Travel Report

Needlework can pop up in the most unexpected places.  Yesterday, my husband and I toured Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.  The fort changed hands between the French and British 13 times.  We saw the fortifications, cannons, powder magazine, etc. on a promontory overlooking the Annapolis River.  But the treat for me was the Fort Anne Tapestry, four panels of embellished needlepoint 8 feet high by 18 feet wide.  It was stitched by 100 members of the community and depicts four centuries of history in this place.

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Thank your pins and needles today

Today in the Kanta region of Japan, the annual ceremony of Hari Kuyo is held at several temples.

Kuyo, generally, is a time when workers, artisans and artists who need specific items to do their jobs will express their gratitude to their old tools by attending a special ceremony in a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. After the service, the utensils are gathered and burnt so that their smoke goes up to heaven.

Followers of Marie Kondo will recognize the concept of thanking old objects for their service before donating or disposing of them.

A specific version of this ceremony is held annually  for pins and needles: Hari Kuyo, (hari meaning needle).  Since pins and needles won’t burn, they have a different ending: broken and worn needles are placed into tofu (bean curd) or konnyaku (a soft jelly) on a small altar.

This ancient ceremony brings together fashion professionals: designers, dressmakers, kimono manufacturers, fashion students, as well as hobbyists. Everyone expresses their gratitude to the needles and pins that have enabled them to create their work, and prays for the skills needed for the work ahead.

Woodlawn Adds Lectures & Workshops

It’s less than a month until the opening of the 56th Annual Needlework Show & Sale at Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Virginia.  The show runs from March 1 – 31, except Tuesdays.

This year, in addition to the display of hundreds of pieces of needlework, the exhibition will include lectures and workshops.  These  span a wide range of needlework techniques and periods, from embroidery in the 17th century at Versailles to the very modern craft of “upcycling” old garments with new embroidery.  RSVP’s are required.  Full details are at Woodlawn’s website:

http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/needlework-events/

Pop-up shops occur on four days:

March 10 – JennyJen42 http://www.jennyjen42.com

March 16 – Scilla + Luna http://www.scillaandluna.com

March 17 – Brielle DuFlon http://www.brielleduflon.com

March 30 – The Comptoir http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheComptoir

Finally, a reminder to LSG members that our Guild’s day for volunteering at the needlework show is Saturday March 16.  Please let Barbara Gay (bgage@leadingage.org) know if you are able to help with a morning or afternoon shift.

Hope to see you there!

 

New Meeting Location for 2019 and a Date Change

Starting with the January 2019 meeting, the Loudoun Sampler Guild will meet at VFW Post 1177 at 401 Old Waterford Rd NW, Leesburg, VA 20176.  The Post is located less than half a mile from historic Downtown Leesburg and across the street from the Rust Library (the main branch of the Loudoun County Public Library).

Due to a scheduling conflict at the VFW in January,  our first meeting at the new location will be on January 19.  This is a stitch-in so no teachers, classes, etc. are affected.  In February and for the rest of the year we will return to our normal schedule on the second Saturday of the month.

A “Queenly” Embroidery

Queen Margrethe of Denmark is quite the needlewoman.  She has devoted much time and attention to religious art in textiles, including chasubles for Haderslev Cathedral in 1988 and Holmens Church in 2012, as well as richly colored bishops’ capes for Viborg Cathedral in 1989, Aarhus Cathedral in 1999 and Aalborg Cathedral in 2006.

Over the past two years, The Queen has created a new antependium (also known as an altar frontal) for Gråsten Palace Church.

The full story is available at the Danish royal family’s website:

http://kongehuset.dk/en/news/hm-the-queens-antependium-for-grasten-palace-church

Kicking Off the New Year with a New Location

The Loudoun Sampler Guild has outgrown its previous meetings spaces, so we’ll be meeting at the Loudoun Country Day School starting with the January 2018 meeting.

LCDS is located about six miles south of downtown Leesburg at 20600 Red Cedar Dr, Leesburg, VA 20175, off Evergreen Mills Road.

Parking will be available in front, and the entrance is shown below.

2018 Program Calendar

The Loudoun Sampler Guild’s new program chair, Cindy Hawkins, has announced the schedule of 2018 meetings, including two field trips!

This schedule is subject to change. Please see the newsletter for the latest information and registration coupons for classes and workshops.

April 14, 2018: Lecture: What Woodlawn Judges are Looking For (Kathy Myers)

May 12, 2018: Demonstration: How to Make Stitched and Embellished Strawberries (Barbara Ray and Marty Greiner)

 June 9, 2018: Field Trip: Biggs Symposium on Delaware Samplers, Dover, DE

July 14, 2018: Workshop: Christmas in July (Sharlotte DeVere)

 August 10, 11, 12, 2018: Annual Retreat at Shrine Mont (coupon in the March newsletter)

 September 8, 2018: Workshop: Praiseworthy Stitches

 October 13, 2018: Lecture: “Sampler Extravaganza” (Barbara Hutson and Cindy Steinhoff)

 November 10, 2018: Field Trip: Tour an extensive private collection of samplers (Winchester, VA)

 December 8, 2018: Holiday Luncheon