October 2013 Meeting

For the Region Challenge for 2013 - to be auctioned off at the regional meeting/Fall SMART (Stitching Mid-Atlantic Regional Tutorial) Day on Oct. 18-20 in Virginia Beach - our chapter created this lovely box.  Many members helped with the embroidery and smalls, and Gladys Zorhoff created the box.  Nobody wanted to let this beauty go, and several people sent silent auction bids with the people who were attending the meeting. Everyone was happy to see the final product at the October meeting.

 

 

There were some interesting items to share, especially the Halloween skirt made by Dee's mother many years ago.

 

Lots of lovely Ta-Da items as well.  Everyone should note that it is dangerous to bring small items like beaded necklaces or small Christmas items to show at a meeting because many members threaten to steal them

 

We all had a great time learning to make flowers and leaves with silk ribbon. Thanks Catherine!

Gentle Pursuits members Lalli, Catherine and Linda enjoyed the butterfly stumpwork class with Judy Jeroy at the regional meeting (October 19) but no word yet on who ended up with the box. Stay tuned.

The Coif Debuts at Our September Meeting

Well, we did it. The coif is finally done.  Stitching was finished in April. Now Margaret has put the lining in and sewn it up.  We'll let you know when it is presented to Agecroft Hall.

 Jean taught our annual Members' Appreciation Program this year.  A small pulled-work sampler that we can make into an ornament.  As usual, Jean made the work seem much less intimidating the many of us thought it would be.

Some members painted their felt for next month's silk ribbon class with Catherine.

Congratulations to Catherine Jordan! Catherine's Zentangle inspired art box received First Place in Original Professional category, Juror's Award, Delegate's Award and Best of Show at American Needlepoint Guild National Seminar exhibit, Anaheim, CA 2013. Note that the centers of the ribbons all have embroidered designs. 

Lots of lovely things at our Ta-Da Table this month as well.  We've all had a couple of months to work on things. Carol was lucky she left with all five of her beaded nutcrackers.

New Board Induction and Upcoming Programs

Our new board was inducted at our June meeting.  Holly (far left) did a great job announcing our new board.  Starting next to Holly, Carol, treasurer, Kathy, secretary, Catherine, programs, and Jean, president (and queen!).

 
Catherine's last president's challenge was to have us make something from a pre-finished coaster or two.  Lots of lovely projects were presented at the June meeting.

July 16 will be a stitch-in so bring a project and join us for a nice evening of stitching and chatting.

Our August meeting will be on Saturday, August 17. Tricia Johnson from Virginia Beach will be teaching us how to make and complete a Victorian Christmas Crazy Quilt Ornament.  Be sure to bring your program coupon to the July meeting or mail it in to Carol by July 16. There is a choice of 3 shapes and the piecing will be done for you!

 

Our annual member appreciation program will be in September.  Jean will be showing us how to create some free form pulled-work to create an ornament. The program is free but you need to get the program coupon in by August 13 (before the ornament class) so supplies can be ordered.

 

And don't forget our bead group meetings:

July 13th - netted pearl technique
August 10th - Beaded Nutcrackers (peyote stitch)
September 14th - Beaded Nutcrackers continuation and catch-up

Outreach Activities - Spring 2013

Robin Hegner, a teacher at Riverside School, came to our April meeting and presented her with all of our bookmarks! It was an impressive sight to see them all on the table. The school is very happy to have the bookmarks to distribute to the children at the end of this school year. Please continue to bring any finished bookmarks to a meeting as Bookmarks for Literacy is an annual project for EGA. We will be looking for a new group to support for next year, so let me know the name of a school or an adult learning center who would appreciate our handiwork.

Jean has beautifully finished the blackwork handkerchief for Agecroft Hall.

 

The embroidery and goldwork are finished on the coif and it has been hemmed, but the lining is still in the works.

 

But the coif did visit Agecroft Hall when the DC EGA chapter came down to see Agecroft and Virginia House. Hard to believe it has been three years since the coif started and all the hands that have helped get it to this state.



Busy February 2013

Our January Outreach program was rescheduled because of bad weather, so our February has been busy.

We started the month with National Stitch In Public on Feb. 2.  We met at the Short Pump Barnes & Noble and had quite a crowd.  There were lots of different projects and we had quite a few people show interest in our work. 



Carol had been finishing the gold work on the coif, so she brought it to the Stitch In, so we had a few more questions about that.

 

 

Next, we met on Saturday, Feb. 16 for our rescheduled Outreach Program. Diana found some really nice bookmarks online that easily fit a small square of stitching on plastic canvas.  You can see how many of those we were able to finish in just a few hours.  Plus a couple of bookmarks done before the session.  We are well on our way to the 70 bookmarks we need by May.  And the pizza was great!



On Tuesday, Feb. 19, we had the second part of the acorn stumpwork class.  With any luck, somebody will bring their work to the next meeting so we can see how things are going - and get some photos to post.

Speaking of our next meeting, on Tuesday, March 19, fellow member Jennifer Stumpf will present a lecture class on tambour embroidery. If you would like to see some of her work, you can visit her blog at: http://stitchinginthepursuitofhappiness.blogspot.com/

Don't forget March 19 is the sign up deadline if you want to take part in the April 16th retro-embroidery iron-on class.

2012 Holiday Luncheon

As usual, our annual Holiday Luncheon at the Hermitage Club was wonderful. Thanks to everyone who worked to set things up. Everyone enjoyed the measuring gauge favors.  And of course, we all loved the ornament exchange.  It is always so exciting to see all the different techniques and styles that appear from the bags. 

Don't forget, our January program is Bookmarks for Literacy.  Diana will have lots of simple kits for us to work on and FINISH at the meeting.  Please bring in any you have worked on as well.  We are trying to gather 70 stitched bookmarks so all the children in one school can get one.

Tuckahoe Library Exhibit

We were invited to set up an embroidery display at the Tuckhoe Library again this year.  The theme was Holiday Stitching and there were lots of lovely pieces on display in October. Thank you to everyone who lent their work for the display.

Don't forget our meetings for November:

November 10, 2012 BIG Meeting
BIG (Beading Interest Group) will continue to work on our holiday bracelets. Please join us from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at the Twin Hickory Library to learn the technique for this project or work on a project of your own.

November 20, 2012 Meeting
Kathy, our Education Committee Chair, will present From Flax to Linen. This will be a lecture and there will be no cost to attend. We encourage you to bring a piece to stitch on while you listen.