August Show 'n Share - Look what we have been doing!

A member made this smocked dress and shawl. Just lovely!

Notice the smocking detail...and the shawl compliments it perfectly!

A different member made this beautiful little girl's smocked dress and submitted in the Ozaukee County Fair.  It won a blue ribbon...nice job!

See the bodice detail....

...and the smocking detail...very well executed!

One of our members created this precious one piece Wee Care gown.

I love the ribbon weaved into the smocking!

Another member made this picture smocked Wee Care gown.

Notice the sweet detail of the smocking!

Here is another Wee Care gown with some cute details.

The bright yellow smocking is eye catching....

...and the stitched ducks adds a bit of whimsy!

One of our members shared this "Barbara Meger" shell that she made.

Here you can see the hemstitching detail much more clearly.  Intricate!

Another member shared this "can cozy" that her friend made.

It is both attractive and useful!

A member shared that they have coloring fabric now, including border prints.  How cool is that!  

Some members shared examples of Kumihimo, which is a form of weaving.  They were created using a variety of fibers to give each of them a unique and interesting look. Here are some of them to inspire you!

We hope that you have been inspired to keep creating beautiful items to share with family, friends and the community!

Wee Care Gowns - a Mission of Giving

As part of our mission to serve our community through smocking and needle arts, the Milwaukee Area Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild has lovingly created and donated many bereavement and dedication gowns to the Neonatal Department of St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee and Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls.  Our members spend many hours sewing, planning, and stitching these very special gowns, which can help families in a unique way who are going through the grief process.  It is hard to imagine the pain of losing a child after many months of anticipation, and anything that we can do to support these families through our craft, we want to make a priority for our group.

In July 2016, we met at one of our member's home for what we like to call "a Wee Care Workshop". It was a time of fellowship, but mostly a time to work as a team to cut, construct and pleat the base gowns so that our members can add a personal touch to them using smocking,embroidery or other creative needlework techniques.  As a group, we teach new members these techniques so that they can be a part of this amazing mission.  

Following, are examples of some of the gowns that we have created and donated in the past few years.

I hope that you have been inspired by these sweet and so special gowns!

Keep on Creating!