Loudoun Sampler Guild

Visit To Sotheby’s

loudounsamplerguild — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:03:01 +0000

Twelve members of the Loudoun Sampler Guild visited Sotheby’s auction house to see the exhibition of the Betty Ring Collection, the day before it was sold and scattered.

There were almost 150 pieces in the collection being auctioned, and Sotheby’s had given over one entire floor to the exhibition. Some collectors come to needlework as they would any type of arts-and-crafts or folk art, but for our group, our appreciation is enhanced because we are all stitchers ourselves. And while the Sotheby’s catalogue is comprehensive and well-photographed, it is nothing compared with seeing the pieces in person. The gallery guides were willing to taken pieces off the wall, so we could see them better; they provided flashlights and magnifying glasses, and didn’t mind us taking our own photographs. I suppose it’s because Sotheby’s sees every visitor as a potential buyer.

Note in one photo that Marty Greiner is looking at a colorful sampler from New Jersey in an arched-top frame. That sampler garnered the highest sale price on Sunday — a whopping $1,070,500.

Sotheby’s does not annouce the names of the winning buyers. It will be interesting to see if some end up in museums or other institutions. I know we would all like to see the Westtown School samplers end up in the schools’ collection, for exmaple.Click to view slideshow.

Secrets Messages in Cross Stitch

loudounsamplerguild — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:54:51 +0000

Stasi Buhrman came across this piece about a British officer interned in a German POW camp during World War II. It’s a fascinating story, and she thought other Guild members would find it interesting.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/11/f-hitler-british-prisoner-of-war-s-secret-bold-messages-of-defiance-hidden-in-his-cross-stitching-115875-23694806/

Watch Out, New York City, the LSG is Coming!

loudounsamplerguild — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:49:52 +0000

Several Loudoun Sampler Guild members are planning a day-trip to New York to see the Betty Ring sampler exhibit at Sotheby’s on Saturday, January 21. If you are interested in joining them, make your train reservations on Amtrak leaving Union Station, Washington, DC, at 6:20 am, Saturday Jan 21^st, and returning from Penn Station, New York City, that evening at 6:05 pm. Those trains also stop at BWI, Baltimore and Wilmington stations which may be more convenient for some LSG members. Make your train reservations soon to take advantage of Amtrak’s 14-day advance purchase discounts.

Let LaDonna Snellbaker (love2stitch16@yahoo.com) or Barbara Bernard (B-BERNARD@NGA.GOV) know that you are planning to join the group, so that they can tell you where to meet at Union Station. New York resident Elizabeth Ellers is working on a list of recommendations for lunch and other things to do in Manhattan on a Saturday afternoon.

Sotheby’s Catalogue Released

loudounsamplerguild — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:43:59 +0000

A nice post-Christmas surprise in the mail was Sotheby’s catalogue for the auction of the Betty Ring collection. Many LSG members had pre-ordered the catalogue; it may still be available from Sotheby’s.

In addition to photos and descriptions of each of the 201 lots for sale, the catalog includes a biblipography of Betty Ring’s work, a list of her lectures and tributesby Linda Eaton of Winterthur; Amy Finkel of M. Finkel and Daughter; Colin Eisler of New York University; and others.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2012/important-american-schoolgirl-embroideries-the-landmark-collection-of-betty-ring-n08832/overview.html

December Meeting Show and Tell – more photos!

loudounsamplerguild — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:29:37 +0000

Nancy Dluehosh, our outgoing Historian, took lots of photos at the December holiday luncheon and sent them to be posted here. As usual, LSG members dazzle with their beautiful needlework.Click to view slideshow.

Photos from the Holiday Luncheon

loudounsamplerguild — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:35:17 +0000

As always, our December 10 event was great fun — eating, shopping, prizes, present swaps, more eating, more shopping! Thanks to Kathleen Oliver and all of her helpers for a fabulous morning.

Willa Brown sent all of these great pictures of people enjoying the party as well as some Show and Tell . Too many to caption! Enjoy! And if you have more photos, send them along and we’ll post those, too. Click to view slideshow.

Obituary: Erica Wilson

loudounsamplerguild — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:00:08 +0000

Today’s New York Times carries an obituary for Erica Wilson. The writer deems her the “Julia Child of needlework” which seems very apt, since she did so much to encourage American women to take up their needles.

See the full article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/nyregion/erica-wilson-dies-at-83-led-a-rebirth-of-needleworking.html

Leesburg’s Annual Christmas & Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 10

loudounsamplerguild — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:52:02 +0000

Loudoun Sampler Guild members attending the Guild’s annual holiday luncheon may want to experience a little holiday magic in downtown Leesburg on Saturday, December 10, 2011. And even if you’re not interested in the parade, you should be aware of the route to avoid while driving in.

The annual Christmas & Holiday Parade will step off at 10:00 a.m. and this year’s parade will be the biggest and brightest yet, featuring local bands, civic organizations, decorated floats and the man of the season – Santa! The parade will begin at Ida Lee Drive, proceed down King Street, and end at Fairfax Street. In preparation for the parade, King Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at 9:30 a.m. from Ida Lee Drive to Catoctin Circle.

Following the parade, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., promoters of the Jingle Jam concerts are hosting pictures with “Rock & Roll” Santa on the Town Green. Pictures will be $10 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Jingle Jam is sponsoring FREE Christmas specials on the big screen at the Tally Ho Theatre, featuring Rudolph, Frosty and more.

From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Loudoun Chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association will be hosting the Empty Bowls Project at the Laurel Brigade (20 West Market Street). Local potters have donated handmade bowls, which will be offered to the public for a requested $25 donation each. All proceeds will benefit Loudoun Interfaith Relief (www.interfaithrelief.org). The event will also feature live musical entertainment. For more information, please call Katie Hovda at 703-777-6161.

Plans for the Auction of the Betty Ring Collection

loudounsamplerguild — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:59:40 +0000

The eagerly-anticipated auction of the Betty Ring Needlework Collection at Sotheby’s in New York is now about 8 weeks away. Many of our members have pre-ordered the sale catalog (see October 31 blog entry for details). Sotheby’s plans to exhibit the collection for the week preceding the January 22 sale. This is the opportunity to see the pieces “up close and personal” before they are sold and the collection is broken up.

Hours of the exhibition at Sotheby’s are as follows:

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

It’s possible to see the exhibition as a [long] day-trip. Here’s what a weekday itinerary might look like:

Amtrak Northeast Regional Train #172 leaves Washington’s Union Station at 7:25 am, and arrives New York Penn Station at 10:45 am. Taxi to Sotheby’s (15 minutes/$15). Two hours at the exhibition. Two hours for lunch (lots of choices near Sotheby’s Upper East Side location). Taxi back to Penn Station to catch train #173 at 3:35, arriving back at Union Station at 6:46 pm.

Of course, that’s just one way to make the trip. Another option would be to spend a night in New York, and visit a museum, see a play or concert or otherwise explore New York. January is often a good time to pick up same-day, discounted theater tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square.

Needleworkers might enjoy shopping in the Fashion District (http://www.fashioncenter.com/) where there are many stores selling fabric, beads, buttons and trimming.

November Show and Tell

loudounsamplerguild — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:47:57 +0000

Click to view slideshow.The fabulous stitching by LSG members just never stops! Here are a few highlights from the November meeting, courtesy of our out-going historian Nancy Dluehosh. Thanks Nancy!