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.   

June 2022 Meeting

We were welcomed to the ZOOM Meeting by President Linda D.  She welcomed new members and guests.

Linda spoke of recognition and respect of late member Patti H.   Patti was our Historian and provided us a wonderful recap of our history at our Anniversary Event.   Patti's knowledge of samplers was only matched by her dedication to the art and her ability to chart historic samplers.  The Conservation Committee will be researching a New Jersey Sampler to conserve in Patti's honor.   DVHSG is accepting donations in Patti's memory towards this conservation project.    Patti's husband has the large collection of back issues of Just Cross Stitch magazines.   If you are be interested in the magazines, contact Nancy F.  

In light of Patti's passing, DVHSG will be creating a committee to act as the Guild Historians.    The Guild is looking for two or three people.   The committee will be asked to be responsible but not limited to the following:  for posting announcements and activities online; reporting to the Board monthly; attend meetings in person;  taking photos of projects and Show and Tell; document Guild projects with photos and words; maintain a list of members who do programs and coordinate a drawing each January for a gift; use of current technology to have information available, including Facebook; document and keeping a timeline. providing a once a year re-cap each January. Please contact Linda D. is you are interested in working on the committee.

Our Conservation Committee for this year will be Marnie B. as Chairperson, Pat L, Cinda Crane, Mary H., and Susan H. will coordinate the Zoom Meetings for the group.

Holiday Smalls Exchange - Susan Hyedt will coordination a hybrid Holiday Exchange.   

SAL - Garden of Stitches from Samplers Not Forgotten

This month's assignment is to complete Bands 10 and 11.   Members shared their progress.

Programming

July - Civil War Huswif with Linda Vinson of Needlemade Designs.   Sign-up directly through Salty Yarns.  A 15% discount on the kit will be in effect until July 30th.    The registration form was sent with the monthly newsletter.  Members only class - become a member for $25.

August - Silk Gauze Finishing Class - Linda D.

October - Ocean City Fall Retreat.  The dates at October 7 - 9, 2022.  Sign up forms will be sent out shortly.   It is a two part registration.   You must sign up with Salty Yarns for the retreat and book your room separately with the Lankford.  Your retreat includes a Friday night cocktail reception; a goody bag and a Saturday night dessert reception.

November - Finishing class from Hello from Liz Matthews.  Liz Matthews has designed a tree for DVHSG.    Registration form was sent with the Newsletter.   Registrations are to be mailed to Stacy S.   Liz Matthews will send out the kits directly to each stitcher late August/early September for the pre-stitching.  Registration deadline line is August 1st.  Members only class - become a member for $25.

November - Election of officers.   We will be electing new officers for the  positions of Vice President/Programming and Treasurer in November 2022 each for a two year term.   Please let Linda D. know if you wish to serve on the Nominating Committee.

December - Holiday Exchange - The Guild is looking for a location for a holiday brunch for our meeting.   More information to follow.

Today's Program Silk Gauze Class

Linda D. discussed the history of silk gauze work.  First done in the 1200's in the Town of Paisley (famous for the lovely paisley patterns we know), in Scotland.  In the early 1700's, England and Scotland united.  Paisley was a border town and the sale of linens and silks flourished until the 1790's.

We will be working on the "leno" style of weaving, it is a stronger weave the interlocks the warp and the weft to keep the weave from shifting.  Counts of silk gauze range from 18 count to 90 count!  The needle size is important.  40 count is the most popular.   A No. 28 needle is suitable for 40 count.  Many silk projects are full coverage.  It is not necessary, just more common.   Work on silk by stitching to attach your gauze in the center of a larger piece of fabric.  CAREFULLY cut away a 'window' of fabric to expose the silk and use a hoop to hold taunt by only the fabric.   See Erica Michael's page for tips on working on silk gauze.  Silk gauze can also be mounted on a cardboard frame using tape - also shown on Erica's Michael's page.  Work with something dark on your lap or work area to help see the silk threads.   For this project, we will be using the Tent Stitch.  Stitching is starting with an away knot.

Stitch the project for assembling at the August meeting.   Some things to 'gather' to use in finishing are kraft paper, Mod Podge, ribbons, laces, coordinating fabrics, stickers, buttons, Folk Art (or similar) paints, tissue paper, scrapbook paper, fronts of greeting cards, felt, hole punch.

Next Meeting - July 9th - Civil War Huswif discussion.

March 2018 Meeting

I'm a little bit late in posting the March meeting......

Nonetheless, it was a good meeting.

Announcements 

• Challenge - We will again be keeping a running list of completed projects for 2018.  At each meeting, the notebook will be circulated for your entries.
• Woodlawn - Their annual exhibit ran the month of March.  Go to their website for a list of this year's winners. (http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/annualneedleworkshow/)  
• Yahoo mail - If you are still unsure if you are getting our emails or you know someone who isn't, please check your spam/junk mail folder.  Some mail services block Yahoo emails and instead the email goes into spam.   DVHGS is not notified these emails are not getting to inboxes.   Please reach out to Caryl C. at a meeting if you are still experiencing an issue.  Caryl sends meeting reminders the Sunday before our monthly meetings and sends out the newsletter within a day or two of the meeting.
• The DVHSG Spring Retreat will be the last weekend in April.   This is a MEMBERS ONLY function.  The deadline to register was March 10th. 
• Penn Dry Goods Market - This year's event is May 18 and 19 at the Schwenkfelder Library. Check out the website for details. (http://www.schwenkfelder.com/Penn-Market/) 
• May - June   The Biggs Museum in Dover, DE will host an exhibit from May 19th through June 22.   On June 9th, there will be a symposium.  Here is the link to purchase tickets for the symposium (http://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=73412~03e13765-2c69-4555-9f98-2b887bde4199&epguid=8dad5a50-5b7f-490a-acea-53bc57307486 )   
• Louden Sampler Guild - Louden will host the Royal School of Needlework.   This will be the first held in the United States (other than seminars in Williamsburg).  There will be two one-week sessions.   July 8-14 and July 15-22.   There will be a variety of courses, exhibits, programs and events.  Please check their website for more information (https://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/content/1215/rsn_summer_school
• Lancaster Fiber Festival - The festival will be August 16 -18.  See their website for more information on the event and classes.  http://lancasterfiberfestival.com/about-lff/ 
• Rehoboth Museum Exhibit - The show has been moved to the fall of 2018.  More information will follow on the dates.   
• Williamsburg - Christmas in Williamsburg is the first weekend in December.  Please go to the Just CrossStitch website for more info.  https://www.just-crossstitch.com/seminar/index.php)   

Red Band Sampler

On Facebook, many are following th year-long project from Carol of iStitch Designs.   This year is the Red Band Sampler.  You can join the group with no obligation to stitch the project.   It is fun and inspiration to see the different interpretations stitchers are doing.   If you wish to join in, the cost is $27 and the next section of the pattern is emailed each week throughout the year.  The fee covers the pattern only.  Carol is based in the UK.   In the US, Sassy Jack's Stitchery carries the banding. 

Stitch-a-long

For those participating in the Lauren Sauer Stitch-a-long, you should be on rows 13 to 17.  here are some hints.

- You may run out of Forest Glad so you may want to use this thread for the dividing bands only.  You could also substitute a stitch other than the Montenegrin stitch as it uses a lot of floss.

- Row 8 - The buttonhole wheels use the same stitch sequence as an Algerian Eye.  You will have to catch the thread when yo come up for the next stitch.

- Rows 16 to 20 - If you stitch the flowers first, i will make it easier to place the stem stitch.  You can substitute the whipped backstitch for the stem stitch if you prefer.

- Schedule for the rest of the year:

o   April-May                      18-21

o   May-June                      22-24

o   June-July                      25-28

o   July-August                   29-32

o   August-September        33-36

o   September-October      37-40

o   October-November       41-44

o   November-December   45-48

o   December-January       49-52        

PROGRAM

Our guest speaker was Niky Farrauto of Niky’s Creations.  She gave us a little history of her stitching and life as a young girl.  After a hiatus from stitching when raising her children and teaching dance (she is a classically trained dancer and ballerina.), she found her way back to stitching.   She loves antique samplers and researching their history.After stitching models for designers,  she was encouraged to start her own company. And the rest, shall we say is history.  Her designs are primitive—using soft colors and simple designs.

 

It was interesting to learn of the difficulty in getting floss, fibers and linens in Europe.  She still lives in the small village north of Milan not far from Switzerland where she grew up.  She finds inspiration for her designs in travels.  She also hand-dyes her own fabric. She likes to design flowers, nature and houses. She feels the worst part of being a designer is not having the time to stitch her own designs or other people’s designs.  She does run a club with kits throughout the year. She has a website (www.nikyscreations.com). Her blog address is http://niky-nikyscreations.blogspot.com/. She does run a yearly stitching club and information about the club is on her blog. She also has an Etsy shop. 


For members who signed up ahead of time, Niky taught a class in the afternoon--the Italian Flower Pot Needleroll. 

And now our picture walk of Show n Tell

 And since it took me so long to get my act together and post, my apologies if I label any pix incorrectly.  
Redwork piece stitched by Ann S. 

Stitched by Kathy R.

Stitched from Cricket Collection, stitched by Kathy R.

Basket of strawberries stitched by Jean T.  These are the 12 days of Christmas

Stitched by new member - Lindsey

Also, stitched by Lindsey

Stitched by Cinda

Sojourner, from Heart's Ease Exemplar, stitched by designer (and member!) Theresa B.


Beautiful work from Patric B.

Stitched by Lindsey


Hannah Pepper Sampler, stitched by Theresa B.

An adaptation from a design by Samplers Revisited, stitched by Theresa B.

The tray (one of Niki's designs) and needle book, stitched by Francine C. 

 The basket tag, carrier, squirrel and heart, stitched by Robin T.

 Next meeting - April 14th.   Join us display and talk by Cynthia Symanski about her sampler collection.