CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER
NEWS
June 2003


Hurrah!  Hurrah!  The Seminar is over, and it was a resounding success!  Twenty-seven members of CRVC attended and they, along with others, helped to make this a very enjoyable event for everyone.  The hotel was wonderful, the food was excellent and rapidly served, the teachers were terrific, the high school prom was memorable, and the Shriners bagpipe band provided the "icing" on the banquet.  The chapter is extremely thankful to the seminar committee for working so harmoniously and efficiently to create this "humming" happening!  Thank you, thank you to all who worked on any portion of the seminar.  Hopefully our obligations are over for a while, and we can sit back and enjoy the next one!  Plans are underway for a Region seminar two years from now, so stay tuned for its location and date.

June Meeting
Saturday, June 14th


Join us for our meeting on June 14th as we stitch one of Terry Gifford's designs.   Judie Solomon will teach from Terry's XOctagon #21 pattern, teaching this design as a scissor fob during the morning, and in the afternoon giving us information we will need to complete a laying tool case and a needlebook.   Check out the class description at www.crvc-ega.org.   There is still time to register, but please do so soon in order to have your kit ready for the class.

For show and tell time, please bring projects of any kind to share with us.   It's always a treat to see what others are stitching and hear about classes you've enjoyed.   This meeting will be held at our usual site, the High Street School in South Glastonbury.

Program Schedule for Saturday, June 14, 2003:
  9:00 -   9:30   Coffee and social time
  9:30 - 12:00   Judie Solomon Class (part 1)
12:00 -   1:15   Lunch, Business Meeting, Show and Tell
  1:15 -   3:00   Judie Solomon Class (part 2)

Lunch: You may bring your own lunch or we will be ordering sandwiches from the deli at the grocery store across the street.  If you would like to order a sandwich, please arrive promptly to select your sandwich from the menu.

To Register:  Contact Virginia McCarthy at 860-521-5064 or Lisa Green at 860-658-6082 or fill in registration form at www.crvc-ega.org.


October program: "Lady Viola's Sweet Bag" and "The Mermaid's Sampler" with Lauren Sauer

Lauren will be coming to our chapter from Cleveland, Ohio for two one-day workshops.

  On Friday, October 10th, join us for "Lady Viola's Sweet Bag".  An elaborate pansy band, often found on 17th Century samplers, is the embroidered focus of this small (4 1/2" x 5 1/2") "sweet bag" that is embellished with tiny silver pailettes.  Shades of purple and contrasting shades of green "100/3" Au Ver a Soie are enhanced by the use of glittering tones of "Bijoux".  "Flax" and "Lilac" Belfast linens are the grounds from which to begin your exploration of the intricacies of Montenegrin, Diagonal queen, and rice stitches, among other more familiar embroidery stitches.

A narrow pocket is set inside your "sweet bag" to hold theater tickets, a room key, credit card, comb or whatever.  Complete finishing directions are included. See the enlarged image of this design on our website at www.crvc-ega.org.

Student Level: Intermediate
 
Class Fee: $45.00             Kit Fee: $68.00

To Register:  See the Registration Form for this event at www.crvc-ega.org.  Contact Laurie Roys at 860-489-0225 in case you have questions.


  The class offered on Saturday, October 11th is "The Mermaid's Sampler".  This design continues Lauren's "Mermaid Series" which draws upon design elements, ideas and motifs found in early American needlework.  Most of this sampler is embroidered "over one", especially "Plymouth Harbor" and the Mermaid herself.

"Devonshire Cream" Legacy Linen in 33/34-count provides the ground for this new voyage.  A wide variety of silk and cotton threads, many of them hand- and over-dyed, are used to give your interpretation shimmer, sheen and subtlety in shades of the beautiful sea.  For whimsy, a necklace of tiny, real coral beads will adorn your Mermaid.

Embroidery stitches used include stem, Smyrna, satin, running, French knots, four-sided, faux boullion, eyelet, diagonal satin, cross-stitch "over one" and "over two", and backstitch.  See the enlarged image of this design at www.crvc-ega.org.

Student Level: Intermediate
 
Class Fee: $45.00             Kit Fee: $70.00

To Register:  See the Registration Form for this event at www.crvc-ega.org.  Contact Laurie Roys at 860-489-0225 in case you have questions.
 

December program: "Schwalm--ing Bee" Whitework Workshop with Diana Snyder

  On Saturday, December 13th, please join us for our holiday program which will feature a chance to learn a new whitework technique.  German Schwalm embroidery creates a non-traditional design using traditional surface and counted thread techniques.  The stitches include chain, satin, coral knot, herringbone, cord, and Persian mesh work.  The design may become a pin cushion, a small purse or adorn a name tag.  The linen fabric may be either 32 or 36 count in white or natural (tan).  Threads are coton a broider in sizes 12, 16, 20 and 25, depending on fabric selection.  Thread colors may be white or ecru.  See the enlarged image of this design on our website.

This program day will also feature an ornament exchange, so begin to think of what you will make to participate in the fun.  We will also enjoy show and tell, so bring something to share or display.

Student Level: All
 
Class Fee: $20.00               Kit Fee: $18.00

To Register:  See the Registration Form for this event on our website.  Contact Laurie Roys at 860-489-0225 in case you have questions.

News from the New England Region

Region Day will be September 20th, so make sure you sign up now.  Pat Houghton, teacher extraordinaire, will present a full day of designing information with lots of suggestions and ideas as she discusses the creation of a boxtop that includes a building and a landscape.  This will be a non-stitching day.  A notebook of her information can be purchased for $20 and may be ordered when you register.  Please check our website for more information and a registration form for this event.

Here is a reminder that the Merrimack Valley Chapter is hosting a two-day workshop on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1st and 2nd with Jane Nicholas.  She is an excellent teacher of stumpwork, and examples of her pieces can be seen in the National Seminar brochure for Rye Brook, NY.  If you wish to register for this class, check the MVC website at www.neonflamingo.com/ega-mvc for further information.

Hopefully, many of you are going to attend the EGA National Seminar in Rye Brook, NY.  This is a wonderful chance to attend this extensive seminar without the cost of air travel.  The dates are October 19-25, and the choices of classes are many.  All registrations postmarked on or before June 2, 2003 will be treated as equal, so sign up soon to get the classes you want.

Join us on June 14th and watch for our next newsletter in late August!