March Meeting

March  Catherine Jordan was our guest speaker.  She brought samples of her needlework maps and she shared how she researches and designs the maps.  Catherine’s map kits are available for purchase at her website:  http://www.catherinesdesigns.net/map-kits.html

Katie Franetovich brought her two antique maps to share with us.

Sylvia DuRoss shared an article in Early American Life Magazine on Westtown Needlework Globes.  There will be a book on Needlework maps by Judith Tyner released at the end of 2014.

Brandywine EGA have scheduled a class with Catherine Jordan on how to design your own map on May 3 and 4^th at Cokesbury.  DVHSG members are invited to attend.  For information email: egabrandywine@gmail.com   

Following the regular meeting, Catherine taught the "Believe" needlebook to those who had signed up in advance.  

Some of Catherine's needlework maps...

(More photos to be added - Blogger is being pesky tonight!)

Membership List   A revised membership list was circulated with the most recent newsletter.  Cell phone numbers have been added to the member list.   Please review your information and  email the guild at dvhsg@yahoo.com with any corrections.

Chessie and Me Class   Linda Lautenschlager will be teaching 2 classes November 15 and 16.  One will be a pre-stitch designed for our guild that will include painting a box and the other will be based on an unfinished antique sampler.  Linda supplies various motifs and teaches how to complete it and make it your own sampler.

UFO Challenge   Don’t forget to bring in your UFOs as you finish them!  This continues to the end of the year.

March

Winterthur will be having an exhibit of The Costumes of Downton Abbey opening March 1, 2014 and continuing until January 4, 2015.     http://www.winterthur.org/downtonabbey?src=home-triptych-left

Woodlawn Awards   Congratulations to guild members who won ribbons!  Stacey Brown won Best in Show, Caryl Carthew won a third place ribbon in Traditional Sampler, Pat Lerch won a second and a third place ribbon in Traditional Sampler as well as a second place ribbon in Japanese Embroidery, Jean Toy won a second place ribbon in Traditional Sampler and a first place in Multi-stitch Sampler, Pat Young received a third place ribbon in both pulled work and cross stitch, and Stacy Stinson won two honorable mention ribbons in the miniature category.  Well done!  Here is a listing of all the entries: http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/events  The exhibit runs until the end of March.  

   

Delaware Sampler Symposium will be March 21, 22, and 23.  There are many different classes and tours.  Saturday’s program of speakers is a free event but you must register to attend.  http://www.biggsmuseum.org/programs/samplersymposium/samplersymposium.html

M. Finkel and Daughter will be having a reception in conjunction with the Delaware Symposium on March 23 from 1 to 4 pm.  Everyone is welcome.

April
Carrie David will be leading a discussion entitled “WIPs, BAPS, and UFOs:  Why do I keep starting these things, how do I get them finished, and do I even want to”  We will be talking about what draws us to ambitious projects, why we stop working on projects, and how do we get motivated to finish up.  Bring in your biggest piece or oldest UFO if you want to share (confess!)  Or bring in a piece that you are stuck on for some reason.  Carrie is sure we can all come up with some ideas to help you get unstuck.  Finally, please bring with you the thing that makes stitching easier/more pleasant, or even possible for you.

Catherine Theron kits  The needleroll kits that were pre-ordered are expected to be available at the April meeting.

Spring Retreat   The retreat will be April 25 to 27 at the Lankford Hotel in Ocean City MD.  This is a 'members only' retreat.  You are welcome to arrive any time after 10 AM and can stay as late as you want on Sunday.  Friday night there will be a wine and appetizers welcome reception, and a continental breakfast is included on Saturday and Sunday.  The price is $130 and single rooms are $10 more per night.  Registration forms were provided at the meeting and can be completed and forwarded to Stacy Stinson at 13 Stearrett Drive, Newark DE 19702.  Stacy will be handling all the arrangements. (I will scan and link the registration form here in the next couple of days/please check back.)

Plimoth Plantation Weekend of Samplers will be April 26 and 27. 

http://www.plimoth.org/calendar#/?i=2

The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts is having an exhibit of contemporary samplers stitched by the Lehigh Valley EGA chapter through April 27.

http://historicbethlehem.org/collections/exhibits/stitched-together

May 
Patty Yergey from Samplers Revisited will be talking about charting antique samplers.

Penn Dry Goods Market will be held May 16 & 17, 2014 at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Museum in Pennsburg PA.  This event features antiques and lectures and classes by Textile Historians.  Margriet Hogue will be teaching the Abigail Mears Sampler.  Registration is open at the following link:

http://www.schwenkfelder.com/Penn-Market/registration.htm 

June 
Katie Franetovich will be teaching us the lacis portion of our Stitch A Long.  If you are not working on the SAL you can still participate.  Just bring a piece of linen that has an even number of threads outlined by a four sided stitch to secure the threads.

July
Stash Sale and Stitch In.

Morven Museum  is having an exhibit of New Jersey samplers.    The exhibit will run from October 3, 2014 to March 29, 2015 and there will be a catalog available.

http://morven.org 

Thank you to our wonderful Secretary Lynn D. who forwarded me all the details of the meeting as well as the lovely pictures of the works of Catherine Jordan.   Please email me any corrections.

February 2014 Meeting

Another info filled meeting:

Exhibits and other info

• Pilgrim Hall, Massachusetts 
• Deerborn Hall, Massachusetts 
• Finkels - Open House, March 23rd
• (Sorry - I don't have complete details on all of these but I am sure an internet search can provide more info if you are interested.)
• Downtown Abbey, Costume Exhibit, March 2014 through mid-January 2015, Winterthur Museum, Delaware
• Morven Museum, New Jersey, fall 2014
• Delaware Symposium, March 2014, Dover DE  (See our January Meeting post for more details.)
• Rehoboth Beach needlework show,  spring 2014, Rehoboth, DE.  Stacy S. will deliver any items you wish to enter.   Please contact her before the end of February to make arrangements.
• Swan Sampler Guild - Lauren Sauer is holding a sampler stitching project through the Swam Sampler Guild.   The deadline to sign up is March 1st.   Absentee stitchers are OK.
• Woodlawn - 51st Annual Needlework Exhibit at Woodlawn, Mt. Vernon, Virginia will run the month of March.   DVHSG sent 24 pieces for display!  Thank you to Pat L. and Pat Y. for delivering our treasures.   Pat Y. told the representatives at Woodlawn about our Scissors Block challenge and they were interested in our displaying all our finishes as a group.   Something to keep in mind.  (See our January Meeting post for more info.)
• Catherine Theron Needle Roll Kit - TODAY's (2/8/14) meeting was the last day to sign up.  

Contribution Committee

Members are the Contributions Committee will meet before our next regular meeting.   They are reviewing suggestions and investigating worthy recipients for our annual donation for sampler preservation.  

Programming

• March - Catherine Jordan will be make a presentation on sampler maps during our regular monthly meeting.   After the regular meeting, there will be a members only class with Catherine.   (Sign-ups are closed for this class.)
• April - Carrie D. will lead a panel discussion on WIP's, BAP's and UFO's.   We can all identify with this topic!   Carrie gave us a brief overview of the discussion:   What draws up to stitch a piece; What are our abandonment issues; Why do we loose interest in a particular piece; How to re-kindle the interest in a piece; Sharing what stitching tools or tricks used to make stitching easier.   Hopefully we will be some good tips and motivation.
• Year - Long UFO Challenge - bring in your 2014 finishes to receive a point for each completion of a UFO.   Three $25 gift certificates will be awarded at the end of the challenge.
• May - Patty Yergey of Samplers Revisited will discuss antique samplers and how she got started in charted these treasures from the past.
• June - White Work Band Sampler - Katie will teach the final step (the initial) in the white work sampler stitch along.   Even if you didn't join in the stitch along, you will be able to learn the technique.   More info on supplies needed for the June meeting will follow.
• Summer - one summer month will be a Stitch-in and the other will be the Annual Stash Exchange.
• November - GUILD MEMBERS ONLY - Chessie & Me is designing a guild exclusive piece and will teach on a Saturday and a Sunday class.    More details will be provided in the next couple of months.  There will be pre-stitching.  Ghost stitchers will be allowed but there will be an additional fee.

Now for some photos.  

Show 'n Tell

Rita S. shared her Christmas afghan she stitched.  Each block was a different fabulously stitched tree.  Tons of embellishments.

 Ann S. stitched a tribute in Rosewood Manor's Trees by changing the verse to wording special to her son.   *Sorry Ann - I intended to get a much better pix before we left for the day.  :-(

Our own Theresa Baird gave us a sneak peak of the sampler she is designing for a Georgia Sampler Guild.  She always chooses the prettiest of colors.  Her motifs will include the state flower, dogwood, azaleas, the magnolia and a special verse.  We are so pleased she is one of us and so please for her success!  See Theresa's blog.  Theresa is also designing a sampler for the San Francisco Bay area guild and a sampler for the Swam Sampler Guild in 2015.  In the future, she will be leading an internet forum as a stitch along for some of her designs.   Follow her blog for details.

Members enjoyed the creativity of the Scissors Block challenge.   Please *Click Here*  to see a post dedicated to this challenge.

From Pat L. - Autumn Splendor, and EGA project (from her other guild)

Until next month, keep your stitches plentiful, your tension even and your frogging limited!

Scissors Block

So much to share from this month's meeting that I am posting twice.   This post is dedicated to our most recent challenge.    This past fall members were challenged to create a scissors block finish.   Participation was purely voluntary.   Debbie S.'s husband made a ba-zillion (or so I am sure it seemed to him) wooden blocks for any one who wanted to participate.   We were given several months to let our creativity flow and produce a finished project.

The variety of finishes were as different and as varied as our multi-talented stitchers.  Enjoy the creativity of our members!  My photos don't do these beauties justice.  Still honing my photography skills.   All photos are click-able to show enlarged.

Lace 'n Fineness - Francine's piece.  Just a adorable as she is!  And what 

an over achiever.   Not just a scissor's block but smalls to accompany it.

Variety abounds.  BJ's on the left; Stacy S. in the center; Marnie B. on the right

Beading extraordinaire!  Just a simple task for the talents of Deb S.

Dainty and band-like sampler stitching from Marnie B.

Fabulous padded finish from Jean T. with Deb S./back left; 

Jean M. center back; and Nancy R./right

Tribute to Kathy R.'s fav holiday

Carolyn N.'s seasons and Pat L.'s beading

BJ. S.'s Ellen Chester motifs with ultra suede top. With Pat L./back left, Deb S. immediately behind and Jean T./back right

Patrick did two - both all beading! and he is NEW to beading!

Pat Y. was clever and had additional holes drilled for 'park' a variety of needleworking tools.

And then there Caryl C.  who showed the love of her Alma Mater.

Karen K. used themes from a sampler she completed last year.

This blogger's completed block.

A BIG thank you to our Program Committee for continuing to bring great projects and classes to our guild each month.

We voted on favorites and prizes were awarded.   Congratulations to the winners and to all who finished their block.

(Please let me know if I identified anyone's work incorrectly.)

January Meeting

Happy 2014 one and all!  Boy do I have a lot to share with you.   We have a lot going on at DVHSG so let me get started with the sharing.

Let's take care of some business first -
First up, if anyone has photos or info to share from the Catherine Theron Class in November, please forward to Lynn D. or to me so I can do some updating.

Woodlawn
The 51st Annual Needlework Show at Woodlawn will open March 1st and continue through March 31st.  Woodlawn is operated by the National Trust and was part of George Washington's Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia.  George Washington gave the site to his nephew Lawrence Lewis  and his bride, Nelly Custis, Martha's granddaughter, in hopes of keeping Nelly close to Martha and Mount Vernon.  The home was designed by William Thornton who was also the architect of the Capitol.  Annually it is the host of this needlework show.    Click HERE for a link to Woodlawn's Event Page.   There is a link to the paperwork if you wish to submit an item for display during the event.  Please navigate around the site to learn more about Woodlawn.

It is a wonderful day trip.  You will be inspired at each corner and every room you enter which will be overflowing with beautifully stitched pieces of every variety.   Samplers to framed pieces to smalls to Japanese embroidery and more.   It is a very inspirational afternoon as you oh and ah at all the beautiful pieces of needlework on display.   And if you enter a piece, you may even come home with a ribbon!

Catherine Theron
Catherine Theron is offering to DVHSG members only a needle roll kit.   The cost is $65 and is payable to "DVHSG".  Please let Deb S. know if you wish to participate.

Catherine Jordan
A class with Catherine Jordan is planned for our March Meeting.   Catherine Jordan will speak at our regular meeting on March 8th.  Catherine Jordan will be hold an afternoon class following that meeting.   Sign up is due TODAY!  Deadline for payment is February 1st.   Cost will be $65 and is payable to "DVHSG".

Penn Dry Goods Market
Sign ups are now available online for speakers and classes at the Penn Dry Good Market at the Schwenkfelder Museum in Pennsburg, PA.

Sampler Consortium
Sign up now for lectures and classes at the Sampler Consortium Event at the Biggs Museum, Dover DE, on the following dates:
Sampler Exhibition : March 7 – April 20, 2014
Sampler Symposium: March 21-23, 2014
Sampler Lectures (free): March 22, 2014 Exhibition Reception: March 22, 2014
Please follow this link to the Biggs Museum site for more information.

Semi Annual Retreat
Our annual spring retreat is tentatively set for the last weekend of April.   We will be going to Salty Yarns in Ocean City, Maryland for a guild favorite.  Stacy S. will confirm dates and more details will follow.

2014 Challenge
We are not having a SAL or new project this year.    We will all be challenged to complete our UFO's.   Rules - must have been started prior to January 1, 2014.  Must complete by December 31, 2014.    Pretty simple!  We all know finishing those stitched pieces can be the downfall of many of us.....so here's some incentive!  Let's get finishing.

Non-Guild Class Info
Salty Yarns has openings in some of their upcoming classes.   Please check out their events tab on their website for details.  Sherri Jones in April and Betsy Morgan in June.

Holiday Exchange
And now - the best part of our meeting.   Our Annual Exchange at our December Meeting was canceled due to weather.   We postponed the exchange to our meeting today.   This exchange is always a Guild favorite.    Each piece is more exquisite than the one before.  Beautiful stitching, beautiful finishing, beautiful fellowship among stitchers!

The photos don't do the beautiful craftsmanship justice.  Please click to see an enlarged view of each.  I only wish I had gotten many more photos to share but alas.....we needed to clear for our covered dish luncheon.