As the group has developed, we’ve changed things a little bit to make it easier for the stitchers who are interested in joining us:

Our “formal” (if it can be called that)  meeting schedule runs from September to May every year. Summers are a little crazy with vacations and such.  There still will be impromptu gatherings from group members in the summer as their schedules allow.

We are now meeting on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9am until 2pm at the Warwick Public Library. This change was done to assist a couple ladies who have another previous obligation on the 2nd Saturdays.  Some of our stitchers continue stitching past 2 pm, but that’s when we need to give up the reserved room at the library.  :)  There may be changes to this from time to time if another group books our preferred room ahead of us, but we’ll know this two months in advance.

We are not doing weekday gatherings at Barnes & Noble.  We tried them a few times, and people who’d expressed interest never showed up.  The table options and lighting isn’t particular good for stitching anyway, so it really wasn’t an ideal spot.  So Saturdays it is!  That doesn’t mean we’re not open to other times – but we’ll treat those as impromptu get togethers.

Our first two stitch dates for the 2012-2013 calendar are:

• Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 9 am to 2 pm in Room 100, Warwick Public Library.
• Saturday, October 20, 2012 (same location and time as above

Hope to see you there!

- Measi

Our next two Saturday Stitch-ins are:

• September 10th
• October 8th

Both will be held in our normal room at the Warwick Public Library on Sandy Lane from 9:30(ish) until 1:30 (ish).  As always, if you’re bringing a project that requires some extra table space, such as a quilting project or sewing project, please let Lisa or me know at ristitchers@gmail.com, and we’ll arrange for some extra tables.

A group of our members who have been stitching together for many years has also started having some stitch-ins at the library.   You’ll find them labeled as “United in Stitches” on the library’s calendar. Their current reserved events are on Thursdays:

• September 8
• October 13

Both events are in the same room we use and will be held from 4 pm until the library closes at 9.

So if the schedules for any of these events come down, please – join us!

Also, if you’re looking for a stitching weekend away, consider registering for Stitcher’s Hideaway in Mystic.  The Friday-Saturday event is full, but the Sunday-Monday retreat (aka “Mystic II”) is open and needs a few more people so it can actually happen.  Jeannette Douglas is the teacher, and it’s a wonderful, relaxing weekend of stitching and stashing (LOTS of stashing!)

Happy stitching!

- Melissa

Since Celebration of Needlework over the first weekend of May, we’ve welcomed several new stitchers to our Saturday morning circles from all over Rhode Island (and a couple brave souls from the Boston area).  It’s been wonderful to meet everyone!  Several of the stitchers who have joined us belong to their own little circle, and they’re also now holding gatherings at the library.  You’ll see their Thursday evening group for September located on the schedule, too.

Unfortunately our Wednesday evening gatherings at Barnes & Noble were a bust.  The location wasn’t good for stitching and attendance was extremely low each time we scheduled.  For now, we’ll just stick to the Saturday mornings at the library.

Coming soon here on the blog… a few members have gone through stash, or came across stash via yard sales, friends, family, etc. and we’ve accumulated a huge group hand-me-down collection.  Some of it will be used for grab bag giveaways, but I’m also hoping that I can get an inventory together of it.  Ideally we’d rather it go to a good home – whether a stitcher who reads, a stitcher who comes join us for a morning, or someone with connections to senior citizen groups that may enjoy the stash.  Please contact me if you’re interested.  I’ll get a complete list of the patterns and kits available by the end of Labor Day weekend.

Apologies for the silence – hopefully it will not last as long going forward!

- Measi

I have added our next two library stitch-ins to the site and hope to have some more stitchers join our flock!

It has taken me forever to get around to posting about CN but as they say “Better late than never!”

Bru, Tammy and myself drove there Friday afternoon just in time to go to the two Round Robin classes being taught.

I was especially lucky because I got to attend one of the classes for FREE since Bru won it as a door prize at The Stitcher’s Hideaway Alumni Retreat.

I was so pleased with the instructors and how they managed to imbibe the scant 10 minutes of time with warmth, humor and knowledge.

Measi came up for shopping time on Saturday and stayed to stitch the evening away with new friends like Erin in the dedicated stitching room!

Sunday morning meant it was time to check out of the hotel and head back to reality home. Bru and Tammy awoke early so they could get some last minute stitching done while hanging out in the lobby.

Bru began casually chatting with two other stitchers who happened to be from….Rhode Island! Quickly she invited them to our stitching group and just like that *snaps fingers* our lonely little band of stitchers doubled!

You cannot imagine our delight! I can’t believe we had to go to New Hampshire to meet up with another stitching group in our area! I am so pleased to have met a group of stitchers like these ladies!

A special Rhode Island Stitchers welcome goes out to Becky, Sandy, Margaret, Shannon and Leanne! Thanks for sharing your stitching time with us! We are so happy to have met you all!

Check out my blog and Measi’s for other Celebration of Needlwork related activities (especially Measi’s epic kitting of The Book of Ink Cricles)!

We were very excited to send the prize goodies to our Spring Giveaway winner Kathy who had some kind words for us on her blog!

“My exciting news for this weekend is that I received a package of stitching goodies from the Rhode Island Stitchers’ Giveaway.  When they notified me that I had been selected, out of a random drawing, to be the recipient of their stitching giveaway, I couldn’t believe the words I was reading on the email.  Since I can’t recall the last time, if ever, that I have won anything, I really was speechless!  Isn’t this great?”

Once our winner was chosen our stitchers ran away for a glorious weekend at Celebration of Needlework in Nashua, NH!

to be continued…..

My husband assisted me with the random number draw.  I’m happy to announce that our winner is…

Kathy from A Stitcher’s Heirloom!

Congrats, Kathy!  Please check your email.  :)

In the meantime, happy stitching to all, and we hope that someday many of you might be able to join us for a real-life stitch in.

Best,
Measi

Guest Blogger – Miss Stitchy
In addition to manning some of the duties for Rhode Island Stitchers Miss Stitchy also has a personal blog The Hera Chronicles. Stop by for giveaways, stitching love, crafting, hockey talk, sewing and general life stuff

I started Blessed Be about two years ago and cruised along quite quickly until I became increasingly irritated with the bothersome blending filament of her skirt!

This sad and lonely witch was left to the WIP pile so long she almost joined the UFO drawer!

I decided to work a bit on the border yesterday and see if I could spark some stitching mojo magic.

Oh boy did it work! Now I can’t wait to finish her!!