The Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. (EGA) is a non-profit
educational organization with chapters all over the country. Their stated goal is
to "foster the art of needlework and associated arts." Several
years ago, I became
interested in EGA and really wanted to join. When I could not find a local chapter, I
organized the first one in Mississippi. Shortly thereafter, I
discovered and joined EGA's online chapter known as CyberStitchers. I serve
as an officer in both chapters and have invested a lot of my time, money and
energy into EGA. I have made wonderful friends
through both chapters and I became a Life Member during the 2005 National
Seminar.

"Gracie, an EGA Stumpwork GCC, stitched by the author
One of the reasons I was so interested in EGA was the Independent (ICC)
and Group Correspondence Courses (GCC) that they offer. In addition to
the quarterly magazine Needle Arts, EGA produces
an Education Catalog and a national seminar brochure every year.
All of these publications are mailed to every member, including Members at
Large. If you are not a member but are interested, information about
their educational offerings and the 2006 national seminar can be found on their website (http://www.egausa.org).
As a member, I have participated in a half dozen Group
Correspondence Courses and several seminars, where I have learned new
techniques and enhanced my existing repertoire of needlework skills. I
have also completed and taught many Petite Projects with my chapters and
shared my knowledge with others by leading classes.

"Raised Work Hedgehog", an EGA Petite Project, stitched by the author The beauty of the Independent and Group
Correspondence Courses is that you can submit your completed work to the
instructor for evaluation. If you are looking to improve your skills,
this type of critique can be invaluable. Participants get approximately six months
to complete
each class and so far I have not been as good at finishing my coursework as
I would like. Now that I am starting on my Master Craftsman Program, I am
much more interested in instructor evaluation. There are a wide
of variety classes available, including a GCC for Crazy Quilting, called "Crazy Patch
Adventure" by Kathleen Herman. At the moment, I am
participating several GCC classes; "Casalguidi and Lavender", "Fantasy
Remembered" and "Silk and Metal Embroidery" with CyberStitchers and "Crewel
Confidence" with my local chapter. I have also signed up for "Finishing
with Flair" a notebook class from Marion Scoular. These classes are available to all EGA
members, some are even offered through Needle Arts
Magazine and online through national.
Local chapters also offer GCCs periodically, but the CyberStitchers Chapter offered over
a dozen classes this year alone.

"Boutis Bib and Booties", from an EGA National Seminar Class, stitched by
the author EGA also offers needlework classes through regional and national seminars,
held all around the country. There are a great variety of classes
available, from nationally and internationally renowned needlework artists
and teachers. There are classes to cover historical needlework,
cutting edge techniques, and classes to accommodate every stitching skill
level. I am taking a class at the Tennessee Valley Regional Seminar
that incorporates drawn work with surface embroidery, but there were a wide
variety of other classes offered. Although I do not know which classes
I will get at national in Richmond, they are offering everything including 17th
Century Whitework, multiple Stumpwork Classes, multiple beading technique
classes, multiple canvas classes, design and dyeing classes and even some crazy
quilted projects. The seminar features a variety of one, two and four
day classes.

EGA Logo for the South Central Region Traveling Exhibit, stitched by the
author EGA also offers Master Craftsman Programs in a variety
of techniques; including Surface Embroidery, Crewel Embroidery, Quilting,
Counted Thread Embroidery, Beading, Canvas Embroidery, Color for Needlework,
Design for Needlework, Plain and Fancy Needlework, Silk and Metal Thread
Embroidery, and Smocking. I am currently involved in two of these
programs, but have not yet turned in my first step. It is just one
more way for EGA to help embroiderers grow their skills.
I have discovered that for as much as I have invested into
the Embroiderers' Guild of America, I have received even more in return.
Resources:
The Embroiderers' Guild of America,
http://www.egausa.org
CyberStitchers Chapter,
http://www.cyberstitchers.org
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