Category Archives: NJNA at Seminar

Aug23

Liberty – Seminar 2018

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After an easy train ride from Trenton to Union Station followed by a Lyft ride to the hotel, I arrived at ANG Seminar 2018 in Washington, DC.  After checking into the hotel and seminar, I walked up Connecticut Avenue to the National Zoo since it was such a beuatiful day. I was somewhat familiar with the area since my son had lived in this neighborhood for a year so it was fun to explore it again.  The Zoo had been a favorite stop for us, especially the elephants!

After dinner at the hotel and bisiting with several NJNA members, it was nice to settle into my room to get ready for today’s class.  I started the day with a morning walk as I knew I’d be sitting inside all day.

Liberty by Dawn Donnelly is a really fun project.  While it is not a challenging piece, I ended up ripping out quite a bit today of 3 of the 4 sections we did.  You can see where I ripped out what I’d done in the 2nd tier and didn’t get a chance yet to redo!  This is a very fast stitch so hopefully I will finish it sooner rather than later!  Dawn is a wonderful, fun teacher with a relaxed teaching style.  The room is very bright for stitching although a bit chilly so I’m glad to have my fleece.  Here’s my progress at the end of class today.

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Tonight was the opening banquet and it was great to at least quickly catch up with various stitching friends. The welcome gift is a Trish Vine project bag – well worth the cost of the dinner!

Aug23

American Plains

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Hi Everyone —

Today was my first day of class.  I am taking American Plains with Toni Gerdes.  It is a kimono-style dress of the type worn by American Indians in the Plains.  Sort of like this one from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

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Toni’s design is based on one that she saw in the Metropolitan Museum that was made of white leather that was painted bright sky blue.  When I arrived at class, the sign announced that the class was American Planes; it was fixed by lunchtime!

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The Inspiration for American Plains

No one in the class appeared to be assigned as the class angel, so I volunteered.  Mainly my duties are to take attendance, keep track of time, and help Toni with anything that she needs.

We stitched steadily today, but I fear that my progress doesn’t reflect it.

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American Plains — Day 1 Progress

Tonight was the Opening Banquet in which they announce the major award winners from the Seminar Exhibit.  NJNA couldn’t all manage to sit at one table, but I did get the group together for a picture.

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The only face that you may not recognize is Moira C who used to be a member of our chapter and whose arm was twisted to join again!

I’ve been asked to let you know that Marge K is posting seminar updates on our NJNA Facebook Page:  NJNA Facebook Page.  (You might have to send a request to Sylvia via Facebook to join the group.)

Cheers, Rosie

Aug23

Seminar 2018 – Day One

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Today was the first day of my class – City Lake taught by Gail Stafford. It turns out that Sharon B is also in the class and is the Class Angel.

We were given a line drawn canvas with a few areas already painted. One of our first assignments was to paint the sky using acrylic paints. Painting is not one of my accomplishments so I was particularly intimidated but it turned out okay. We started on some stitching and then had to draw the outlines of the trees onto ultrasuede using carbon paper. Who actually remembers carbon paper?

Here’s my progress at lunchtime today.

D40F657B-4487-4C57-B477-A35EB1CC0D8CAfter lunch we painted the trees we had traced onto the ultrasuede. If I characterized myself as intimidated by the sky I would have to say I was traumatized by painting trees! We had to shade the trees and get some color variation as well. We will attach the trees tomorrow.

The rest of the afternoon was spent stitching other areas and there was a lot of random stitching, again not my specialty. But I think I’m off to a good start. So here’s my piece at the end of Day One. I’m going to clean up some of the spaghetti tonight to prepare for whatever Gail has in store for us tomorrow.

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Aug23

Day One at Seminar

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I arrived yesterday by train yesterday with Jill and Diane.  We had dinner in the hotel and settled into our rooms.

This morning, I began my first class, Liberty.  Our teacher is Dawn Donnelly and she is wonderful! She handed out a line drawn canvas with a generous thread package.   Here is my progress so far.  I hope to tie off my stragglers before class tomorrow.

Happy stitching!

Aug22

And You Thought You Could Dance…

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Hi Everyone —

Sue C and I spent the day sightseeing (and riding the METRO) in DC today.  We started out at the National Museum of the American Indian.  I wrote about the awesome Inka Road engineering in my other blog, but I saved the BEST for this blog.

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An Embroidered Collar

All of these are beaded!

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The US Flag done entirely in seed beads.  If you look closely, you will see the names of all the American Indian nations beaded into the white stripes using matte beads instead of shiny ones.  And note the quotations in the blue field.

A display of parrot feathers on the left and a tunic where the cloth is made of feathers on the right.

So — if you have a free day at seminar — this museum offers a wonderful array of stitching and other American Indian arts.

Cheers, Rosie

Aug22

ANG Seminar 2018 – First Timer Report

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The big day has finally arrived – Mr. M and I showed up in Washington, DC today after visiting with Nora in Pittsburgh (hard to believe she’s starting senior year at UPitt). I have wanted to attend an ANG Seminar for many years but it has always conflicted with summer camp and then college move-in week. Since Nora has an apartment this year we didn’t have to worry about dormitory life.

We started out from Pittsburgh this morning and arrived in DC mid-afternoon. Since we hadn’t stopped for lunch on the drive down, our first order of business after checking in was to find someplace for lunch. Fortunately, the Lobby Lounge was open so we were able to grab a sandwich.

After unpacking I headed to the Registration Desk to officially start my sojourn at Seminar. I received my name badge, some goodies, and the Seminar tote that I purchased as a souvenir of my first (hopefully not my last) time at this event.

Name Badge

It’s official – I’m registered!

Registration Goodies

Goodies – needle minder, scissors fob, post-it notes, and note pad (from First Timers Reception)

Tote Bag

Stitchers can never have too many tote bags – and this one has a zippered top!

I attended the First Timers Reception which was very informative. Members from National Board discussed what to expect at Seminar, including the Exhibit, banquets, stitching areas, and Expo! I am looking forward to attending all of the events, as well as my class, City Lake by Gail Stafford.

I have already come across a few people I know and I look forward to meeting some new stitchers as well.  The Marriott Wardman Park is a lovely venue with lots of areas that for meeting up with other stitchers.

More tomorrow on my first day at class!

Happy stitching!

Nov29

Abashed!

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Hi Everyone —

Last April I attended the Metropolitan Regional EGA Seminar in Madison, NJ.

Each chapter in the region prepares an opportunity basket and tickets are sold for chances to win one!  I like to support the organizations, so I usually buy a few tickets and scatter them around in different baskets.  Well!  I won a very stuffed basket which I had bid on because of a cute little stuffed pig that was residing in one of the pockets!

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I brought the basket home and put it on top of the dresser in my office where it has been sitting until today!  Sue came to help me unpack it and, to my chagrin, one of the things I found was a slip of paper stating who I should address my thank you notes to:  the chapter president and the person who put the basket together.  I had NO IDEA that this was a thing!

So, I just finished writing two very, very belated thank you notes which will go into the mail tomorrow!  And to think I almost re-gifted the basket (minus the pig)….

The joke would have been on me!

Cheers, Rosie

Aug22

One person’s eclipse story

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Staying in Asheville for the eclipse the day following the end of the seminar seemed like a good plan, but after the banquet on the last night there were many distressing stories.  Our plan–Jill and myself–was to leave our hotel after breakfast for the hotel in downtown Asheville where we would spend Monday evening.  Then we would wander through the shops during the day and ending at the designated eclipse park in downtown Asheville.  When we were leaving the banquet, we were told that downtown Asheville would be closed on Monday.  Now what.  We postponed any decision until Monday.  There was nothing on the internet about shops closing so we left before nine expecting lots of traffic.  There was very little.  We got to the hotel, parked, sat in the lobby with a cup of coffee and layed out our walking route before setting forth.  Almost all the shops were open but there was virtually no foot traffic in these stores.  It seems that most people were staying away from the area.  About one we walked towards the Pack Park where the downtown event was being held.  As we walked we saw more and more people headed in the same direction.  The park is small and had a number of families set up on blankets. There was music as well as activities going on for the youngsters.  We found a place across the street with trees for shade and a low wall for sitting where we waited and watched.  At that time there were some clouds in the sky but it was easy to see the moon “eating” the sun using our eclipse glasses–thanks to the library for supplying them.  As the time for the maximum coverage approached, larger and larger clouds appeared and we were concerned that we would not be able to see it.  Watching constantly was difficult because you needed to crane your neck.  One diligent woman kept us all posted and shouted out when the sun was visible!  The clouds broke open for about a five minute window with the maximum coverage right in the middle of the window!  As we waited the sky got dark enough for the street lights to come on.  The maximum darkness was similar to the time right after sunset in Asheville where the coverage was 99%.  It was a great experience and fun enjoying it with friendly strangers appreciating the same event.


 

Aug19

Hedgie Day 2 photo and Lily of the Lake

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I could not post last night as the room is too dark with all lights on to take a photo.  You can see all the parts added during the day which give the border as well as the quills so much more character.  This is a piece that I can see myself completing.  Not only do I like it but the directions are clear and there is no “new” techniques to learn without guidance.  There is more to add in the borders as well as the quills and each adds more character to the design.

Today was day one of Lily of the Lake by Gail Sirna.  I like the picture and the threads used are beautiful.  Today we completed enough of each petal to understand the stitch and how it fits in the petal–some petals are repeated.  The stitches are designed to fit the shape of the leaf with minimal compensation.  Thank you, Gail!  You can see the reflection of several petals which is stitched with a single thread.  Tomorrow we will work on the borders.

Sue C.