October 2023 Meeting

Joan called the meeting to order and welcomed all present.   There were 21 present at the meeting.

Joan had recently viewed a video from the Regional Director which dealt with changes and incentives both National and Regional are looking into to help EGA grow.   She shared some of the information.

Their program, “Securing our Future”, discussed concerns as to what National can do to help increase membership; what to do to get people interested; helping existing members become aware; and, helping members understand all that their membership provides and is available to them. Members also need to be made aware of the lending library.

In the works:

- They anticipate they will be sending another online survey to membership for member input.   When this comes out - no date yet - please make sure you let your voice be heard!   

-  They hope to be able to identify the weaker chapters (smaller and with declining membership) and provide help.

-  National Dues will increase in 2024.   National will be $55, Regional will remain at $2 and Local will remain at $5.  Total 2024 dues will be $62.00.  

-  Dues will move to online payment.   Dues will no longer be prorated.  Membership will renew on the anniversary date of joining and will be for a term of one year from that date.  Expect more information on the implementation date and how it will work in the coming months.

-  National and Regional are looking for class and seminar recommendations and more teachers for classes.

-  Considering a “Youth Membership/Youth Group” affiliation with EGA.

Joan also shared that the New York Retreat in Painted Post in September was a success and it will be repeated next year.  

Membership - Robin shared we currently have 33 members.   In the last month, she has reached out to a couple of potential new members.

Caryl C. shared information about an upcoming online event.   Jingle Ball, by Lindy Stitches, had its inaugural year in 2022.  It was a great success.   It consists of three days (12/1, 2 and 3) where you enter a virtual ‘masquerade’ ball.   There are ‘rooms’ to enter with different groups, such as the “Southern-west Stitchers” who were all from the southwest, and so on.  There are classes to sign up in addition to the $10 registration fee.   There are 12 teachers who will hold 1 hour zoom open discussions.  And of course, there is a merchandise mart featuring exclusive Jingle Ball patterns as well as some standards from the designers.    Go to https://www.lindystitches.com/ for the link to “Jingle Ball”.   The event starts a 6 pm on Friday and will continue until sometime on Sunday.   Once registered, you can enter and leave the site as frequently as you wish.

Holiday Tree at the Library - Katie requested anyone interested in bringing ornaments for the Library Tree who will NOT be at the Library to do the decorations in December to bring their ornaments, with their name on them, to the November Meeting.

Christmas in July -  Anyone who may be interested in teaching one of the three classes in July 2024, please let Linda know.   If you have an idea for a Christmas in July but don’t want to teach it, please share it with Linda.   Linda  is looking for someone to take over this program.   It is well attended each year.   She has a file full of patterns she will pass on.   Please touch base with Linda and let her know if you can help with this program.  

Show ‘n Tell

Pat Y. Stitched this 2022 SAL with patterns from Jeannette Douglas.   Pat modified July stitching tomatoes instead of flowers, November with acorns and December with Poinsettias.  Well done Pat!

Deb N. Stitched this piece from Victorian Sampler Patterns

Also from Deb N.    Many of us agree!  Coffee!

Two samples of this month’s project.  From Marian S. And Robin T.

Embroidered outline stitched pillow that was first colored with crayons and then ironed.  By Robin T.

Goodbye Fall from Plum Street Samplers stitched by Robin T.

Pioneer School Girl from Betsy Morgan, stitched and finished by Robin T.

Olga’s Tart, from Plum Street Samplers, stitched and finished by Robin T.

Pumpkin Patch, from Hands on Designs, stitched and finished by Robin T.

Pillow cover, stitched by Katie C.

Plum Street Tart, stitched and finished by Gwynne G.

Jan S. Took her EGA back and embroidered the motifs.   Great idea Jan!

Group Correspondence Course stitched by Marian S.

Dinosaurs, stitched by Pat. Y.

Needleroll by BJ S.

Come Said the Wind from Glendon Place, stitched by BJ S.

Needleroll by BJ S.

Butterfly by BJ S.

Beaded heart by Carol W.

Hardanger by BJ S.

Lavendula, stitched and finished by BJ S.

Jacobean style piece by Beverly A.  Beautiful

Mill Hill kit by 

Canvas piece by Joan T.

2023 Rhodes Rage SAL by pat Y.

David McCastle canvas piece stitched by Joan T.

Program - Our program this month was “Learning to Stitch Plaid”.   Those who signed up ahead of time, received their kits with fabric and the spider base for the project.   Marian gave everyone starting instructions on stitching and participants were off and running.  

Here’s a start….

Someone else got a little further before the meeting was over.

Marian’s finished circle as seen on FB. 

Stitching consists of a ‘tent’ stitch skipping every other thread.   The color way and number of rows of each color was discussed and is listed in the below.   Hopefully, everyone will bring in their fully stitched plaid circle in November when Marian is showing everyone how to assemble the spider.

A brief recap of how to proceed:

Color order. -

 

- Starting at the 9 o’clock position of a clock, stitching across the pre-drawn circle to put in the first row.    Stitch using the tent stitch, skipping one thread between each stitch

- Working downward, subsequent rows are to be completed using the colors listed.  

- Once reaching the bottom of the pre-drawn circle, rotate your piece 180 degrees and begin again at the 9 o’clock position, working down from the center using the  the color listed until you reach the bottom of the circle.   

- Marian told everyone how to leave ‘tails’ at the end of each thread/row.

- When the entire circle is complete with the tent stitch, rotate the piece 90 degrees and start at the 9 o’clock position again stitching across the circle.  Start with the black and follow the color chart.  

- back stitch your finished piece 

Hope this helps!  

Next meeting - November 9th, 7 pm.

Sent from my iPad

September 2023 Meeting

This was the first meeting following our summer break.   President Joan T. called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.   Twenty-four were present which included three guests.  The guests  were introduced and shared a little bit about themselves.  

This meeting was one of our bi-annual Business Meetings and Committee reports were shared.

Secretary’s Minutes from the last Business Meeting were shared via email prior to the meeting.  Having no edits or additions, the minutes were approved as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report was provide by Treasurer Caryl C.   She provided a hand-out showing our year-to-date finances and happily reported we are in great financial shape with no outstanding invoices/paymments due.   We do have 6 to 8 boxes of charts and supplies that were taken to Fireside Stitchery for eBay sales in April or May of 2023 which, once sold, will be an additional amount for our treasury.

Membership Chair reported we currently have 32 members.    All necessary Regional and National paperwork has been filed.   Nancy Class has been provided the updated  member list for Newsletter mailings.  Robin T. reached out to 26 people who showed interest in Lamplighters when at our booth at the  Salem County Fair in August.    Meeting notice was sent prior to the meeting with hard copies to members without email accounts.

President reminded all present about sign-up for Camp WannaStitch in Ocean City, Maryland in January 2024.     Information was in a recent Regional Newsletter.

Member, Karolin R., attended and provided feedback for the early September stitching retreat in Painted Pony, New York. She said it was a good time and would definitely attend again.

Program Coordinator, Linda W. outlined the tentative schedule of programs through May 2024.

    - September - Blackwork on Magnolia Leaf, THAP, no cost

    - October 12 - Stitching Plaids, free EGA Spider pattern, $12 kit or supply your own materials

    - November 9 - Stitching Plaids continued, instructions for fully finishing the spider

    - December 7 - We will be making floss drops - bring in old Christmas cards for us to use.  We will be playing Left-Right-Center so bring 6 skeins of floss to use as your ‘chips’ for the game.   Cookies and goodies will be shared.

    - January 11 - GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY YEAR 2024.   Introduction of the Anniversary Year Activities.   Linda W. will lead a discussion on various cotton threads

    - February 8 - Guest Speaker, Cathy Fichera, “Primitive Rug Hooking”

    - March 14 -  Blackwork Bookmark, petite project.   Supply your own linen (5 x 12, 28 count) and floss or kit available at approximately $4.

    - April 11 - GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY DINNER - Details to be announced.   No regular meeting

    - May 9 - Anniversary Thimble Case, Janis Note, cost in the $20 range; more details to follow

    - June 13 - Making bouillon flowers taught by member Carol E.  More details to follow.     

Publicity - Robin T. reported that following each meeting she updates the Lamplighter’s Blog and posts Show ‘N Tell on the Lamplighter’s Facebook page.  Robin is now doing the meeting follow up newsletter and meeting notices and will make sure Donna Pence is copied.  

Outreach - Pat L. was not at the meeting to report.

Joan T. announced the names and offered congratulations to all the ribbon winners from the Salem County Fair.

Program - Linda W. spoke on the benefits of EGA Membership.   Using the NeedleArts Magazine, she paged through reviewing section by section of the magazine explaining the features.

Marian taught a class called Blackwork on Nature’s Palette.   It was blackwork using a Magnolia leaf instead of Aida, linen or canvas.    This was a THAP project.   The Guild provided the leaves, the gold thread, pattern, map pin for punching holes and the ladybug.   Marian walked us through the directions.   How’s that for thinking outside of the box!

Member Christine Flowers attended the National Seminar event in Boston.   She spoke about the two classes she attended while there.  She also shared information on the virtual exhibit, Through the Needle’s Eye.  Below is a photo of the postcard she had.

Show ‘n Tell was shared.

Christmas in July ornament, Linda W.

Our 2023 Rhodes Rage SAL, Linda W.

Australian design through Cyber-Pointers, stitched by Linda W.

Feather-tree from our January 2023 meeting, stitched and finished by BJ S.

Joy, stitched and finished by BJ S.

Christmas in July 2022 ornament, stitched and finished by BJ S.

From Little House Needleworks, patriotic pillow, stitched by Barbara G.

Christmas in July tree ornament, stitched and finished by Linda W.

Three seasonal rounds, Gather Round,  from Hands on Design, stitched and finished by Joan T.

David McCastle needlepoint design, stitched by Joan T.

Christmas sleigh ornaments and snowman, Joan T.

Victoria Sampler Haunted House, stitched and finished by Joan T.

Christmas in July quadrille with beaded accents, stitched and finished by Carol W.

Above the Mill Hill kit stitched by Carol E.  She stitched it a second time, below, using silk ribbons for flowers.

Carol W. stitched this Japanese design of the hanging baskets.

An array of bookmarks by Jan S.

Encouraging pieces Pat Young is making for her bazaar table.

Caryl stitch “A Little Bit Sampler, A Little Bit Rock and Roll” from Beth Twist of Heartstrings Samplery

Caryl also stitched this pattern from Witchy Stitcher in Canada on 40 ct crème brûlée.  It is a present for her sister who likes all things spooky.

From Scattered Seeds Samplers, Caryl stitched this in remembrance of her mom adding her mom’s initials 

And birth year, etc.

These three - I believe - are also Christmas in July finishes from Caryl C.

Three rabbits from La-D-Da were stitched and fully finished by BJ S.

More Christmas in July finishes, from BJ S.

A fall drum and a spring drum.   Each stitched and fully finished by BJ S.

Thank you stitchers for sharing all your great work and inspiring the rest of us with your lovely finishes.

Next meeting - October 12, 2023