CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER
NEWS
November 2010

WEBSITE ADDRESS: WWW.CRVC-EGA.ORG

Saturday, December 4th

Ornaments with Judie Solomon

Our meeting this month will be held at Thistle Needleworks.  Judie will teach a counted piece, the Danish Star Ornament, in the morning and a canvas piece, Top Hat Snowman, in the afternoon.  You may choose to stitch one or both on your registration form.  Information describing each ornament follows:

Danish Star Ornament

Using ecru perle cotton on gold-flecked 25-count Lugana fabric with satin stitch, cable stitch, and buttonhole stitch, we will work on a self-finishing ornament.  It will also be available in Watercolors and Wildflowers green and red threads on the same Lugana fabric.  Don't want/need an ornament?  Then add some potpourri to the filling for a lovely sachet.

Participants should bring magnification, if needed.
Complete kit  --  $7.50

Top Hat Snowman

Using a variety of specialty threads, beads, and stitches on a lightly painted (by our own Susan Jones) winter sky grey 18-mesh canvas, we will build a snowman  --  sorry, no meadow included.  Your 3" square design could be finished as an ornament, doorknob hanger, or boxtop.

Participants should bring 6" x 6" stretcher bars and magnification, if needed.
Complete kit:  $20.00

Location:  Thistle Needleworks in Glastonbury, CT

Schedule for Saturday:
                10 AM to 12 noon                    Danish Star Ornament
                12 noon                                     Lunch at nearby restaurant
                1:15 PM to 3:30 PM                 Meeting and future program updates;
                                                                    Top Hat Snowman

Danish Star Ornament - Ecru (front)  Danish Star Ornament - Ecru (back)
Danish Star Ornament - Green/Red (front)  Danish Star Ornament - Green/Red (back)   Top Hat Snowman

The deadline for signing up for this class is November 20th.  A coupon for registration is at the end of this newsletter.
 

Friday and Saturday, February 4th and 5th

                    "A Field in Tuscany" - Lynn Payette

Location:  Duncaster Senior Residence in Bloomfield, CT

A Field in Tuscany’ is a (non-charted) design that is worked in a large variety of fabrics including sheers, crystalline (a sparkly sheer), fibers (novelty threads, Brazilian threads, machine embroidery rayon and metallic threads, pearl cottons #8, #12, flosses, and metallic threads, braids, and cords); silk ribbons (4 mm and 7 mm); and beads.  This combination of media will produce a lovely Tuscany (colored) landscape.  The colors used are rusts, golds, reddish-browns, mauves/purples, and greens.  Note: This design is pre-drawn on the white soft Congress cloth ground fabric.

The hills and the sky are created using layering of sheer fabrics, including chiffon, crystalline, and georgette.  This will create many different shades of rich Tuscany rusts, greens and golds.  The use of Wonder Under, a fusible web for appliquéing the fabrics onto the ground, will be taught.  The use, stitching and manipulating of silk ribbon will be covered.

The 7 mm silk ribbons will be used to create the larger flowers (fields of Poppies) in the foreground.  The mid-ground flowers and leaves will be created with 4 mm silk ribbons.  The use of ombre ribbons (for flowers and leaves) will also be covered.  These will be created ‘in hand’ and then stitched on to the ground.  Beads will be used to further embellish the flowers in the field.

The ‘poplars’ will be created using flosses worked in layers of French knots.  These layers will begin with the heavier weight threads (more threads in the needle at one time) and work towards the upper layers of finer threads (less threads in the needle at one time).  Shadows will be heavily emphasized and will be created with the use of color in the French knots, using more intense stronger colors in the foreground and more grayed colors in the background.  Heavy emphasis will be placed on the use of foreground, midground, and background areas to create depth and perspective.  An in-depth discussion will be given about cast shadows and their use to help create a sense of realism and distance in the piece.

A Field in Tuscany’ is part of a series, which was begun with ‘A Window in Provence’.  These pieces do not have the same exact same subject matter, but they are wonderful tools for learning about shadows, depth, and perspective, and their use in embroidery.

KIT CONTENTS:  pre-drawn Congress cloth, sheer fabrics, all threads, fibers, beads, Wonder Under, complete instructions and a color copy of the finished sample.

STUDENT SUPPLIES:  sharp, blunt and beading needles, small sharp scissors, invisible thread, beeswax, a few common pins, pencil, laying tool or small knitting needle, tweezers, glue stick (not blue or purple).

LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY:  Beginner/Intermediate
PRICE OF KIT:  $85.00
GROUND FABRIC:  White Congress Cloth (soft)
SIZE: 4" x 6"

A Field in Tuscany

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

Saturday, April 2nd

Save this date for our April meeting.  More news will follow in the January issue.
 

Friday and Saturday, June 10th and 11th

                    "Polar Shadows" - Caela Conn Tyler

Location:  Duncaster Senior Residence in Bloomfield, CT

Polar Shadows

Polar Shadows, a frosty Norwegian scene, will present students with opportunities to experience several approaches to canvaswork; traditional canvaswork stitches, embroidery, exposed canvas patterns, and some unique layering using tulle and silk organza.  Overdyed and hand-dyed cottons and silks, Burmilana, Accentuate, and iridescent beads offer significant contrasts, yet result in an overall subtle composition.

Contrasting textures, subtle interacting hues and varied stitch techniques, along with touches of glitz and glitter will truly entice students while remaining well within the realm of the intermediate proficiency level.

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


NEW ENGLAND REGION SEMINAR

Pining to Stitch, April 15-17, 2011

The Southern Maine Chapter and New England Region EGA is proud to invite you to attend NER Seminar 2011 ‘Pining to Stitch’ April 15th-17th 2011 at The Eastland Park Hotel, Portland, Maine.  Six fantastic classes taught by outstanding, nationally recognized teachers, plus studio time for those choosing to continue working on an existing project, are being offered.

The Seminar will include a Boutique by Thread Express; Mini Merchandise Mart; and the SOME Chapter Marvis Cohen Award Exhibit as well as the usual banquet, lunches and reception.

Maine in the early Spring is inviting and as you plan your 2011 activities we hope that you will include NER Seminar 2011 and Portland, Maine and that you will join us in ‘Pining to Stitch’

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Barbara Hepburn, NER Seminar 2011 Chairman. Brit45@roadrunner.com  207-583-2821

MYSTERY NEEDLEBOOK

The publication of the first of 4 Mystery designs by Denise Harrington Pratt, the ‘Pining to Stitch’ Needlebook, has proven to be very successful with New England Region Members.  All members should now have access to this design through the NER website (newenglandregionega.org).  An updated page of stitch instructions for page 3 of the first mystery design has been provided.  Instructions for Mystery Design #2 and #3 are now available.  The last Mystery Design will be given to Seminar 2011 attendees.

SOME Chapter is now selling kits for the ‘Pining to Stitch’ Needlebook -- full kit including all threads, Cashel linen, and complete finishing materials including co-ordinating pinecone fabric is available for $18.  Finishing kit only including co-ordinating pinecone fabric is available for $10. 

Kits are now also available for the pinkeep.  They include all of the materials (except for threads; there are enough threads in the needlecase kit for all projects), pins, linen, finishing materials.  The kit is $10.00.

Scissor Fob kits are just $8.00; again, all supplies except for the threads.

Please contact Barbara at Brit45@roadrunner.com if you are interesting in purchasing one or more of these kits.


FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS   (All members are welcome)
      Tues., Jan. 4th     Tues., Mar. 1st     Tues., May 4rd     Tues., Sept. 13th     Tues., Nov. 1st  

Stitching Getaways:  The next meeting of the West Side Day group will be on January 4th at Suzanne Newton’s house in West Simsbury.  Bring along your lunch and a project you are working on and/or any project you would like to share.  Please email or phone Suzanne at sfnjsn@sbcglobal.net or 860-658-2037 if you plan to attend.

Pequot Colony – Anyone who is interested can call Doris Boas at: (860) 572-8441 or Stephanie Thorp at: (860) 536-0912.


CRVC Program Registration Form -- December 4th Meeting at Thistle Needleworks

Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002.  Make check payable to CRVC-EGAThe deadline for signing up for this class is November 20th.

Ornaments with Judie Solomon

              Check those that apply:
______ Danish Star Ornament Kit ($7.50): _______Ecru
                                                                                 _______Green/Red
______ Top Hat Santa Kit ($20)

Name:     ___________________________________________________
 
Phone:    _______________________ Email:_______________________
 

CRVC Program Registration Form -- February 4th and 5th class at Duncaster

Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002.  Make check payable to CRVC-EGAThe deadline for signing up for this class is December 15th.

"A Field in Tuscany" with Lynn Payette

              Check those that apply:
______ Members kit fee $85;  Non-members kit fee $95
______ Lunch Friday ($12)
______ Lunch Saturday ($12)

Name:     ___________________________________________________
 
Phone:    _______________________ Email:_______________________
 

CRVC Program Registration Form -- June 10th and 11th

Mail completed form to:  Linda Berry, 343 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002.  Make check payable to CRVC-EGAThe deadline for signing up for this class is May 1st.

"Polar Shadows" with Caela Conn Tyler

______ Members kit fee $90;  Non-members kit fee $100
______ I have enclosed $12 (for Fri.) and/or $12 (for Sat.) for lunch.

Name:     ___________________________________________________
 
Phone:    _______________________ Email:_______________________
 

CRVC-EGA Membership

$50. 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 ($50)
        __ 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 $___________