Report – July 2024
Submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
Members of the Association for Whitework Embroidery enjoyed attending and mounting a display at the ONN exhibit day in Guelph. It was interesting to see the work of so many diverse groups and to meet folks from other guilds in Ontario. For those who missed the exhibit, we have included two photos of our table.
Since then we have completed other pieces of whitework. Alice stitched two small Hardanger pieces as well as the large one, her own designs. Alice’s pulled thread embroidery designed by Jette Roy Finlay is also shown.
Marion completed some embroideries recently including Chanticleer from Inspirations Magazine Issue 82, Richelieu cutwork from KIZIMIZI designs and Aemilia Ars needle lace which we studied this year.
We await news from the Simcoe County Museum about meeting space for 2024-2025.
Report – March 2024
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
In recent weeks we worked on Aemilia Ars needle lace and completed items shown in our photos. Judy finished a Hardanger mat with a unique edging as well as several Punto Antico and needle lace ornaments. We are now carrying on with projects in Richelieu cutwork, pulled thread, reticella and Ukranian whitework.
Just when we think we recognize most whitework techniques, we encounter another one in a tablecloth passed down in one of our families. Judy researched, identified the technique and even figured out how to do it. Lagartera embroidery from Spain incorporates pulled thread stitching within coloured motifs.
After 14 years of meeting, there is still much to learn.
Report – December 2023
Submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
During the fall season, members finished various whitework embroideries including a framed Hardanger and pulled thread piece (Judy), a Ukrainian mat, a Terri Bay design (Alice), a lacy edge Hardanger doily (Sharon), and a Danish Hedebo piece by Jette Roy Finlay (Marion).
With Judy’s guidance and working on a pincushion, we learned the basics of the challenging Italian needlelace technique, Aemilia Ars.
Finishing ideas are sometimes shared, for example, the flatfold sample by Sharon. An excellent way to display needlework.
As of this report, we have not had confirmation of the availability of a meeting room for 2024 so we can continue doing whitework embroidery projects.
Report – September 2023
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
The Association for Whitework Embroidery will have the first meeting after the due date for this report. We plan to welcome new members, consider future projects, prepare to learn about Aemilia Ars in October and share completed projects and anything new in whitework. Photos of two recently completed projects accompany this report. The framed piece is Hardanger stitched by Judy; the other photo shows a “whitework in colour” embroidery, adapted from a Trish Burr design. We are looking forward to getting together again and finding more ways to pursue our interest in whitework embroidery.
Report – July 2023
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
The main focus of recent meetings has been helping each other with Danish Hedebo projects designed by Jette Roy Finlay. We have included a photo of Hedebo Enchantment in-progress. This piece includes techniques from all the historical periods of Hedebo.
Also included is a photo of a completed French purse, a Terri Bay design in Ukranian whitework and blackwork.
In the fall a member will introduce an Italian needle lace technique, Aemilia Ars.
The Simcoe County Museum has offered AWE meeting space for the rest of 2023. We look forward to our 13th year of learning whitework embroidery.
Report – March 2023
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
Although a major construction project is coming soon to the Simcoe County Museum, we will continue meeting there until at least April.
We are working on designs in 2 techniques, a Danish Hedebo pulled thread project by Jette Roy Finlay and a Ukranian whitework embroidery by Terri Bay.
Our photos show recently completed surface embroidery, the Thistle by Jenny Adin-Christie, a design in silk from Piecework Magazine and a personalized needlebook with Frisian motifs found in Yvette Stanton’s book.
Report – December 2022
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
At our initial meetings we looked at possible techniques to explore. We have begun a small project in
Frisian whitework, a needlecase using typical motifs of this style of embroidery. One of us completed a
scissor fob in Casalguidi. Carolyn showed a Hardanger ornament she stitched and also a runner that
she designed.
Report – September 2022
Submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
The members of the Association for Whitework Embroidery will start to meet in person near the end of
September in our usual location, the Simcoe County Museum. This small interest group will focus, as
before, on all styles of whitework embroidery that are of interest to members. At the first get-together
we will share projects completed during the pandemic, new resources and ideas for individual and
group projects. We look forward to meeting after a two year hiatus.
Report – July 2022
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
We have continued to stitch on our own in 2022. We plan resume in-person meetings in the fall.
We have some completed whitework projects to show in our attached photos. Two of us finished the set
of smalls in Punto Antico embroidery designed by Kathrine Drummond for an EAC course. Each of us
decided on a different colour scheme, one with a white ground, the other with a coloured
ground.
One member did a Reticella ornament from a recent edition of Inspirations magazine. She also finished
a cut work runner (not yet washed and ironed) that was started by an anonymous stitcher many decades
ago. It was necessary to redo the part that was already stitched as there was no matching thread
available.
Just before COVID we started into Ukrainian whitework embroidery using Jan Eaton’s designs for
runners and a bag. Little did we know that we would be learning so much more about Ukraine; we hope
for an end to the war and to the suffering of the people there very soon.
Report – December 2021
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
Our whitework group cannot yet resume meeting at the Simcoe County Museum. To continue with our interest in whitework embroidery some of us are working on the Embroidery Association of Canada cyber course “Blissful Accessories”. The project is a set of Punto Antico smalls taught by Kathryn Drummond. We have a photo of the 2 pieces Judy has completed so far.
Alice has been busy finishing a number of projects pictured below: a Hapsburg lace sampler (T. Berlin design), a drawn thread towel (B. Kershaw design), Flower Garden (blackwork and Hardanger designed by C. Storie) and a couple of ornaments.
Like everyone, we hope to get together in the spring.
Report – September 2021
submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
Since we do not have a meeting place this fall we wanted to meet outdoors as a way to connect and share whatever is new in whitework embroidery. So far, the weather has not been co-operative but we are hopeful.
Some members plan to start the EAC cyber course in punto antico entitled “Blissful Accessories” taught by Kathryn Drummond.
We have included photos of Carolyn’s Schwalm borders runner, Marion’s Hardanger doily (designed with the help of Judy) and Hovej lace and Hedebo embroidery both stitched by Judy.
Report – July 2021
Submitted by Marion Brumwell, ONN Rep
Our group of stitchers, who enjoy learning many techniques of whitework embroidery, have kept in touch during COVID through e-mail notes. Before ending in-person meetings months ago we were trying Ukranian whitework with the help of one of our members, Jan Eaton’s book and patterns by Terri Bay. Our photos with this report show bags, Christmas stockings and a runner stitched in this technique. At this time we do not have confirmation of times and a place for meeting in the fall.
Ontario Network of Needleworkers 