September 2023 Meeting Summary

If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a short recap. Members are welcome to request the full minutes by e-mail.

• Welcome Back for the 6th Season of the Ottawa Garment Guild
• Guest Speaker
• Helen Brady from Square Lemon made an inspirational talk about about the value of creative communities. Helen is the founder of Square Lemon. a not-for-profit corporation based in Ottawa with a mission to foster creative community in around that national capital region and celebrate local artistic and crafting talent. 
• Name Tags 
• This year we would like to have name tags for each member, we will keep hold of them in-between the meetings. This meeting we had some temporary ones and we asked members to let us know their pro-noun and instagram handle. 
• Call out for Volunteers
• We are looking for volunteers to bring snacks to each meeting
• We need more volunteers especially if as a Guild we want to put on special events like Frocktails. 
• Fall Calendar - Sew-Ins (members only)
• In Person 
• Location: St Marks' Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, ON K2C 1X6
• Time: 10-4pm
• Saturday Oct 28th
• Saturday December 9th
• Virtually 
• Every third Sunday in the month via Zoom link
• 7:30pm to 9pm
• Sept 17th, Oct 15th, Nov 19th, Dec 17th 
• Fall Calendar
• Workshop: Resin Button Workshop
• Location: St Marks' Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, ON K2C 1X6
• Time: 1-3pm
• Purchase on the square store here
• Workshop: Vintage Sewing Machine Repair with Skipped Stitches
• Date and Location TDB
• Fabric Sale 
• Location: St Marks' Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, ON K2C 1X6
• Time: 2pm
• Nov 12th
• Movie Night - Details to come
• Spring Planning
• Workshop: Bundle Dying with Plants and Natural Dyes
• Montreal Shopping Trip
• Sewing Retreat
• Frocktails - On Hold
• Dates TBD - More updates to come
• Discord
• After a successful trial over the summer we are moving chats away from Facebook onto Discord.
• Stephanie guided us through our members only space for online sewing discussion
• An email will be sent out to members for their invitation link to join our Discord 
• If you are new to Discord, Stephanie has produced this short video to guide us through this social media platform.
• Sewing SOS
• Carmen asked us about alterations to swim suit patterns for shorter torsos. 
• September #OGGPOM - #SewSmallSeptember
• See below for more info
• Sew and Tell! and Pattern of the Month (#oggpom): 
• Thank you all for sharing your Double Gauze makes
• Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show off!

You can find September's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

June 2023 AGM Meeting Summary

 June 2023 AGM Meeting Summary

If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a short recap. Members are welcome to request the full minutes by e-mail.

• Opening Remarks and Announcements
• Elections: Congrats to Claire and Leah our new President and Vice-President!
• The OGG Fabric sale raised $235.48 for the Ottawa Food Bank
• Presidents Report
• Johanna thank everyone for a weird but wonderful 2 years
• will be continuing on as Past President and hybrid meeting support
• Hybrid will continue in the fall
• Financial Report
• Details available on request, summary slide
• Member fees collected this year helped pay to purchase the needed tech for this year
• Sew and Tell!! and Pattern of the Month (#oggpom)

• Thank you all for sharing your SPRING inspired makes ! 
• Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show off.

You can find June's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for SUMMER Summer's OGGPOM challenges you to sew with Double Gauze! This is your chance to sew with something that may be new to you! Sew for yourself or others. Check out the recent Love to Sew episode for tips on sewing with it. Remember it doesn't have to be something you sewed this month, you are welcome to share any past makes! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

May 2023 Meeting Summary

If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a short recap. Members are welcome to request the full minutes by e-mail.

• 
• Opening Remarks and Events
• June meetings will be hybrid (in-person and virtual)
• Will feature a handmade clothing swap and SNACKS
• Frocktails planning is starting, but we are looking for more volunteers! Email us if you are interested.
• Fabric Sale!!!
• Come pick up some new to you fabric this Saturday May 28th!!!
• 1:30 to 4:30 at the same hall as our meetings (St. Mark's at 1606 Fisher Ave)
• 15 member vendors!
• Admission is free, but we encourage donations!

• Elections
• Thank you to our nominees!
• Claire Kerry for President
• Leah Stolarski For Vice-President!
• Members make sure to vote (check your inbox!) before June 3rd!
• Alison from Orpheus Musical Theatre spoke to us about costuming in their theatre productions and everything that goes into planning!
• The theatre is also always looking for volunteers to help sew for the productions! You can find their contact details here or reply to this email and we can pass your information on! 
• Sewing SOS
• Emily asked if snips could be sharpened: Answer is unfortunately no as they are too short and can't be taken apart to put in the machine, but the suggestion was to sharpen at home with aluminum foil.
• Sew and Tell!! and Pattern of the Month (#oggpom)
• Thank you all for sharing your SPRING inspired makes ! 
• Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show off.

You can find May's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for May May's OGGPOM is to One and Done! Sew something that is just one piece! No coordinating! just one and done!  Sew a dress, jumpsuit, onesie, anything! Remember it doesn't have to be something you sewed this month, you are welcome to share any past makes! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

2023-24 Elections - Meet your Candidates

Elections are coming up soon! Watch your email for a survey link. Voting will be open from Saturday, May 20, 2021, to Saturday, June 3, 2023. Meet the candidates for President and Vice President below!

Candidate for President: Claire Kerry

I’m Claire Kerry aka @Brit_Can_Sew on Instagram.

I’ve been a member of the Garment Guild since the inception of the Guild, and have been a member of the Executive for the last four seasons, Vice President the past two years and Workshop and Sew-in Coordinator the previous two. As VP my main responsibility were organizing the speakers and the monthly #OGGPOM.

I thoroughly have enjoyed being part of the Garment Guild board, over the past four years, contributing to ideas and working through the issues that the pandemic years have brought to the Guild. In running for the position of President I’d love to continue to build on the great work that the President and Executive have achieve this year in setting up Hybrid meetings, it’s been a steep learning curve, and I want to continue offering the hybrid meeting set up so we are as accessible to all Guild members needs. I’m excited for the management challenge of the role of President, I have been on several boards over the past 8 years I have learnt a lot and look forward to putting my experience into practice in this leadership role. I would like to gain feedback from Guild members to ensure we are meeting their needs in the way we structure meetings and the other activities we offer.

The Garment Guild has played a big part in enhancing my sewing hobby, I have expanded my social circles, and my sewing skills have vastly improved over the past six years.

Hopefully you feel my skills and passion match the requirements for the role of President for the 2023/24 season.

Candidate for Vice-President: Leah Stolarski

Greetings OGGers! I’m Leah and many of you probably know me. I have been an enthusiastic OGG member since the very first meeting and, prior to this year, an executive committee member since the 2019/20 season. 

In my tenure as social media manager, I established our Facebook group and designed our promotional card you may have seen in local sewing stores. As special events coordinator, I helped the guild pivot at the start of the pandemic including planning a zoom trivia night, starting the sewing support groups, and running two online charity fabric sales that raised a combined $1488 for the Ottawa Food Bank. 

Finally, as my big hurrah before heading to Southern California with my family for a year, I chaired our first post-pandemic Frocktails in April 2022. As I prepare for our return to Ottawa, I’m looking forward to serving on the executive as your Vice-President, fresh with new ideas to keep meeting the needs of this fantastic community of talented, creative, passionate sewists.

April 2023 Meeting Summary

April 2023 Meeting Summary

If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a short recap. Members are welcome to request the full minutes by e-mail.

• Opening Remarks and Events
• May and June meetings will be hybrid (in-person and virtual)
• June meeting will feature a handmade clothing swap
• Frocktails planning is starting - Planning for Late Sept/Early Oct - Looking for volunteers for the committee!
• Elections and Member Discussion Space
• President and Vice President spots for 2023-24 open up for nominations
• Looking for volunteers to test out Discord as a place for member discussion!
• Email ottawagarmentguild@gmail.com if you are interested.
• Katherine from WinnipegSews/Fabric Collective spoke to us about the circular textiles.
• Fills the space between retail fabric and thrifted fabric, helping fabric find a new home to be loved!
• Sewing SOS
• Kate asked how to steam wrinkles out of ultra suede:  Suggestions include: using a handheld steamer or hanging in the shower to steam.
• Stephanie asked how to safely dispose of sharps like needles or rotary blade:  Suggestions are to use a plastic container or something puncture proof.
• Sew and Tell!! and Pattern of the Month (#oggpom)
• Thank you all for sharing your SPRING inspired makes ! 
• Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show off.

You can find April's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for April April's OGGPOM is to New to You! Sew with something you didn't buy at a regular fabric store! Something you picked up at a thrift store, flea market, fabric swap or gifted from family.  Remember it doesn't have to be something you sewed this month, you are welcome to share any past makes! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!