Where we started....

For this month's meeting we were to bring in the first piece we stitched (or the oldest you still had) and talk about how we began stitching.  It was interesting to hear everyone's beginnings into the world of stitching.  So many started at the knee of their mom or grandmother or an aunt.   Many started with crewel work and then moved to stamped crossed stitch to aida and then to linen.   And we all remember - and loved - those blue stamped "X's" that never did wash out. 

Rita S. started her love of needlework with satin stitches.  She completed an entire bedspread and hopes to have it quilted someday (soon, we hope, for it will be a beauty).  

 Jean M. shared all the buttons she has made.   Jean will be teaching a guild class in July on making buttons like these.

Theresa B. - of Heart's Ease - shared the very first set of smalls she designed.  Check out her website for her other designs.   We are quite proud of DVHSG's own Theresa and her designs.   Her "Maryland Sampler" is featured as one Ellen Chester's SAL.  

Barbara G. brought two early samplers.   This one is dated 1968 and was stitched for her sister-in-law as a wedding gift.

 Here's another one by Barbara G. stitched about the same time.   She stitched this for her son.  You can just make out Barb's fingers at the top as she steadies the frame - it is huge.

This was completed by Pat L.    It was a present she had made for her in-law's that recently came back to her.  Like the others, Pat remembered the day she bought the kit and the shop she visiting.

Evelyn shared the pillow cases she made with her grandmother.   Her grandmother let her put in the lazy daisy stitches.

Karen M. shared these Christmas bells, a Gloria & Pat Designs. We all remembered working with Gloria & Pat designs.  Year's ago their designs were one of the first to get stitchers interested in counted work.

Look what Deb S. did.   She stitched up these coasters years ago and then decided to repurpose them.   She deconstructed the coasters to create cute little pillows and added her beautiful beaded trims.

 Nancy F. had a series of small ornies from 1983. Looks like more Gloria & Pat.

Carol W. may have topped all of us.   She undertook these crewel panels at 19.   I won't give Carol's age but she is now retired!  They really are pretty.

Detail on the panel on the left.

This is a sampler stitched by Pat Y.  We convince Pat to have it remounted and reframed.   We are anxious to see the outcome.

We had a nice meeting and it was fun to share our pieces.   Funny thing was, so many of our stories of our start were so similar.   It is so nice to have found these fellow stitchers, friends of a like mind.