We plan to attend the Festival of Trees at the Wadsworth Atheneum and enjoy lunch afterwards at the museum cafe.  Please fill in the registration coupon at the end of this newsletter so we will know how many will attend.  Meet us at the museum at 10:30 am, or if you would like to join a car pool to get into Hartford, mark that choice on the coupon.  You are responsible for your admission fee and lunch.

Members:  Free     Adults:  $13     Seniors (age 62+):  $11

One parking option follows, but others are available on the Atheneum website:

Front Street South Garage      39 Front Street

Saturday & Sunday:  $5 (flat fee)
Front Street South Garage is located in the Spotlight Theater Complex, directly behind the museum between Prospect Street and Columbus Boulevard.  Access the garage from Front Street (off of Prospect Street) or from Arch Street (off of Columbus Boulevard).
 

Friday & Saturday, January 31^st & February 1^st, 2014

        "Winter In The Forest" – Lynn Payette (A Foley/Cornelius Teacher)

This is the piece that we all admired at the December class with Lynn.

Fabrics – sheers, shinys, and opaques – will be layered and stitched on a soft gray-lavender 18 ct. canvas to create the reflections and shadows from trees on both the snow and the stream.  These will be overstitched with a variety of fibers, threads, and metallics.

Novelty threads and yarns, as well as flosses and pearl cottons (#5, 8, and 12), and pantyhose, will be used to create the trees.  Slender, ‘finger like’ branches behind and in front of other trees give the necessary perspective to the design.  Stitches used will be couching, back stitch, whipped back stitch (worked to create the gnarled look of branches), and outline stitch.  The trees have an extremely realistic look to them, as the fibers used will mimic bark.  Note: Pantyhose is an incredible fiber to use for stitching.  All sorts of things can be done with it, from snipping in at the edges to create branches, to stretching it and stitching with it.  The stream running through the forest will be created using a variety of opaque, shiny, and sheer fabrics.  These will be stitched down with flosses, invisible thread, pearl cottons, and metallic fibers after the student studies the ‘light source’ for the piece.  Again, the placement of these will be the student’s choice.  The stitches used will be couching, back stitch (with and without whipping), and outline.  The beginnings and endings of the fabrics will be cleverly hidden within the edges of the tree trunks, branches, and the edges of the stream.  A buildup of stitches for dimension, perspective, and effect will be taught.  There will be a heavy amount of attention given to this, as it is a necessary component of the design.

The pattern for this piece will be drawn on the canvas, and the student will work from that.  It will not be charted, as the student will need to place stitches, fibers, etc. over fabrics, and the canvas will not show through all the fabrics.  This will create a unique challenge to the canvas worker.  I have used this method of stitching with canvas workers before, and the results and enthusiasm are incredible.

PRICE OF KIT:  $85.00
GROUND FABRIC:  18 ct. pale gray-lavender canvas
SIZE:  5" x 5"

The deadline for signing up for this class is December 15^th.  A coupon for registration is at the end of this newsletter.
 

Saturday, April 5^th, 2014

Please hold this date for our annual meeting.  More information will be in future newsletters.
 

Friday & Saturday, June 6^th & 7^th, 2014

        "My Thoughts of Spring Band Sampler" – Catherine Theron
                                                                           (A Foley/Cornelius Teacher)

Create a 17^th century inspired counted thread band sampler using silk flosses in rich shades of red, green, gold, blue and brown.  This sampler measures 5" x 30" and is worked on 35-count cream linen.

Stitches used include Double Running, Long-Arm Cross, Montenegrin, Diagonal Cross, Satin, Queen, Diagonal Queen, Upright Cross, Algerian Eye, Double Straight Cross, Gobelin, Smyrna Cross, Cross-Stitch Over One, Four-Sided, Chain, Diamond Eyelet, Padded Satin, Buttonhole Bar, Detached Buttonhole, Spiral Trellis, Palestrina Knots and Bullion Knots.

The top section of this rich, textured piece features polychromatic bands with strawberries and flowers.  The saying "How blest is she among the fair by gentlest stars inclined, who cherishes with love sincere the virtues of the mind" is interspersed between the bands.

The bottom section of this sampler is monochromatic and is worked using two weights of cream silk to enhance the texture and design.

This piece is recommended for the intermediate to advanced counted thread student.  There is no pre-work or prerequisites required.

Location:  Duncaster Senior Residence in Bloomfield, CT
Time:  Class will take place from 9 to 4 pm. on both days

The deadline for signing up for this class is May 1^st, 2014.  A coupon for registration is at the end of this newsletter.

News from the CRVC Library

Thanks to our out-going president, Julia Harvey, for donating the following two titles to our library...........

Kaffe Fassett:  Glorious Needlepoint
Century Press 1987
The 157 pages of this book are chock full of inspiration and color blending for which this author/designer is famous, as well as a few charted patterns.  Even if you are not a needlepointer, you will still find this book fascinating and you will gather ideas for your own creations.

Susan P. Schoelwer:  Connecticut Needlework: Women, Art, and Family, 1740-1840
Connecticut Historical Society 2011
200 pages of history and photographs of early samplers, linens, garments, etc. from the collections of the Connecticut Historical Society.  Whether you were able to view these marvelous pieces in person when on display at the Society two years ago or not, you will want to go through the pages of this book and learn more about our roots, as women and Connecticut residents, than you ever thought you would or could.

There is no doubt that our library is underutilized – perhaps we should each make a vow to borrow one book each year and increase our knowledge and skills.  The list of books is on our web site at www.crvc-ega.org/library.html – let me know if you need to have a title mailed to you or visit the library and peruse and borrow at your convenience.

Happy Stitching and Reading and Learning!
Judie Solomon, Chapter Librarian

FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS   (All members are welcome)             Location:  Thistle Needleworks at 10 am                         Monday, November 4th

CRVC Program Registration Form -- Class on October 25, 26 & 27 at Duncaster Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Make check payable to CRVC-EGA.  The deadline for signing up for this class is September 15th. "Quiet Moments" with Jeanette Rees ________ Members' kit fee $80 plus class cost $20 = $100 ________ Non-members kit fee $80 plus class cost $30 = $110 ________ Lunch Friday ($12) ________ Lunch Saturday ($12) ________ Lunch Sunday ($12) Name:      ______________________________________________________________   Address: ______________________________________________________________   Phone#:  _______________________ Email:_________________________________

CRVC Program Registration Form -- Visit to the Festival of Trees on December 7 Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002. ________ I plan to attend   ________ I would like to car pool Name:      ______________________________________________________________   Address: ______________________________________________________________   Phone#:  _______________________ Email:_________________________________

CRVC Program Registration Form -- Class on January 31 & February 1, 2014 at Duncaster Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Make check payable to CRVC-EGA.  The deadline for signing up for this class is December 15th. "Winter in the Forest" with Lynn Payette ________ Members' kit fee $85 plus class cost $15 = $100 ________ Non-members kit fee $85 plus class cost $25 = $110 ________ Lunch Friday ($12) ________ Lunch Saturday ($12) Name:      ______________________________________________________________   Address: ______________________________________________________________   Phone#:  _______________________ Email:_________________________________

CRVC Program Registration Form -- Class on June 6 & 7, 2014 at Duncaster Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Make check payable to CRVC-EGA.  The deadline for signing up for this class is May 1, 2014. "My Thoughts of Spring" with Catherine Theron ________ Members' kit fee $120 plus class fee $10 = $130 ________ Non-members kit fee $120 plus class cost $20 = $140 ________ Lunch Friday ($12) ________ Lunch Saturday ($12) Name:      ______________________________________________________________   Address: ______________________________________________________________   Phone#:  _______________________ Email:_________________________________

CRVC-EGA Membership $57. Primary Membership $15. Plural Membership (NER) $18. Plural Membership (not NER) For a membership card, please enclose a SASE. Amt. Pd. ____________ Check #  ____________ Date Pd. ____________     (keep as your receipt)

CRVC-EGA Membership and Address Change Form The membership year runs from June 1 to May 31.  If you are joining after September 1, please contact the membership chairman for prorated dues. Mail your completed form to:  Suzanne Newton, CRVC-EGA Membership, 14 Madison Lane, West Simsbury, CT 06092. Make check payable to CRVC-EGA.  Enclose SASE for membership card.         __ Address Change         __ CRVC Primary Membership ($57)         __ Plural Membership, Primary Chapter in New England Region ($15)         __ Plural Membership, Primary Chapter not in New England Region ($18) Name:             ____________________________________________________ Address:        ____________________________________________________ City, ST,ZIP  ____________________________________________________ Phone:           _______________________ Email:________________________ Primary Chapter:   ________________________________________________ Membership No.  _______________________   Total Enclosed $___________