Biennial Seminar The Merrimack Valley EGA Chapter's Twelfth Biennial Seminar will be held at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Billerica, Massachusetts on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29, 2018, with a bonus mini-class on Friday night, July 27. We would like to extend an invitation to all stitchers in the area to join us for a fun-filled, educational weekend of stitching excitement. The Marriott Courtyard is conveniently located just off Route 3 at Exit 27 (Concord Road), between Route 128/I-95 and I-495. The registration deadline is May 15, 2018. Membership in MVC EGA is not required for attendance; however, chapter members will be given registration preference until May 1, 2018.

In addition to the two structured classes offered by teachers Jennifer Riefenberg and Kay Stanis, we are also offering Studio Time, a chance for you to stitch on the project of your choice while enjoying the fun and camaraderie of seminar. Kay Stanis will also be teaching a Tassel Making mini-class on Friday night (details below).

Friday night light supper before class. The cost of the supper is $25.00 and will be a buffet with 2 entrées, vegetable, and starch, along with dessert and coffee or tea

Friday night Tassel Making mini-class. The class is 2½ hours and will run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The cost of the class is $15 and includes some materials (details below).

Dinner on Saturday night. The cost of the dinner is $40.00 and includes appetizer or salad, entrée, and dessert, along with coffee or tea.

For those desiring to attend all events, there is a special combination registration fee of $295. In addition to saving $10, this registration will include a chance to win a free basic registration (class fee, lunches, and favors) currently valued at $225 for the MVC’s next Biennial Seminar. Due to the Region’s hosting the 2020 national seminar, the year of the next chapter seminar hasn’t been determined.

Seminar registration confirmations will be sent after the registration deadline of May 15, 2018 and will include directions to the hotel.

If your plans change and you find the need to cancel your registration, refunds will be issued as follows: prior to May 15, 2018: all fees returned less a $15 processing charge between May 15 and July 15, 2018: food fees returned after July 15, 2018: no refund

If you desire overnight accommodations, please contact the hotel directly by calling 978-670-7500. We have reserved a small block of rooms at the nightly rate of $119 (plus 11.7% room tax). Please mention Merrimack Valley Chapter EGA when making your reservation. Our contract with the hotel is such that the number of sleeping rooms occupied by seminar attendees determines the rent we’re paying for classroom space, so please make sure the hotel knows you’re attending the seminar. The class confirmation will also include a clickable link to the hotel Web site for making your reservations at the group rate.

We will again be having a needlework yard sale during the seminar, featuring items donated by seminar participants. Bring anything you have that is stitching related. Items may be in any condition — new, partially-stitched, whatever. Kits, charts, books, threads, fabric — if it has to do with stitching, bring it with you! More details will be included with your registration confirmation. If you have items to donate, but cannot attend the seminar, please get in touch with any member of the Chapter board to make arrangements to receive your donations.

Class begins at 9:00 a.m. both days. Lunch (included with your registration fee) is from 12:00 noon to 12:45 p.m. Class ends at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday and at 3:15 on Sunday. The hotel will have power strips available for each table in the classroom.

On Saturday, dinner begins at 6:00. We have invited the seminar teachers to participate in a “Merchandise Hour” during the time between the end of class and beginning of dinner. This is a scaled down version of Merchandise Night at the national seminars,

where you may be able to find kits, books, and other wonderful goodies not usually available. Please note that a teacher may choose not to participate in this activity.

“Tassel Making” Friday Night Mini-Class with Kay Stanis Tassels are everywhere! From the fashion runways to the home décor stores, you see tassels wherever you look. Tassels can be used to accent your completed needlework – attached to the corners of a needlepoint pillow, hanging from the bottom of a stitched ornament, or even as a mini-embellishment on a painted canvas.

The program begins with a short lecture on types of tassels and cords and how to make them. The hands-on portion of the program includes instructions on how to make basic tassels and an angel tassel as shown in the picture.

Students are asked to bring 2 skeins of embroidery floss; DMC floss is fine, but if you have any other interesting threads that you don’t know what to do with, bring them with you and see how they can add excitement to your tassel. Metallic threads are especially nice. The chapter will also be providing a number of threads for anyone who would like to use them.

This 2½ hour class will be held on Friday night, July 27, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

“Elizabethan Goldwork Sampler” with Kay Stanis Using motifs garnered from numerous sources that Kay has researched, this sampler allows students to become familiar with the traditional metal embroidery of the 16th century and how it can be used in modern needlework.

We will focus on materials similar to those used in Elizabethan England goldwork. For dimensional effects we will be using padding and raised metal techniques. Detached elements and surface embroidery stitches are also explored."

Silk and Metal thread techniques taught include: framing up backing fabric with foundation fabric; design transfer; padding techniques, couching: braids, purl purl, passing thread; attaching: purl purl, paillettes, pearls. Surface embroidery stitches: plaited braid, ceylon stitch, cable plait, detached buttonhole, and woven spider stitch.

Kit Cost: $100

The kit includes 10½" x 14" linen, silk and metal threads, felt, transfer paper, needles, tacks, lacing thread, color image of completed project, instructions.

In addition to their usual stitching supplies, students should also supply

14" x 14" stretcher bars; these are normal needlework stretcher bars, not artist stretcher bars, not hoops, not mini-stretcher bars

Tacks Beeswax Pencil two pairs of scissors – one for cutting metal threads and one for cutting silk laying tool thimble if you’re used to working with one bead tray (more information will be available after registration closes) needle threader clamp or frame to hold the frame steady and flat

optional: small tweezers (e.g., Uncle Bill’s) optional: set of frame magnets (small magnets used so there is one

on each side of the fabric), light and/or magnification, if needed

“Carrots” with Jennifer Riefenberg Carrots emerge in bright, warm colors from the summer earth. Use the new Kreinik memory thread to add dimension to the carrot tops and add some sparkle with bead embellishments. Learn new stitches, explore new threads, and enjoy working with exciting and unique color combinations.

Proficiency level: Intermediate

Design Area: 5" x 7"

Kit Fee: $90.00

Kit Contents: 10" x 12" white Congress Cloth; silk, metallic and cotton threads; seed and bugle beads; beading needles and thread; tapestry needles; instructions with color photo.

In addition to their usual stitching supplies, students should also supply 10" x 12" stretcher bars (pre-assembled for class), tacks, laying tool, a clamp or stand to hold the canvas, light and/or magnification, if needed.

Studio Time Do you want to come to the seminar, but you don’t want another new project? Then, Studio Time is for you! Bring one (or more) of your works in progress and enjoy two days of uninterrupted stitching time with your friends.

Twelfth Biennial Seminar Friday July 27, 2018 through Sunday July 29, 2018

Name:

Address:

Preferred Phone:

Email:

The registration deadline is May 15, 2018.

Choose One:

All-inclusive Registration Fee (includes Saturday & Sunday class, Friday night mini-class, Friday night supper, Saturday night dinner, plus a chance to win a free basic registration to the next MVC seminar) $295.00

À la Carte Registration (choose your options from the menu below)

Saturday & Sunday Class Registration Fee $225.00 Friday Night Mini-Class $15.00 Friday Night Supper $25.00 Saturday Night Dinner $40.00

Choose One: “Carrots” with Jennifer Riefenberg $90.00 “Elizabethan Goldwork Sampler” with Kay Stanis $100.00 Studio Time N/C

Please send this form along with a check in the appropriate amount (registration fee plus kit cost) made payable to “Merrimack Valley Chapter EGA” to: Pat Timpanaro 41 East Highland Avenue Melrose, MA 02176