WEBSITE ADDRESS: WWW.CRVC-EGA.ORG

ABOVE IS OUR WEBSITE ADDRESS:  Just a reminder....Let Lisa Green know at klg7641@comcast.net if you have a new email account.

Stitching Getaways: Our new area groups are meeting this month. On Jan. 13^th the West Side Day group will be meeting (weather permitting) from 10 AM to 1:30 PM at Suzanne Newton's house in West Simsbury. Bring along your lunch and a project you are working on and/or any project you would like to share. Please email or phone Suzanne at sfnjsn@aol.com or 860-658-2037 if you plan to attend. It is the intention of this group to meet once a month on the second Tuesday, so if you cannot attend in January, contact Suzanne and come on Feb. 10^th.

On Jan. 21^st, the East Side Day group will meet at Susan Jones' house in Manchester. They will begin at 1:30 PM and work through the afternoon. Please bring a project you will work on and any other information you wish to share. Contact Susan at Sjones7@aol.com or 860-643-8119 if you plan to come. This group will meet again on Feb. 18^th.

On Jan. 27^th the West Side Night group will meet at Julia Appell's house in Farmington from 6:30 PM to 9 PM. For those coming from work, bring your supper or a sandwich. Also, bring along a stitching project or something you would like help with or are willing to share. Please contact Julia at juliaappell@comcast.net or 860-677-9125 if you plan to attend.

Pequot Colony Group is an existing area group that meets from 9:30am to 11:30am on the third Thursday of every month (Jan. 15^th and Feb. 19^th) at the New London Library.  They work in different media, most of them stitching on workshop pieces that they have started.  The set meeting day provides a time when old friends know they can meet for a morning of work and visiting.  They welcome anyone who would like to join them.  The library is easy to find, and Doris Boas (ndboas@worldnet.att.net) will be happy to send instructions to the building.

February program: "Cube It" from the "Elegant Stitch"

On Saturday, February 14^th, we will be working on a non-sewing finishing technique called a "Cube-It". Kits that have been sent to each participant will be brought to the meeting, and Virginia McCarthy will lead us through the clever finishing process that accompanies this design called Precious Hearts by Full Circle Design. We will be working the small box pictured below. The snow date for this meeting is Saturday, February 21^st. Please contact Virginia McCarthy at Virginia1.McCarthy@citigroup.com or call her at 860-521-5064 if you have questions.

 Program Schedule for Saturday, Feb. 14th:
  9:30 - 12:00   Cube-It Finishing Project
12:00 -   1:15   Lunch, Business Meeting, Show and Tell
  1:15 -   3:00   Finishing Project
High Street School, South Glastonbury, CT
Directions: From Hartford, take Route 2 to Exit 7 (Route 17/Portland). Follow this route to the South Congregational Church and turn right onto High Street. There is parking behind the school.

Lunch:  You may bring your own lunch or we will be ordering sandwiches from the deli at the grocery store across the street.  If you would like to order a sandwich, please arrive promptly to select your sandwich from the menu.

ANNUAL MEETING - APRIL 17^TH
(Note: This is the 3^rd Saturday of the month)
Our meeting will be held at the brand new Hilton Garden Inn in Glastonbury (across from Thistle Needleworks) and will feature a presentation by Judie Solomon on "What's New in Needlework".  A delicious luncheon will be followed by our election and the installation of new officers.  Region Director Mamie Ney will assist with the transition.  Put this date on your calendar!

Reminder:  The New England Region will be presenting an exhibit at EGA's National Headquarters beginning March 2004.  Pieces need to arrive 2 weeks prior to the exhibit (by February 15^th) and will be on display for three months (March, April and May).  It is up to the individual exhibitor to send in pieces. Julia Appell may be contacted for further information.

The Merrimack Valley EGA Chapter's Fourth Biennial Seminar will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25, 2004 at the Franciscan Center in Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack Valley Chapter would like to extend an invitation to stitchers in the area to join them for a fun-filled, educational weekend of stitching excitement. The Franciscan Center is conveniently located near the intersection of Routes I-495 and I-93.

The seminar is open to all members of EGA, and the registration deadline is January 20, 2004. Go to the Merrimack Valley website, www.neonflamingo.com/ega-mvc, to view classes and learn more about this weekend.

The Southern Maine Chapter welcomes you to a new No Frills Seminar at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, Maine. The seminar will take place on June 18, 19 and 20, 2004 and will feature 4 classes and studio time. Registration opens March 1, and all registrations postmarked on or before March 15 will be considered first day should a class lottery become necessary. The cost is $250, which includes room, board, reception and class or studio time. More details are available by contacting Mamie Ney at mmaney@gwi.net or 207-985-3546.

Chapter Note:  On November 10^th, Gwenne Simpson died at Hartford Hospital.  She was an active member of CRVC for many years, serving as President from 1980 to1984.  Her generous nature and her enthusiasm for her interests made her a wonderful addition to our membership.  Although she was not active in the chapter in her later years, we appreciate her donation of time and energy to our group and wish to pass along our condolences to her family.