March 2025

Joan called our meeting to order and welcomed new member, Ruth.   Ruth is from central Delaware and has quite a bit of a commute to get us!  Many of us know her from the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild.  All were glad to welcome her.

The Group Correspondence Course (GCC) has started.   The nine participants are meeting monthly at member Lynn B.’s house to get their monthly assignment.   

Joan reminded everyone to be sure to check out both the NeedleArts Magazine and the EGA.USA website.   Your EGA  membership includes many benefits.   Be sure to see what they have to offer.  

Treasurer’s Report and Membership Report were both given.    The Treasurer let everyone know that Fireside Stitchery is no longer taking cross stitch items for sale on eBay.   Our sales of stash have benefitted us greatly over the last few years.   For Membership, information was emailed to two prospective members.   Our current membership is at 35.   For this meeting, 20 were present and there was no Zoom option for the March meeting. 

Program

For our program, we continued to work on the Take Home a Project (THaP).   Caryl C is provided the schedule and instructions for the stitches. We started in February doing rows 4, 5 and 6 starting the bands in the middle of the fabric and work up towards the top of the fabric.    For March, Caryl showed us the Oblong Cross, the Greek Stitch and the Slanted Cross Stitch for rows 1, 2 and 3.  

Show and Tell

Above and below, this is a fundraiser pillow designed by Jackie DuPlessis and sold thought Sassy Jack’s Stitchery in North Carolina with the proceeds benefitting the flood victims in from the hurricane in North Carolina last fall.    Beautiful work by Linda W.

Linda W also stitch the kimono’s below

Cute Mill Hill ornaments by Deb N.

Also but Deb N, this cute spring time stitch.

Carol E finished her THaP project and turned it into a tissue box holder.   She added the names of the stitches and personalized with the alphabet and her name.    

Diana T shared this wool appliqué piece.    Might be time for her to teach us another wool work piece!

Stacy S shared her new tool box.   She was gifted  a Kobalt toolbox.  She removed the wording and logos.   She then bought decals from Etsy to adorn the toolbox.   She also outfitted the inside with divided contains for storing tools and notions.

Stacy S stitched the Rock and Roll Sampler from Heartstrings Samplery.   This is full of hidden symbols like the guitars in the two blue vases near the bottom.

Next Month is our Annual Business Meeting.   It is a covered dish dinner and starts at 6 pm rather than 7 pm.   The Chapter will provide a main dish (such as chicken tenders or similar) and members will bring salads and sides and desserts.   We will have a special guest at the meeting.   Donna Pence, the Mid Atlantic Regional Director will be attending our meeting.  

Meeting date:   April 10, 2025

February 2025 Meeting

President Joan Tierno welcomed all.   New member, Ruth Uhey, was present and was introduced.   We had two guests, Louise and Loretta.  We hope they enjoyed the meeting and we would love to welcome them back.

Joan is awaiting information about the Group Correspondence Course that several members are participating in.

National Emails - Joan reminded all of us of what National has to offer through the EGAUSA.org website.   Make sure to check the next email from National for all the petite projects, lectures, and classes available to you with your EGA membership.

Committee Report

Treasurer’s Report - Caryl provided an account balance which includes the most recent deposit from eBay sales by Fireside Stitchery.    Caryl has filed all National Reports.

Membership - We have 36 current members.  Member Diana T just renewed and she shared the renewal process was easy.   She received notification from National and followed the necessary steps to renewal her membership without any problems.

Program

Caryl C participated in the THaP class at Camp WannaStitch in January in Ocean City, Maryland.   (THaP  - Take Home a Project)  The linen and instructions were distributed.   Caryl started with Rows 4, 5 and 6 at the center of the project.  Using a whiteboard she illustrated how to do the Smyrna Cross.   The second stitch in the project is the Cross Stitch.   It is to be placed four threads above the Smyrna Cross.    The last stitch in the assignment to be done before the March Meeting is the Rice Stitch.   Again Caryl used the whiteboard to show the stitch path.  Remember to place the Rice Stitch four threads above the Cross Stitch.   The stitch instructions included as good and easy to follow.   A pdf of the instructions was included in the Newsletter.   Caryl has more linen if you would like to do the project,   The cost for the linen is $5.

Calendar

February - THaP, Needle Book, Rows 4, 5 and 6

March - THaP, Needle Book continues, Rows 1, 2 and 3

April - Annual Cover Dish Dinner/Business Meeting, THaP Needle Book rows 7, 8 and 9

May - THaP, Needle Book, Complete Rows 10, 11 and 12

June - THaP, Needle Book finishing ideas.    Last meeting of the year.

July - Christmas in July

August - Tentative - Salem County Fair

September - Welcome back from summer recess

Show ‘n Tell

A great selection of Show ‘n Tell 

Diana T shared a bunch of sweet wool appliqué pieces.  

Pat L never disappoints.   Elizabeth Furness is beautiful!  Oh that grass at the bottom!  Stitched over one on 28 count.

Diana T put us in the mood for Valentine’s Day with her Love stitch

Snowman ornie by Diana T

Another wool appliqué by Diana T.   The added bow is awesome

Diana’s finishing touches of the bell are perfect

Land of the Free by Diana T.    Did you sleep at all during the month Diana?

Jeannette Douglas Designs, the Simple Gifts Spool, Robin T’s Blessing Sampler for 2025

Tiny Modernist Little Witch by Robin T

August and July from A Year of Celebrations from Hands on Designs by Robin T

The Busy Bee Skep from Noteworthy Needle.   On the left is the closed bee skep.  On the right, is the bee skep open.   Stitched by Robin T 

Yummy box of chocolates by Marian S

Christmas in July ornie by Katie C

Cyberpointers Biscournu by Linda W.

Blackwork petite project pillow by Linda W

Caryl C’s Blessing Sampler, from Smitten Stitchers from the Fox and Rabbit website, link below

Finding Time from Catherine Jordan by Becky G.   Awesome

A trio of baby animals stitched by Barbara G for her great grand daughter

Websites and Contact Info Interest

Fireside Stitchery - https://firesidestitchery.com

Smitten by Stitches - https://foxandrabbit.com

Jerome Thomas Wool Appliqué - https:www.jeromethomasdesigns.com

Framer - Bonnie Hiles, 92 Friendship Road, Monroeville, 609-774-2853

We had 18 members present and 2 members participated via Zoom.

Next Meeting - March 13.  Doors open at 6:45, meeting starts at 7 pm.

January 2025 Meeting

We had a great January meeting and if you missed it, you missed something special.   We currently have 36 members - which includes one new members since our January meeting.   

President Joan welcomed everyone.   Joan thanked all who helped with the decorating the Woodstown Library’s Christmas Tree.  

Group Correspondence Course - Joan is working on the paperwork for National for the Group Correspondence Course.   Watch for the email she will be sending to those who are participating in the course. 

Nominating Committee - Joan asked for volunteers to serve on the Nominating Committee.  If you would like to be on the Committee, please let Joan know.  A slate will need to be presented at our May Meeting with elections at the June meeting.

Regional Seminar - Sign ups for the Regional Seminar in Gettysburg, PA will close at the end of February.   Check out the EGAUSA.org website.

President’s Challenge - Last January, Joan challenged all members to create a name tag in recognition of our 50th Anniversary.   Members received some gold thread and were sent off with their thinking caps.    Here are some of the name tags that were made.    Marian Smith was the winner of a gift card chosen by a drawing of the names of those who participated. 

2024 Contract Challenge - January ended our “Contracts” for 2024.   Members made a contract with themselves to pledge to finish a project during the year.    Thank you to Pat Lerch for coordinating this challenge.    Stacy Stinson was the winner of the gift card drawing.  We will not be doing a challenge in 2025.

Christmas in July - Linda is looking for project ideas and three volunteers to each teach a class in July.

Camp WannaStitch - Several members are attending Camp WannaStitch in Ocean City, Maryland later this month.   Caryl Carthew will be taking the THaP class (Take Home a Project class) on behalf of Lamplighters and will return to teach it to our members.

Programming - For February, March, April and June, Caryl  will teach us two stitches each month for the THaP Needlebook.   This project will be teaching how to stitch on linen and will teach a series of new stitches.   Once stitched, the project will be made into a needle book that will showcase your stitches on the outside cover.   The cost will be $5 and linen will be provided.   You will need to supply one skein of floss in whatever color you wish.  You should also bring a 6-inch hoop to the meetings.

Show ‘n Tell - We had a good variety of finishes on display.  

Harvest Friendship Biscournu by Caryl C

Hands on Design Advent piece, stitched and fully finished by Caryl C.

Hands on Design Advent pattern, stitched by Stacy S.

Rock and Roll sampler from Heartstrings Designs, stitched by Stacy S.

ANG Canvas work by Patrick B.

Labor of love, stocking for Patrick’s grand daughter,

Gilly purse, needlebook and scissors keep, stitched and finished by Becky G.

Autumn Hues, a Mary Corbet design, stitched and finished by Becky G.

Dollar Store lucite frame that holds a stitched flower perfectly by Becky G.

Token of Fall, Hello from Liz Mathew’s, stitched by Becky G.

Zwiegart pattern designed for their plaid cloth, stitched by Becky G.

Bundled up birdie from Blue Ribbon Designs, stitched by Robin T.

Temperature Tree from Stitching Mommy (Etsy).   Each leaf represents a day of the year and the color is determined by the high temperature of the day.  Stitched by Robin T.

Friendship Sampler from Hello from Liz Mathew’s.   Each flower is stitched by a friend.  Robin T.

Program - Our program for the night was a display by Patrick Barron.   Patrick is a member of Lamplighters, an ANG Chapter, Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild and other guilds.   He is from Oxford, PA and has his our landscaping business.   He enjoys the challenge of learning new needlework stitches and techniques and likes the meditative benefits from stitching encouraging us all to enjoy the stitch.  He brought with him many of his unique finishes.   He says he sees an object and it called to him to have something stitched on it.   Many of the designs are of his own making.  He was great with sharing his thought process and his many finishes.     

Here are just some of the items she brought to share.

American Tapestry  - Becky G shared information she received from Stefan Romero, Director  of the America’s Tapestry.   This project, America’s Tapestry, 13 Colonies, 13 Stories, 1 Nation is recruiting stitchers from the 13 original colonies to stitch on a panel that is representative of their state.  The panels have been diesgned in collaboration with historical organizations from each of the original colonies and will be stitched over the next 18 months.   Once completed, the Tapestry will be exhibited in prominent gallery spaces in 2026 and 2027.   The historic advisor for New Jersey is the Passaic County Department of Cultural and Historical Affiars.   Reaserach has been completed on the historic Dey Mansion that famously hosted Lafayette’s and Washington in 1780.  Romerois recruiting stitchers from every state and is need of Delaware stitchers right now.   Each state is also providing an institutional backer.     Check out their website. https://americastapestry.com/

Robin shared information on a new cross stitch store in Dover, DE.   It is Floss and Flame, 1023 Walker Road, Dover.   They opened in November and their inventory is low but do offer a wide variety.   They carry many of the popular designers (Heart in Hand, Liz Mathews, Kathy Barrick, Tiny Modernist, Primrose Cottage, Blue Flower, Blackbird, Prairie School, Rebel Stitcher and more).   Owner, Jennifer, has a great supply of Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works and DMC.  She also has fabric in the popular counts and will cut to 1/4 and 1/2 yard sizes.  The ‘flame’ part of the name comes from the hand poured candles she also has in the shop.  Jennifer is glad to host ‘stitch ins’ at the shop.   She just asks that you give her a days notice so she can have the tables set up.  

 

I have included an updated Member Roster to reflect our newest member, Ruth Uhey.   Ruth is from the Dover area of Delaware.  She is a  beautiful stitcher and makes lovely quilts as well as many other sewn objects.   Ruth has a Flosstube channel and can be seen at.  Spectrum Farms Needlework.

There were 17 in attendance and 3 attended by Zoom.

Next meeting - February 13, 2025 at 7 pm.