Jamestowne Waistcoate Embroidery Project - more information

You may have noticed the call for volunteers for this project in our latest newsletter.  Here is some further information:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the wedding of Pocahontas to John Rolfe, Preservation Virginia’s Historic Jamestowne will create a woman’s embroidered sleeved waistcoat worked in black silk inspired by a surviving garment in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (London). This waistcoat will be worn as part of Pocahontas’s wedding attire during the commemoration on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

The original object is an early 17th century woman’s jacket embroidered with depictions of mythical and realistic creatures, flora, and scenes from Geffrey Whitney’s Choice of Emblems and Other Devices (1586). The Jamestown jacket will replace these motifs with fruit, flowers, insects, fish, fowl and beasts specific to Virginia. A matching embroidered coif and forehead cloth will complete the suit.

The jacket in the London museum is embroidered with black silk on a plain weave white linen ground in four basic stitches: stem and outline stitch, long and short, and speckling or seeding stitch. Our adaptation will use those types as well.

Historic Jamestowne is seeking volunteers to assist with the creation of this garment. Skilled and novice embroiderers are invited to contact:

Julie Zellers-Frederick
Volunteer Coordinator
julie@preservationvirginia.org
757-856-1259

You will be sent a small sample to complete, demonstrating the stitch types present in the original garment. All skill levels are welcome. This special project is done in collaboration with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and their Costume Design Center.

Here is the kit:

Once you have sent in the sample embroidery and volunteer form, you will be sent the scheduling information. As you can see above, they hope to have it ready for April 5, 2014, so there will be lots to do between now and then.  Stitching will be done in the costume center of Colonial Williamsburg, with evening and weekend hours, as well as weekday hours.

Upcoming Fun

Gentle Pursuits members should have received their newsletters by now, but those of you thinking of becoming members, might be tempted by our upcoming events.

 Our annual holiday luncheon at Hermitage Country Club will be held Saturday, December 14, 2013. Following a brief meeting, we have a lovely meal, ornament exchange, and a lot of fun! You are not required to make an ornament to attend this event.

 How can you resist these entrees?
Bacon, mushroom, and cheddar quiche served with fruit kabobs.
Horseradish Crusted Salmon – oven baked with panko-horseradish crust and finished with whole grain mustard sauce.
Chicken Sinatra – breast meat stuffed with prosciutto and provolone cheese.

Reminder to Members - Coupon due December 6!

January 7, 2014 Board Meeting                                                                          
Board meetings are open to all members and start at 6:00 PM. For those who can, we gather at 5:00 PM to either stitch or eat (bring your own food). Location: The Parlor at Christ Church Episcopal.

January 11, 2014 Beading Interest Group (BIG) Meeting                

January 18, 2014 Meeting (Saturday)
Outreach, bookmarks for The READ Center
February 1, 2014 Stitch in Public Day
This is a great chance to educate others about how much fun stitching can be.

February 8, 2014 BIG Meeting   

February 18, 2014 Meeting
Kumihimo Cording Bracelet taught by Linda DaValle.       

February 22, 2014 Workshop (Saturday) 
Overbrook Presbyterian Church
2605 Dumbarton Road, Richmond Va.
Explore the use of dyes to make beautifully shaded and variegated skeins of threads and vintage looking linen. Catherine Jordan will be teaching and the workshop is a joint workshop with the Virginia Guild of Needlewomen.

 Usually, Gentle Pursuits of Richmond meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at Christ Church, 5000 Pouncey Tract Road, Glen Allen, Virginia, 23059. We welcome new members of all needlework levels. Sit and Stitch -The time prior to our formal meetings each month (5:00 PM to 6:30 PM) is intended for us to stitch and receive help or mentoring with a technique. But check the calendar above to be sure we have a meeting. We occasionally have special meetings on Saturdays, and in other locations. Become a member and get a newsletter so you will always know when and where we are meeting. Contact Dee Ragsdale at stitchnfish@cox.net or (757)229-1166 with any questions.