December 2023

We were welcomed to our Annual Holiday Meeting.

The 2023 Challenge was announced.   Participants should choose 5 projects from their stash.   They can be UFO's/WIP's/or new projects.   Number them 1 to 5.   Each month a number will be pulled and the number will coincide with the project you should focus on during the month.   You don't have to be exclusive to the project chosen, just add your main focus to it.  

Upcoming programs -

January Meeting - Zoom - Tanya of The Scarlett House will be part of our Zoom Meeting.   Part of her talk will be sharing her collection of samplers with us.   If you have a particular sampler that Tanya owns, please let Linda know prior to the next meeting so she can alert Tanya.

February - Zoom - Participants in the Garden of Stitches 2022 SAL will share their progress and finishes.  

March - 

April - Live - Theresa Baird of Heart's Ease Essamplaire will teach members the SPIRAL TRELLIS stitch.   She will have a small project available for purchase (optional) that uses the spiral trellis.  Please bring any of your finished pieces that are Theresa's designs.

May  -  Live - Patty Yergey and Cynthia Steinhoff will discuss three Delaware samplers.   One from each of the three counties in Delaware.

June - Zoom

July - Zoom

August - Zoom - Discussion on Shaker Samplers by Jennifer Richardson of Violet & Verses.

September - Live - We will do silver work with Michelle of Michelle Ink.  Each participant will receive an amount of silver 'putty' that will be enough to create 2 or 3 strawberry toppers, or 3 or 4 charms, etc.   Michelle will provide the materials, molds and instructions.   Once molded, Michelle will take the pieces back to be fired, polished and they will be shipped directly to the class participant.  The cost to be determined. 

October -

November -

December - Holiday Luncheon and Smalls Exchange

The guild has three charts from the Anniversary Event available.   Please let Stacy know if you would like to purchase one of the three charts.

2023 Designer of the Year - Members were given a list of 5 different designers to choose from.   Members votes for PLUM STREET SAMPLERS as the 2023 Designer of the Year.   

Conservation - It has been approved to pay for the conservation of the Sara Thompson Sampler housed at the Salem County Historical Society in Salem NJ.   This sampler restoration is being done in memory of Patty Hyrnecko.

Member Kathy R. shared an Exhibition Book on samplers she had recently purchased   The book is available on The Scarlett Letter website.

Holiday Exchange

As always, there was a wonderful variety of smalls in the exchange.

Even the Zoom participants were able to show and share their gifts.

A great variety of some beautiful gifts to and from the participants.

SHOW and TELL

Jane G. shared her collection of needlepoint Santa's

Lynn D.'s ornaments

Ann S.'s Regal Bee

Ann S.'s

Sampler stitched by Marnie B.

Jeannette Douglas Designs Year of Monthly Bouquets by Marnie B.

Sampler stitched by Marnie B.

Pin Ball by Patrick B.

Stitched by Ann S.'s where she listed the names of all the places she lived when growing up.

Baby It's Cold Outside by Stacy S.

Ann S.'s work

Stitched by Carla for her grandson

Stitched by Ann S.

Next meeting - 10 a.m. - January 14 - Zoom Meeting

November 2022 Zoom Meeting

Secretary Caryl C. presided out the meeting for President Lunda D.    New members were asked to introduce themselves and tell us a little about themselves.

Treasurer's Report was shared.   

Caryl thanked Treasurer Nancy F. for her term as our Treasurer.   Caryl also acknowledged Stacy S. and Patrick B. for this service as co-Vice Presidents of the Guild. 

Elections - The slate of candidates was shared.  The two positions open are Treasurer (1) and Vice President (2).   Having no nominations from the floor, the slate was voted on.   Stacy and Patrick will continue in their positions as Vice-President and Robin T. will be the new Treasurer.

Upcoming Programing

• December - Our Annual Holiday Exchange - In person meeting with Zoom for away stitchers.   Covered dish luncheon with members bringing their own beverage.  The Guild will provide wraps for the luncheon.
• January 2023 - Showcase of pieces from the Designer of the Year for 2022 - The Scarlett House.  This will be a Zoom meeting.   Send pictures for the slide show of your Scarlett House pieces stitched in 2022.  Show and Tell of any Christmas related needlework items you received for the holidays.
• February Zoom Meeting - We will share our finishes of the year long SAL of Garden of Stitches from Kimberly Nugent.
• March - Live Meeting
• April -  Live Meeting - Theresa Baird will demonstrate the Spiral Trellis Stitch.  She has a small kit prepared (optional - for purchase) for the meeting.
• May - Live Meeting - Sampler Talk/Speaker to be announced
• June - TBD
• July - TBD
• August - Zoom Meeting - Discussion on Shaker Samplers by Jennifer Richardson of Violets & Verses
• September - Live Meeting - We will do silver casting with Michelle Ink creating charms, strawberry toppers, etc.
• October -  TBD
• November - TBD
• December - Live Meeting - Annual Holiday Luncheon and Exchange

Retreats - We will continue to have retreats in Ocean City, Maryland.  With the shop moving and all that involves, Stacy will wait until Salty Yarns is set up in their new location in Berlin before reaching out to Sara to set up the spring retreat.  The new location is set to open February 1, 2023.

Green Book - Patrick has asked all to submit their list of completed 2022 projects to Linda as soon as possible after the first of the year so he can print and add to the Green Book which is a record of all the we accomplished over the past year

Conservation - The Board approved the conservation of the Sara Thompson Sampler which is in the collection of the Sale County Historical Society in Salem, NJ.  They are currently securing a conservator that will do the work.   This is being conserved in memory of Patty Hyrnecko, founding member.  

As for October, The Friendship Tree, from Liz Mathews, Liz has shared her design process.   She used bot the Delaware Discovery Book as reference and the Jane Fooks, Sussex County Sampler and the Ann Elizabeth Lockwood Sampler.   She incorporated birds and animals native to Delaware in the design as well as the apple urn that is part of our logo.  Liz led us in a great Zoom class for the finishing of this piece.
 

October In-Person Meeting!

We were welcomed to our first in-person meeting in about 30 months!   We had a modest turn out of 30 members and another 7 joined via Zoom.   If you tuned in via Zoom, thank you for your patience as we work out the kinks in these hybrid meetings.   Much thanks to Caryl C. for her computer work as she manipulated through cyber space for the meeting.

Thank you to member Beth D. for finding and recommending the church hall for all our live meetings for the foreseeable future.   The room was lovely, large, well-lit, with bathrooms nearby, parking close to the entrance and no stairs to climb.  

Linda D. welcomed everyone, including new member, Lisa, from Lancaster County.   Lisa was prepared with her Liz Mathews Friendship Tree pre-stitched and she jumped right in when we started the program.

Linda called for reports.   

• Treasurer reported our balance and no outstanding invoices.  
• Nominating Committee - Pat L. is heading the Nominating Committee and provided a memo to Linda for the November election slate.     If you would like to run for one of these officers or nominate someone, please contact Pat L. prior to the November Meeting. The two offices that are open are Vice President/Programming and Treasurer.   The Vice President/Programming is a two person position.  Nominees are:
• Vice President/Programming 
• Stacy S.
• Patrick B.
• Treasurer
• Robin T.
• Conservation Committee - Marnie B. has been working with other DVHSG members to select a South Jersey Sampler in need of conservation which we can do in Patty H.'s memory.   They have narrowed the list to at 1775 sampler from South Jersey.   An informal estimate from a conservator from Winterthur is $675.00 for the restoration.  The recipient has not yet been notified of our  selection.   We will ask that they display the conserved sampler with a placard indicating DVHSG assisted in the conservation of the sampler.  This sampler selected has been submitted to the Board for their approval.   Once approval is received, the recipient will be notified.   A future field trip to see the conserved sampler is possible.
• Holiday Exchange - Susan H. is working on the details for the holiday exchange.   Please watch your email for the link to sign up.   Information will also be in your next newsletter.  Remember to stitch a non-holiday small and to include your initials, the date and the guild initials.    We will have a holiday luncheon.   Members should bring their own beverage as well as a covered dish to share.   The guild will provide a lunchmeat tray (or similar).
• Stitch A Long - We are continuing with The Garden of Stitches SAL.  Please post your progress on our Facebook page.
• Programs
• Stacy provided a re-cap of our recent October Retreat at Salty Yarns in OCMD.   She updated everyone on the status of the store's move to Route 50 near Berlin, MD.   The store size will triple, there will be classroom space and there is plenty of parking.  It is about 10 minutes from their current location.
• For 2023 we will be having six (6) live meetings and six (6) zoom meetings.  The live meetings will be hybrid meetings.   PLEASE watch your email for the proper link to join the meetings.   The HYBRID link will be DIFFERENT from the ZOOM ONLY meeting link.  
• Stacy is in talks with four five different designers or speakers to come to DVHSG for future meetings.  She will share more information once the details are finalized.   Also, if you have any ideas for a meeting or if you have a collection you would like to share, please contact Stacy S.
• November Meeting - ZOOM only - Liz Mathews will join us to demonstrate how to assembly the tree she designed for DVHSG.   If you did not order the tree kit and would like to have one, there are 1 or 2 kits still available.   Contact Stacy S. if you are interested.   
• December - LIVE meeting - Holiday Exchange and Luncheon

• January - ZOOM only - Sharing of holiday needlework gifts received; salute to our Designer of the Year/The Scarlett House/sharing of any holiday guild exchange gifts from away members.
• February - ZOOM only - TBD
• March - ZOOM only - TBD
• April -  LIVE meeting - Theresa Baird will teach the spiral trellis stitch.   We will work on doodle cloth.   She has designed a small project for purchase is you want.   More information will follow.
• May - TBD
• June - TBD
• July - TBD
• August - TBD
• September - LIVE meeting - Michelle Ink will be teaching how to make strawberry toppers, needle minders, etc. from high quality silver which she will take home to fire for us and will ship the finished piece once polished.       

Show and Tell

 Let's see how good your are?   Can you guess who might have found a little tin and came up with this awesome needlework design.   Who else but Patrick!

Scissors keep from Patrick.  

A couple of Christmas stitches by Pat Y.

Halloween Stitching from Kathy R.

Another Halloween design stitched by Kathy R.

Red Bird Sampler from With Thy Needle and Thread by Kathy R.

Ellen Chester Pattern, stitched by Kathy R.

Mary Amelia Cwyer by Kathy R.

Stitched by Kathy R.

Alphabet from Needlework Press, stitched by Kathy R.

Bristol Sampler by Kathy R. - I think.

Small drum in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II, stitched by Caryl C.  (So sorry I didn't think to photograph the sides.)

Mary Wigglesworth Sampler by Lynn D.

Theresa Baird designed being stitched by Ann S.

Beautiful sampler from Jackie DuPlessis, stitching by Ann S.

For our program, we worked on the Friendship Sampler Free Pattern from Liz Mathews.   Members pre-stitched the basket, date and part of the border prior to the meeting.   At the meeting we passed the pieces to other stitchers for them to add flowers to our baskets.   Amazing the variety of flosses, fabrics and colors.

These were taken early on in the day.   By day's end, the baskets were filling up.

September 2022 Meeting

 President Linda D. welcomed everyone to the meeting.   We have had 29 new members since July 2022.

The Treasurer's Report was shared.   We have no outstanding bills.   Donations for the Conservation Fund in Sylvia D.'s name will be accepted.

Elections - Pat Lerch has volunteered to serve on the Nominating Committee for Elections.   Elections will be in November.   Vice-President/Programming and Treasurer are the offices open.

Historian - We are still looking for someone to take on the role of Historian for the Guild.  

Conservation Committee - The Committee is working with two different historical societies in New Jersey to find a sampler for restoration.  Finding a suitable sampler is a slow process and they continue to work at it.  The Committee is going to reach out to Winterthur to get an idea of the cost to restore a sampler.   

Guild Stitch a long - The rows for completion this month on the Garden of Stitches are Band 18 and the second row of the alphabet.     Please remember to share your progress on our Facebook page.

Reminder - The Scarlett House is our Designer of the Year for 2022.  

Programs

October meetings will be switched.   The Monthly Stitch-in will be the second Saturday of October, 10/8.   The Regular Meeting will be the 4th Saturday.  On October 22, we will meeting in person for the first time in two and a half years!!!!  More information on the location  will be in your newsletter.   For our first meeting in person in quite some time Stacy has planned something special.  She has organized a One-Day Round Robin.    We will be using the Hello from Liz Matthews Friendship Basket pattern.    It is a complimentary design from Liz Matthews.   How is works is you bring your pre-stitch piece to the meeting with the flosses you would like to be used on your piece.   I suggest you put everything in a bag (zip-lock or similar) and put your name on it.    You need to only stitch the bottom, the basket, and the year.   You should put basting stitches on the sides.   Each stitcher will provide their own linen and floss for the project. The piece is only 53 stitches wide by as tall as you make it.  You will pass your started piece to friends at the meeting who will add flowers to your basket.    Some of the motifs are as few as 4 stitches, while others may have a couple dozen stitches.   DVHSG will create a paper to follow your piece so each stitcher can write their name and what they stitched.   Stitchers can use Cross stitch, eyelets, Smyrna crosses, etc. to complete your basket of flowers.   You may want to include small buttons that stitchers may wish to add to your piece.  Once all the flowers have been added, you will take your piece home to complete the sides and top border.   When finished, you will have a great little stitched piece which has been touched by so many friends.   You can fully finish the piece as you wish.

This will be done at our October Meeting.   If are not participating in the Round Robin, you can still attend the meeting.   Away Stitchers are encouraged to participate.   If you are an Away Stitcher and want to participate, please let Stacy S. know no later than September 24th so she can work out the details.  We will start stitching once the business portion of the meeting is done, breaking for lunch and then continuing to stitch until approximately 3 p.m. Because this will be our first meeting at this new location, it will be easiest if everyone brings their own bagged lunch and beverage.   

November - Liz Matthews DVHSG Tree finishing class via Zoom.

December - Susan H. will handle the Holiday Exchange.   She will be sending out a survey in the next few weeks regarding participation in the exchange. 

Today's Program -

We were treated to a tour of The Tinsmith's Wife, hppts://www/tinsmithswife.com    Located in Comfort, Texas the store is housed in a circa 1800 building.  They have tons of fabric which is on display in five different antique pie safes.  They carry all popular cottons and silk threads as well as fibers for canvas work.  This is an excellent place to call if you are in search of that unicorn pattern.....they just may have it.   For the month of September, The Tinsmith's Wife is offering a 15% discount.  Look for the discount word to use in your newsletter.  

August 2022 Meeting

 President Linda D. welcomed everyone to the meeting.   Treasurer's Report was read.  It was noted the $1,500 in donations have been received for a sampler restoration in Patti Hrynecko's name.   The Conservation Committee is hoping to find a New Jersey sampler the needing restoration.  Secretary reported 24 new members since July for a total of 200+ members of the guild

Programs -

September - Zoom Talk about first stitched; how you got into stitching

October - In person meeting - October 22nd - more information will follow in your newsletter.   Semi-Annual Retreat at Salty Yarns will be October 7th, 8th and 9th.  Sign-ups dues by September 1st.

November - Liz Matthews Zoom Meeting on the finishing of one of her trees.   Liz has designed a tree for DVHSG.   Kits must be pre-ordered by August 28th.   Liz will ship directly to members late September/early October.   Elections will also be held in November.   A Nominating Committee has been formed and they are in need of another volunteer.   Please contact Linda D. is you are willing to serve on the Nominating Committee.  

December - In person meeting -  We will have our annual smalls exchange.   Participation is voluntary.  We will also be voting on the Designer of the Year for 2023.  

January - Share the needlework related holiday gifts you received.

February - Garden of Stitches Showcase - Sharing your finished work on our year long Stitch-a-long.

We will be having a Stash Reallocation again in the future.   It has to be at an in person meeting.   A date will be set and shared when it is decided what meeting it will be.  

Today's Program - Linda D. lead the group and shared many helpful hints for finishing the silk gauze needle book project from our June Meeting.    Linda shared tools to use.  Who ever thought of covering your work area with Press n Seal when you are painting?   Ingenious.    Linda gave examples of how to embellish the needle book with ribbons, buttons, charms, using scrapbooking paper and punches, Folk Art (brand) paints.   She said to check out the Tim Holtz supplies at Hobby Lobby or Micheals as well as the scrapbooking sections  in each store for little add ons.    A couple stitchers who had finished their books shared what they had done.   Very clever and very inspiring.

Next meeting - September 10

July 2022 Meeting

 President Linda D. welcomed everyone and call the meeting to order.   New member, Barbara, introduced herself.

Treasurer's Report - We have one outstanding invoice from Needlework Press.   We have received donations in Patti Hyrnecko's name which will set aside for a sampler conservation.

Conservation Committee - The Committee is meeting to revised and simplify the application process.  The hopes are to have an on-line application process.   For the current year, we will you the process in place.   Once the new guidelines are created the website and blog will be updated with current forms and the necessary links.

Elections - Elections in November will be for Vice-President/Programming and Treasurer.   Both are two-year terms and will be effective January 1, 2023.   A Nominating Committee is needed.   If interested, please contact President Linda D.

Programming 

    July - The kits for the Civil War Huswif with Linda Vinson will be mailed shortly.   The July Meeting is a discussion with Linda Vinson.   You will not need to have your kit prior to the meeting.  See the June Meeting post for pictures of the Civil War Huswif.

    August -   Linda will shared finishing ideas and techniques for the silk gauze needlebook from our June Meeting.

    September - TBD

    October - Retreat October 7, 8 and 9.   Our October Meeting will be at the end of the month.   What your newsletter and email updates.

    November - Liz Matthews will be with us via Zoom and will show us how to finish one of her trees.   Kits for the DVHSG tree will be mailed in late September/early October for pre-stitching.  Deadline for sign up is August 1st.  See the June Meeting post for pictures of the tree.

    December - Holiday Exchange  and Brunch.   More details will follow.

Spring Retreat - We do not know if there will be a Spring Retreat in 2023.   With the sale of the hotel the staff is unsure what will be happening in April 2023.

Of interest - Serendipity Quilt Shoppe in Dagsboro has been sold and will not be going out of business. 

Today's Program

    Linda VInson, Needlework Delights, spoke to up on the history of the Civil War Huswif.  Fabric was hard to come by so these huswifs were assembled from whatever scrapes the homemake had on hand.  These were precious to the soldiers and may have carried photographs, locks of hair from a loved one, needle and thread, buttons and money.  Caryl C. will share copies of Union and Confederate money for you to print and put in your huswif.    

Linda went through the kit and offered tips on finishing the cross stitched work into the huswif.   Linda suggest using navy, dark brown, brick red and cheddar yellow for you fabric selection for the huswif.  She offered a couple of resources for finishing supplies:   Marcus Fabrics has civil ware fabric available;  Lady Dot Creates has 5/8 inch cotton twill tape that is used for the binding.  

56 Members were in attendance via Zoom.