Rhonda and I met each other when we used to participate in Quilting Show throughtout the West Coast. Rhonda taught the EQ Quilting Programs and sold them as a vendor at shows. She has a daughter who lives here in Rocklin with 8 kids and a sister who lives in Sacramento. My family and I had moved back to the Mainland from Hawaii where I had started my own company called Kalina's Hawaiian Quilting ... I designed and sold Hawaiian Quilting patterns in all sizes as well as quilt kits. All four of our kids lived in Rocklin too at that time. Now we have 2 Grandchildren and Rhonda has 12 Grandkids!!!

We wanted to start this chapter of The Red Hat Society in our community as a way of celebrating our age, strengths, friendships and womanhood... and strengthening each other in our faith. There's lots more life to live. Founders of individual chapters are humorously referred to as a Queen.. As the poem states, the older women wear purple outfits and red hats. They are referred to as "red hatters". The ladies in waiting (those under 50) wear lavender outfits and pink hats. They are referred to as "pink hatters". Instead of dreading our age, the fiftieth birthday is very special and honored in the Red Hat Society. The only qualification to membership is a strong spirit and positive outlook on the golden years.

Like most of the Chapters, we are made up from women of all walks of life, in all sizes, shapes and stages of life... some are retired, some work, some are married, some not, some are parents, some don't parent anymore and some are even Grandparents Parenting Again. We hope to capture the spirit of fun, friendship and fascination of The Red Hat Society concept and join other groups along the way sometimes in our area. I think it's a wonderful "sorority of sorts" for mature women to not only form lasting friendships but so too a FUNtastic Mother and Daughter connection (red & pink hatters!) and a way of passing down a positive tradition of sisterhood in all ages and stages of life. We want to be positive and enthusiastic role models and though all of the Chapters were not formed with the vision of being an intrigal part of their community, the Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters vision was.

We imagine outings of all kinds, personalities of all kinds, talents and abilities of all kinds and those who have had challenges, are in challenges and without a doubt someday will face challenges, but believe that the embrace of friendship can conquer all.

In the Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters Chapter, we get together on at least a monthly basis for “bored” meetings, fun, food, conversation, outings and laughs. We also have additional activities that are planned ... not only the normal monthly REd Hat Sow and Sew Sisters Get Away & Play-Dates and "Bored" Meetings, but sometimes things like a Just Grandma & Me Play-Day, scrap booking crops and quilting mini groups. Again, our Chapter was founded to be a faith based non-denominational Christain group and in the Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters would like to donate time to community and schools as a way to spread intergenerational mentoring and think it would be a wonderful way to empower the older generation and at the same time impact our children and their children's children lives. New members are welcome and can leave a message for the C0-Queens Sow and Sews, Colleen or Rhonda (in less exciting groups, this would be called the President & Founder), for more information on the HOME page lower right hand corner/ About the "Queen" title, we like to think of it as "We are women of Royal Birth, our Father is King of Heaven and Earth!".

There are many ways that you can use your crafting talents and supplies to help other people. We all know that there are people in poverty and war-torn countries that can use our aid. But, sometimes we forget that there are people in our own communities that need our help too... Like comforters for children in crisis, walker tote bags for the elderly, or thank you cards for Veterins hospitals. For the 2006 year we will have a monthly theme of Fruits of the Spirit to inspire our thoughts and conversations at meetings.

We believe we are not here at this time with this idea by accident. In our new Chapter we choose to believe things happen in our lives on purpose and for a purpose. And no matter what has brought us here at this time together and why you've recieved this special invitation to join Red Hat Sow and Sew Sister... it is a chance for us all to "Bloom Where You Are Planted" and make the very best of what we've been given and share it freely with others... Our service and prayers, our talents, our time, our love and our laughter.

Each month the new inspiration theme will be uploaded on our Web Site for you to follow along and prepare yourself with ideas and thoughts to share about the subject the following month. We feel that putting our own problems aside for this time and in being in service to others is a great priviledge and a double blessing... one that we give away and the other we keep!

Like the parable of the tiny mustard seed, our motto "Sowing seeds of Faith, Family, Friendship and Fun" will guide us and inspire us to plant seeds of kindness where ever we go. We will Bloom Where We Are Planted no matter where that might be... facing challenges of health, finance or circumstances... We know that anyone can count the seeds in an apple but only God can count the apples in a seed!!!

If you are not a member already and reading this, please don't feel like you have to be a master sewer or crafter to be a member of our Chapter ladies... none of us are!p> Each month the new inspiration theme will be uploaded on our Web Site for you to follow along and prepare yourself with ideas and thoughts to share about the subject the following month. We feel that putting our own problems aside for this time and in being in service to others is a great priviledge and a double blessing... one that we give away and the other we keep!

Hugs, Colleen and Rhonda

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