs and events for the benefit of its chapter members,

• To evaluate the CAB’s and chapter’s operations annually, and

• To uphold the standards of the ASG.

Secretary

The responsibilities of a chapter secretary are the following:

• Keep the records of the minutes of CAB meetings and the chapter Annual Meeting.

• Keep the minutes in the records of the chapter as required in the Records Retention Policy).

• Be in line to succeed the chapter president and to take over duties of the president if the president, optionalvice president(s), or treasurer cannot preside at a meeting. Is also the next in line after any optional vice president(s) to fill a vacancy in the presidency for the remainder of the term.

• Respond to all correspondence received by the chapter as directed by the CAB.

• Sign the official notice of the chapter Annual Meeting and provide a copy to all members. If the notice is tobe published in the newsletter, provide a copy to the newsletter editor in sufficient time for it to be published at least fifteen (15) days prior to the chapter’s annual meeting.

• Certify minutes of CAB meetings as necessary. Certify election results.

Treasurer

The responsibilities of a chapter treasurer are the following:

• Serve as the financial officer of the chapter.

• Be next in line to succeed the chapter president.

• With the president, make sure the financial items in the Compliance/Good Standing Policy Checklist are correct and timely to keep the chapter in compliance/good standing.

• Sign the signature form at the bank for all bank accounts.

• Provide bank account information for the CAB/Banking Information Form

• Obtain the approval of the CAB for any bank account changes.

• Work with the president to prepare the chapter’s annual budget and secure CAB approval.

• Hold all funds of the chapter, including funds that are raised for special purposes, in approved bank accounts,and distribute as directed by the CAB.

• Verify expense reimbursement forms received before issuing a chapter check. Assure that expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the chapter’s standing rules, if the chapter has them.

• Deposit checks and cash received into bank accounts promptly.

• Reconcile chapter accounts with bank statements each month.

• Prepare a treasurer’s report each month and present it at CAB meetings.

• Prepare a quarterly Chapter Financial Report and submit to ASG national headquarters on time.

• Validate monies received from ASG national headquarters against the new and renewal member listings each month.

• Possibly receive reservations and checks for chapter programs and events.

• File Form 1099-MISC and Form 1096 when required.

• Provide cash at chapter events requiring it.

• Works with newsletter editor to bill all advertising placed in the chapter newsletter.

• Keep the financial records of the chapter as required in the Records Retention Policy.

• Maintain and provide a complete list of all chapter assets and their whereabouts, whether cash, bank ac-

counts, savings accounts, equipment, or software, etc.

Community Service Report 2nd Quarter 2026

Making the cuties for Franklin Graham operation Christmas child. Shoebox. Our church has a pack-a-box day for our kids to fill boxes. We also are an area drop off center for everyone. Some of ASG ladies will enjoy making items!!

Jerene Daniels

You can find patterns and guidelines for making charity projects by clicking here:

Community Service

Molly Hamilton from Folkwear will be our guest speaker at the annual meeting. If you are interested to know more about her, click here: 

https://createwhimsy.com/projects/spotlight-molly-hamilton-folkwear-patterns/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2026-06-28&utm_campaign=What+s+New+from+Create+Whimsy#growSource=copyLink

I sewed my first quilted piece in 5th grade  for a school project but didn’t really quilt again until I was 30, having spent the intervening decades in black and white film photography, drawing, printmaking, and other fine art media. I discovered sashiko quilting fourteen years ago and was immediately fascinated by the possibilities of drawing with thread, the simplicity of hand-quilting, and the tactile beauty of so much stitching. 

 

 I love using repurposed fabric for my projects, finding new life for old things. Each cut piece has a story of its own and then a story to tell in relationship with the other materials in the quilt.  I Am Like a Drink Poured Out  is made from recycled children’s and adult clothing, new hand-dyed indigo, linen, cotton batting, and sashiko thread. The lines of the thread create the image of a waterfall, tumbling into swirls at the base, on a field of denim, indigo, and a vibrant rust color. Looking closely at the fabric, you’ll see lines worn into it over time–the zigzag from an elastic waistband, remnants of a stitched hem, an old pocket or the void of one. Textiles tell stories through how they are used, but even the words  text  and  textile  have the same Latin root:  texere  means to weave. I’m a writer as well as a textile artist, and that connection is very important to me.

 

 My friend Lib sends me artist opportunities when she thinks my work will fit. She’s an amazing goad and patron of the arts, having founded Indie Craft Parade with two Greenville friends and Good Printed Things on her own. What a gift to have other eyes and ears advocating for my work in the community. When she sent me the Canvas Coffee + Art House call for artists, I thought,  Oh, I could do that.  They were asking for artists to explore motherhood in all its forms: “biological, adoptive, spiritual, [and] chosen.” Thinking of the “loss, tension, joy, care, and transformation” of mothering especially spoke to me, since my journey into motherhood wasn’t easy.

 

 I had already begun a couple of quilt tops that branched out from my typical indigo colorway to add brighter pops of color, but I hadn’t started the quilting stitches yet. After reading the call for artists, the blue seemed like it was calling for a waterfall of stitches to tumble down the fabric. I have a Bengali kantha quilt that was also a great inspiration, its running stitches lined just millimeters apart from each other. 

 

 I find quilting a very intuitive exercise, piecing the top and choosing stitch paths to unite together in a stream-of-consciousness flow, so mostly I only sense part of the journey before it's finished. I love the mystery of it, practicing in a more controlled environment what life teaches me every day. I’m really pleased with how this one turned out, but of course the next project always calls. I’ve got a lot of work to do before Indie Craft Parade opens in September.

Mandy Blankenship

Greenville Neighborhood Group Meeting

About Us: History of ASG Upstate

Blog: Latest Show and Shares. To see all the photos from a particular meeting, click on the photo or click on Read More. Also, if you can't make it to a meeting and have something to share, send a photo and description to [email protected].

Community Service: Download patterns and instructions for all our community service projects. 

And a whole lot more. Just go back to the top of the page and see the whole selections. For Members Only, you will need a password. If you are a member and don't have the password, please contact [email protected].

To receive your discount from the advertisers below,

be sure to have your membership card with you.

Marietta's and Bernina Discounts

10% the day of the meeting

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10% Discount at Asheville Cotton Company (Some restrictions may apply)

 1378 Hendersonville Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28803 • 828-277-4100