By By Patty Swearingen / extension service county diector
July 27, 2003
Whether you are a child care-giver needing extra training or an avid seamstress and would like some up-to-date tips, help is on the way.
This week we will offer two area educational programs that can and will empower you with knowledge and skills in both areas.
Childcare training
There is still time to attend the childcare training on Monday. It will be at the Health Center, room 240, at Meridian Community College, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Bettye Wadsworth, Child and Family Development area agent, will teach "family storytelling." This will be a hands-on workshop where you get to participate in many of the activities.
The cost for the session is $5, which includes light refreshments and educational teaching materials. If you are interested in attending this training, please call the Lauderdale County Extension Office by noon Monday.
Master clothing conference
Even though the deadline for the "early bird" registration has passed, it is not too late to register for the 2003 State Master Clothing Conference Thursday through Saturday at the Rankin County Extension Office in Brandon.
The conference will include hands-on activities, demonstrations, guest speakers and exhibits.
The Thursday session is for master clothing volunteers only, but the sessions on Friday and Saturday are open to the public.
Dr. Beth Duncan, from the MSU Food and Fiber Center, will present a session on "Time Is Money . . . What are YOU Worth?"
This session will help individuals learn about pricing their product and the value of their work.
The last session on Saturday will be "Paper Piercing Children's Clothing" by Janice Shelton.
Shelton was featured in the April 2003 issue of the Electric Power Associations Today in Mississippi.
Love of sewing
Shelton has taken her love for sewing and created a business named Bonnie Blue Designs.
Her patterns advocate simple garment construction with special touches, such as her original paper-pieced designs.
The paper piecing involves stitching fabric pieces onto a paper pattern to form a design block.
The design is similar to traditional foundation piecing employed by quilters. She has even had some of her patterns featured in Creative Needle magazine.
Friday night from 7 p.m.-9 p.m., there will be exhibits featuring quilting, knitting, lace making, pine needle sculpture, spinning, beads, boot making, wheat sculpture and corn-husk dolls along with fabric store representatives.
To register for this meeting, contact the Lauderdale County Extension Office at 482-9764, and ask for information on the 2003 Master Clothing Volunteer State Conference.
One-day registration is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Two-day registration is $40 for members and $50 for non-members.
The registration fee includes the cost of the noon meal. If you have ever had the "bug" to sew, then don't miss the opportunity to participate in this year's conference.