November 2024 Meeting

 We had a lovely meeting that coincided with our semi-annual retreat at Salty Yarns in Berlin, Maryland.  Our monthly meeting was set to happen the same weekend of the Retreat and back in March, the members were unanimous is approving the meeting and the retreat together.   It was a great idea.  There were 46 present in person and 42 joined via Zoom.

President Eve C. welcomed all present, including two guests from Dover who wanted to see what we were all about and decide if they want to join us.   Yes, they do.  Other new members joined us via Zoom.  

The President called for the normal committee reports.    A motion was made and seconded, to dismiss the reading of the minutes (which are provided after each meeting in the form of our Newsletter). The Treasurer’s Report was provided.   We were reminded to not forget to wear our name tags!   $1 goes to the Conservation Fund if you are without a name tag.

A By-Law Committee was appointed  in August and had presented a first and second draft of the revisions to the membership by email.   Both the revised By-Laws and Standing Rules were approved  by those present as well as those on Zoom.   Many thanks to Linda D., Pat L. and Stacy S. for their hard work to bring both documents up to date.  

Elections were also held at the meeting.  The slate of officers was presented and having no nominations from the floor, Stacy S. was re-elected Vice President. Patrick B., re-elected as co-Vice President and Robin T. re-elected as Treasurer.

Conservation Committee - Marnie provided the recommendations she presented to the Board which the Board approved for conservation donated for 2024.  Of those applications submitted, the Committee recommended three organizations to receive funding for conservation.   Schwenkfelter Museum for classes they are having at Penn Dry Goods Days in 2026; the Salem County Historical Society for the restoration of their Sarah Finland sampler; and to the Harmon Museum in Warren County, Ohio for preservation of four samplers in their collection.  The Treasurer added that the total to date given for conservation is over $35,000.

Designer of the Year for 2024 - Brenda Gervais of WIth Thy Needle and Thread is this year’s designer.   Remember to send photographs of any finsihes of her designs to Susan H. for her to incorporate in the January PowerPoint.   Please send photos as you finish items to make it easier to create the power point as she gets them.    Four designers were on the list to vote for 2025.   Jeannette Douglas Designs was selected.

Stitch Along - You should be working on Band 14B - the Rhodes Heart and 14C - the Algerian Eyelet.  Also continue to work on the bottom border.   See below - someone has finished theirs.

As we are getting closer to the end of the year, don’t forget to send - via email - you list of finishes for the year.    Patrick keeps the book as a history of our accomplishments with our needles.  Anyone who submits their list will get a prize.

Our Spring Retreat will be the last weekend of March 2025.

For our Program, we welcomed Kim Young of Sassy Jack’s.  Kim shared her background as well as presented the Mabel Tukes Sampler.  She shared Mabel’s history.     Kim reviewed the specialty stitches in the sampler and will be providing a link to her You Tube videos on the stitches.   Kim offered a guild discount of 15% and the code will be shared in your newsletter.  Kim also has some fundraising things going on a Sassy Jacks for the hurricane victims of the Asheville area, which is near to Kim’s store.   Watch her site for a raffle of antoique samplers to benefit hurricane victims.  

Here is Mabel Tukes and the accompanied small chart Kim provided to those taking the class.  The photo below is from member Melanie S. who has finished both pieces. 

We had a treasure trove of Show and Tell items brought to the meeting.

Thank you Amy G. for your photography.

Our next stitch-in will be November 23.  

Our next meeting is our Holiday Luncheon.  It will be December 14th at the Ebenezer Methodist Church on Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark, DE.   The exchange is optional and if you wish to participate, bring a wrapped stitched piece.   It is to be sampler theme small with the guild’s initials and your initials and the year.