The Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy program was conceived by Jen Funk Weber at Funk & Weber Designs in 2007 to celebrate and promote reading and stitching.
Independent needlework shops across the country participate in the program to encourage kids to read by collecting hand-stitched bookmarks during the Bookmark Challenge, then donating them to libraries and schools to use as rewards for reading accomplishments.
Heart’s Desire Cross Stitch Shop in Wichita participated in the program this year and invited customers and friends create bookmarks to donate to the program.
Lisa Daniels, children’s librarian at the Augusta Public Library, is a cross stitcher and found out about the program while visiting Heart’s Desire, and quickly asked if the Augusta library could join the project.
The beautiful bookmarks will be given away as prizes for the local library’s “Be Creative” reading program.
To further promote both reading and stitching, Heart’s Desire will host a “Stitch In,” at the Augusta Public Library. Representatives from the shop will be here to teach adults and kids how to stitch the bookmarks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 14.
For more information, contact Lisa Daniels at the Augusta Public Library, 775-2681.
