April 2026 Meeting

We had a brief Business Meeting so we could get to today’s program.   New members were acknowledged.  Minutes of the prior meeting approved.  Treasurer’s Report provided.

Programs Updates.

The Spring Guild Retreat will be later this month at Salty Yarns in Berlin, MD.   It is always a good time with friends old and new.  Registration for the event has closed.  Make sure you sign up in time for the next retreat - Fall Retreat, November 13, 14 and 15, 2026.

Update on the Violets & Verses SAL.   For those who ordered the chart only, the charts have been mailed by Jennifer directly to the stitcher.   For those who ordered the kits, they will be mailed next week directly to each stitcher.   Thank you to Carol P who has created a SAL schedule for the piece.

Conservation - Conservation Chair, Marnie B, has sent out 19 applications for the 2026 conservation fund.  

Today’s Program

We welcomed Merry Susan Schreck of Prim Peacock Samplers to the meeting.   Merry Susan is well versed in all things Shaker.   One has to look for context of what was going on in the world, the who and the where.   So who were the Shakers.    They are a Christian Group - the United Society of Christian belief, founded in England in 1750.    One of their prinicples is a pledge of celebacy after joining the group which contributes to the fact that today there are only 3 remaining Shakers.   They only grow by converts and there is only one remaining active community.   At their peak, there were 20 communities with each having hundreds are members.

Founded by Ann Lee many were formerly Quakers and many were illiterate factory workers.   In 1774 Ann Lee has a vision to travel to the colonies.   She created an American movement.   There motto was “Hand to work, hearts to God”.  As a convert, you surrender all your possessions and property.  The community provided everything to the members.  Housing, food, clothing, jobs, community and worship.  Every member had a job that fit their skills and all lived and worked in a somewhat communal manner.  They were a pacifist group and believed in the equality of sexes and the races.  They were very progressive for the time and adapted to modern technology at every opportunity.   Often by their own inventions and refinements of existing technology.   They had indoor plumbing before the White House did.   They were also the first group to package seeds for farmers and gardens.  The reputation of te quality of their furniture still stands today.

The characteristics of a Shaker Sampler were beauty from simplicity.  Their main focus was marking samplers.  Samplers had minimal borders and orderly had motifs.  

In the 1850, with the decline of male members, the woman had to rethink how to fund the commodity.   They created Fancy Goods - Shaker sewing boxes were created.   If you purchased one, you had a lifetime Dartmouth on the icing and return it for replacement.   Shaker boxes today have no connection with the Shakers group itself but do replicate the style and workmanship.   

Poplarware was another craft the worked on and sold.   They were expert weavers and using for New England Poplar which is a very straight tree.    (I will insert later a photo of Poplarware)

Thank you Merry Susan for a lively, informative discussion!   

Here is a local possiblity for stitchers.   Tess’ Bake Shoppe in West Chester has a “craft night” the first Tuesday of each month.   If you live in the area, stop on by!

Next meeting:   May 9 in person and Zoom.  Guest speaker:   Theresa Venette of Shakespeare’s Peddler

32 were present in person

32 participated via zoom