INDEPENDENT NEEDLEWORK NEWS

Are you aware the Loudoun Sampler Guild is putting on a tremendous effort dedicated to Quaker samplers this year? It’s called A Token of Love — The Quaker Girl and Her Needlework and is a series of lectures, classes, and other special events which will occur in the Leesburg, Virginia area on weekends in March and April of 2008.

Currently scheduled are lectures from Quaker needlework historians such as Betty Whiting Flemming, Sue Studebaker, Kathryn Lesieur, Lynn Tinley, Mary Holton Robare, Barbara Hutson (Queenstown Sampler Designs), and Kathy Moyer.

Designers teaching classes during the course of March and April include Kathy Barrick-Dieter (Carriage House Samplings), Barbara Bernard (Loudoun Sampler Guild), Cathy Campbell (Primitive Traditions), Ellen Chester (With My Needle), Pamela Darney (Guildhouse Samplers), Betsy Morgan (Willing Hands), and Kathryn Myers (Loudoun Sampler Guild).

I have one gorgeous class project picture for you: a picture of Barbara Bernard’s A Quaker Scissors Keep (unfolded) is here in .PDF format.

In order to provide you with as much information as possible about this fantastic event series, I am quoting below from an email written by Karen Bollin, Programs Chair of the Loudoun Sampler Guild, on November 10, 2007:

1. This series is NOT a symposium. There is not an overall fee, and the programming is not held over a single weekend. This is a series and will be held over MOST weekends thru March & April, 2008. Each event is priced separately & is independent.

2. Most program days have two or more events, but a few vary. The only overlap is the Children’s Class. The parent can be in her/his event and the child in her/his as well.

3. We are fortunate to have food available for three dates for pre-order, catered by Specialteas Catering. Just complete the form and include the funds.

4. The prices for each event are based on costs from the principal, kit fees, space rental, and any extra expenses the event incurs. Each event must stand on its own or it can’t go forward. The only way to be sure a class or lecture succeeds is with your ticket orders. Please don’t wait until the last minute.

5. To order tickets, print the registration form page, check the events you want to attend, enclose the check, and mail it back to me. Be sure to include any of the lunches you want. Be sure to copy the completed form for yourselves.

7. Seating in each event will be limited by the venue and the teacher. I control neither. Personally, I would love to have so many attendees that I have to rent air, but that’s not feasible, so we will go with room size and teacher limits. I will endeavor to give as much info as possible. Locations will be established based on demand for events. Waiting lists will be established as necessary, but I’ll try to get space for everyone who wants a lecture or class. All events will be in the greater Leesburg area.

8. Anyone who might be travelling from afar, there are a lot of hotels & motels in the general area. If we have several of you in need, I will try to get some reduced rates. We can work on that as time approaches, but get your registration forms in so I can work-out whatever I can get for you.

9. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, special needs, or just want to know what’s up. I might not get to you the same day, but I will get to you!

10. We will have boutique tables and trunk shows, Several of our members & friends will be presenting their wares tailored to this series. Many of our designers will try to have as much on hand as possible for your stash enhancement. Some of our lecturers to have their books on hand for those of you who need to obtain them.

11. We are also having a “special” boutique table — the Second-Hand Stash Sale!! This sale table will be available pn all March weekends to benefit Woodlawn Plantation, site of the annual Needlework Exhibition each March. The sale will rise again in April to benefit the Waterford Foundation, the organization that works to preserve the historic buildings in the Quaker community of Waterford, VA. Basically, it’s a garage sale of stash, with ALL of the proceeds going to these very worthy organiations. To be successful, your QUALITY stash donations are required…..just one or two things.

Schedule: Our own Betty Whiting Flemming will open the series with her lecture, The Quaker Schoolgirl: Her Life and Her Needlework. Later in the series, Betty will also give a short talk about the 35-star Quaker flag (just prior to Ellen Chester’s class of “Long May She Wave”), and join with Mary Holton Robare to present a lecture about samplers from several generations of a Quaker family.

Kathy Barrick-Dieter of Carriage House Samplings will teach her Pinball class, which I understand is a lot of fun for all participants. Your kit comes with all materials to make the stitched pinball at your own pace and the materials to make a pinball in class.

Mary Holton Robare will present 2 lectures covering both Quaker samplers and Quaker quilts. Her samplers lecture, A Quaker Family’s Samplers, presented with Betty Whiting Flemming, will explore the three samplers completed by four generations of a single Quaker family. These samplers have been scattered among descendants, but come together for this lecture. Mary’s other lecture, Quilts & Quaker Heritage, covers the journey that began with a Signature Album quilt and grew into the discovery of dozens of Quaker textiles. Excerpts from letters & diaries highlight the role of needlework in the lives of Quaker quiltmakers. Because many of the quilts were signed and dated, they provide unique opportunities to compare technical elements & designs, as well as revealing new avenues for exploring the pre-Civil War community of Quakers in America.

Our Children’s Class, led by another LSG member, Kathryn Myers, will feature the series logo as its project. All attendees will receive a kit with most finishing materials and snacks. This class is aimed at children 7-14 years of age.

Ellen Chester of With My Needle is teaching her Needleworker’s Sampler Huswif AND the exclusive adaptation of Long May She Wave, which will ONLY be available during this series. It will be preceded by the talk by Betty Flemming about the historic 35-star Quaker flag, from which Ellen adapted her design. You will be able to stitch either the original or the adapted design.

Cathy Campbell of Primitive Traditions has adapted some of her own designs to offer us a short techniques class in making her wonderful Bronwyn’s Biscornu Pyn Pillowe…a special treat. You will receive a complete kit, and the class focuses on the finishing techniques. A quick, cute, charming addition to your needlework smalls.

Lynn Tinley will join us from Georgia to present her lecture, Quaker Samplers: from Carnation Borders to Colorful Medallions. It promises to be very enlightening.

Barbara Bernard, also a very talented member of the Loudoun Sampler Guild, is a staff member at the National Gallery of Art. Barbara is teaching her design of A Quaker Scissors Keep, a very useful memento, covered with Quaker medallion designs on soft colors reminiscent of the Quaker palette. Barbara has also designed our series commemorative tote….be sure to get one!!!

One of our most renowned speakers, Sue Studebaker, is joining us for what will be a wonderful lecture covering the Quaker movement west, entitled The Friends Journey Westward. I know I don’t want to miss it.

Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands Designs is offering, for the first time, her special design of a Quaker Schoolgirl Etui. Betsy is also offering a kit for the smalls…be sure to order it in advance. Betsy designed this project for the Loudoun Museum’s symposium which was cancelled and we are so pleased that she is letting us have the debut of this beautiful set.

Pamela Darney of Guildhouse Samplers is a new designer to most of you, but to the Loudoun Sampler Guild, she is one of our very talented members. Pamela has designed a gorgeous sampler, entitled I Byde My Time Quaker Sampler, which coordinates with the etui & smalls designed and being taught by Betsy Morgan. As one of the first people to see the completed sampler, I can attest to its incredible beauty.

Pamela is also graciously donating her beautiful new, original designs for our Fundraiser — two designs called The Quaker Diamonds. Speaking of the Fundraiser, it should be a lot of FUN as well. The Loudoun Sampler Guild is proud of its record of providing monetary grants to various museums, historical societies, and other organizations for the on-going preservation of their needlework. To meet our goals, we have regular events to build the Grant Fund. With Pamela’s beautufully charted designs, which will be presented to each ticket holder for this event, attendees will receive appropriate fabric & monochrome threads to stitch these diamonds as a 2-sided ornament, framed pieces, or whatever suits you. We will also provide snacks, surprises, and some fun…like prizes and such. We will have members & experts available for discussion and Q&A. The Fundraiser is scheduled in both March & April.

And, a new addition to our schedule, is the lecture of Kathy Moyer, archivist and historian of Oakwood Friends School, which traces its roots to Nine Partners School in Poughkeepsie, NY. Kathy has developed a detailed and fascinating presentation, Nine Partners School: History, People, & Samplers, filled with history & details of the Quaker school, community, students, and their treasures.

For more information, including the full schedule, class descriptions, and pictures of the class projects, take a look at the brochure for this wonderfully exciting series of events — something is sure to catch your eye! As Karen mentioned above in her email, there are also some fabulous charitable events scheduled to benefit Woodlawn Plantation, where the 45th annual Needlework Exhibition will occur in March; the Waterford Foundation, a preserved Quaker-established community in Virginia; and the Loudoun Sampler Guild’s Grant Fund, which is used for preserving needlework held in museums, schools, and other organizations.

For more information, including larger class project photos, or to register, please contact Karen Bollin as soon as possible. Karen is taking pencil-in registrations by email, especially for the earliest scheduled events.

As of the last report I had from Karen on January 18th, there was still room in each event for attendees — but final registration for some events, especially the earliest ones, is coming up FAST in order to allow enough time to provide notice to teachers/lecturers for their class preparations, so there is absolutely no time to waste! Additionally, there are — unbelievably — a few events in danger of cancellation due to low enrollment at this point, so PLEASE don’t hesitate in contacting Karen if you are interested in any of them. Don’t be kicking yourself for not contacting Karen today only to later find out one of the spectacular classes you most wanted was cancelled due to low enrollment … email Karen NOW and let her know you’re putting your registration payment in the mail!

[tags] Loudoun Sampler Guild, Quaker, needlework, sampler, Token of Love, Quaker Girl and Her Needlework, Betty Whiting Flemming, Sue Studebaker, Kathryn Lesieur, Lynn Tinley, Mary Holton Robare, Barbara Hutson, Queenstown Sampler Designs, Kathy Moyer, Kathy Barrick-Dieter, Carriage House Samplings, Barbara Bernard, Cathy Campbell, Primitive Traditions, Ellen Chester, With My Needle, Pamela Darney, Guildhouse Samplers, Betsy Morgan, Willing Hands, and Kathryn Myers [/tags]