The Loudoun Sampler Guild's Mystery Band Sampler Now Available

The Loudoun Sampler Guild lives over the mountain from me in the D.C. suburbs, where historical samplers are very popular.   Some of the members are published designers in their own right, so the fact that the mystery band sampler the membership designed in 2014 is now available for sale as a fund-raiser is worthy of note.  The money raised will all go to a fund established in Betty Flemming's honor to help museums acquire and preserve samplers.  
https://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/the-mystery-band-sampler-for-sale/

If you like samplers, this offer is for you.

By the way, the contact person for purchasing the Loudoun Sampler Guild mystery band sampler is Betsy Morgan. Yes, THE Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands.  She does exquisite work.  This UK company showcases some of her lovely things especially well as does her blog (second link below).
http://www.thesamplerguild.co.uk/Betsy%20Morgan.htm

http://willinghandsstitching.blogspot.com

Good luck to all my friends over the mountain!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 14, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Woodlawn! UPDATED WITH AWARDS LIST

Woodlawn Plantation Awaits

The Woodlawn Plantation Needlework Exhibit is open!  Remember, the exhibit is closed Tuesdays. (Rats!)  All the details are here.
http://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/51st-annual-needlework-exhibition-at-woodlawn/

And here.
http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/events

UPDATE:  Woodlawn has posted the list of award winners. The People's Choice Award will be announced when the show closes as attendees vote for that.
http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2014-Entry-List-for-Program.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
nd at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Rehoboth Beach Exhibit

The Loudoun Sampler Guild reminds us that the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware needlework exhibit opens March 15th and runs through May 11.  Items to exhibit are being accepted starting today until March 10.  Mark this on your calendars, folks!
http://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/upcoming-needlework-exhibition-in-rehoboth-beach-delaware/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Who'd a Thunk It?

Who would have thought that plastic cross stitches would make great wall art? 
http://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/needlework-at-large-cross-stitch-wall-art/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Profile: Sharlotte DeVere

When we first moved to Virginia, we lived in the quaint little Colonial town of Leesburg, only about two miles from the downtown area which has a small and fascinating counted thread shop called The Queen's Stitch. It was great fun to visit to admire the silk gauze kits, the little perforated paper boxes, to look at the skeins of Paternayan hung against the wall, and to generally enjoy the atmosphere of a good stitching shop, so I was heartbroken when the owner Sharlotte decided to move back home to the family farm in Pennsylvania.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered Sharlotte will be back in the area to teach at the Loudoun Sampler Guild!  The guild also posted a link to a Nordic Needle interview with Sharlotte which I think you'll find interesting.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/newsletters/_300/358.shtml

Great stitchers are found in unexpected places but what really amazes me about our art is the diversity of folks who are drawn to make things with their hands.  I think we are involved in a universal impulse to create with the needle, don't you?

Enjoy the article. If you are at the EGA Seminar this year, hug Sharlotte for me and tell me I remember the Queen's Stitch very fondly.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cross Stitch Sunglasses

I'm not kidding.
http://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/cross-stitch-sunglasses-seriously/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Festival of Broken Needles 2013 UPDATED

This morning we are gathered here to celebrate Hari Kuyo, Japan's Festival of Broken Needles. If we were in Japan, this is what we would be doing.
http://www.designbyaika.com/hari-kuyou-memorial-service-for-needles/

But we are not, so we are going to take our little colorfully wrapped packets of needles to an imaginary Japanese garden.
http://www.flickriver.com/groups/38223935@N00/pool/interesting/

Does everyone have their little packets of needles?  Good.  Go to the link above and pick your favorite image of water, and toss in your packet, thinking grateful thoughts about those tools that have served you so well.  I climbed the stone stairs, stopping occasionally to look at the flowering trees, and put my packet in the Purge Water Dragon pool, where it swirled around a bit, then floated away out of the pool and down the big waterfall to disappear into the stream.

Thank you, needles!

UPDATE:  If you had a ceremony on your site, please let Susan know.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2013/02/happy-harikuyo.html

Here's a second update with food for thought.
http://stitchingfoolishness.blogspot.com/2013/02/hari-kuyo.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

A New Shop Is Opening.... UPDATED

...and it is only an hour from me!  This is indeed exciting news for those who live around Winchester, Virginia.  It looks to be a counted thread shop, judging from the report from the Loudoun Sampler Guild.  Sounds like it is close to the Route 11 potato chip factory, if you happen to be local.
http://loudounsamplerguild.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/new-local-needlework-store/

Of course an hour's trip one way isn't something I can make often but I know there are a lot of counted thread folks who live close to the new shop and this is very very good news for them.

UPDATE:  I found the website for Valley Needlework.  Sadly, it is catering to every needle art except needlepoint.
http://www.valleyneedleworks.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com