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.

May 2022

 We had a fabulous weekend commemorating our 20th Anniversary, albeit 2 years late thanks to the pandemic!

The weekend started with field trips to The Westtown School, in operation since 1799, they have a vast collection of Quaker needlework.  They are known as the 'sister' school to the Ackworth School in England.   Lunch was at the Couch Tomato in West Chester and  then an afternoon at the Chester County History Center.  

On Saturday morning we started at 9 a.m., entering the room to find a stuffed full good bag.     Below is the sampler from the weekend.   All the smalls that we worked on in class were based on motifs from this sampler.

Above, the complete set of weekend projects completed by member Marnie B.  Below is Caryl C.'s completed book.

Below, a beautiful tribute created by one of our founder members, Patti H.  It is truly a treasure as is she.

Look what else greeted us on arrival!  See that far wall.....there were over 50 items we received and raffled off to attendees.   We made $900 to add to our Conservation Fund for restoring an antique sampler.  

Members enjoying seeing each other in person again!

Original member and guild founder, Marsha C.

Our 5th Year Anniversary Sampler, where members each add a row.

Our President and Master of Ceremonies, Linda D.

Guest speaker, Vicki LoPiccolo Jannett, Needlework Press

Fantastic presentation of our Guild history by historian Patti H.

Here's the best little person in charge of programs this side of the Mississippi!

Someone was clever enough to think to have everyone sign a mat and then frame some beach smalls to commemorate our first Retreat at Salty Yarns and the Lankford Hotel.

Here's a group photo we took at the end of the event on Sunday......silly stitchers, we were so busy enjoying the weekend we forgot to take a group photo on Saturday when there were twice as many stitchers!

Hmm.....wonder what the debate is about......40 ct. versus 46 ct., silks versus overdyed.....

All in all, it was a great weekend and a fantastic celebration of how far we have come as an organization.   Everyone who attended enjoyed the event and I have heard nothing but rave reviews.   Thank you much for the hard work of the Anniversary Committee as well as the Board of the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild.  Here's to the next 20 years!

March 2022

President Linda D. welcomed everyone to the ZOOM meeting.   

• Registration for the Anniversary Event was announced.   The 3-day event will be the weekend of May 13, 14 and 15, 2022.   Saturday and Sunday will both start at 9 a.m.   It will be held at the Embassy Suites, Route 896, Newark DE.    Information will follow regarding rooms at the Embassy Suites.  The event will consist of Tours to Westtown School and Chester County History Center on Friday.   Space will be limited and preference will be given to out of town members attending the weekend.   If there is enough interest, a second tour will be scheduled sometime in June.    Saturday will consisted of recognition and review of the first 20 years of DVHSG.  A lecture by guest speaker, Vickie LoPiccolo Jannett of Needlework Press will follow.   We will then have a hot buffet luncheon  and an afternoon class.  On Sunday, there will be a morning class and the event will end at approximately 1 pm on Sunday.   Registration forms will be distributed with this meetings Newsletter.
• Today's Guest Speaker is Jenny Garwood of MESDA.   MESDA is the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.   Go to MESDA.org/Collection/Needlework to see some of the items in their collection.   Some of the samplers are charted and available from The Essamplaire.com  

        Jenny provided a slideshow and shared a vast knowledge of the samplers that can be found at the museum.  This presentation was recorded and will be made available for members to view if not in attendance to the ZOOM meeting.   

DVHSG did donate to the conservation of a silk glaze map of the United States, circa 1800's.

Upcoming

• April Meeting  - Stitch in
• April Spring Retreat at Salty Yarns, last weekend of April.   $150 for 2 nights, 2 breakfasts, a cocktail reception and a good bag.
• May - Anniversary Event   Events are broken down.   Signing up for the classes is optional.
• June - Silk Gauze Class.    Linda D. will instruct everyone on tips for working with silk gauze.  Kits will be mailed directly from Salty Yarns to the stitcher.
• July - Civil War Huswif.  Registration form will be forthcoming.   Salty Yarns will be assembling and mailing the kits directly to each stitcher participating.  Linda Vinson is the instructor.  There is no pre-stitch for this class.   It is recommended that even if you do no plan to purchase the kit, that you attend the class.  There is a lot of history and information that will be shared.   Kits will be available at a discounted rate until July 30, 2022.
• August - Linda will lead everyone in a finishing class for the silk gauze piece
• Garden of Stitches SAL continues.   March Bands are # 3, # 4, and # 5.   Also, begin Band # 24 putting in only the cross stitches - saving the satin stitches until a later month.
  
  
  

February 2022 Meeting

 Linda D. welcomed everyone to the meeting.   This meeting was recorded and links will be shared in the Newsletter.

Treasurers Report - the Embassy Suites (hotel for Anniversary event) and the PO Box annual fee have been paid.

Linda recognized Ann S. for her many years of dedication and tireless efforts in chairing our Conservation Committee.   Ann has done a fabulous job reviewing applicants and making a recommendation on each year's recipient of our donation towards the conservation of a sampler in their collection.   Not only has Ann's commitment to this benefitted our Guild but also it has helped with the conservation of countless antique samplers up and down the east coast.   We are sorry you are stepping down but understand other duties are calling you.  Thank you Ann for your dedication and great work in this worthy cause.  Ann will be receiving a one year membership and a certificate as a Thank You for her hard work.

2021 - Patrick will be sending out the prizes for the winners of the 2021 Challenge.    We will be again continuing the Challenge in 2022.   Keep in stitching and completing projects and add those to the our green binder for a tally.   (due to Covid, we have been sending an email to Linda at the end of the year with a listing of projects completed in that year.)

Paypal/Venmo - At this time, DVHSG will not be pursuing getting a Paypal or Venmo account for payments.    The current logistics of not meeting in person as well as the cost and fees incurred make it not feasible at this time.   This can be revisited at a future date.

By-Laws - We will be reviewing and editing our existing By-Laws.   Once completed, they will be emailed to all members and will become part of the new member package.  

Programming -

March - Discussion by Program Director of MESDA, Winston-Salem, NC

April - Retreat and Stitch in

May - 20th Anniversary Celebration - sign up information will be sent out shortly

June - Stitching on gauze.  

July - Linda Vinson of Needlework Designs will be providing a discussion on a Cival War Huswif.   Salty Yarns will be kitting up this piece for anyone who signs up for the class.

August - Completion/finishing of the silk gauze piece

This month's program  - A Garden of Stitches

We welcomed Kimberly Nugent of Samplers Not Forgotten.   Our 2022 SAL will be her piece, Garden of Stitches.   She told us a little about herself and then began to discuss the sampler.   She review each band and the speciality stitches required for each.  It is a beautiful piece that came kitted with linen and floss.   The pattern includes 13 speciality stitches.   A schedule for completion has been drafted and will be shared in the newsletter.   We should be completed by February 2023.

January 2022 Meeting

Happy New Year.  Here we go again with a Zoom Meeting rather than meeting in person.   I know it is not February but I am beginning to feel like it we are in the Groundhog Day movie.  Who would have ever thought when we were watching “The Jetsons” as children that we would be talking to each other the way we are today?

Guild Business

President Linda D welcomed all members and had new members introduce themselves.  Designer Lori Markovic of La-D-Da was introduced.  She is our designer of the year for 2021 and joined us for the meeting.

Linda offered much gratitude and special thanks to all that continue to make our meetings happen during these times of the pandemic.  

Holiday Gifts - Members took turns sharing patterns and stitching related gifts they received for the holidays.  There were some great patterns and pieces shared.

Advent Exchanges - Several members shared details on the exchanges they participated in.   Pat L. took part in Kitten Stitchers Advent Exchange and was not disappointed.   She said all the item she received were fabulous and included 16 charts.   These charts will be release by designers next year.  Unfortunately we understand Kitten Stitcher is planning on doing an advent exchange in 2022.

A more unique Advent Exchanges was an advent tree.   It was a SAL from Moonfeathers of Denmark. It was a small tree to be stitched.   Each day you opened a package that had the floss or embellisment and instructions enclosed.   There were You-Tube videos to help with the stitching.   This one sounds like fun!

Designer Showcase - Our designer of the year for 2021 was La-D-Da.   Lori Markovic joined our the meeting and was able to see all the challenge pieces that were completed.  Guild members completed 63 La-D-Da projects in 2021.   Lori generously donated 10 charts to be given as prizes to those who participated.  

Holiday Exchange - Members who participated shared their exchange pieces.  Although Covid required this was done by mail, all who participated were thrilled.

Membership Dues - Dues for 2022 is now due.   The annual fee is $25. Forms can be found our our Facebook page.

20 in 21 Challenge - Fourteen members have turned in lists of their completed items for 2021.  Top finisher Barbara N. completed 53 projects!    It is still not too late to turn your list in to Linda for it to be added to the record book Patrick maintains.  

Designer Showcase 2022 - 

It is time to vote on our what designer we will showcase for 2022.   The choices are:   

•     Lila's Studio
•     Cross Stitch Antiques
•     The Scarlett House
•     Hands Across the Sea

Please email Linda D. by Friday, January 21st with your choice.

Programs

February - Samplers Not Forgotten - Kim Nugent will discuss her history and process and will kick off our 2022 SAL piece,  Garden of Stitches.

February - Salty Yarns offers a discount of 30% on orders over $50 on Super Bowl Weekend.  

March - TBD

April - Stitch in

April - Guild Retreat OCMD

May - Anniversary - May 13 - 14 - 15.  Plans are being finalized for our Anniversary Celebration.   It will be a three day event.   A day trip on Friday to a local place of interest.   Saturday morning lecture from Vicki LoPiccolo Jennett of Needlework Press.   She has designed a sampler for DVHSG that will be available for purchase - pattern only.    A luncheon with speakers showing  recognition to our founder members, past officers, etc.  The afternoon will be a class with Vicki.   The piece will be using motifs from the sampler she designed for the  guild.   Sunday morning another class with Vicki.    A block of rooms are being reserved with the Embassy Suites in Newark DE for the weekend.  There is a limited number being reserved.   Please alert Stacy S. ASAP if you plan on getting a room NOT LATER than Friday, January 14th.  More details on the Guild Anniversary will be shared in the coming months.

June - Silk Gauze Class - The project has been designed by Erica Michaels.  Registration for this project is due by the February meeting.  

July - Linda Vinson of Needlemade Delights will be teaching a Civil War huswife.

August - Finishing for the Silk Gauze piece

September - TBD

October - Guild Retreat OCMD

As always, necessary forms for members (membership, class registrations, etc.) can be found under "files" on our Facebook page.

Next Meeting, February 12, 2022

December 2021

We continue to be GRATEFUL to Evalyn and Jon for hosting our meetings and keeping us connected!  As well a big THANK YOU to all who make this possible behind the scenes.  They surely are making the best of the current situation.

Business -

• Please remember to send any Show and Tell photos to Linda D. no later than Tuesday before our monthly meeting.
• If you have any ideas for future programs please reach out to one of the board members. 
• If you have any suggestions for an in-person meeting location, please contact a board member. 
• We held modified elections for 2 officer positions. Linda Daelemans and Caryl Carthew were re-elected for President and Secretary respectively.
• In January, we will be voting on a new designer to highlight for 2022. If you have suggestions of a sampler designer please let Linda D. know no later then January 1st.
• Both the April and October  MEMBERS ONLY Retreats at Salty Yarns are on the schedule for 2022.  Updates with dates and specifics will be shared in the new year.
• Hobby House Needleworks has provided us with a visitor’s guide to Pittsford, NY. The guide is available in the files section of our Facebook page.
• Our next meeting will be on January 8, 2022. Since the December stitch-in date falls on Christmas, we are canceling it for this month. Please continue to share what you are currently stitching on our Facebook page. 

December Program

This month, we welcomed Stephanie Bishop of Fabrics by Stephanie. She shared with us how she started dying fabric and explained some of the intricacies of her business. She operates out of her basement. She started dying fabric for herself and sold the seconds on a couple of stash groups and the business has expanded from there. She uses professional dyes since Rit Dye fades over time. She purchases fabric wholesale from several different sources, including Wichelt, Zweigart, and Yarn Tree. Covid has made the supply chain a challenge and this has often delayed her shipping. She dyes to order and doesn’t keep a lot of inventory on hand. She has worked with several designers, including Cathy Haberman from Hands-on-Design. She sells 14 count through 46 count, but the most popular counts are 32 and 36. The most popular colors are Chocolate Milk and Colonial Parchment. Her personal favorite I Brigid. Check out her website for all the fabrics she offers--Fabrics by Stephanie LLC - Dyed Fabrics, Hand Dyed Fabrics (stephsfabbys.com). We thank Stephanie for spending time with us.

Upcoming Meetings - 

January - We showcase our salute to La-D-Da with a slide show of member completed La-D-Da projects from 2021. Designer  Lori Markovic will join us for this meeting and I know she would love to see all her projects that we have stitched. Please send photos of La-D-Da projects that you have completed this year to Linda D. no later than the Tuesday before the meeting to be included in the prize drawing. Patrick will review our 21 in 21 Challange.  Send your list of completed projects to Linda D. by January 1st.  We will also share our holiday exchange pieces.  If you participated, your exchange partner needs to receive their gift prior to the January meeting.

February - Our year-long SAL of Garden of Stitches by Samplers Not Forgotten will start. The designer, Kim Nugent, will be with us for our program. She will give a presentation, but it is not a class.   You do not have to be participating in the SAL to join the meeting.  

March - To be decided

April - Since most of the board will be unavailable for the meeting, we will be having a stitch-in instead. Our Salty Yarns Retreat will be in April. More information to follow.

May - We have secured a hotel facility for our delayed anniversary celebration.  The event will cover Saturday and Sunday with a possible field trip on Friday. Vickie from Needlework Press will be teaching two classes. A block of rooms will be available at the hotel for those who wish to stay over. More information to follow.

June - This meeting will focus on techniques for stitching on gauze.  We will be offering a project designed by Erica Michaels. The registration is due by the February meeting. Information is posted in the files section of our Facebook page. The form includes information on cost and options for receiving your kit. The kit will include the gauze and the pattern. Members will provide the threads.

July - We will see some ideas for finishing the silk gauze project.

November 2021

We are still "zooming" along.  Many thanks to Evalyn and Jon and all the others that make our zoom meeting and great programming possible as well as full of information and sharing.  

Reminders -

If you have photos of 1 or 2 projects you wish to share for Show and Tell, please forward them to President Linda D. no later than the Tuesday prior to the meeting.

If you have any suggestions for a future meeting, please share them with any Board Member.

If you have a suggestions for a meeting site for us to hold in person meetings, please share it with any Board Member.

Holiday Exchange - We have 12 - 14 members who are participating.  Participants will mail this exchange piece directly to their 'person'.  All exchange pieces will be shared at the January Zoom Meeting.

Designer of the Year - La-D-Da - Stacy reached out to  La-D-Da for possible donation of chart/s for our prize drawing.    If you have finished any La-D-Da pieces in 2021, please send Linda D. a photo so it can be incorporated in the January Power Point Presentation.

21 in 21  - Continue to keep track of your completed projects in 2021.   At the end of the year, you can forward your list to President Linda D. who will tally and forward to Patrick.   Winners for most completed projects will be announced at the January Meeting.

Election of Officers - The offices of President and Secretary are up for re-election.   Submit ideas or volunteer information to Nancy F.  We will discuss at the December if we may forego the by-laws and allow the current officers to remain in office.

Program - 

Our program this month was a discussion on Bristol Samplers given by Claudia Dutcher Kisler of Dutch Treat Samplers.  I first have to said that it was evident that Claudia loves what she does.   She has such a wealth of informations about the Bristol Samplers as well as other aspects of needle arts.

Her discussion centered on Bristol Samplers.    The name comes from the orphanages in Bristol, England.    The girls were required to create a resume' with their needle and thread.   Typically they included letters and motifs.  Most often they were stitched in red.   These samplers were tiny, often stitched on 35 count.  

Program - 

Our program this month was a discussion on Bristol Samplers given by Claudia Dutcher Kisler of Dutch Treat Samplers.  I first have to said that it was evident that Claudia loves what she does.   She has such a wealth of information about the Bristol Samplers as well as other aspects of needle arts.

Her discussion centered on Bristol Samplers.    The name comes from the orphanages in Bristol, England, founded by George Muller.    The girls were required to create a resume' with their needle and thread.   Typically they included letters and motifs.  Most often they were stitched in red.   Unlike American orphanages, children remained there until they secured employment, either as apprentices or in other forms of service. Although George died in 1898, the facilities continued until their closing in 1958. The buildings still exist and are used as housing, offices, and part of Bristol College. 

These are samplers created by young ladies living at the orphanages founded by George Muller. George worked with his wife, Mary.   George kept the records, which are said to thorough and detailed.   These original records still exist and have been digitized.  Mary taught the girls stitching.  The first orphanage was in his home and was established in 1836. Eventually they outgrew that location.  Between 1849 and 1870, he built five additional organ homes housing as many as 2,000 orphans.   George and Mary's daughter took over the orphanage in 1875.  This orphanage operated solely on donations and no fundraising was ever done. 

There was a strict criteria before a child could be admitted into the orphanage.   George included in his records  - the father's occupation, any family value, a list of possessions, where the possessions were located, living relatives, health and immunization records.   An "undertaking agreement" had to be signed by a relative or friend that would agree to take back the child if he/she were unable to stay at the orphanage or unable to find work.  Children remained at the orphanage until they could secure employment.  

 Claudia discussed the categories of Bristol Samplers, including: Traditional Early, Border Band, Tic Tac Toe, Name Samplers, Double Wreath, Motif Samplers, Ship Samplers, and Traditional.  Early samplers were hem stitched or turned under.  

Spot samplers shared motifs.   Dog (a nod to Queen Victoria) ship, wreath, bible, berry bowls, crown, Prince of Wales feathers.   Motif were also based on the teacher or patterns available.   Although most Bristol samplers found are in red.   This is partly because all the girls were required to stitch a red sampler.  The reds were done in cotton.   The multi-colored samplers seem to include every color but red were done in silks.   The red was common in English samplers.   It was easy to see; most likely plentiful to the region.   These samplers were usually done on heavy cotton fabric which may be why they have held up so well.  Many Bristol Samplers did not survive because the children would burn them because of the stigma of being an orphan. 

Visits for a small fee for information on the girls of the orphanage can be arranged by contacting the trust in advance.  

For more information about these samplers, please visit  the following sites: www.mullers.org (George Muller Charitable Trust—GMCT); www.bristolsamplers.com, and www.dutchtreat.com. 

Claudia has other presentations, including: 

Perforated Paper, collector lectures, Sudbury Hall Samplers, Quaker Samplers and will have a new Bristol Sampler presentation in 2022. 

If you are interested in hearing any of these presentations at a future meeting, please reach out to Stacy Stinson or one of the other board members.

 

Upcoming Programs 

December - Stephanie from Fabrics by Stephanie will be with us to talk about fabric dying.

January - We will highlight our salute to La-D-Da with a showcase of her projects that we have stitched this year.  Also, Patrick will re-cap the 21 in 21 challenge. 

February - We will begin our year-long SAL of Garden of Stitches by Samplers Not Forgotten. The designer will be with us for our program.  The meeting is NOT a class.   If you are not joining the SAL, you can still take part in the meeting.

 

March - TBD

April - TBD

May - Our anniversary celebration—more information to follow as details are worked out. The event will cover Saturday and Sunday and possibly a field trip on Friday.

June - Silk gauze project. This meeting will focus on techniques for stitching on gauze.

July - We will hear some ideas for finishing the silk gauze project.