November 2025

We were pleased to welcome two more visitors and potential members, Bev and Cindy, to our meeting this month. 

Marilyn introduced the topic of schoolgirl samplers and brought in some examples of them and other historic stitching.

This was her 'History of English Domestic Embroidery Sampler' by Susan Haverson for Cross Stitch It. Originally published in the now defunct online stitchery magazine The Gift of Stitching, Issue 62, April 2011.

Ann Morison, Aged 14 by Hands Across the Sea - an exclusive chart for Traditional Stitches.

During COVID the some guild members participated in a stitchalong with this free pattern provided by Lianne van  Leyen of 1897 Schoolhouse Samplers. 

Geri used her great-grandmother's name, Cordelia Peacock, on hers as she would have been 11 in 1859.

Barb and Jeanette talked to us about Mrs Parkman's Academy of Needlework Retreat they attended in Swindon, England last month. They brought a sampling of the swag they received at the retreat and items they purchased.

Show and Share: 

Laura's wool appliqué mat, 'The Fall Guy' designed by Sew Cherished.

Cindy's fish embroidery - her own design (top) embellished with beads and Marilyn's 'Window Ghost' - a free pattern by Living On The Rainbow.

MaryK's Mill Hill Christmas ornaments on perforated paper.

Bev's blackwork ornament from Just Cross Stitch Magazine.

Siobhain's 'Take Time To Collect' inset in the top of a box. It was filled with black and white smalls.

It was designed by Canadian designer, Jeannette Douglas.

She also brought in a primitive-style bag for embroidery hoops.

Cathy brought two blackwork Halloween samplers by The Steady Thread. 'Spooky Abode',

and 'Spooky Shelves'.

Geri provided a handout of instructions for stitching several types Rhodes stitches and other overlapping satin stitches. She was inspired by the three sizes of stars in this design by The Drawn Thread called 'Stars', which she stitched back in 2019.

Our next stitch day is December 6 when there will be a workshop on Punch Needle. It's also a free day for guild stitchers to get together.

Our December meeting on the 17th will involve our ornament exchange.

October 2025

We are pleased to welcome two new members, Lisa and Cathy. 

Geri did a little demonstration on making cording using a cording drill.

Show and Share

Geri's 'Quaker Pumpkin' by The Stitcherhood

and her 'Halloween FlipIt' from Lizzie Kate.

Lisa's 'St. David's Dragon' by Ink Circles,

and 'Chubby Bird' by Jeannette Douglas Designs

Marion's container with needle lace lid designed by Judy Chen.

Lots of wee accessories inside.

Geri's Halloween humbug

At our November 1 Saturday Stitch day Pat Armour will be doing a workshop on an illuminated letter.  At the Wednesday evening meeting in November, Geri will be sharing information on Rhodes stitches.

September 2025

At last June's meeting, it was decided that the theme for next June's TATA (Trillium Annual Themed Award) would be 'smalls'. Basically something stitched that is small, and often a useful item such as a needlebook, pin cushion, scissor case, scissor fob, etc. 

At our first meeting of the 2025 - 2026 year, several members brought in some of their smalls for inspiration.

September Show and Share

Nancy brought in the sampler she started at StitchCon in 2019 - completed this year. It's 'A Saviour's Praise' from Shakespeare's Peddler.

Meagan's 'Believe' designed by Erin Elizabeth, stitched on 32ct Paranormal linen.

Marion's wool felt appliqué seashore project. From experience, rug hooking wool is the best to work with.

Marilyn's felted wool turtle.

Victoria's 'Still Queen of the Needle' from Just Nan.

Bernie took a photo of this design on a visit to Minister's Island PEI - only accessible by car at low tide. 

Back at home, she charted it onto graph paper, then stitched it keeping true to the original colours.

Inspired by an Indigo bookmark, she also designed and stitched a bookmark and little bellpull.

Victoria's Mary Allcorn sampler drum from Hobby House Press. This reproduction was originally designed in 1764.

World Embroidery Day 2025

Yesterday, July 30, was World Embroidery Day! This event was established in 2011 by a group of passionate embroiderers from Sweden "to acknowledge and promote the craft of decorating fabric using a needle to apply thread or yarn".

To observe this auspicious day, several members of the Trillium Guild met under some shade trees at Lakeview Park in Oshawa to spend a few hours together stitching and chatting.

We all brought our chairs and lunches and enjoyed the lovely, cool breezes off Lake Ontario.

In spite of the oppressive heat further inland, it was very enjoyable spending a few hours out in the fresh air in the shade of a big tree on the shore of beautiful Lake Ontario.

It was a very enjoyable way to spend our day.

Many of us will meet up again on Saturday; our regular stitch day which is held the first Saturday of every month - all year long.

June 2025

The Annual General Meeting is held in June every year. Officers for 2025-2026 were elected and the budget was accepted unanimously.

Every June the guild runs a stitchery competition - the Trillium Annual Themed Award (TATA). This year there wasn't a theme, rather, any piece of stitchery completed this year qualified for adjudication.

The entrants were:

Marilyn's wool felt Pear Etui,

Jeanette's red sampler designed by 'A Mon Ami',

Nancy's Fraktur-style wedding sampler 'Love Never Fails' designed by Barbara Ana,

MaryK's little stitchery tool storage tin

containing a wool felt flower pincushion, needle minder, and scissors.

MaryK's project bag (from It's Sew Emma), pincushion, and scissor fob.

Nancy's 'Wings of Change' designed by Silver Creek Samplers.

Nancy's June pillow from Hands On Design 'A Year of Celebration'.

Nancy's strawberry

Nancy's strawberry

And this year's TATA winners are Jeanette with her "Mayfly and Iris" stumpwork designed by Jane Nicholas 

and Marion's punto antico 'Joy', designed by Kathryn Drummond.

Thanks to all who entered this year and special congratulations to Jeanette and Marion for your winning pieces. 

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, September 17, 2025. However we will continue to have our stitching first Saturdays throughout the summer on July 5, August 2, and September 6.

Happy summer stitching, everyone!