Author: Tina

  • Blue Hills Workshop with Dawn Donnelly

    Blue Hills Workshop with Dawn Donnelly

    THIS EVENT HAS PASSED. This page is archived here for recordkeeping (and sentimental) purposes.

    Date: October 4th and 5th, 2025
    Location: Seabury Retirement Community, Bloomfield, CT 06002
    Instructor: Dawn Donnelly
    Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced

    Workshop Description

    Explore the art of handmade paper manipulation through painting, wetting, tearing, and cutting techniques to create unique textural elements. This intensive workshop combines paper arts with advanced embroidery stitches for a truly distinctive piece.

    Project Details:

    • Design Size: 6¼” x 8¾”
    • Ground Fabric: 14 Count Mono Canvas
    • Final Result: A unique mixed-media embroidery piece combining handmade paper elements with advanced stitching techniques

    Techniques You’ll Learn:

    • Reverse Square Herringbone
    • French Knots
    • Branscombe Edge
    • Criss Cross Hungarian
    • Butterfly Chain Stitch
    • Oriental Stitch
    • Rhodes Stitch
    • Creating a fake Bullion

    Registration Information

    Kit Fees:

    • NER Members: $150
    • EGA Members: $170

    Class Fee: Covered by Connecticut River Valley Chapter using funds granted by NER Region from 2023 National Seminar profits.

    Registration Deadline: July 25, 2025

    Meals: Plan for Saturday and Sunday lunch! Saturday dinner will be announced soon.

    Ready to Register?

    Download the registration form and submit by the July 25th deadline. This advanced workshop fills quickly, so don’t wait!

    Questions? Contact event organizer Linda Berry.

  • “Butterflies” Stitched by Kathryn Lord

    “Butterflies” Stitched by Kathryn Lord

    Kathryn Lord, of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter, recently completed “Butterflies,” a spring pattern by Susan Jones.

  • “Brrr…Snowman” Stitched by Pat Karpenko

    “Brrr…Snowman” Stitched by Pat Karpenko

    Pat Karpenko, of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter, recently finished this adorable piece from the December “Snow Day” workshop. “Brr…Snowman” was designed by Pepperberry Designs, with a stitch guide by CRVC member Judie Solomon.

  • Favorite Medallion #1 Stitched by Laurie Sulger

    Favorite Medallion #1 Stitched by Laurie Sulger

    Laurie Sulger, of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter, recently completed Favorite Medallion #1, one of the EGA’s Petit Projects. This beautiful medallion combines pulled thread and satin work in the manner of Hetsie van Wyk of South Africa.

    Click here to download this Petit Project—just keep in mind that the basic count for the pulled thread stitches is three (not the more common two or four), so careful counting is essential!

  • Gawthorpe Poppies

    Gawthorpe Poppies

    Winta Hay recently finished Gawthorpe Poppies, designed by Deborah Wilding (Crewel Works Company). This design is based on a runner from the UK’s Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.

    Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is an internationally renowned collection of global textiles located in the heart of Pennine Lancashire. Founded by the Honourable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth (1886-1967), the collection was amassed to educate, inspire creativity, support wellbeing and to preserve traditional craft skills by sharing knowledge, skills and expertise across cultures. Click here to learn more about the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection.

  • Backyard Birds by Suzanne Bruno

    Backyard Birds by Suzanne Bruno

    Suzanne Bruno of the Southern Maine (SoME) Chapter completed her third art collage book, Backyard Birds.

    Artist Spotlight: Suzanne Bruno

    Q: Tell us about your background in needlework and how you discovered EGA.

    A: I come from a long line of sewing women and have been a member of the Southern Maine chapter (SoME) for 18 years. I learned about EGA from some of the women in my Crazy Quilters of Maine group, a chapter of the Pine Tree Quilt Guild. My first love is crazy quilting, and when I started seeing a lot of “junk journal” and “paper collage” online, it was a natural progression for me to attempt the same techniques with fabric.

    Q: What inspired you to create “Backyard Birds” as your third embroidered book?

    A: I live on a lake in a rural area of Maine surrounded by birdsong, so the bird idea developed naturally as I searched for free images online to interpret in fabric. I set aside fabrics and trims from my stash and came up with a suitable size where I could incorporate an embroidered bird and leaves section from an antique crazy quilt, plus a small piece of an antique paisley shawl.

    Q: Can you describe your creative process for this project?

    A: The pages came together as I started layering my materials. I often take photos of my work in progress before everything is stitched in place. The challenge for me was to use only what I have in my stash. The most enjoyable part of this project was attaching and embellishing the twig and branch “perches” for the birds. Backyard Birds took me over a year of planning, collecting, and stitching.

    The challenge for me was to use only what I have in my stash. I love antique textiles and rescue the worn and torn whenever possible.

    Q: What makes this book personally meaningful to you?

    A: When I share this book with friends and family, I get very nostalgic about fabrics, trims, and embellishments from various quilts and tea cozies I’ve made over the years. Each piece tells a story and connects me to past projects and memories.

    Q: What’s next for you creatively?

    A: My next fabric collage book is in the “planning in my head” stage—it will take a while! I’m also working on my second crazy quilt, which I hope to complete for a milestone birthday in 2026.

    Suzanne Bruno’s “Backyard Birds” beautifully demonstrates how traditional needlework techniques can evolve into contemporary art forms while honoring the past through rescued antique textiles.

  • Denise Harrington Pratt Teaches at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Region Conference

    Denise Harrington Pratt Teaches at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Region Conference

    Denise Harrington Pratt of the Southern Maine chapter taught three classes at the EGA’s Mid-Atlantic Region conference in Gettysburg, PA. 

    In her Geometric Fascinations class, students made two boxes and stitched beautiful, color-coordinated lids.

    Photo by Vicki J. Brown, SoME Chapter
  • America’s Tapestry

    America’s Tapestry

    Be a part of America’s 250th anniversary! America’s Tapestry panels from several New England states will be set up for Region Day participant stitching in the Studio Time room.

    Members of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America across the Eastern Seaboard will be working together to embroider thirteen hand-embroidered panels, one for each of the original colonies. The panels illustrate the diverse stories of individual contributions–many overlooked–that reveal each colony’s struggle for Independence. Historical associations from across the states have volunteered to collaborate on the panels’ historical imagery and have generously agreed to host the stitchers as they work.

    After the inaugural display at William & Mary’s historic campus–a stone’s throw away from Colonial Williamsburg, “America’s Tapestry” will tour a number of other historic venues throughout the East Coast.

    If you’re interested in working on this historic project, please email Susan Polumbo.

    Click here to learn more about Region Day and register to attend.

  • Merrimack Valley’s Sampler Class

    Merrimack Valley’s Sampler Class

    Merrimack Valley hosted Vermont EGA member Kris Andrews stitching the Gold Medallion Sampler. From the smiling faces it’s obvious what an enjoyable class experience this was!

  • Pioneer Valley’s Fall Retreat 2025

    Pioneer Valley’s Fall Retreat 2025

    THIS EVENT HAS PASSED. This page is archived here for recordkeeping (and sentimental) purposes.

    Event Overview

    After last year’s successful retreat, the Pioneer Valley Chapter is back for number two! Stitch with friends, enjoy the Connecticut leaves, and relax.

    THE VENUE

    Silver Lake Conference Center (established 1957) is an old-fashioned lakeside summer camp situated on more than sixty acres of wooded land in Litchfield County. We will be staying in the largest of their five winterized retreat lodges: The Cedars.

    THE DETAILS

    MEALS

    Meals will be provided, family style, in a common dining hall. We will have breakfast, lunch, dinner on Saturday and brunch on Sunday.

    ACCOMMODATIONS

    Bring your own bedding, pillow, and towels. Although we will be sleeping in bunk rooms,  we do not have to use the top bunks. The bunk mattresses are about five-inches thick. If you need more padding, you are welcome to bring an inflatable or foam pad. 

    No drugs or alcohol permitted. Silver Lake is a year-round ministry of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. Silver Lake is a safe, affirming, and inclusive place for all, however, drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the property.

    REGISTRATION

    Fees

    New England Region Members: $230

    Contact

    Questions? Email the event coordinator, Susan Polumbo.