February 2024 Meeting

President Joan T called the meeting to order.  Eighteen were present at the meeting including a possible new member and a guest.  

Joan shared that February is actually the month Lamplighters was founded so it was our 50th Anniversary Meeting night!   Wahoo!    We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary at a Dinner on April 11, 2024.   The celebration dinner will be in lieu of the April Meeting.   The dinner will be at The Blue Plate in Mullica Hill, NJ.   Sign up forms were provided via email and by US mail to those who do not regularly attend meetings.  

Joan also shared her President’s Challenge for 2024.   The Golden Anniversary Challenge is to create a ‘golden’ name tag.  Members were asked to design and create their own name tag.   No limit of fabric, thread, beads, etc. or no limit on size or shape.   Check out designs from the Internet or from cross stitch motif books, etc.   A length of gold thread was included to give stitchers inspiration.   Joan state we have all year to finished and we will have them all on display at the January 2025 meeting.

Pat L explained the “Stitcher’s Contracts” to members and guests.  It is a “contract” with yourself where you list a project and pledge to do your very best to completed it in 2024.   Any stitcher that completes a contract will have their name entered into a drawing in January 2024.   See Pat L with any questions.

Christmas in July - Linda is looking for one more teacher for the 2024 Christmas in July.   Linda has a folder of potential projects.  Please see her if you are interested in teaching a class.

March Meeting - We will be stitching an EGA Petite Project on Blackwork.   Linda said the instructions for completing blackwork in this project will have you enjoying blackwork.   Please go to EGAUSA website, Petite Projects to find and print the instructions for the March Meeting.  Linen can be ordered from Linda at a cost of $4.   Stitchers will need to provide their own floss color of their choice and perle cotton for the nun stitch finishing.  Suggested linen, 28 count, 5 x 12 piece.

Show ‘n Tell

When the Sweet Bird Sings, from Blackbird Design, stitched by Robin T.

Jingle Block from 2023 Jingle Ball/Hands on Design, stitched by Caryl C.

Shepherd’s Pie from Plum Street, stitched by Caryl C.

Candy box, stumpwork stitched by Marian S.

1889 Alphabets from Needlework Press, stitched by Robin T.  28 count stitched over 1 thread

Anniversary Needlebook, stitched by Robin T.

Hearts for Hospice, two beaded hearts, stitched by Robin T.

Peyote beaded pen cover with EGA logo, beaded by Robin T.

Baby sampler, stitched by Barbara G.

Rug hooked sampler, done by Linda W’s grandmother

Embroidered and quilted piece by new member Ann C.

Civil War Huswif from Needlemade Designs, completed by Robin T.

Febuary Program

Our program was a discussion on Primitive Rug Hooking by guest speaker Cathy Fishera.   Cathy told us of how she become involved in rug hooking, a basis history of rug hooking and shared several of her beautiful pieces.

She shared some fun antidotes about her hooking journey as well as some risky’ rug hooking terms.   You can be considered a ‘tight hooker’, a ‘loose hooker’ and I am sure some are even called “happy hookers”.   

Cathy explained that different wool is the traditional preferred fabric to use.   The width of the wool strips provides different results.   She also explained how to do dimensional hooking.  She sources her wool from wool vendors as well as making visits to Goodwill and similar stores looking for wool skirts or slacks as they make the best garments to stripe for rug hooking.

 

Cathy explained how she finds patterns either pre-printed on linen or by using transfers.    Using a burlap like base, she showed us how to start a hooked rug and let members give it a try.  Monk’s clothes or linen can also be used as the base fabric.

Hookers use either a large hoop or a frame mounting to do their rug hooking.  

Like EGA, rug hookers have an organization similar to ours.   There is ATHA, Assoication of Traditional Hooking Artists. They have a National, Regional and Chapter level just as we do.   

Cathy provided the names of several websites that specialize in supplies for rug hooking.  

BeachNut Studio

Wooly Dye Works

The WoolNGardener

Here are a few of her beautiful rugs.  Her rugs are both functional and decorative.  

Next meeting - Thursday, March 14, 7 pm.