April 2019 Meeting

President MaryRita welcomed our visitors who came from as far at Mount Joy PA, Downington PA and Marlton NJ.   I am sure they will come to agree that our meetings are worth the drive.

Patrick opened the meeting by sharing the 2019 Challenge Book.   All members are encouraged to record their finished projects in the book.  Patrick has given  the Challenge of 19 projects for 2019.   Some are well on their way to meeting his challenge.

Patrick also shared our calendar of upcoming programs.

• April 26-28 -  Semi-annual DVHSG Retreat at Salty Yarns in OCMD.   Members only - Registration has closed.  
• May - In May, members are encouraged to bring to the meeting what their 'must haves' for class supplies are.   It is always interesting to see what gadgets someone else has that you may never have seen.
• June - Patty H. of the Gloucester County Historical Society will give a lecture on samplers.
• July - Francine will teach a victorian Christmas ornament on perforated paper.
• August - Stash Re-Distribution Yard Sale.  Members are asked to donate 10% of any sales to the Conservation Fund.   At the end of the meeting, any stitcher who wants to donated items left, they will be taken to Fireside for an eBay sale.   The total collected from Fireside sales in 2018 was $1,370.  Kudos stitchers for de-stashing.
• September - TBD
• October - Bullion knot class to be taught by Patrick B. 
• November - 3 Classes with Janice Note of Noteworthy Needle and Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes.   There will be one class during our regular meeting, an afternoon class and a Sunday class.    During our meeting Janice will teach us how to drill a foam pumpkin with a cross stitch pattern; the afternoon class will be a piece from Beth Seal; and on Sunday, Janice will teach "Turn".   There is no pre-stitching for Turn as Janice will be teaching the assembling instructions using muslin.   See Needleworkers Delight, Williamsburg  and scroll for a photo of this piece.
• December - Annual Holiday Luncheon and gift exchange.  Your exchange piece is to be a stitched piece.   You should include your initials, the initials DVHSG and the year, 2019 on your piece.  

Don't forget our 2019 SAL - the Amethyst Band Sampler from Facebook Group - iStitch.

The Delaware Discoveries Book Girlhood Embroidery 1750-1850 has been released.   The Biggs Museum is currently filling pre-orders.   Ordered can be placed online at the Biggs Museum.   The cost is $75 with $12 S/H.   Many DVHSG volunteered time to help identify the samplers that have been included in this beautiful book.    At the upcoming Philadelphia Antiques Show, Gloria Seaman Allan will be at the Finkels booth for a book signing.   

Show and Tell

Our Show and Tell never disappoints.   Below is a needlepoint pumpkin that Patrick brought in to share.   The needlework was a piano bench cover that a friend was stitching on.   He said for all the carrying around she did and all the traveling she did that she took this piece to work on, it was never finished.   When she passed away, he found it in his capable hands.   He had the piece finished into a pumpkin.   Not only is a beautiful finish but what a memory for him.   We all marvel at the finishing ideas Patrick has.

Patrick also shared the laying tools he created from old silverware.   He also created two scissors fobs from charms.

Below is a cute bunny Patrick stitched and finished using this bunny rabbit napkin ring.

An ornament Patrick stitched for his son.

To Bee or Not To Bee bookmark from our own beekeeper Amy G.

Two small but adorable note card patterns stitched by Amy G.

A stitched piece designed by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farms stitched by Amy G.

Patriotic Poppies from With thy Needle and Thread, stitched by Lynn D.   Stitched on large count to be finished as a pillow.

A Blackbird Design drum stitched by Loretta.

Mary Beale Stocking, stitched by Caryl C.

Olga's Tart from Plum Street Samplers, stitched and finished by Caryl C.

Our program this month was making a  collapsible ort container taught by member Linda D.  Linda was super organized and gave easy to follow directions.    Over and above how easy going she was, was how generous she was to bring and donate all the supplies for making this fun ort box.  Part of what she  included was the necessary ring you  use.   She said she used vitamin bottles.   The finished ort container varied by the size of the ring you start with.   She brought along a couple of adorable little samples that using 1 1/2 rings (Sorry, I didn't take a picture of them)

As always, another great meeting.