Newsletter – June 2020

I hope that you have managed to keep cheerful and keep sewing, and that we have many more lovely winter days as we have had this past week. The good news is that our sewing shops all seem to be functioning either with reduced hours or online and pick up. I suggest that should you need something, phone the relevant shop first and find out what their arrangements are. I have found all their lockdown regulations on their websites and Facebook pages for level 4, but I don’t know whether or not they have changed anything for lockdown 3. Whatever they have done, I know that most of their customers are, like us, of the “vulnerable” age group and they will be managing accordingly. If not, then it is up to us to manage ourselves and take advantage of the helpful things they have put in place. Whatever the system – we can buy embroidery supplies again.

On Tuesday this last week, I took part in a wonderful Zoom meeting with those of us ladies who normally share our table on Tuesday mornings. Since it was my first attempt at hosting a Zoom meeting, we were given a little extra time. It was so great to see one another, and catch up, that we have agreed to do it again in a fortnight’s time. Zoom is ideal for small groups of 6 to 10 people, and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s been a long time since we have seen one another. Even if we stick to the free 40 minutes, it’s amazing how much talking can get done in that time.

I would urge all of you to try and make some effort to communicate with others of the Guild, if you are not already doing so. Staying in touch with those you normally interact with on Tuesdays or Saturdays keeps our group alive, and modern technology gives us many options – Zoom, Skype, Facetime, emails, and even ordinary telephone calls. We are all in different places with this, but we can all do something.  

A day or two after that I had a letter from Danny our Chair person, and she may well communicate with you herself at some stage. It appears that it will be some time before we are able to meet again and that is worrying for the life of the Guild. I’m sure we are a tough lot and the Guild will survive, but we will try and make it easier and more pleasant if we can. Ideas are still brewing. Watch this space!

In the meantime, keep sewing. We love seeing what you have done on the FaceBook page (and for those of you who may have forgotten, it is to be found under “Jozi Stitch”) Robyn de Klerk has posted a fascinating article on Embroidery becoming a Power Player – a very worthwhile read. The WhatsApp group is also alive and well, and we are seeing lovely stuff there too.

Embroidery began long before we did, and it will still be creating beauty and keeping sewers happy long after we are gone. Covid 19 is just a hiccup. Let’s keep the flag flying – and we will fly flags done in cross-stitch, Crewel, Jacobean or whatever!

Below is a link to an article telling us why it’s a good idea to sew.

Keep warm and keep well,

Margaret

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