April 2007 - On Top of the World Communities Info

April 2007 The World News® 29Sewing BeesRita MillerMarch … “in like a lion and out like a lamb.”I think we’re all tired of these cold frosty morningsand we’re ready to get on with spring andthe warm weather. But, the cooler weatherhasn’t slowed the Sewing Bees down a bit. The“hive” is buzzing as usual.Last month, several members took a breakfrom our usual charity projects to sew a coupleof fun items for themselves. The first itemwas a small fabric “wonder wallet” which isthe perfect size to hold a little mad moneyand a credit card or driver’s license. You canput it in your pocket and leave your purse atCrafty LadiesDot TrippOur featured charity this month is Hospiceof Marion County. Hospice provides specialcare to those patients and families who arefacing difficult and challenging changes intheir lives. Hospice has been doing this formore than 24 years. They are able to care forapproximately 200 terminally ill patients andtheir families in Marion County each day, regardlessof their financial status.The HappyHookersCarole ToyeThe “Happy Hookers” or Rug and LatchHookers are busy with various projects suchas knitting hats for donating to a local school,Romeo Elementary, courtesy of Cecily Lucas,Pam Jennings and Hilda Woodcock; Pat Utissis making a baby blanket for her second greatgrandchild;Christmas stockings by JudySchaefer; embroidering by Rita Kennedy andMaureen Wolfe. Jackie Palotta has made twobeautiful baby sets, hats and sweaters. We dohave one lady, Ruth Phaneuf, working on alatch hook rug.As you can see, we are involved in variedprojects. When one person doesn’t knowsomething, there is always another who doesand is willing to share their knowledge.We go out to lunch every other month andon April at 1 p.m. we will be going to CandlerHills. If you plan on coming, please call CaroleToye at 873-1646 to let her know.Come and check us out, we meet everyMonday at 2 p.m. in the Ceramic Room; wealways welcome new members. Father John F. O’CallaghanCatholic Tradition WeddingsServing divorced and alienated people who love the church(352) 237-4799djocalla@juno.comFor more info: www.rentapriest.comhome. The second item was a fabric water bottleholder. Both items were made in an hour orso, with less than a half yard of fabric. In theend, it was interesting to see how the differentfabrics worked out. The items were simple tomake and it was decided that the club shouldmake a few of each for the Trash and TreasureSale on April 13.Marcy Askenase reported that she and herhusband delivered 10 comfort kits to GenesisHouse, which is a residential shelter for olderabused children (ages 10 to 17). They werevery impressed with the staff and the facility.Genesis House will be presenting a programto the Sewing Bees in the near future. Comfortkits were also donated to Ocala Regional MedicalCenter and Guardian Ad Litem last month.So, you can see there is a real need for whatwe do. It warms my heart to know that a fewhours a month can bring a little happiness toa child so desperately in need of comfort andlove.Once again, my monthly plea for new membersgoes out to both new and old residents ofall On Top of the World Communities. Comecheck us out and see what we do on Thursdaysat 12:30 p.m. We meet in the Art Room whichis to the left of the mini golf course Also, ifyou have any fabric suitable for juvenile projectsthat you are not planning to use, we’ll beglad to take it off your hands. We can alwaysuse polyester fiber-fill and quilt batting.For further information call Marcy at 854-1181 or Rita at 237-6660. This care is provided in the four Hospicefacilities located in Marion County, plus in thehomes of the terminally ill and hospitalizedpatients. People who have used this servicecannot say enough good things about Hospiceand how they were helped through a difficultperiod in their lives. Another plus is that alldonations, whether money or materials, areused to provide comfort, relief, support andcompassion to members of our community.On Wednesday, April 4, we are going to havea social get-together before our friends andmembers decide that the snow has stoppedfalling and it is time to head north for thesummer. The arrangements being made by thecommittee have been kept very quiet, so you’llhear more about it in next month’s column.Crafty Ladies group meets year-round. Isyour club or group closing down for the summer?Are you looking for something to do?You may want to consider Crafty Ladies. Wemeet every Wednesday morning from 9:30 to11 a.m. in the Card Room in the Arts & CraftsBuilding (that’s the building across the streetfrom the water tower).Have any questions? Call Dot at 854-4913.Try to keep your wits about you so that youdon’t get fooled on April 1!‘Til next time, do your best to keep healthy,happy, and “crafty.” CeramicsTerry Zarrella“Spring has sprung” as the saying goes …and you too can make pretty birdhouses foryour garden. I personally make them for mykitchen and put them amongst my violetsunder the plant lamp. It sure pretties up thekitchen. Better still … make them for yourfriends as house gifts or for family members.Many friends and acquaintances say: “Oh,you have to have a lot of patience to do ceramics.”Well … actually it works the oppositeway. It relieves stress, anxiety and soothsthe nerves. It is a very relaxing craft. You getso caught up in the project you are creating,that you forget your problems, worries andbecome elated at the results of the piece youare working on.Ceramics is held in the Craft Building behindthe softball field in the Art Room everyMonday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Wannetta Clousse has marvelous ideas andis quite helpful to residents who have neverdone ceramics. Even if you have done ceramicsfor years, as I have, I still learn a thing or twofrom Wannetta. Come join us, I promise you arelaxing day and maybe you will meet a newfriend or enjoy the company of old friends.Stitch WitchQuiltersAnn WeldishoferThirty-four On Top of the World quiltersgathered on March 6 for delicious refreshmentsprepared by Flo Wright and MargaretHanrahan. Thank you both!Pat Quinlan announced that all 48 of thestamped blocks were given to Romeo ElementarySchool as a student project. When theyhave all been decorated, Pat will sew theminto quilts.Jane Geary said that all the blocks for theGuardian raffle quilt have been distributed,and will be coming back soon for assembly.Marcy read a thank you note from GenesisHouse for the comfort quilts we donated tothem. Ms. Foy, the director of Genesis House,will be here on April 26 at 1 p.m. to give a presentationon their agency. Everyone is invitedto this meeting.Artistic Crafts& GiftsLoretta TroutmanIf you like feel-good stories and whodoesn’t, you’ll want to come up to the Health& Recreation Ballroom and get acquaintedwith Carole Smith.She has a dachshund that survived HurricaneKatrina. However, when little Jordan wasfound she had been in an accident and suffereda broken back and legs. A good Samaritanpaid for the necessary surgery and nowJordan is a happy member of the Smith familywho adopted her.Since Jordan came into their home, Carolehas learned to make doggie treats. She bringsan assortment to the Ballroom and sets up adisplay of her various goodies. They are allmade from natural foods and look and smelldelicious. If you have a doggie of your own, ormay be visiting where a special dog resides,you will really score big if you bring one ofthese treats along.Do come up to the H&R Ballroom and meetCarole and our other crafters. They displaytheir items, which are carefully crafted, andmake fine gifts for your gift giving or homedecor. We are in the H&R Ballroom every Tuesdayfrom 9 a.m. to noon. Variety Show Raises$1,000 for HospiceBY SHIRLEY SCHOPFThe Decorating Committee wants to thankall the wonderful people who helped make theHospice Variety Show a success.We want to especially thank all the performers.They did an outstanding job.Thanks go to the sound and light crew andall the ticket sellers and the ushers. We wantto thank Ray Utiss for the announcing of theevening events. Ray really looked sharp in hiswhite suit with “long” pants. Great job, Ray.Thanks to Mary Ehle for making our ticketsand for Ernie La Duke for the room set up.Thanks go to all those who took the time andattended this show.Without all their attendance we could nothave given Hospice the check, which was for$1,000. Thanks again. Some of us went to Kimberly’s Cottage onMarch 13 to become more familiar with theirprogram. Many of our comfort quilts go tothis children’s agency.It was decided that no fabric in our supply,either now or in the future, will be availablefor purchase by members. We need all we canget for our work here.Our March workshop was feed sack patches,and in April we will do either strait of Georgiaor the Chinese coin pattern.We also voted to change the time of ourmonthly business meetings to 10 a.m., still onthe first Tuesday of the month. We will haverefreshments following the meeting, thenhave time to socialize, work on club projectsor on our own quilts, or leave early and havethe afternoon free. We might even have minisessions,problem-solving time, or just a goodold-fashioned “sit and sew!”We voted to change or eliminate several nolonger-used“rules.” Three proposed changesto the bylaws were proposed, to be voted onat the April meeting … at 10 a.m.! These threeare 1.) to limit anyone holding any office formore than two years; 2. ) to allow absenteevoting on request for the November officerelections; and 3. ) to hold regular businessmeetings 12 months a year instead of the ninewe do now.Our April meeting will also be our annualspring luncheon, which will be a potluck followingthe meeting. Flo will be in touch witheveryone.After the meeting, there was a great showand tell!Some of the flannel quilts that Dot Hindetaught were finished and displayed, as wellas many others from past workshops. Therewere about a dozen in all — way to go! And, ofcourse, all beautiful!Rubber StampingGreeting CardsMargaret HanrahanWho would have thought a magazine advertisementcould become a beautiful butterfly.Well, that’s exactly what happened atthis middle-of- the-month meeting. Lois Frearshowed us how this is possible using blackcard stock and gold embossing powders tobuild the base of the butterfly, then enhancingthe wings with a kaleidoscope of color foundin advertisements.We’ll never look at ads the same wayagain.At our next meeting Denise Shortway wasour guest teacher. The theme of this meetingwas “Life’s too short to use an ugly pad.” Deniseshowed us how to take an ordinary tabletof paper and turn it a thing of beauty. Withthe use of card stock and coordinated fancyprinted papers we made two different stylesof covers for our tablets. Great as a gift for afriend, family member or as a hostess gift.This group meets to encourage, inspireand assist one another. Members range fromjust beginning to many years in this art form.We meet in Suite D of the Arbor ConferenceCenter from 1 to 3 p.m. on the first and thirdThursdays of the month. We have a fun andrelaxing time. All are welcome.If you have questions, please call Margaretat 732-3282 or just show up. The EmbroideryChicksJan JohnsonA new club, The Embroidery Chicks, is beingformed for those interested in learningand improving machine embroidery skills.The club will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m. at the Arbor Conference Center, SuitesB and C, on the first and last Fridays of themonth.The kickoff meeting of the club will be onFriday, April 6, at 9:30 a.m. Only pen and paperare needed for the first meeting. All arewelcome. For information, contact Theresa at291-7570 or Jan at 854-3403. Marion Cty.Marion 352-351-1115Cty. 352-351-1115Citrus Cty.Citrus Cty. 352-341-1119352-341-1119TollToll Free 1-888-341-1119Free 1-888-341-1119 Locally owned & operated Locally owned & operated Competitive rates. 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