What's Happening
Here’s a sampling of what’s been happening and what’s coming up.
Check out the calendar for detailed listings.
2025 International Teacher Tour is coming to the New England Region
The New England Region will be hosting Clara Warschauer from London as part of the 2025 International Teacher Tour! Clara will be teaching her one-day course, Green Frog Scissor Fob (a beginner-friendly goldwork/stumpwork class), on Saturday November 1, 2025. Mark your calendars, and watch for more details, including location and cost, coming soon.
Group Correspondence Course: Pulled Stitches Clover
Register by April 30, 2025!
Only 10 spots remaining.
Learn pulled thread techniques and stitches in this six-month GCC designed by Marion Scoular. The New England Region is sponsoring this course and covering the course fee, so participants pay only for their text, postage, and stitching supplies. The course will start in August. To learn more and to register, read the 2025 NER GCC Registration Form.
Save the Date: SOME Spring Getaway 2026 - March 13-15, 2026
Southern Maine (SOME) Chapter will sponsor everyone's favorite mini-seminar on Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn, Maine. The 2024 Spring Getaway attracted 35 members who enjoyed excellent stitching time, food, and company - you won't want to miss this one! Stay tuned for our announcement about the teachers and projects to be offered. Hope to see you there!
On display at the Burlington, MA Public Library
Merrimack Valley Chapter collected a wide variety of pieces for a display at the Burlington MA Public Library. Covers of library-owned embroidery books were placed with embroideries of the same type to encourage public explorations.
Region Annual Meeting: November 9, 2024
There will be an annual meeting of the Region on November 9, 2024 from 9:30am to 3:00pm at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court Street, Nashua, NH). Among other business, there will be an election of four officers (Region Director, Assistant Region Director, Treasurer and Secretary) who will serve from 2025 to 2027. Please click here for the reservation form and here for the Nominating Committee's slate. We hope to see many members in attendance!
A weekend on the Cape - join us! November 1-3, 2024
The Merrimac Valley Chapter has a wonderful weekend planned for November 1-3 in the pretty setting of Cape Cod. The Bayside Resort is a small hotel similar to Fairfield Inn, offering a comfortable place for stitching. We are lucky to have Canby Robertson with us to share knowledge of painting on fabric and surface embroidery. Click here for the registration form and here for a description of the project Canby will be teaching. FMI email Karen Sehl.
Wendy Moore's "Moon on the Water" Zoom class January 2025
SOME Chapter will host talented designer and teacher Wendy Moore for a three-part Zoom class on January 14, 21, and 30, 2025. "Moon on the Water" leaves the viewer in a peaceful state. The moon itself will appear to glow on its own with a softness expressed with Vineyard, Pepper Pot and Planet Earth silk threads which are included in her kit. Antique Blue 18 ct. mono canvas is used, and the finished piece is 6” x 7”.
Registration ends October 5, 2024. Click here for the flyer and enrollment form, or FMI contact Betty Bell.
Tambour embroidery with Robert Haven September 17, 2024
Merrimack Valley Chapter will host Robert Haven, who will introduce us to tambour embroidery. The meeting will also be Zoomed. For the Zoom link, contact NER_ega@yahoo.com. No fees for NER members.
Pioneer Valley Chapter announces its fall 2024 stitching retreat weekend, to be held from Friday October 11 to Sunday October 13 at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CT. Check out this beautiful, rustic location and think about all the stitching you could do while someone else does the cooking and the dishes! Cost is $160, which covers two days, two nights, and four meals. Contact Sue Polumbo to learn more and make your reservation.
Join members of the Merrimack Valley Chapter for a "live" tour of "Through the Needle's Eye," EGA's virtual needlework exhibit. Carole Overton, TNE Committee secretary, will lead the tour. Non-members are welcome to attend. Contact Karen Sehl for a Zoom link. The tour will be offered at 3pm and again at 7pm.
At right: Diversité by Marie-Renée Otis from Through the Needle's Eye
Almost fifty members gathered for NER's 2024 Region Day from 10am to 4pm at the Plymouth Church in Framingham, MA on April 27, 2024.
It was a wonderful opportunity for all members of the New England Region to convene together in a celebration of our hobby. There were three projects, a talk by Pat Olski of Piecework Magazine, open stitching, a luncheon and lots of socializing and fellowship within our community. The day was largely paid for by our region so it was very affordable ($25 NER members/$35 others plus kit fees) for participants.
Congratulations and thanks to NER Education Chair Karen Sehl for making it happen!
Members of Merrimack Valley Chapter recently contributed panels of stitched pieces which will be included in the Calico Dress at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. The Calico Dress is being created at the museum in conjunction with its exhibition of The Red Dress. The MVC submissions are already on display. The originator of The Red Dress will be at the museum on exhibition closing day (May 19) along with Calico Dresses from US museums.
Click here to learn more about the history of The Red Dress and its connections across the nation and around the world.
Southern Maine (SOME) Chapter sponsored everyone's favorite mini-seminar on Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17, 2024 at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn, Maine. The event attracted 35 members who enjoyed excellent stitching time, food, and company. A special thank you to our three teachers: Kris Andrews, Denise Harrington Pratt, and Patty Smith Gardner. Hope to see you at the next spring get-away in Maine!
Robbin, a member of Merrimack Valley Chapter, recently collected four ribbons, including Best of Department for Creative Arts (Adult) at the Eastern States Exposition, for her needlework. Congrats, Robbin!
Give a teacup pincushion to a stitching friend!
SOME Chapter members recently created one-of-a-kind “teacup” pincushions to raise funds for education. Each unique pincushion starts with a vintage teacup. Browse the full collection at www.someega.org.
Each pincushion is $20; postage is additional. To order, please email Barbara Hepburn.
Southern Maine (SOME) Chapter announces the release of its latest design book, These Are SOME Pears! You get 15 unique pears, each designed by a SOME member and featuring a different embroidery technique or style. Each pear has detailed instructions and diagrams, many in color, by Denise Harrington Pratt.
These Are SOME Pears! premiered at the 2023 Boston Stitch Party and is now available for purchase at $29.95 each plus $5.00 postage. To order please contact Barbara Hepburn.