The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc. New York Capital...

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New York Capital District Chapter

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The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc.

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 6–8 June Retreat

Aug 4–8 Teaching Children to Stitch

Aug 15 Deadline for Next Newsletter

Sept 16 Joint Meeting at Beverwyck

Sept 26–28 Fall Retreat

Summer 2014

New York Capital District Chapter 1

C O N T A C T I N F O

NATIONAL Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc.www.egausa.org1355 Bardstown Road Suite 157 Louisville, KY 40204 (502) 589-6956Fax (502) 584-7900

REGION Metropolitan Regionwww.metroega.orgMaria Hall, [email protected] (631) 758-2246

CHAPTER NY Capital District Chapterwww.nycapega.orgHelen O’Connor, President111 Marlboro RoadDelmar, NY 12054 [email protected](518) 439-7627

NewsletterAnn Cohan, Editor5 Albright PlaceDelmar, NY [email protected]

Creative Stitches Teaching Children to Stitch Plans are underway for the summer Creative Stitches program at the Bethlehem Public Library, Monday through Friday, August 4–8, from 9 to noon each day. This year’s program will be led by Maggie Oldendorf, with assistance from Sandie Feck. Together, they are preparing a program and materials for teachers and students based on the feedback we received from teachers who participated in last year’s program. We will be sharing more about the program in the coming months.

Please consider helping us with this important program! We can always use more help and encourage you to sign up for one or more of the following:

Ò Be A Teacher: All members are welcome regardless of experience teaching children. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your love of needlework with students who are just beginning to learn about the world of stitching. Sign up for as many days as you can. One Teacher Meeting will be held prior to the August 4th start date.

Ò Contribute Food: Provide snacks for 25 to 30 students and teachers for one day, Monday through Thursday

Ò Contribute Supplies: Krenik and other metallic or specialty threads, beads to embellish embroidery

Ò Attend a kit prep meeting to put together student materials on Wednesday, June 4 at Kathy Kuhrt’s home (10 to 2:00). Everyone is welcome.

Ò Attend a teacher prep meeting on Wednesday July 30, to finalize plans and go over program details. We know summer is difficult to schedule, so this date is tentative. We will provide plenty of information for teachers and will find a convenient time to meet before August 4th.

For more information, or to sign up to teach and/or to volunteer to help in any way, please contact me.

Kathy Kuhrt Education Committee Chair

Volunteers Needed!

Metropolitan Region Seminar – Threads of ColorApril 17–19, 2015 Wyndham Hamilton Park Hotel and Conference Center, Florham Park, New Jersey Early registration is now open for Metropolitan Region members and will close on June 15. Registration will re-open on September 1 for all EGA members. For more information, please refer to the Metropolitan Region’s website at www.metroega.org.

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2012–2014 Board Members

COMMITTEE CHAIRSCoordinator – Beverwyck Terry Case

Coordinator – Day Fran Roscello

Coordinator – North End Doris Halvorsen

Education Billie Aul

Email Communicator Anita Ford

Exhibit Chair Donna Logan

Hospitality – Day Kathy Kuhrt

Newsletter Ann Cohan

Outreach Sandie Feck

Program Jane Stevens

Publicity Anita Ford

Region Representative Helen O’Connor

Registrar Melody Brennan

Website Coordinator Cindy Coutant

President Helen O’Connor

First Vice-President Fran Roscello

Vice-President/Membership Denise Chonski

Recording Secretary Suzanne Shelton

Corresponding Secretary Pat Opar

Treasurer Christene Thurston

OFFICERS

Fall 2014 RetreatImagine a leisurely weekend where you can stitch

as much as you want among friends who also love to stitch, you’re served three warm meals a day plus snacks, and you don’t have to clean any dishes! Did I mention the good lighting and the beautiful view? The low prices make this all a very good bargain for a very delightful weekend.

In order to hold the retreat we need a minimum of 15 paid registrants by September 5. Mark your calendars now and get your check and registration in the mail. The registration coupon can be found on page 10.

Dates: September 26–28, 2014 (Friday through Sunday)

Location: Ararat Center in Greenville on Route 32, just outside Albany

Total Cost: This is for the entire weekend, per person, including all meals: $256 for a single room; $191 for a double room; and $169.34 for a triple room. These prices include tips for the staff. Please note that the Chapter will not be finding roommates for members. That part is up to you!

Day Trippers: If you decide to come for the day, you only need to pay for your meals. Those costs will be as follows: Breakfast–$9.00; Lunch–$12.00; and Dinner–$17.00. Please let me know which days you plan to come and which meals you want.

Meals: Dinner on Friday; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on Saturday; Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday. All snacks on Friday afternoon and Saturday, as well as juices and bottled water, are included in the price.

If you have any questions or need to talk to me about your day tripper meals, please contact me at 439-7627 or [email protected].

– Retreat Coordinator, Helen O’Connor

Stitching at the Altamont FairThe Altamont Fair will be held August 12–17. Our stitch-ins will be from 1–3 PM on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17. Stitching at the Fair is one of the ways we participate in National’s “Stitching in Public” initiative.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the fair, rules and requirements for needlework can be found under Department M: Arts and Crafts at www.altamontfair.com/pdfs/M Arts and Crafts.pdf.

If you have any questions or would like to sign up for the stitch-in, contact Denise Chonski.



Dear Chapter Members,

This will be the last letter I write as Chapter President. Unbelievably, four years have passed, and my second term is finished at the end of this month. At the biennial dinner and election on

May 27th, you will vote for new executive officers. I really hope that most of you are coming to this event. It is important that you participate in the process and, on the lighter side, enjoy meeting with other Chapter members and get to hear Kathryn Kosto, a delightful speaker, present.

The Exhibit preview party, organized by Kathryn Kosto, was well-attended. 83 members and guests were served delicious foods and drink by Chapter volunteers. Kathryn and they did an outstanding job to make this reception memorable.

Our biennial exhibit was absolutely fabulous. So many of you finished and were able to exhibit your beautiful work that we had 339 entries. And so many people on the Exhibit Committee worked incredibly hard to make this exhibit another huge success. We need to send a big “Hooray!” to Donna Logan and her amazing committee. There were 480 visitors this year, compared to 365 in 2012; our newly-renamed boutique, The Needlework Closet, chaired by Fran Roscello, had outstanding sales again. Here’s another big “Hooray!” to her and all her member volunteers who made this event so amazing.

I mentioned in my previous letter that we had sent to National the results of our survey about what makes a good Chapter “good.” I thought you might like to know what I wrote to Maria Hall, the Metropolitan Region Director, when I sent her a copy of our responses to National.

“At first, I wasn’t sure why we were answering the questions, because I know what we do is fantastic. But I think it gave everyone a boost to discuss these questions, both at the Chapter meetings’ level and at the Board level, and to write out what we think are the best things we do. Words cannot, unfortunately, convey the incredible sense of camaraderie that exists between and among the members of this Chapter. We are, indeed, a sisterhood of stitchers—women who have become fast friends over the months and years of working together; we support each other not only in our stitchery, but also in our personal lives—through delightful times and sometimes through devastating times. We are “there” for each other, and for many of us this has made a profound difference in our quality of life. For some of us, stitching is an important aspect of our lives that helps keep us sane and centered. Personally, I cannot imagine a life without EGA, and certainly not one without this incredible Chapter I am both honored and proud to serve.”

I can’t think of anything else to say that would convey my feelings any better than what I wrote to Maria. All of us who are sisters-in-stitching are fortunate to have such a great group as ours. I thank all of you for allowing me to serve as your president for four years and for being such an important part of my life.

Helen O’Connor

L e t t e r f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t



Pat Athanas e-mail: [email protected]

Open Tuesday -Friday 10am - 5pmThursday 10am -7pmSaturday 10am - 4pm

Country Plaza, 1225 Rt 9G, Suite DHyde Park, NY 12538 (845) 229-0246

Pat Athanas e-mail: [email protected]

Study Groups The Hardanger Study Group meets on the second Monday of the month from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The meeting location is determined by the hostess. For more information, contact Sandie Feck.

The Crewel Study Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The meeting location is determined by the hostess. For more information, contact Mary Willmott.

The Blackwork Study Group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The meeting location is determined by the hostess. For more information, contact Fran Roscello.

Studio Time usually meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the East Greenbush Library. Bring your lunch; hot water for beverages is provided. For more information, contact Frieda Carnell.

Introducing Mini-MinisYour program committee has been using the questionnaire results to determine the classes offered each year and this seems to have worked very well for the majority of our members. However, we have noticed that there is a long list of subjects not being offered and a long list of people who have expressed interest in learning about them. The problem is that not enough people are interested in any one of the fields to justify a major program. Still and all, we are a teaching organization, SO, beginning in the fall, we are arranging “Mini Mini” classes to take place for an hour during a regular stitch-in.

These Mini Mini classes will pair a member familiar with the skill with one to four people who want to learn the skill. This will provide an easy introduction to a new field and give you a mentor to go to later if you have any questions. Beginning in late summer, the “Mini Mini” teachers will be calling those on their list to arrange a suitable meeting time for the introductory class. So if you have gone to the trouble of thoughtfully filling out a questionnaire and turning it in, it should be a comfort to you that someone is paying attention! We all share a desire to learn more about our beloved embroidery and we are all delighted if anyone asks us a question about it which we can actually answer – so this new program should work well and be enjoyed by everyone.

New Study Group: Cross-Stitch PlusStudy Groups offer our members an opportunity to delve deeply into a specific type of needlework, while in a supportive and social environment with stitchers who share a particular passion. Our Hardanger, Crewel and Blackwork Study Groups have been very popular, and now we are adding another technique to the medley: Cross-Stitch. We decided to call the group Cross-Stitch Plus to allow room for both those who simply love to cross-stitch and those interested in exploring the world of counted thread stitches that go beyond the basic cross.

The Cross-Stitch Study Group will start next fall. We plan to meet once a month, with the day and time to be based on what will work best for the participants. If you are interested, contact Kathy Kuhrt and let her know your preferences for the meeting schedule:

Days: Monday through Friday, or Saturday?Hours: evening or daytime?

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Summer 2014 CalendarJUNE 3 Beverwyck Stitch-In, Show & Share

6–8 Chapter Needlework Retreat at Ararat Center

12 North End Stitch-In and Dessert Exchange

17 Beverwyck Stitch-In, Show & Share

JULY 1 Beverwyck Stitch-In, Show & Share


AUGUST 4–8 Chapter Creative Stitching, Teaching Children to Stitch

@ Bethlehem Public Library


16–17 Chapter Stitch-In @ Altamont Fair

19 Chapter Board Meeting– 5:30 @ Beverwyck– All members welcome


SEPTEMBER 2 Beverwyck Stitch-In, Show & Share

11 North End Welcome Back Stitch-In, Show & Share

16 Chapter Joint Meeting @ Beverwyck– Not Your Grandmother’s Needlepoint

17 Day Group Stitch-In, Show & Share

25 North End Stitch-In, Show & Share

26–28 Chapter Needlework Retreat at Ararat Center

9 Hardanger Study Group

11 Crewel 25 Studio Time 28 Blackwork

9 Crewel 26 Blackwork

13 Crewel 23 Blackwork 27 Studio Time

8 Hardanger Study Group

10 Crewel 24 Studio Time 27 Blackwork

Cancellation Policy Please use common sense if the weather conditions are unfavorable. We want to make sure you stay happy and healthy to stitch another day!

Day Group (Blooming Grove) If the East Greenbush school district is closed or delayed, the meeting is cancelled.

Beverwyck Evening Group The coordinator, Terry Case, will send out an email if a meeting is cancelled.

North End Group Call the coordinator, Doris Halvorsen. Phone trees will be put in place at the Fall meetings.



Summer Stitch-InsTuesdays– June 3 & 17, July 1 & 15, August 5 & 19, Sept 2

Special Joint Meeting Not Your Grandmother’s NeedlepointTuesday, September 166:00 Informal Picnic 7:00 Lecture

Enjoy a slow cool summer of friendly stitch-ins in the air conditioned comfort of the Beverwyck community room.

Our 2014-15 EGA program year will kick off with an indoor picnic for all three groups at the Beverwyck Community Room on September 16 at 6 PM. Everyone should bring her own bag dinner. Desserts to share will be warmly welcomed. Coffee and tea will be provided.

The program will be an overview of today’s needlepoint, from tools and supplies through canvas and threads to designs and uses. Presenters will include our own expert stitchers, Fran Roscello, Louise Butler and Dalene Cross, who will bring lots of samples for your delectation.

Needlepoint used to be stitched on Penelope and white 12-count interlock canvases only. Readily available threads included three-strand Paternayan wool, DMC floss and Perle cotton. They came in a variety of colors. If you bought a kit, it was likely to be a chair seat with the center design already stitched. All you had to do was tent stitch the background in a solid color. A bit boring to many of us.

Today we have fantastic painted canvases – some with detailed stitch guides to help you select colors and stitches to complete them. There might even be a multi-day class with live instructor help. Complex charts may be worked on mono-canvas in a variety of colors and mesh from 10 to 24 holes per inch. And yes, Bargello is still around!

A large needlework shop may have thousands of threads if you count all the colors in a line. They come from animal, vegetable and man-made sources. Sturdy wools, glowing silks, soft silk and wool blends, solid and overdyed cottons, sparkling Kreinik braids. You are in for a real treat if you haven’t met Vineyard Silk, Impressions, Trio, Silk and Ivory, Watercolours and Rainbow Gallery.

Here is your chance to see and learn more about today’s needlepoint, remind you of the threads and canvases available and have some tasty refreshments. Be sure to mark your calendar for this special opening meeting in September.

The Beverwyck Evening Group meets from 7–9 pm every 1st & 3rd Tuesdayin the community room of the Terrace at Beverwyck Retirement Community, 41 Beverwyck Lane, Slingerlands. From Krumkill Rd turn onto Beverwyck Lane (at the bounding deer sign just east of Blessing Rd), and then turn into the second driveway on the right. As you pull in you will see the entrance to the community room directly across from the driveway. In general the 1st meeting of the month is a stitch-in (bring whatever you are working on), and the 2nd meeting is a program meeting. For more information, contact the Beverwyck Evening Group coordinator, Terry Case.



The Day Group meets from 10 to 2 every 3rd Wednesday (Sept–May) at the Blooming Grove Reformed Church, Defreestville. From the West (Albany, Delmar, Schenectady, etc.) take I-90 East to Exit 8 Rt 43 Defreestville (second exit after crossing the Hudson River). Follow the very long exit ramp to the first light (Washington Ave) and turn right. The road comes to a “T” with a stop sign; turn right onto Bloomingrove Drive; church is on your right. Come in double doors at far end of porch; meeting room is to the left. From all other areas where you do not need to use I-90; from Rt. 4 turn onto Bloomingrove at the light near CVS and Stewart’s; just north of Home Depot. Church is on the left. For more information, contact Day Group Coordinator, Fran Roscello.

NOTE: Day Group does not meet in June, July and August

Stitch-In, Show & ShareWednesday, September 17

The fall season starts with a welcome back stitch-in. Bring any projects you have worked on during the summer so you can “show and share.”

The North End Group meets from 6:30–9 pm on the 2nd & 4th Thursday (Sept–June), barring holidays. Take I87-Northway to Exit 9 (Route 146W). Go westbound for approx. 1+ miles. You will go through 5 traffic lights (including the exit ramp). The 5th light is the intersection with Moe Road. St. George’s Episcopal Church (large white church ) is the third building on the left, set back from the road, just past that intersection. The second turn is the entrance to the church. As you face the church, we are meeting in the building on the left (Parish Hall) next to the parking lot. For additional information, contact the North End coordinator, Doris Halvorsen.

NOTE: Day Group does not meet in July and August

Dessert Exchange and Stitch-InThursday, June 12

Stitch-In, Show & ShareThursday, September 11

Stitch-In, Show & ShareThursday, September 25

The North End Group does not meet over the summer so this will be the last meeting of the season. Bring a project to stitch and a dessert to share.

We will start the fall season with a welcome back stitch-in. Bring along your summer stitching projects for “show and share.”

Bring something to share and something to stitch. Then settle in for a relaxing evening of stitching.

Invite Someone You KnowDo you know someone who enjoys needlearts?Invite her — or him — to join you at one of our upcoming stitch-ins so she can discover the many benefits of EGA. The more the merrier!



Pruyn House Wrap-upCongratulations!!! Our chapter put on a very

impressive exhibit. We had over 400 visitors, sold 52 tickets for the needlework stands and our Needlework Closet sales exceeded last exhibit’s.

I personally wish to thank all the committee chairs and their assistants, including spouses and significant others who are not registered members of the chapter. I also need to acknowledge Kathy Kurht for the addition of her recorder group’s musical presentation at the preview party.

A special thank you to Jim Feck and Mike Kurht for their excellent work and donation of the needlework stands. The winners were members of our chapter – Dalene Cross and Pam Germann. I’m sure they will enjoy their stands for years to come. Congratulations!

A special thank you to Kathy Kurht who made my dream of the slide show presentation of the items displayed upstairs a reality. Many of our visitors expressed appreciation for the opportunity to view these items without having to climb the stairs.

I hesitate to list everyone, lest I forget a name, so to all those who participated with publicity, registration, the preview party, receiving and returning, display, hostessing, demonstrations, memorials, signage and making the Needlework Closet such a success – THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

As I returned home on Sunday evening, there was a rainbow at the end of my street to welcome me home and on Monday during the final walk through at the Pruyn House, two deer were bounding through the field. Both these events were part of my reward for a long week of work. But the best reward was the support of the chapter members during my time as your exhibit chair and, in my opinion, a wonderful exhibit. Again – thank you.

Donna Logan Exhibit Chair

Habitat for HumanityPat Opar, Guild Liaison to Habitat for Humanity, was invited to attend a “Night Out with Habitat” in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The event, which was held on Friday, May 16, at the Palace Theater, featured a short documentary about the journey to home ownership of one of the Habitat families. We are, indeed, lucky to have such a gracious individual as Pat representing our chapter within the Habitat organization.

We thank the Guild members who have so generously given their time and talent to stitch samplers for Habitat families. Eighteen completed samplers are on hand. Ten of those will be used for families in Sheridan Hollow in Albany, five in 2014 and five in 2015, as well as an additional two samplers designated for families in Schenectady County. The remaining samplers on hand will be used for Habitat families in the future.

Ten Broeck Mansion Stitch-InFor the third consecutive year, four members of this chapter were invited to participate in the Ten Broeck Mansion’s “Living History Day” which is held the first Sunday of May. There were many visitors to this event which made it a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about our upcoming Pruyn House exhibit.

O U T R E A C H R E P O R T



Membership RosterThe membership roster can be found on the members only section of our website at www.nycapega.org. This online version is updated quarterly and provides the most up-to-date information.

Updating Your Contact InformationNATIONAL: Members are now responsible for reporting their address changes to National personally. The process is easy, i.e., go to www.egausa.org and click on “Forms/Guides/Manuals” under MEMBERS ONLY. The Change of Contact Information form is at the top of the right-hand column under “General.”

EGA E-NewsThe EGA E-News and other online communications from National are an opt-in service – we don’t want to be considered spam! If you’re not receiving these valuable communications and would like to, you need to give permission by emailing Tonya at [email protected].

New Members

Heather Ludwig

Eva Quint

Ginna M.Roeding

Karen Vigliante

Membership Information

Welcome Heather,

Eva, Ginna and Karen!

Founders FundThe Founders Fund was set up years ago as a memorial fund for the Capital District Chapter of EGA. Tax deductible contributions can be made by anyone (members or non-members) in memory of, or in honor of a special person. The money in the Founders Fund is used for educational programs and to promote community awareness of the needle arts.

If you or someone you know would like to make a memorial contribution to our chapter, please contact the Treasurer, Christene Thurston.

Vermont Quilt FestivalJune 27–29, 2014Fri–Sat 9-6; Sun 9-3Champlain Valley Exposition 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT vqf.org

Capital Region Textile Artists An exhibit of art quilts by members of Capital Region Textile ArtistsJuly 2014Mon-Fri: 10-9; Sat 10-5Guilderland Public Library 2228 Western Ave, Guilderland, NY

Joined by Threads VVoorheesville Village Quilters 2014 Quilt Show July 12 – 13, 2014 Sat 10-4; Sun 12-4St Matthew’s Parish Center29 Mountainview St, Voorheesville, NY

Hand-Wrought: An Embroidery Art ExhibitWork by members of the Corning ChapterSeptember 12 – November 2, 2014Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Hammondsport, NYwww.corningega.orgwww.glennhcurtissmuseum.org


Fall Stitching Retreat at Ararat CenterFriday–Sunday, September 26–28, 2014Registration Deadline is September 5Name: _____________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________

Room Rates: ___ Single–$256 ___ Double–$191 ___ Triple–$169.34

Roommate’s Name: ___________________________

Send check (made out to NYCDCEGA) to: Helen O’Connor, 111 Marlboro Rd, Delmar, NY 12054£ Included is SASE for my confirmation OR£ Email my confirmation to: _____________________________

___ You are registered for the Fall 2014 Stitching Retreat.


The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc. NY Capital District Chapter PO Box 443 Slingerlands NY 12159

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The NY Capital District Chapter of the EGA is a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., located within the Metropolitan Region. The purpose of the Chapter is to foster the highest standards of excellence in

the practice of the art of embroidery through an active program of education and study, and to preserve the heritage of the art of embroidery. We welcome those of all skill levels and interest in any needleart technique. Join us!

2014 National Seminar– Dreams and LegendsClasses, Tours and Special EventsOctober 18–24, 2014Pointe Hilton Squaw Resort in Phoenix, ArizonaAll registration ends August 15.

The seminar brochure will be in the March issue of Needle Arts. Classes and other seminar information can also be found online at www.egausa.org.

The 2015 seminar, Stitchin’ Fiesta, will be held October 28 through November 1, 2015 at the San Antonio (TX) Marriot Rivercenter.

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