EGA President Lea Peacock has been leading the charge of ensuring the future of the organization since 2024. A lifelong volunteer with service in a variety of sectors, Lea has a keen understanding of the importance of community, and how community can enrich lives and serve as a lodestar for so many people. As we close out 2025 and look forward to a new year of stitching and building community, we wanted to share Lea’s vision for EGA with its members and new stitchers curious to learn more about joining the Embroiderers’ Guild of America.
You are a lifetime member of EGA, having joined the Pikes Peak Chapter in 1985. How did you find EGA?
A friend in Colorado Springs, who owned a needlework shop called Needles and Hoops, mentioned the Pikes Peak Chapter and an upcoming Hardanger program. Although I had no prior experience with Hardanger, I was eager to learn and quickly found it enjoyable. Enthusiastic about my new interest, I joined the chapter, and here we are today.
What were your first experiences with needlework? Do you have a favorite needlework style or technique?
My first needlepoint piece, which now hangs in my mother’s home, came from a kit I picked up at a craft store. The instructions required using only the continental stitch. Unaware of other techniques, I followed the directions and, luckily, there wasn’t much distortion. After completing the piece, I took it to a dry cleaner, still unaware of proper procedures. Fortunately, they knew what they were doing and perfectly blocked it, making it ready for framing. Reflecting on this experience, it must have been beginner’s luck—despite my mistakes, the result was fantastic!
You’re the current President of EGA. What did your journey to the presidency look like?
This organization holds a special place in my heart, and my membership has enriched my life with invaluable lessons and cherished friendships. The women in the photo below represent some of these treasured connections. The lady in the lower left corner has been a dear friend for over forty years, the one beside her for more than thirty years, and the one to my left for over fifteen years. I feel a profound obligation to ensure that EGA continues to thrive in the future, as I have gained so much from being a part of this incredible organization.
You’re fresh off the heels of EGA National Seminar 2025. Do you have any impressions or insights to share?
Seminar 2025 marked my first experience as the national president, and I was thrilled that it took place in my home state. Attending seminars as the president is significantly different from being a regular attendee. I felt a strong sense of responsibility to ensure that everyone had what they needed to make their time in Dallas successful. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the attendees, listening to their concerns, and hearing their suggestions for improvement. It is heartening to see how much they care about EGA and its future. I encourage you to continue reaching out to me; I welcome constructive criticism and greatly appreciate any positive feedback.
What have you learned so far as the President of EGA? Is there anything that surprised you, that EGA members might not know about?
My first year has been a significant learning curve, but I am fortunate to have a hard working, supportive, and diligent board of directors.
What are the initiatives you’re focused on as EGA President? What are you most excited about for EGA in the near future?
EGA has just completed the “Securing Our Future” initiative, which introduced numerous significant changes and innovative ideas. My sincere gratitude goes out to the team who spearheaded this effort. You might be tempted to think our work is done, but that would be a mistake. Continuous evaluation and planning are essential; it is an ongoing process.
A wise woman in the Rocky Mountain Region shared a story with me that perfectly illustrates my point. There was once a company renowned for making the finest buggy whips. They enjoyed great success until Henry Ford began rolling out the Model T, ultimately causing decline in their sales, which grew and grew over time. The company responded by deciding to produce an even better buggy whip, the best buggy whip possible! With the benefit of hindsight, we know their efforts were in vain. They were unable to see beyond themselves and could not be objective, they were unable to see the true threat to their business. Sometimes, we need someone to help us see the bigger picture and identify problems we might overlook, especially if they are unpleasant.
To answer your question, my primary initiative during my term will be a long hard look at EGA. We will accomplish this with the help of an outside consultant. It is estimated that we will spend six months in the process and then the hard work will begin.
You’ve made community-building a focus of your life: you served as founding president of the Tip of Texas Chapter, developed and implemented the My EGA (MEGA) giving program, which raised more than $40,000 for EGA, designed and donated Charmed Heart to help raise money for the American Heart Association, served as the CEO of the Girl Scouts Center of Greater South Texas, and served on the boards of organizations like Ronald McDonald House of the Rio Grande Valley and Friends of the Laguna Vista Library, in addition to being active in your local community and church. Why is community service so important to you, and why do you think community-focused organizations like EGA are so important to needleworkers around the world?
Volunteers truly make a remarkable impact through their dedicated efforts. When individuals possess a passion and are willing to contribute their time, resources, and talents, incredible achievements become possible. EGA is exceptionally fortunate to have numerous members who generously give of themselves to support the organization they love.
What does the future of EGA look like to you?
EGA’s future is promising because we are committed to adaptation. To remain relevant, we must embrace change. Although writing about change is easy, implementing it is much more challenging. Fortunately, we all share a deep love for this organization and are committed to seeing it thrive. It may look different, but that’s perfectly fine as long as we remain true to our mission.
What advice would you give to needleworkers in the community who are interested in working or volunteering with EGA?
The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) is continuously seeking dedicated volunteers to lead our organization. Given that embroiderers are naturally creative and resourceful, I believe many individuals possess the unique skills and knowledge that EGA needs. Please consider volunteering!
