Women who give their time and their energy all year long -- because of their love of sewing. Women like Cathy Swenson....here at last year's Expo....
She wouldn't want to be singled out -- so I'm posting some pictures of other CTA's -- our unsung heros...I know Darlene is doing something important here...
And, the Inspired-2-Sew show needs TWO CTA dresser-helpers to stay on their schedule...
Connie and friend are guarding the back of a seminar room...
Behind the scenes, every model for every style show has her own "dresser"
At the 2010 Ya Ya show -- we gave a special recycled wool gift to Cathy -- who was in the middle of cancer chemo treatment...
Princess is helping people donate their pillowcases...
CTA Laura played our Ya Ya recycling game -- and her "2009 doorprize" garish hot pink sweater turned into an adorable 2010 mascot moose.
It was Laura who sent me some great photos of the Coats & Clark Pro-Am Sewing event -- so many of the young sewists spent time in Cathy Swenson's LARGE BEAUTIFUL sewing studio...Cathy's smile lights up the whole room, she is so pleased to see the young sewists' enthusiasm. And from what I've heard over the years -- Cathy is the first one to share EVERYTHING she loves....especially her love of sewing...
I will never be able to meet ALL the CTA's. It took me years to understand what they do -- and I still don't know EVERYTHING they put into SewExpo. In so many important ways, this has always been THEIR show. They volunteer their time -- they come, they work, they hostess, they smile, they help...
They do it throughout the year -- and they do it for very little thanks.
Here's a little bit of thanks. CTA'S ROCK. Cathy Swenson rocks. Cathy's cancer is back. This blog post is my "thinking of you" card. If you have snail-mail skills -- and want to tell Cathy how much you love Sew Expo -- she would love to hear your Expo stories...
Cathy Swenson, PO Box 131, Kapowsin, WA 98344
If you would rather email -- send it to me and I'll forward it: ritafar@aol.com
Everybody is dealing with something. Health problems, economic issues, natural disasters. We ALL DEAL WITH BAD STUFF...it's a part of life. But Expo has always been that once-a-year-oasis. That brief moment in an entire year when women who love sewing could come together -- put their bad stuff on a back burner -- and simply wallow in our mutual love of sewing. I know you would hate to be singled out, Cathy. But what you do for other people really is exceptional -- because you share everything...
I wanted to say THANK YOU to Cathy Swenson and all the other unsung CTAs who help to put together the Sewing & Stitchery Expo. Please know that we ARE grateful.
And, Cathy -- we are sending up our collective Sew Expo prayers...
Thank you so much Rita for posting this!! We so LOVE our Cathy and she is truly an inspiration to ALL of us CTA's....
ReplyDeleteAnd Know this...this CTA...totally ENJOYS having fun with all those who attend the Sewing and Stitchery Expo!!