February 2025 Meeting

Our meeting was called to order by Eve C. and she welcomed all present today on Zoom.  There were +/-70 members on Zoom. 

We held a moment of silence to commemorate the passing of Jean Lea (owner of the Attic). She was a major contributor to our community and she will be sorely missed. 

We also welcomed Lindsay W. as a former member who has rejoined our group. 

Minutes from the last meeting had been distributed prior to the meeting.   

Treasurer’s Report was shared.   Membership for 2025 is due.  If your 2025 dues is not received by the March Meeting, your name will come off the distribution list for DVHSG communications. 

Our Guild Challenge for 2025 will be a UFO Challenge.    Those who want to participate should select any 5 projects.   They can be new projects or WIP’s.   Number your projects 1 to 5.  Each month we will draw a number and that will be your focus piece until the next monthly meeting. The number for  February is _____.     It is a good way to get some work done on an old project.  

Secret Stitchers -  Just a reminder, if you are part of the Secret Stitcher program you should be sending something to your person at least 4 times per year, including birthdays and holidays.    When you receive a gift, please be sure to post it on our Facebook page and thank your Secret Stitcher.  If you do not have a Facebook account, email Susan H the details and she will post it for you.

Upcoming - We are working on the details for planning a  retreat at Hobby House Needlework near Rochester, NY.   A survey will be sent to all members for input.  The date is the weekend of July 18, 2025.   More details will follow.

Our Designer of the Year for 2025 is Jeannette Douglas Designs.   Please keep track of your JDD pieces and be ready to share them at the January 2026 Meeting.

February is the end of our year-long Stitch - A - Long, (SAL) on the Hummingbird Sampler from Samplers Not Forgotten.  Thank to Linda D for leading us on this year long stitching adventure.  And thank you to her son who created a PowerPoint presentation of all our individual work on this sampler.  Members are encouraged to bring their pieces - whether they are framed, finished or unfinished - to our March Meeting where we will take a group shot of all the pieces.  

We will be celebrating our 25 Anniversary in May of this year.   More information will be shared as details are worked out.  

Continued thanks to Stacy S for all her hard work scheduling programs for our enjoyment.   We have 6 ZOOM only meetings and 6 HYBRID (Zoom and in-person) meetings planned for 2025.  If you have any ideas for future projects or programs, please reach out to Stacy.    The calendar in the side-bar to the right has been updated for 2025. 

For today’s program, we welcomed Cissy Bailey Smith of Gentle Pursuits Designs.   She gave a presentation on her collection of antique smalls.   She shared everything from Needle Books to Pinkeeps, Shoes, Reticules, needlework cases and beyond.   Collecting for her started with reproductions samplers but reproduction smalls are her passion.  Cissy shared hints for how to start our own smalls collection as well as the best places to shops for antique smalls.    She has an amazing collection.   She told us with samplers, she enjoys the research aspect to find out all she can learn about the girls who stitched a particular sampler.  

Did you know that reticules were precursors to pocketbooks?   

In the 17th and 18th centuries learning needlework was essential for girls.   Bedding had to be marked, garments had to be sewn.   A girl with needlework skills was a good prospect for a wife.   During the 19th century, with a more affluent middle-class, servants did the necessary household sewing.   The ladies of the house did ‘fancy’ needlework and often carried it with them to social settings or stitched at home in the evenings.   Kind of sounds much like what we still do.  

Needleboxes or needlework cases often housed a woman’s calligrapher pens and tools.  

Cissy has been collection for 20 - 25 years and her collection has grown to include perforated paper sewing tools, ‘shoe’ sewing tools and more.

   One of her prized possessions is a Shaker sewing box.  The Shakers are known for their excellent craftsmanship with box making and furniture.  

    For our ZOOM Meetings, check out our Facebook page for recents finishes.

Next meeting - March 8 - In person and Zoom

January 2025 Meeting

Our President called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.   She requested we have a moment of silence out of respect for the residents of California dealing with the destructive fires. 

A new member attending for the first time shared her stitchy story with us.  

Minutes from the last meeting had been distributed prior to the meeting.   Treasurer’s Report was shared.  

Membership for 2025 is due.  If 2025 dues are not received by the March Meeting, your name will come off the distribution list for DVHSG communications. 

President Eve asked for volunteers for the Nominating Committee and received three.   Mary Rita M, Marnie B, and Sally N volunteered to serve.

Our Guild Challenge for 2025 will be a UFO Challenge.    Those who want to participate should select any 5 projects.   They can be new projects or WIP’s.   Number the projects 1 to 5.  Starting at the February 2025 meeting a number will be called each month.   The coinciding number of your project should be your ‘focus’ piece for that month.   It is a good way to get some work done on an old project.  

Jeannette Douglas Designs is our Designer of the Year for 2025.   Ge to stitching some Jeannette pieces.   We will share everyone’s work at the January 2026 Meeting.  

Secret Stitchers -  Just a reminder, if you are part of the Secret Stitcher program you should be sending something to your person at least 4 times per year, including birthdays and holidays.    When you receive a gift, please be sure to post it on our Facebook page and thank your Secret Stitcher.  If you do not have a Facebook account, email Susan H the details and she will post it for you.

Greenbook - Don’t forget to send Patrick B your list of completed projects for 2024.   He needs your list no later than February 14, 2025.   All  who participate will receive a small gift.  

America’s Tapestry - Becky G shared information from Stefan Romero, Dictector of America’s Tapestry.  This project, America’s Tapestry - 13 Colonies, 13 Stories,  1 Nation, is recruiting stitchers from the 13 original colonies.  The project has been designed in collaboration with historical organizations from each of the colonies and will be stitched over the next 18 months.  Once completed, the Tapestry will be exhibited in prominent gallopers in 2026 and 2027.  The historial advisor for New Jersey is the Passaic County Department of CUltural and Historical Affairs.   Research for NJ has been completed by the Dey Mansion that is known Lafayette and Washington’s meeting in 1780.  For more information, americastapestry.com 

Programs for 2025 were outlined -

February - We will be concluding our year long Stitch A Long of the Hummingbird Sampler by Kim Nugent of Samplers Not Forgotten.  All who participated should send pictures of their finished pieces, or, work in progress to Linda D so she can create the PowerPoint for the meeting.   Deadline and email address were in the January meeting follow up.

Following the display of the stitcher’s work, Cissy Bailey Smith, The Gentle Pursuit, will lead a discussion on antique smalls.

March - We will be have a therapist share exercises with members that will help with our stitching posture and our hands and arms.

Our Spring Retreat will be March 28, 29 and 30, 2025 at Salty Yarns, Berlin, MD.  The flyer was included in the January Meeting Follow up.   The cost will be $100 for the weekend which will include stitching on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.   There will be a cocktail reception on Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.    Stitching at Salty Yarns are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a catered lunch at noon.  Stitching again on Sunday at Salty Yarns from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Salty Yarns will give all participants a ‘goodie’.  

April - Member Susan L will teach us how to make a thread bed.   Away stitchers are welcomed to participate.   There will be a pattern for a small stitch piece - DVHSG Logo - to be pre-stitched ahead of the meeting.  

May - We will have a cake to cake to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.   There will be a surprise gift for any member who has paid their  2025 Dues no later than the March Meeting.   Our program will be with Jackie DuPlessis who will be sharing her Berlin wool sampler.   More information on the cost and sign ups will be coming.

July - Dawn Ronningen will be giving us a presentation.

August - Guild Member, Susan H will give a lecture on techniques for researching samplers. 

September - Teresa from Teresa’s Primitive Treasurers will join us for another project.   More information and sign ups will be coming.

October - Annual Garage Sale

November - We will have a sampler project from Catherine Theron.  Sign up information will be coming.

December - Annual Holiday Smalls Exchange  

Schwenkfelder’s is running a virtual event (“Tea and Textiles) on January 25. You can sign up for the online lectures on their website. (General 3 — Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center)

A new cross stitch store has opened in Dover, Delaware.   Floss & Flame, 1023 Walker Road, Dover.  

January’s Program 

We shared all the finishes from our 2024 Designer of the Year - With Thy Needle and Thread.

We had 58 members in attendance via Zoom.

Our next Stitch-in will be January 25th at 10 a.m. Watch for the “Stitch-in” email with the link. 

Our next meeting will be Zoom only on February 8, 2025 at 10 a.m. Watch for the email with the Zoom Meeting link.  

 

December 2024 Meeting

DUE TO ISSUES WITH BLOGGER, PHOTOS ARE NOT SHOWING UP.    I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON CORRECTING IT. RT

Our President call the meeting to order.   We had 38 in attendance and 7 attending via Zoom.

The President called for all the various Officer and Committee Reports.

Minutes were shared via a newsletter following the November Meeting.

The Treasurer’s Report was provided.  Membership is now due.   The renewal form was included in the newsletter.   There will be a special ‘gift’ later this year for all current members.   You must have your membership dues paid NO LATER THAN the March meeting to be eligible for the gift.  

Conservation checks were written and sent to the three recipients as recommended by the Conservation Committee.  Those receiving funds this year were - Harmon Museum in Lebanon, Ohio; The Schwenkfelter Museum, Schwenkfelder, PA; and the Salem County Historical Society in Salem, NJ.  Donations for this year totaled - $4,483. 

Conservation Committee -  Marnie received notice from the Harmon Museum that they are already in the process of reframing the samplers we provided funds for.

Green Book - Patrick would like the list of your 2024 finishes for him to file in the Green Book no later than February 15.   Participation prizes will be awarded.   Patrick’s email was in the newsletter. 

Technical Support - We are looking for volunteers to assist with the Zoom meetings.   Please mail either the Guild or Caryl C.

Secret Stitcher - Susan reported all is going well with the exchange. 

Upcoming Programming

 January - we will be reviewing all the stitched pieces for the Designer of the Year for 2024, With Thy Needle and Thread.    Please send photos of any finishes to Susan H. so can incorporate them into a PowerPoint for the meeting.   Her contact information was in the newsletter.    There will be a drawing from all the participants at the March Meeting and prizes will be awarded.  If your finished piece is not submitted for the PowerPoint, you will not be included in the drawing.    We will also be sharing any stitching replayed Christmas gifts received.  

February - We will be concluding the year long Stitch Along of the Hummingbird Sampler.  You should bring your finished piece or your progress to the in-person March Meeting.  You should be sending pictures of your progress to Linda D. for her to include in the PowerPoint for the February Meeting.   Please make sure she has your photo by February 1st.

March - Our Spring Retreat will be the last weekend of March at Salty Yarns.   More information will follow once the pricing is determined.

Jeannette Douglas Designs was chosen as our Designer of the Year for 2025.   Line up your projects for 2025!

Before the holiday celebrations, we even had some Show ‘n Tell

Two finishes by Caitlin B.   Top, is a Jeannettte Douglas Designs from the 2024 Jingle Ball.  Bottom, from Heartstring Samplery. 

Harvest Hues from Mary Corbet by Becky G.  

Cardinal Kin, from Plum Street, stitched by Lynn D. using the Katie Strachan conversion.

From Cross Winged Collections, Chipping Sparrow biscournu and scissors fob.   The eggs in the ‘nest’ are stitched over one.

Holy Family from KS Designs, by Carol P.

O Tannenbaum from Brenda Gervais by Carol P.

September project from Teresa’s Primitives by Linda D.

Wool piece by Linda D.

Martha Jefferson from Chessie & Me stitched by Alison S.

Now, don’t we all need this t-shirt?

Ruth U. was generous enough to offer all in attendance a 2025 charm.   Thank you Ruth for your thoughtfulness. 

President Eve, thanked all who have helped during her first year at President.

Information on a new store, Floss and Flames was shared.   The store is located at 1023 Walker Avenue, Dover Delaware.   They are well stocked in DMC, Class Colorsworks and Weeks Dye fibers.    And they had a small but wide selection of popular charts.   And you can check out their candles while you visit the shop.

Michelle A handled the Holiday Exchange.  And a great job she did again this year.    If you brought a wrapped small, you were able to participate in the exchange.   The criteria for the piece was that is was not holiday related but it was to be sampler related.  It should be fully finished and include your initials, the year and the guild’s initials on it.   There were 18 participants and as always, the members did not disappoint with the lovely stitched pieces that were exchanged.   

Feast your eyes are the beautiful treasures exchanged.

Following the exchange, we feasted on an abundance of goodies brought by members to share. No one left hungry that’s for sure.

 

Next meeting - Zoom only - January 11, 10 a.m.