lakemichigansamplerguild.org

Joanne Harvey was the featured speaker for our November meeting presenting "17th Century Embroideries". 

Joanne brought a number of samplers for us admire. If you are interested in ordering any of Joanne's sampler kits, contact Elaine Hoagland.

Pat Carlson finished the guild 4th birthday kit: a mini needlepoint sampler on 40 count silk gauze designed by Nancy Sturgeon of Threads Through Time. Thanks for sharing your hard work with us, Pat. Perhaps it will motivate the rest of us to get it done!

Updated bylaws were distributed in the last newsletter. The details of the updates were reviewed. New offices were elected for 2003 including 

• Treasurer - Sue Hamer
• Assistant Program Chairman - Kathy Bourne
• President - Leslie Lewis

Joanne began her presentation with slides of commissioned 17th century needlework projects stitched by profession needle workers. Projects included clothing, gloves and spot samplers 

We learned that, in the sixteen hundreds, needlework was one of the main areas of study for a young girl. Whether she was tutored at home or sent away to boarding school, needlework was an important part of her education. At school, she may have stitched a polychrome sampler, a white work sampler, or stitched pictures for a cabinet. Joanne showed us slides of Hannah Smith's cabinet which was made in 1654-1656 when Hannah was 12 years of age. Remarkably, the cabinet contained a letter in one of its compartments written by Hannah. We saw pictures of the actual letter while Joanne read and explained it to us. Joanne encouraged all of us to document our needlework so that future generations will know something about each piece and the person who stitched it.

Joanne also discussed some of the sources for needle work designs including pattern books and carpets. She referenced many sources that we could use to get additional information. She suggested that we read diaries written by people of the time to learn more about life in the 1600's including: Samuel Pepy's diaries (see www.pepys.info). She also mentioned Hannah Woolley's The Gentlewoman's Companion.

Joanne talked about examples of 17th century needlework including Ann Holewll and samplers from other Judith Hale students. She showed us wonderful slides of the Loara Standish sampler, which is the oldest signed piece of American needlework circa 1640. We saw incredible pictures of both the front and the back of the sampler. Joanne also mentioned some of the other American samplers of the 17th century including Mary Hollingworth (1665), Mary Atwood, Elizabeth Roberts, Sarah Stone, Sarah Collins (1673) and Elizabeth Cotton (1698).

At the end of the 1600's, sampler styles began to change. Samplers were no longer stitched over three threads, but over two threads. Long religious verses began to appear on samplers and cross stitch became the predominate stitch. We all learned a lot from Joanne's presentation and  we thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful slides. 

We hope to see you at the next meeting, our holiday party. Get busy stitching those ornaments for the ornament exchange! Need some inspiration? Check out pictures of last years ornaments.

The December meeting will be held at 
Glen Ellyn Library on December 8th at 1:30.

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