June 2019 Meeting

This member was not able to make the June Meeting - missing a DVHSG Meeting is always a bummer.   Many thanks to Caryl C. for sharing her notes from the meeting.

June Program: Patti Hrynenko represented DVHSG at the Bergen County Historical Society on Super Bowl Sunday with a presentation on samplers. She gave that presentation at our June Meeting.   It was wonderful to see a compilation of all the activities of our guild and hopefully that type of outreach will result in some new members. Her presentation also reviewed some of the lovely samplers on display at the Gloucester County Historical Society, including the items that our donations are helping to conserve. Thank you to Patti and her husband for the presentation!

Upcoming Programs

           July: “Victorian Christmas in July” Francine C. will lead us in stitching a Victorian    

           style Christmas pin keep, utilizing perforated paper, fabric, and stitching     

           embellishments. Kits will be provided if you signed up in advance. Registration is 

           now closed for this project. Extra kits MAY be available for purchase at the meeting. 

           If you sign up but cannot be at the July meeting, please make arrangements to get 

           your kit. 

For those participating in the class, please bring the following:

·       Small paper scissors with a sharp point.  You can use embroidery scissors, but it will be hard on them;

·       Glue stick for paper or craft glue (such as Aleene’s) but not liquid glue;

·       Size 26 or 24 needle;

·       Sewing needle and a bit of sewing thread for tacking the corners;

·       4 or more medium plastic clips (or large paper clips) to hold the layers together while assembling; and

·       If you have a Christmas-themed fabric or floss in your stash that you want to use, you are more than welcome to bring it—a 6 x 6 piece of fabric would be sufficient—however there will be backing fabric in the kit

   

August: We will have our Annual Stash Relocation Event.  Members are asked to consider donating a portion of any profits to our Conservation Fund.   Also, for any items not sold or exchanged, there is the option to donate those items to taken to Fireside Stitchery to be sold for the Guild.

September: Tinted tea towels ($5) The presenter has asked for participants to bring the following items:

·       #2 pencil

·       A pack of Crayola Crayons (16-32 colors works best)

·       Embroidery needle with an eye large enough to 3-5 strands of floss

·       Embroidery hoop

·       Scissors for cutting thread

·       A roll of paper towels or “lotion-free” tissues

·       1 skein of black embroidery floss (or you can choose to use colors that match the projects—sunflower and Santa)

October: Patrick B. will lead us in a small pumpkin project with bullion knots.

November: Beth Seal (of Summerhouse Stitchworkes) and Janice Conley Note (of Noteworthy Needle) will be with us for a 1 ½ day event. We will be learning how to prepare an artificial pumpkin to cross-stitch on during the meeting. Lunch will be available if you choose to sign up. We will have an afternoon class with a needlebook design—Crowning Glory (some pre-stitching will be required). On Sunday, we will work on a project entitled “Turn, Turn, Turn”. This project is also being taught at Williamsburg this year—check out the website for photos.  http://www.needleworkersdelight.com/ChristmasinWilliamsburg.html

Registration is due by the August meeting. 

December: Our annual exchange and luncheon.

Other News:

Our annual dues run from January to December ($25) and you must be a dues paying member to attend guild events (ie. retreats, classes, etc.). If you have not paid your dues for 2019, please send it in a.s.a.p. Checks should be made out to D.V.H.S.G. and mailed to our post office box—DVHSG, PO Box 1292, Hockessin, DE, 19707.

The conservation fund committee will be sending out postcards to organizations who may be interested in applying. If you know of an organization in the mid-Atlantic region that might be interested, contact Ann Skeans.

The guild is working on the iStitch Amethyst Band Sampler as our stitch-a-long this year. If you are participating, please bring your sampler to our July meeting so we can see everyone’s progress.

Our 20^th anniversary will be in May 2020. If you are interested in serving on the committee to plan the event, please contact Stacy S.

The Rehoboth Exhibit runs from September 14-October 27. Items for display will be accepted between August 23-September 8. More information in July as to who may be collecting and delivering items for the exhibit.

Our “guild sampler” was at the meeting today. Members are stitching motifs and Mary Rita took the sampler this month. There will be opportunities for others to stitch on it before it is finished.

Since I was not at the meeting, please see our Facebook page for this month's Show and Tell.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1560496164204054/

Next meeting - July 13th

May 2019 Meeting

All members and visitors were welcomed to the meeting.   Our Treasurer's Report was presented, discussed and accepted.

DUES
A reminder was given regarding memberships.   Our Membership Year is from January 1 to December 31.   If you joined mid-year last year,  please be reminded that January 1 your dues was due again.   Our dues remains at $25 per person per calendar year.   If you have not paid your dues for 2019, please send it in a.s.a.p. Checks should be made out to D.V.H.S.G. and mailed to our post office box—DVHSG, PO Box 1292, Hockessin, DE, 19707.

$10 of each membership goes to our Conservation Fund.  Each year we select a recipient(s) from applications submitted to receive our donation towards their efforts in sampler restoration.  (See our Conservation Fund page above)

OPPORTUNITY
Member Joanne P. brought in more 'stash' she is trying to liquidate.   Donations were accepted for the DVHSG Treasury for patterns or fabric selected.

EVENTS
Events of interest

Greenbriar Historical Society in Lewisburg, VA has an exhibit between now and December 2019 with samplers, quilts and coverlets. The exhibit is entitled Mothers of Material: Women and Textile Production. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday, 10-4. (http://www.greenbrierhistorical.org/mothers-of-material.html)

The Historical Society of Cocalico Valley in Ephrata, PA has an exhibit between now and December 2020 with a wide range of ephemera, including an 1838 sampler completed by Amanda Heitler. The exhibit is open on Saturdays between 10 and 4. (https://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org/museum-library)

The Charleston Museum has acquired a sampler completed by Jane Kugley in 1822 when she was just 7 ½ years old. You can view the sampler on their website. (https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/news-events/new-needlework-sampler-at-charleston/)

RETREAT - OCMD
We had 38 attend this past April.   It is the largest group to date.   I think everyone had a good time and shopping at Salty Yarns was done by all.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

• June - Patty Hyrnecko of the Gloucester County Historical Society will share a presentation on samplers. She recently was a guest speaker at the Bergen County Historical Society.   Bergen County was a recipient of a DVHSG Conservation Fund for sampler restoration and invited our guild to attend the unveiling of the sampler they had restored.   Patty attended and represented us well!  
• July - Christmas in July - Francine will teach a Victorian paper project.   Members need to bring sharp paper scissors to the meeting.   There is a sign-up but no charge for the class. Watch you email for a reminder from Caryl C. of supplies needed for the meeting.
• August - Annual Stash Re-Allocation Sale.   Members are urged to clean out their closets of unwanted patterns and supplies.  Prices are set by the seller and we ask that each member donate a portion of any proceeds to our Conservation Fund.   If there are items left that you do not want to keep, they can be gathered up and inventoried for sale at Fireside Stitchery.   We have been very fortunate with the amount we have earned from our sales at Fireside.
• September - We will have a lecture on a crayon and stitching craft  popular in the 1920'2 and 1930's.  The cost will be $5 per person and you will need to bring your own crayons.   More information will follow.
• October - Member Patrick B. will teach a class in bullion knots.  There is small project associated with the lecture.  Sign up in advance is necessary.
• November 9th and 10th - Meeting day and the day after
• During our meeting, Janice Note of Noteworthy Needle will teach us how to drill pumpkins that we will then cross stitch.  Sign-up will be in August.   The price is $25 per person plus the cost of the pumpkins.   Stacy is trying to get a good price on a bulk purchase of pumpkins.   More information will follow.
• After the regularly scheduled and a break for lunch ($10), Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes will teach Crowning Glory.   This is pin cushion shaped like a crown.  The cost for this class is $60
• On Sunday, Janice Note will teach Turn-Turn-Turn.   (See this link for a photo -  http://www.needleworkersdelight.com/ChristmasinWilliamsburg.html))   There is no pre-stitching.   The class will teach the finishing technique.   This class is $50.
• December - Annual Holiday Luncheon and Exchange.   A stitched needlework small should be brought in wrapped to the meeting.  
• 2020 - The guild will celebrate its 20th anniversary in May 2020.   Work has already begun to make the May 2020 meeting a special event.

Watch your Newsletter for updates on all of the above.

Show and Tell

Cute bunnies, stitched by Ellen P.

Adorable little zippered pouch, stitched by Ellen P.

Needlepoint ornament, stitched by Beth D.

Halloween piece, stitched by Beth D.

Antique needlework pieced shared.

Buckleberry Sampler from Rosewood Manor, stitched by Vicki.

Garden at Givency, all peyote beading, stitched by Pat L.

Pillow by Lisa B.

Basket trim and smalls, stitched by Patty H.

Two class pieces from the Prim Stitchers Society Retreat, stitched and finished by Stacy S.

Wedding gift, stitched and finished by Stacy S.

Pillow stitched by Lisa B.

The Diligent Needle from Needlework Press, stitched by Stacy S.

Halloween Postage Stamp, stitched by Kathy R.

Lydia Wharton Millsboro DE Sampler, stitched by Jean T.

Basket full of pretty pillows, stitched and finished by Jean T.

Pretty pillows and strawberries, stitched and finished by Jean T.

Ann S. progress on Queenstown Samplers's Corsica River.

Ann S.'s version of Lydia Wharton Millsboro DE Sampler.

Samplers Revisited, stitched by Ann S.

In keeping with our discussion at today's meeting, Marnie B. brought in her collection of sewing kits.

PROGRAM

We had another full meeting with an interesting topic for discussion.   We were tasked with bringing our 'tool kit' we take to a class.   Program Chair, Stacy S. and member Linda D. moderated the meeting.  Linda shared her tool bag and all the things that she carries to a class.   Linda's bag was quite extensive considering the variety of crafts she may do.   She does not opt for a different tool bag for each craft but rather one central bag that handles it all.    It was interesting to see how much and how little some people bring and to pick up some tips along the way.   I never thought to include floss bobbins or floss bags when I go to a class.....but what better way to tame the floss provided in a class kit.   Things like stitcher fixers and boo sticks to Purple Thangs, Snag Grabbits, glue sticks, invisible thread, bandaids to a Halo-Bolt were some of the must have stitchers include in their tool bags.   It was a good discussion and it gave some of a shopping list of new must have items.

Next meeting, June 8th.

April 2019 Meeting

President MaryRita welcomed our visitors who came from as far at Mount Joy PA, Downington PA and Marlton NJ.   I am sure they will come to agree that our meetings are worth the drive.

Patrick opened the meeting by sharing the 2019 Challenge Book.   All members are encouraged to record their finished projects in the book.  Patrick has given  the Challenge of 19 projects for 2019.   Some are well on their way to meeting his challenge.

Patrick also shared our calendar of upcoming programs.

• April 26-28 -  Semi-annual DVHSG Retreat at Salty Yarns in OCMD.   Members only - Registration has closed.  
• May - In May, members are encouraged to bring to the meeting what their 'must haves' for class supplies are.   It is always interesting to see what gadgets someone else has that you may never have seen.
• June - Patty H. of the Gloucester County Historical Society will give a lecture on samplers.
• July - Francine will teach a victorian Christmas ornament on perforated paper.
• August - Stash Re-Distribution Yard Sale.  Members are asked to donate 10% of any sales to the Conservation Fund.   At the end of the meeting, any stitcher who wants to donated items left, they will be taken to Fireside for an eBay sale.   The total collected from Fireside sales in 2018 was $1,370.  Kudos stitchers for de-stashing.
• September - TBD
• October - Bullion knot class to be taught by Patrick B. 
• November - 3 Classes with Janice Note of Noteworthy Needle and Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes.   There will be one class during our regular meeting, an afternoon class and a Sunday class.    During our meeting Janice will teach us how to drill a foam pumpkin with a cross stitch pattern; the afternoon class will be a piece from Beth Seal; and on Sunday, Janice will teach "Turn".   There is no pre-stitching for Turn as Janice will be teaching the assembling instructions using muslin.   See Needleworkers Delight, Williamsburg  and scroll for a photo of this piece.
• December - Annual Holiday Luncheon and gift exchange.  Your exchange piece is to be a stitched piece.   You should include your initials, the initials DVHSG and the year, 2019 on your piece.  

Don't forget our 2019 SAL - the Amethyst Band Sampler from Facebook Group - iStitch.

The Delaware Discoveries Book Girlhood Embroidery 1750-1850 has been released.   The Biggs Museum is currently filling pre-orders.   Ordered can be placed online at the Biggs Museum.   The cost is $75 with $12 S/H.   Many DVHSG volunteered time to help identify the samplers that have been included in this beautiful book.    At the upcoming Philadelphia Antiques Show, Gloria Seaman Allan will be at the Finkels booth for a book signing.   

Show and Tell

Our Show and Tell never disappoints.   Below is a needlepoint pumpkin that Patrick brought in to share.   The needlework was a piano bench cover that a friend was stitching on.   He said for all the carrying around she did and all the traveling she did that she took this piece to work on, it was never finished.   When she passed away, he found it in his capable hands.   He had the piece finished into a pumpkin.   Not only is a beautiful finish but what a memory for him.   We all marvel at the finishing ideas Patrick has.

Patrick also shared the laying tools he created from old silverware.   He also created two scissors fobs from charms.

Below is a cute bunny Patrick stitched and finished using this bunny rabbit napkin ring.

An ornament Patrick stitched for his son.

To Bee or Not To Bee bookmark from our own beekeeper Amy G.

Two small but adorable note card patterns stitched by Amy G.

A stitched piece designed by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farms stitched by Amy G.

Patriotic Poppies from With thy Needle and Thread, stitched by Lynn D.   Stitched on large count to be finished as a pillow.

A Blackbird Design drum stitched by Loretta.

Mary Beale Stocking, stitched by Caryl C.

Olga's Tart from Plum Street Samplers, stitched and finished by Caryl C.

Our program this month was making a  collapsible ort container taught by member Linda D.  Linda was super organized and gave easy to follow directions.    Over and above how easy going she was, was how generous she was to bring and donate all the supplies for making this fun ort box.  Part of what she  included was the necessary ring you  use.   She said she used vitamin bottles.   The finished ort container varied by the size of the ring you start with.   She brought along a couple of adorable little samples that using 1 1/2 rings (Sorry, I didn't take a picture of them)

As always, another great meeting.