October 2025 Meeting

Our President called the meeting to order welcoming all.   She asked for any changes to the September Meeting Minutes (circulated as September Newsletter).  Having no corrections or comments the September Newsletter/Minutes were accepted as presented.

Guests were welcomed and introduced themselves.    Marian J, Springfield, PA, recently joined and was attending her first meeting.  Robin K., from the Elkton area, MD area, heard about us, attended the meeting and joined on the spot.

Committee Reports were shared with membership. 

Treasurer’s Report was shared.   Treasurer thanked everyone for their generosity in donating towards the APS Fund in memory of a member we recently lost.  We will be keeping the donations open until the December Meeting.  Stacy will speak with Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Samplers, requesting she suggest a Delaware Sampler to restore in Ann’s name.

For the Garage Sale, members are encouraged to donate a percentage of their sales to the conservation fund.   Susan H found a group that will take any needlework donation items without needing to make an appointment and they do not have a minimum of boxes they will take.   She  took with her as many boxes as she was able to fit in her vehicle.  These items will be donated to the Mennonite group for sale.   DVHSG will not receive any compensation from the donations or sales.  Thank you Susan for this and all your efforts for the Guild!

The Green Book - Patrick reminded stitchers to post finishes to the Green Book.  Prizes will be awarded for those who participate in listing their 2025 stitching finishes.

Canned Goods Drive - Starting in December, members are asked to bring non-perishable items for the food pantry for the Ebenezer United Methodist Church.   For away stitchers, we urge you to make donations to your locals churches or food pantries.  We will do this ongoing and not just for the holidays.   

Conservation  - Marnie provided an update on the donation we made to the Salem County Historic Society in 2024.  We had agreed to assist with covering the framing costs once the piece was restored.   Marnie received an email from them stating the Rachel Finlaw Sampler has been completed and the Historic Society will cover the cost of framing.   The $300 that has been held in reserve can now be released back to the available funds.

The Conservation Committee is evaluating three applications for the 2025 donation:  Cape May County Historic Society, Cape May, NJ;  Mesda, Winston-Salem, NC; and Litchfield, CT.  The costs for conservation seems to have skyrocketed.   Of the three requests, none are low enough for us to cover completely.  For example, Litchfield has a silk sampler from the Litchfield Academy with a $10,000 estimate for restoration and conservation.    The Committee will review and make their recommendation.

A question was asked if we ever see any follow up about the work we have funded.   Marnie shared information on a recent comprehensive report that included photos and documentation for the conservation work we funded to MESDA on the silk gauze 13 colonies map.   Marnie has also recently spoke with Ellen Enslow from Chester County.   We donated money to them last year to help fund an educational symposium and Ellen shared an update on the status of the pending event.

Designer of the Year - Submit photos of your finishes as you complete them to Susan H for the PowerPoint.

Number 3 is the UFO Focus Project for the month.   Members chose 5 of their projects in January, numbering them 1 to 5.   Each month a random number is pulled and the associated project is their focus piece for the month.  

Secret Stitcher - Susan requested if you have not yet revealed yourself to your Secret Stitcher recipient from last year, you need to do so right away.   All Secret Stitchers for the current year should send their first gift no later than October  31st.

Nominating Committee - The offices of President and Secretary are up for re-election in November.    Mary Rita presented the slate of officers for the November election

        President -      Eve C

                               Patrick B

        Secretary -     Caryl C.

Will be do anonymous voting via the Chat Box on Zoom.   Instructions will be given during the meeting how to participate in the voting.

Members were thanked for using the ID slips for the Show and Tell - It proves very helpful for viewing as well as for those who take pictures.

America’s Tapestry Update - Members Amy and Becky appeared on Fiber Talk with Gary Parr on Sunday, October 12th.   

Several members completed the September Wool and Cross Stitch Class piece from Teresa Miller.  One is from Lynn D and the other Carol P

Red sampler by Lynn D

Rebecca Noland Sampler by Carol P.

Jane Harris Needle Roll from our July Meeting with Dawn Ronningen.  Stitched and finished by Carol P.

Mabel Tukes Sampler from our Class with Sassy Jack’s

Sampler by Lynn D

All these dutiful stitchers put labels by their pieces to identify them.   Silly me cropped them right out when I saved the photos!   Lesson learned.

Upcoming meetings -

November, We will have a short business meeting prior to our Catherine Theron Class when we will hold our elections.   This will be a Zoom Only meeting.  There will be two Zoom links provided.   One to all members and a separate link that the class participants will use once the class starts.   Non-class members can stay on-line and have a stitch-in.

    November Retreat - We will again have our Fall Retreat at Salty Yarns in Berlin, MD.   The Cost is $100 which includes a Friday evening cocktail party, a Saturday lunch, extended store hours and a wonderful well light room where you do not need to bring any of your own lighting!   Housing is on your own.  We will be playing Bingo and Left-RIght-Center.   To participate in L-R-C bring multiple of 3 items for each round you wish to participate in.   Items could be 3 skeins of floss, 3 candy bars, 3 bags of buttons, 3 sets of floss drops, etc.   Deadline for sign-up was October 1, 2025.

    December is our Annual Holiday Party.   We will have a smalls exchange.  If you wish to participate in the exchange bring a small wrapped item.   Your exchange piece should be a small, sampler related piece stitched by you.   You must include your initials, the Guild initials and the year.    Even if you are not participating, everyone is welcomed to attend, feast your eyes on the beautiful exchange pieces and enjoy the day.  All are asked to bring a covered dish to share and your own beverage.   The Guild will provide wraps or sandwiches.

    April 2026 - Spring Retreat will be the weekend of April 17, 2026.  More information will follow.

    November 2026 - Annual Fall Retreat  will be the weekend of our November Meeting, November 14, 2026.   Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Samplers will be our guest speaker.

For Zoom Only meetings, please send your Show ‘n Tell items to Kelly E at the email provided in the newsletter.  Items should be sent to Kelly no later than the Tuesday prior to the meeting to allow Kelly time to create the PowerPoint.

Membership 249

Next Meeting - Catherine Theron class November 8th.

Spring Retreat will be April 17, 2026