Today, I’m plugging the EGA… as in the Embroiderers’ Guild of America.
Read on – you’ll find information about the EGA, some great free resources, and other enticing bits!
Above, you can see the logo of the EGA, embroidered in crewel wool by Judy Jeroy. This particular image is used with permission from the Philadelphia chapter website.
The EGA, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the art of embroidery, began in 1958, in New York. It was originally a branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild of London, and lasted as such until 1970, when it withdrew and established itself as the Embroiderers’ Guild of America.
There are 13 regions of the EGA in the US and Canada, with over 290 chapters, including cyberchapters, and a membership of over 9,500. Considering there are over 20,000 subscribed readers on Needle ‘n Thread, I figure there are lots of stitchers out there who aren’t members of the EGA, and who maybe don’t even know about it!
So, here are some random highlights about the EGA.
The Benefits of Being a Member
It’s definitely worth being a member, if you’re interested in embroidery. Through the EGA, you can hone your embroidery skills, you can meet other people interested in needlework, and you can enjoy the sociability of being a groupie!
There are different types of memberships, depending on your situation. You can be a member of a particular chapter, if you live near enough one to drive. I’ve been told that this is a pleasant thing, because you have meetings and it provides a social foundation. I don’t belong to a particular chapter. I’m a different type of member, because I don’t have a chapter nearby.
If you’re like me, you can be a Member at Large, where you have the benefits of belonging to the EGA (you can attend workshops and seminars, you receive the quarterly magazine, you can access the membership part of the site, and you can participate in correspondence courses with qualified instructors.
Or, you can join one of the cyber chapters of the EGA. These include Cyberstitchers and Rocky Mountain Web Stitchers.
I think most members will agree that the greatest advantage of membership is building connections with other people who are passionate about stitching.
If you’re not a member yet, why not put it on your Christmas list?
A Gorgeous Correspondence Class Opportunity
Remember this most excellent stumpwork embroidery class that I reviewed last week? I’ve gotten a ton of feedback from people who have signed up and Just Love It.
Well, Celeste Chalasani teaches for the EGA and is now offering an Individual Correspondence Course in stumpwork, for those who really want to go in-depth with individual guidance. It’s a 6 – 9 month course. And the project is gorgeous.
(Another thing to put on your Christmas list?)
Online Resource from the EGA
For members and non-members alike, there are some good resources on the EGA website.
One of my favorites? You’ll find this handy dandy needlework glossary as a downloadable PDF on the EGA website. It’s great for reference!
Another one – the Permanent Collection Database. It’s fun to browse through!
Free Projects & Articles
Why not embroider a really pretty holly before Christmas? And not just any holly, but one that’s reversible? That’s right – two sided embroidery! Think of it as a seasonal challenge. You can find the free project under Needle Arts Magazine on the EGA website. Just scroll own to Free Articles.
There are two freebies to stitch – Holly, by Tanja Berlin, and Pining to Stitch: The Biscornu, by Denise Pratt.
You’ll also find some good reading there, too – designer profiles and the like.
So, even if you’re not a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (yet), you can still take advantage of, and enjoy, many good resources from them.
I hope you do!
