Welcome back so many, and the rest of you get here, cause we’re having fun! Welcome newer members, please forgive us as we try to remember names. We can’t remember each others names after having been in the club for years! But we recognize and love the faces and are delighted with the great additions to the group.
New members, you’re invited to attend the monthly Guild meetings the first Tuesday evening of the months, arrive about 6:30 at Laurel Manor, look for our group, we try to sit together. The programs are always worth while, and you get a feel for the bigger picture.
The Guild Christmas Party gave about a dozen of us additional time to share together and eat some yummy home made foods, in a high spirited atmosphere. Althought the speaker for the evening was unable to attend, the meeting was filled with good Show and Tells, recognition of current and new officers and their efforts, and lots of laughter, like that evoked by a 6 to 8 week each year, member who began by saying how shy and scared she was to talk about her Show and Tell, then took over for the next 20 minutes with one laugh provoking comment after another... Good time, good group, well done.
OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY - VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE IN TIME TO 10:30
First, the time change --- Late in the meeting (some attending had already gone) we found out one or more of our members were considering not attending the party, only due to having to leave early, which sparked a conversation among the rest still at the meeting, and a suggestion, unanimously agreed to, to bump up the time a half hour, giving those who need it, a little extra. The first 1/2 hour or so is generally spent mulling around, visiting and getting the food ready - so even those coming at the 11:00 original time slot, won’t be missing out on anything. Heaven knows, there is always plenty of food! As in the past, someone will handle the carrying on of the gift exchange for a member who needs to leave, and she will still get whatever the fates determine. Gotta watch that Kathy Griffin, she knows how to hide stuff.......
PARTY HIGHLIGHTS: When: 10:30, Where: Pat Olson’s, directions below, What to Bring: Happy anticipation, a food to share and a wrapped gift for the exchange shenanigans, AND the CHRISTMAS BLOCK OF THE MONTH DRAWING. FYI: In the past the party has gone about 3 hours, give or take....
Directions: 413 Society Hill Circle, Mallory. Rt. 466 to Morse (south) to Odell Circle (it’s the 3rd. exit to Mallory Country Club), go through gate to the 1st street on left - Gayle Mill (turn left) take to Mallory Hill (turn right) take to Society Hill Circle (turn right), house is on right side of street. 352-753-8066
REVIEW OF TODAY’S MEETING: In Jeannie’s absence, Joy conducted the meeting beautifully, first reviewing the guild party instructions, then sharing information about the many workshops planned for the coming year. Several members signed up for some, and we agreed to reinstate the “story board” (found in the supply room) and have announcements like these programs, and coming events, affixed each week for anyone’s interest. The future stuff just get better and better.
SHOW AND TELL was its usual highlight - be sure and check out the pictures (linked, above). Shirley has agreed to demo those fabulous flip flops for us when we re-convene after the holidays. Donna was really prepared with hand outs of patterns and instructions of projects we are planning including ones for that fabulous fold and sew hot pad that Barbara demonstrated last week - it was so cool, forgot to thank you for the demo, it’s the kind of thing we love to learn, (I’m working on 2 right now) so Thank You so much for sharing.
THE SECRET SISTERS had an impressive amount of gifts that were shared.
FORGOT TO BRING YOURS? There were rumblings of having not realized this first meeting in December, was the last actual meeting before Christmas, and some sisters forgot to bring theirs in - so for everyone that that happened to - just bring it to the Jan. 3rd. meeting. No one will be sorry to get a late gift!
CHRISTMAS CHARITY: Jeannie has her group of elves meeting on Monday to do the purchasing, and she has everything in place for the delivery of items to Haven House, and the teens we were assigned.
HOT CHICKS QUILT SHIRTS: Cathy continues to work on our shirts, having found some good looking ones in a rather nice shade of pink. She will be getting us info on trying them on, and pricing soon.
ABREVIATED SCHEDULE THIS SEASON: Due to the amount of members leaving The Villages for the Christmas holiday, and the busy-ness of the week, we will not be conducting any formal meetings on the 20th and the 27th, but the meeting room and time is ours and all who wish to, can still come and use the space. The next scheduled meeting will be January 3rd.
MAH JONG, KNITTING AND BEADING: Seems we are a multi-interest and multi-talented group. There are spin off opportunities in the making. Anyone interested in joining some of us off site once a week to play mah jong, have a small kitting circle, and/or do some beading/crafting projets together, let me know, as we’re forming some “cottage” groups (meeting in each other’s homes). The mah jong is trying to take place on Wednesday evenings, the knitting will be establishing a weekly time slot, and the beading/crafting will likely be project based - when we agree on a project, we’ll schedule the times for it! 352-750-3907 or 847-894-3322.
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:
Dec. 13th. - Christmas Party 10:30 Pat Olson’s house - Christmas Block Drawing
Dec. 20th and 27th - Laurel Manor room open for any one’s use - no formal meetings
Jan. 3rd. resume formal meeting - late delivery of any Secret Sisters Christmas gifts
Jan. 21 & 22 - One Stop Shop Hop/MarketPlace 2012
