Chapter News: Neapolitan Chapter’s Upcoming Class with Laura Smith; Ann Arbor Chapter Celebrates 50 Years and The Laurel Chapter Donates 157 Bookmarks

Today we are bringing you news from the Neapolitan Chapter in Florida, The Laurel Chapter in North Carolina, and the Ann Arbor Chapter in Michigan. We encourage you to learn more about them by clicking on their name. Now you can join or renew your membership with our chapters directly from our website!

Neapolitan Chapter

Neapolitan Chapter in Naples, FL will host Batik to Stitch class with Laura Smith on Thursday and Friday, March 19-20, 2026 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Naples, FL. In addition, Laura’s lecture Dissolve, Sparkle, and Crunch: Mixed Media for Hand Embroiderers will take place on March 18 at the Neapolitan Chapter meeting. Batik can create complex, stitchable designs with color layering on fabric. Wax is applied to fabric with a stamp called a tjap (pronounced “chop”). Several choices of images are offered—a turtle (shown), irises, dragonfly, butterfly, gecko, owl, sunflower, daylily, and small geometric design. Students can make two to four pieces. Colors are painted in layers alternating with more wax. An optional crackling technique gives a marbled effect seen as navy blue lines in the turtle design above. Safety measures are emphasized throughout the class. Students learn the subtleties of the batik process on Day 1. On Day 2, they create stitch plans for their designs or make more batik images. Each student receives individual guidance for developing design elements and using subtle color concepts to unify the design. A shared class stash of threads, beads, tulle, and mixed media is available giving the full range of color options for embroidery and embellishment. For more information, please contact Betty Baechle or Laura Smith.

Ann Arbor Chapter

This May, the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America joyfully celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a special gathering of members and friends. The event brought together stitchers from across the guild’s history. Founded in 1973, the Ann Arbor Guild has long been dedicated to fostering the art of embroidery through education, fellowship, and community. Over the decades, members have shared not only their skills and creativity but also enduring friendships. The anniversary celebration reflected this spirit, as past and present members gathered to reminisce, reconnect, and look forward to the guild’s future. The attached photo captures the joy of the occasion. As the Ann Arbor Guild steps into its next chapter, it continues to carry forward the mission of EGA: advancing embroidery as an art and enriching lives through the fiber arts.

The Laurel Chapter

The Laurel Chapter of EGA, located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, is continuing to create handmade, embroidered bookmarks as an annual outreach to the community. This July our chapter donated 157 bookmarks to support The Henderson County Library and the Literacy Council. Pictured are some of the donations. The Laurel Chapter also sponsored a needlepoint class entitled “Sunrise Reflection” on June 27 and 28. The two-day seminar was taught by Wendy Moore, a national teacher from the State of Michigan. The class was held at the Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville. The session, taught via zoom, allowed participants living out of the area to take part. There was a total of 10 attendees at the workshop. The featured needlepoint design highlighted a rising morning sun reflected on a body of water. The design included textured elements and interlocking stitches. The chapter also enjoyed a unique program in June, 2025. Jane Hilliard of Hendersonville, NC instructed the chapter on making a snow globe ornament. A small stitched piece was matted over batting and laced. Then it was inserted into a four-inch plastic globe. Finishing touches were added with snow, coordinating fabric and trim.