November 2016 Meeting

First I must apologize to my fellow guild members.   This month's post has given me fits and starts to try to complete.   First, finding the time and second the content jumping all over the page.   Usually this kind of fussing means there must have been an upgrade or  some kind of 'improvement' to blogspot......but enough......

The November meeting was called to order and we held our elections.   Following the recent changes to our by-laws, we elect officers on alternating years.  

Election Results
Stacy S. was elected for another two-year term at Vice President/Program Coordinator.  Patrick B. will be assisting Stacy.  

Nancy F. was elected Treasurer for a two year term

Dues

Dues are due!  They are due January 1st for 2017 and remain at $25 per year.   Please make your check payable to DVHSG.   If you pay in cash.....please place in envelope with your name, etc. on it.  

Upcoming at your LNS

Salty Yarns

Check out Salty Yarns Facebook page for info on designers coming in the Spring of 2017.   Catherine Theron will be at Salty Yarns in March.  Sherry Jones will be teaching the Lounging Hare in April at Salty Yarns.

Strawberry Sampler

Strawberry Sampler will offering beading and finishing classes. 

Follow the links above for more information.

Upcoming Classes at DVHSG

Betsy Morgan

Stacy S. shared flyers for the April 2017 Betsy Morgan class.   Registration is due at the January meeting.  The kits will be distributed at the February meeting.  All guild members can participate in the tassel and cording demonstration during the regularly scheduled meeting.   The scissors fob will be assembled during an afternoon class.   A day trip with Betsy Morgan on the day prior to the class  is being arranged.   More details and signup to is available under our "classes" tab above.

Our project will be similar to what is pictured with a few changes to the motifs.   The lining will be in blue and not green.   The cost is $100 for the afternoon class and lunch will be provided.   Away stitchers can participate at the same cost of  $100.   Non-DVHSG members need to add an additional $25 membership fee.

Heart's Ease Examplar Workes 

Our own Theresa Baird created a holiday ornament pattern.  She has donated the pattern to the Guild for use as a fundraiser before she publishes it for sale to the general public.    The pattern is $15 and the proceeds from sales will go to our Conservation Fund.  - see the Conservation tab above for more information on the fund.   Caryl C. will conduct a finishing class at our May monthly meeting to demonstrate how to add the finished piece to the top of a box.

Gift Shop
The gift shop at Cokesbury will be open to Guild members for shopping on Saturday of our next meeting.   Sales are CASH ONLY at the gift shop.

Coming in January
The results of our 2016 Completion Challenge will be announced.    Members are also encouraged to bring any needlework related gift they received for the holidays to share with the group.

Show and Tell

A bit of Halloween and fall, stitched by Jean T. 

No you are not seeing double.    Jean stitched this for little Logan and one it at each grandmother's house.  

This is Jean T.'s finish from our Goodie Bag gift from the fall retreat at Salty Yarns.   This is a complete kit from Cherished Stitches.

I think this is a Drawn Thread piece.   Stitched by Carolyn N.

A Bent Creek design, stitched by Carolyn N.

More stitched by Carolyn N. 

And another by Carolyn N. 

Pumpkin, Pumpkin stitched by Ann S.

Smalls by Betsy Morgan from an Inspiration Magazine, stitched by Ann S.

Adorable pages and coordinating fabric stitched by Sandy J.

Random Thoughts from Drawn Thread, stitched by Robin T.

Catherine Theron's Examplaire I, stitched by Mary Rita

Doll stitched by Mary Rita

Brought in my Ellen P., stitched by Mary Jane Miller 

Seashore (?) class at Stitcher's Hideaway in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, stitched by Amy G.   Stitched in bargello with specialty stitches.  Sorry I didn't get the full view of the ribbons.   But an award winner to be sure.

Also stitched by Amy G.  this witch pendant from Roveris (?).   

And what a stunning design with have here....

Another beautiful piece designed and stitched by Theresa Baird of Hearts Ease Exemplar Workes.    This collection is a Fraktur inspired needle book, pin cushion, huswif and assorted smalls.   Each one is more gorgeous than the one before, all stitched on 40 count.

A Delaware Inspiration, Heart's Ease Exemplaire Workes stitched by Marney B.  (so sorry it is blurry)

 The above four smalls and "Gather" pillow and "each other" pillow stitched by Stacy S.

 12 Month bell pull stitched by KarenAnn M.  Pattern from Stoney Creek.

 Birds, brought to us by Evalyn, stitched by her mother.

Pumpkins by ???

BJ S. shared with us her completely stitched and assembled Country House Home Sweet Home.   She has a tiny bit of finishing on one of the smalls.  But alas, she wrapped it up and stowed it away before I could photograph it.  Below is an image from the internet.  

Ann S. is almost done with Eye on the Sparrow.

Sali shared a tote that had pictures of her needlework projects. She created the bag using Snaptotes.com.    Another site for do similar is  Collage.com.   These sites allow you to  upload pictures to be printed on various items.

And can you believe it...we are only halfway through our meeting, and now on to the program............

Guest Speaker - Cindy Steinhoff

Stitched by Louisa Poupenay, late 1870'2,  on penelope cloth

Cindy gave a presentation on antique samplers. She brought a number of Pennsylvania samplers from her collection and a map to show the locations where they each were stitched from across state. Cindy had a vast knowledge and much in depth history for each piece.  She started her collection about 12 years ago.   Her introduction to stitching was when she was about 12 and she stitched pillow cases.  She uses Google and sites like Ancestry.com to help in her research on the samplers.

Cynthia is the director of Truxal Library at Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where she has worked for 33 years. In addition, she is editor of “Delaware Discoveries” and also researched some of the samplers that are featured in the book. Originally from the Pittsburgh area, she graduated from what is now known as Edinboro University of Pennsylvania earning a master of science degree in library science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master of business administration degree from the University of Baltimore.

It was a great presentation with tons of great background information about her samplers! 

Elizabeth Nimon, 1823

Margaret DeWalt, 1828

Amy Cadwalader, 1800

Isabella Keenan, 1839

Anna Catherine Reinemann

Jane Mitchell Deane Waterhouse, 1836

Ann Smith, Westtown School, 1809

Mary Ann Baily, 1842

Cynthia also brought a Delaware sampler that will be discussed in the upcoming book by Gloria Seaman Allen, “Delaware Discoveries”.

Elizabeth Chalk, Southern Boarding School, Smyrna, Delaware

Thanks to Cynthia for a great presentation and lots of great information about her samplers!

Ladies and Gentlemen that's a lot of info and a lot of photos.   Please forward any edits to me.

Catherine Theron Project

Pot O’ Posies 
Winter 2017 Project

for Guilds 
$55.00 per kit 

Please use this link for a photo

This wee sampler is Catherine's offering for the Winter 2017 kit for groups and guilds.

It is stitched on 36-count linen using ANCHOR & DMC flosses.   The design measures a diminutive 7" wide by 3" high which includes the hem-stitched border.

Stitches used are Four-Sided, Smyrna Cross, Double Cross, Long-Arm, Double Italian, Diamond Eyelet, & Cross-Stitch Over One. 

Directions for the optional hem stitched border are included.
Kit includes 36-count linen, flosses, needles, directions, charts, & color copy.  The kit cost is $55.00

Catherine is also making available the Winter project kits from the past 3 years.  

Catherine Theron Winter 2017 Kit Order Form Order deadline is January 14, 2017 (DVHSG meeting date)

Name:     ________________________________
Address: ________________________________      
               ________________________________
e-mail:    ________________________________ 

Also available:

Quaker Travel-sized Sewing Roll Kit Winter 2014 - $65.00 

Winter Strawberres Kit Winter 2015 - $70.00 

Spring Lambs Kit Winter 2016 - $75.00 

Please add $6.00 if shipping is needed

Members - Let Deb S. know if you are interested in ay kits no later than the January 2017 Meeting.  Make checks out to DVHSG.  

Non-DVHSG members contact your local guild or leave a comment to this post including your contact information. 

October 2016 Meeting

 Business Meeting

We will be voting for Vice President/Program Chair and Treasurer at our November meeting. Stacy S. has agreed to run again for Vice President and Patrick B. will assist. Nancy F. has agreed to run for Treasurer. We will also take nominations from the floor. Thank you to the Nominating Committee (Lynn D., Robin T. and Ann S.) and those who are willing to take offices!

October Program 

Seems we had a bit of a mix up with our program for October but we were quick to recover and move on.  Our originally scheduled Button Program needed to be rescheduled to a future meeting and guild member Kathy R. was gracious enough to jump in at the last minute.  She brought  her wonderful Halloween collection to share. 

Just to give you some ideas of size......the first piece on the left in that back - a piece dedicated to Edgar Allen Poe - measures approximately 18 by 24.  

 She has an amazing collection and we all wonder how she will fit all of the items in her house! Kathy was a real champ for filling in at the last minute!   Thank you!

Upcoming Programs

November: Cynthia Steinhoff will give a presentation on antique samplers. Cynthia will discuss samplers in her collection from around the state of Pennsylvania. Examples range from Quaker samplers made in Chester County and near Pittsburgh to samplers made in small towns throughout the state. She will also bring a Delaware sampler that will be discussed in the upcoming book by Gloria Seaman Allen, “Delaware Discoveries”. Her samplers will be on view during the meeting.

Cynthia is the director of the Andrew G. Truxal Library at Anne Arundel Community College near Annapolis, where she has worked for 33 years. She is editor of “Delaware Discoveries” and also researched some of the samplers that are featured in the book. Cynthia, originally from the Pittsburgh area, graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania when it was still called Edinboro State College and earned a master of science degree in library science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master of business administration degree from the University of Baltimore.

December: Our annual holiday exchange and luncheon. The guild will provide the wraps and paper goods and members are asked to bring a dessert or side dish to share. We will have a sign-up sheet next month. It’s not too early to get started on your exchange piece! It does not have to have a holiday theme, but should be some type of needlework accessory, preferably with a sampler theme.

January: We will review the results of the 2016 needlework challenge and members will share all of the cool needlework items they receive for Christmas.

February: Pat L. will give a presentation on her beautiful Japanese embroidery. Also, Patrick B. will tell us about the Shinto “Broken Needle” ceremony.

March: TBD

April: Betsy Morgan will be with us again for our meeting and will be teaching a project in the afternoon. Members will have the opportunity to make a tassel during the program that will be used for the scissor fob in the class project. If you are not going to take the class, we will let you know what supplies to bring and you can make a cord and tassel for use in one of your own projects.  The design will be modified slightly as it was created for the Louden Sampler Guild. Our design will feature a blue hen, a different flower, and blue fabric for the lining. We will start taking registrations in November and accept them until January. We will have the forms available at the meeting and will also send them with next month’s newsletter.  Details will also be added to our "Classes" tab above.

 

Fall of 2017: Lauren Sauer will be here to teach two samplers. This will be held on the weekend after our September meeting.

Upcoming Needlework Events

Winterthur will be holding a needlework symposium October 14 and 15, 2016. Registration is now open. Check their website for details to see what is still available. http://www.winterthur.org/

Exhibit: The Instruction of Young Ladies—Arts from Private Girls’ Schools and Academies in Early America (September 24-December 31) at the Fenimore Art Museum (http://www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/instruction).

Show and Tell

Members were encouraged to bring their own Halloween items.   It is always fun to see the variety of pieces and finishing.   And it was great to gush over the variety. We also got some great ideas for decorating and searching out new projects. Hands On Designs, Cricket Collection and Heartstring Samplary are some great sources for Halloween patterns. 

Stitched by Evalyn G.

Stitched by Jean T.

Stitched by Marnie B.

Stitched by Stacy S.

Stitched by Carolyn N.

Stitched by Carolyn N.

 Stitched by Deb S.

 Stitched by Ellen P.

Stitched by Ellen P.

And some non-Halloween Show 'n Tell

 Stitched by Stacy S.

Stitched by Stacy S.

Stitched by Caryl C.  Part of the Beatles Series.   Guess which song represents?

Stitched by Caryl C.

Stitched by Caryl C.

 A huge THANK YOU to our very competent and thorough Caryl C. who, as always emails a fabulous newsletter and also emailed me the photos since I missed this month's meeting.  
See everyone in November!

As always, please let me know of any edits....especially this month as I was absent from the meeting.   

September 2016 Meeting

June Peterson, resident of Cokesbury, joined our meeting.   June has some lovely stitched and fiber arts pieces on display in the showcase for the month of September.   Due to the construction, we don't walk past the display case on our way in.   It is worth a side trip to see the pieces she had on display.  We hope June joins our meeting again.

Upcoming Meetings

For the October Meeting, Jennifer L. will provide a talk on buttons.   She will share a history of buttons, talk about her collection and how she got into button collecting.   She will have buttons for sale.  

For the November Meeting, Cynthia Steinholt will discuss Pennsylvania Samplers.  

For the December Meeting, it will be our Annual Holiday Luncheon and Exchange and covered dish luncheon.   Your small should be sampler themed and must be a stitched piece.   If you bring a wrapped small, you get to participate in the exchange.   Whether you bring a piece to exchange or not, it is always a great meeting and a real treat to see the beautiful stitched exchange items.  More details on the luncheon and sign up sheets will follow.

For January 2017 (what how did we get to 2017!  I remember Y2K!), please bring in any holiday stitching related items you received.  We will also be wrapping up the 2016 Challenge.   

DVHSG Business

The revisions to the By-Law and the Standing Rules were introduced at the August Meeting.  The revisions were also shared via email to all members.  The By-Laws and Standing Rules were discussed again at the September Meeting.   The main changes include the alternating terms of officers.   President and Secretary will be elected in odd years; Vice President and Treasurer will be elected in even years.   This will lend continuity to the leadership of our organization.   In addition, some Committees were changed to better reflect the current direction of DVHSG.  Copies of the new laws and rules will be added to the new member pack.

     Member, Marney B, moved to accepted the new By-Laws and Standing Rules as presents.   Seconded by            Pat L.    All in favor.

Upcoming Events

The Mancuso Quilt Show - Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, will be at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Oaks, PA from September 15th through 18th.

Embroidery: The Language of Art and needlework symposium will be October 14th and 15th.  Please go to www.winterthur.orghttp://www.winterthur.org for more information.  

The Instruction of Young Ladies: Arts from Private Girls Schools and Academies in Early America  will be at the James Fenimore Cooper Museum in Coopertowns NY starting on September 24th through December 31, 2016.  

Show and Tell

 Jean T. found this danish bell pull in an antique shop.   What a great find!

Jean T. stitched this sampler from Shakespeare's Peddler.   It is the Jane Philpott Sampler

B. J. S. stitched Day Into Night by designed by Judy Soliolus.

Carol W. has been on the hunt for the polish pottery pieces featured in an Olde Colonial Design series of patterns.   The egg cup on the right in the next in the series.    The cheese/butter dish on the left is an e-Bay find for another piece in the set.   Designer, Pat Reed, stopped selling these because the pottery was no longer available.   Great find Carol.

Mary Rita stitched the doll below.  It is one of the series by Julia Manfredini.   This was one that was taught in Williamsburg.

Just love her sweet little purse.

This is also stitched by Mary Rita.   It is a Laura Perrin design.  The colors are so vibrant.

Robin T. shared her Pining to Stitch set of smalls.   This was an EGA pattern designed by a guild in Maine.

Ellen P. stitched up and finished these little cuties.

Kathy R. did a fabulous job on Snooty Parrots by Barbara Ana Designs......but I didn't get a photo  :-( 

And here's a lovely collection of  the Grace Mason Sampler from Of Female Worth.   The 'Jersey Girls' saw Susan D. stitching this a while back and eight of them jumped on the bandwagon to do it as a stitch-a-long among themselves.  

 

More Grace Mason.......I am one of the stitcher's and I have to say it was an enjoyable piece to stitch and I for one was very happy when I got down to the bottom corner that the border met!  The one on the top left is really not that dark, it was in the shadow.

Although eight of us stitched Grace, first Susan and then the seven from Jersey, only six were photographed today.   One of the girls had to leave early and another has transplanted herself to Tennessee.   Image that!   It was fun to see them all together.   Different count fabrics were used.   Above, top center is Pat L. on 40 count.   Robin T. to the left of her on 36 count and the rest seem to be on 32 count.   Color changes were made with the floss as well.  Stitchers used different reds and greens and golds.

Below, Karen M. on the left might have stitched on 30 count.

 And then were were changes to the verse.....it was originally charted with a verse from Proverbs.

Carol W. and Pat L. changed their verse to the following.

And Karen M. removed the verse altogether adding birds and trees instead.

It was fun to work on together and encourage each other along the way.    The Jersey Girls are off embarking on finding a new piece as a stitch-a-long.  

Program 

Carla Bates from The Frame Shop in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania was our guest speaker for today's meeting.  She led a discussion on framing and  conducted a tutorial on pinning your needlework rather than lacing it.  She comes to us with 30 years of framing experience.

Carla strongly suggests to never use masking tape to bind edges!  Even once the tape is removed, residue of the adhesive it still there.  Also the glue will attract bugs which will eat the grain based glues.  When the bugs are done with the remains of the glue.....they could move to your fabric!    

Glass selection is important and a personal choice.    Conservation glass will reduce fading.  One side of the glass is coated and the framer needs to be sure to have the coated side towards the fabric.   If left  facing outward, it could become scratched and leave a visible marking on the glass.  Museum glass is a good option.   Your glass however should never rest directly on your fabric.  Space between the glass and the fabric allows for airflow.   Matting and spacers can accomplish this.  

Frames are decorative as well as functional   Dust covers should always be added to the back of a framed piece.   This will also deter insects.   Frames should have enough depth and weight to support the weight of the project.  Carla also used aluminum barrier tape to keep fabric away from the wood of the frame to seal off the acid migration from the wood to the fabric.  

For lacing, you start at one end working stitches a quarter of an inch apart toward the other end with one long long thread  ( I use #5 perle cotton) Work horizontally on your piece as shown above.   Once completed, turn your piece 90 degrees and repeat the stitch every quarter inch.   You than pull an excess in the lacing tighten and to ensure a taunt, flat, centered, stretched piece of needlework.  

Pinning has the flexibility to undo and fix a missed stitch.  Foam core and straight pins are used.   The center of each side of both the cut foam core and your needlework are measured out.  Then the center of the fabric is mounted  to the center of the foam core.  Alternating side to side and top to bottom working your way out from the center to the corners.   Stainless steel straight pins can be used but climate control issues and head of the pin may still rust and leave marks on your fabric.   Carla prefers the use of rust proof pins. 

Carla provided us each with a piece of foam core and a selection of frames to choose from and we were off to the races.

This is how much I was able to get down in class.   Should be EZ-PZ to finish up.