Monday, November 11, 2024

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.   

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

October 2024 Meeting

This was our Annual Garage Sale Meeting.   Members brought in needlework supplies they no longer wish to have enhancing their personal stash.   Members priced the items as they wished.   The Guild does not require a donation from the sales but would welcome a donation to the Conservation Fund from a portion of the proceeds of sales if the member/seller would like.  For any items that are left after the sale and, if the member does not want to take them home again, Patrick B will take them to Fireside in Malvern for sale on eBay.    Proceeds from any sales will be deposited in the Conservation Fund.


First, a couple of Show and Tell pieces.   Both by Patrick B.


Shop til you drop the bargains.





And if stitching, sharing, shopping and chatting was not enough, you could get your car washed by the local youth group!

September 2024

We were treated to an in-person presentation from Teresa Miller of Teresa’s Primitives.    

We received pre-stitching which was EZ-PZ to complete.  

We learned to mount the stitched piece.



Learned to sand, paint, sand again and stain the wooden tray.


There is one more step to this project - but alas - this stitcher had herself double booked for the day and had to leave before we worked on the wool pumpkin.  

Teresa brought a fabulous trunk show the many took advantage of.   She has a variety of wood pieces and boxes for mounting your finished work as well as punch needle and wool patterns.   And so much more.  Teresa’s prices are so reasonable and although she has all the standard sizes, she also will custom make her frames, etc. to your specific size.  Please see her links before to access her products.










http://www.teresasprimtreasures.etsy.com 

http://www.teresasprimitivetreasures.com

http://www.teresasprimtreasures.blogspot.com 

http://www.primitivehandmadesmercantile.com


Reminder - 

Elections will be held in November.    Vice-President/Program Chair and Treasurer’s Offices to be elected.   Please contact the Nominating Committee - Linda D., Mary Rita M. or Susan H. with questions. 

Conservation Committee is reviewing applications from various organizations and will make their recommendations to the Board shortly.

Flosstube - we have some Guild members that are also new Flosstubers.  Check them out.    Caitlin B. - Stitch, Read, Repeat.   Ruth U. - Spectrum Farms Needleworks   Lisa D. - Lady Hazzuh

The Green Book - Don’t forget to send Patrick a list of your completed 2024 stitching projects for Patrick to add to the binder.   Deadline will be January 1, 2025.  Prizes will be awarded to participants.

Upcoming programs 

November - Hybrid - Kim Young of Sassy Jack’s will join us to discuss the Mabel Tukes Sampler.   The kit cost is $80 and is available in 3 different countries fabrics (32, 36, 40) and comes with NPI silks.   This class will be available via Zoom for away stitchers.   Kim will join our meeting VIA Zoom.  The November Meeting will take place, in person, at Salty Yarns in Berlin, MD.   Membership approved holding the meeting at Salty Yarns when the option was presenting in March/Aril of 2024.

December - Hybrid -Our Annual Holiday Meeting.   We will again have the smalls exchange.    The small should be sampler-related, but not holiday themed. It should contain your initials, the year and the Guild initials.   Away stitchers can participate.   Please contact Susan H for more information.   For those attending in person, please bring your wrapped gift as well as a covered dish to share and your own personal beverage.

January - Zoom - This is our annual Show and Share of any stitchy stuff your received (or treated yourself to) over the holidays.   We will also be showcasing all the Designer of the Year finishes by members.   Please make sure to send pictures to Susan H of any of your completed Brenda Gervais/With Thy Needle and Thread projects as soon as possible to be included in the Power Point.    There will be a drawing for charts from those who have their pieces IN THE POWER POINT.

February - We will close out our year long stitch a long (SAL) of Kimberly Nugent Hummingbird Sampler.   We hope to have Kimberly join us.   Bring your finished samplers - even if not framed - to the meeting to show and share.    Heck, bring your sampler even if it is a WIP!

March - TBD

March - Spring Retreat at Salty Yarns, March 28-30, 2025

April - Member, Susan L, will instruction us on how to create a thread bed.

May - Jackie DuPlessis class - Berlin Work Sampler

June - TBD

July - Guest Speaker - Dawn Ronningen

August - Sampler research discussion with Susan H.

September - Teresa’s Primitives Wool class

October - Garage Sale

November - Catherine Theron Class

If you have any program ideas, please let Stacy S. know.

Show and Tell

It has been a minute but I will do my best to identify stitchers.

Stitched by Patrick B
Stitched by Patrick B
Stitched by Patrick B


Stitched by Carol P.


Stitched, above and below, by Carol P.
Stitched by Carol P.
Stitched by Carol P.




Mabel Tukes Sampler which is our November Class with Sassy Jack’s


Stitched by Ruth U.
Stitched by Ruth U.


Beautiful wedding gift for Loretta O.’s son and future daughter in law.    They were engaged at the Eiffel Tower.   A box full or fabulous virtue pillows, using the same colorway throughout and beautifully finished by the Carolina Stitcher.   What an heirloom collection for sure!

Above and below, stitched by Marnie B.

Stitched by Marnie B.


Stitched by Amy G.


Stitched by Amy G.


Stitched by Amy G.


Stitched by Amy G.


Stitched by Patrick B.

Stitched by Patrick B.



Five drums beautifully stitched and finished by Caryl C.





Our next meeting is October 12, in person, and will be our Annual Garage Sale.   Bring any needlework items you no longer wish to have in your