The beadwork handle of a letter opener, one of the projects in the class Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, hosted by the East Texas Embroiderers Guild at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Tyler. The East Texas chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America will host its biennial Needleart Show at the Rose Garden Center Friday and Saturday, March 18-19, 2016, in Tyler. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP)

While on a trip to New Orleans, Susan Koellner was entranced by a needlework exhibit.

After returning to home, her fascination with the craft only heightened when she saw another needlework exhibit held at the Tyler Public Library.

When she realized the exhibit was created by the East Texas Embroiderers’ Guild, she soon attended one of the group’s meetings and became a member.

That was 26 years ago, and she now serves as the group’s secretary. Her passion for needlework and the East Texas Embroiderer’s Guild has only continued to grow.

“Most people, when they think of embroidery, they think about pillow cases that have embroidery on them or dish towels with embroidery on them, and what we actually do is so much further beyond that and involves so many other things,” Koellner said. “It’s not just your average pillowcase.”

The East Texas Embroiderers’ Guild -a chapter of the national organization and nonprofit the Embroiderers’ Guild of America -was founded in Tyler in 1971, has around 35 members and continues to promote and practice embroidery.

Their purposes are to foster the highest standards of excellence in embroidery through an active program of education and to preserve the heritage of needlework, according to an informational pamphlet distributed by the group.

All types of needlework involving a threaded needle are encompassed by the guild. According to the group, recent embroidery programs and workshops have covered canvas work, beading, wearable art, hemstitching, needle tatting, pulled thread and many more techniques.

Sheila Wyze, president of the East Texas guild, has been a member of the group for 20 years and joined after seeing Koellner teach a class on surface embroidery.

One of the things she likes about embroidery is how calming it can be.

“I find it very relaxing, addictive,” Mrs. Wyze said. “It just makes me happy to sit down at the end of the day and stitch.”

Members of the group have enjoyed learning from teachers, both national and local, about the many different types of embroidery.

They are also glad to discuss some of their favorite creations and needlework.

“I like my Temari balls,” said Carrie Sargent, the chapter’s Saturday group leader. “You make this ball out of rice hulls and wrap it with yarn and thread and then you put your design on top, after you divide the ball in sections.”

The ball took weeks to make and required mathematics, precision and a great understanding of needlework.

Koellner enjoys doing stumpwork.

“It stands up from the fabric,” Koellner said. “It used to be done back in the Elizabethan time, but it’s not done commonly now.”

Mrs. Wyze said she enjoys needlepoint, but not in the way many may imagine.

She has created works that sit and stand, such as a frog with vibrant design patterns.

“This was done on pieces of canvas and decorated with thread, and I put them together,” she said while holding her work.

Members also find embroidery to be fascinating because of its rich history.

“I think for me personally, I find it fun to do some of these forms of needlework that are almost extinct now,” Koellner said. “It gives you a tie to the past and makes you appreciate the needlework you see in museums.”

While members of the guild deeply enjoy needlework, they also enjoy each other’s company and said it’s something that makes the group special.

“We just really like being together and stitching things and showing the other person (our) group what (we) got finished,” Mrs. Sargent said. “Everybody helps everybody.”

The group’s emphasis on helping each other during each embroidery project is something they take very seriously. They also said new members are welcome and no experience with needlework is required.

“You can come in here knowing nothing and we teach you all the basics of what the equipment (is) and the terminology and how to do the basic types of needlework,” Koellner said. “Then you can expand from there.”

The group hopes to continue to share with others the craft that has brought them so much joy.

“They’re works of art. It’s as if someone was to paint a picture,” Mrs. Sargent said. “We paint it with thread.”

 

How to Join:

The regular meetings of the East Texas Embroiderers’ Guild are from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. the second Wednesday and third Saturday of each month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Kinsey Dr. Those interested in joining the group, or who want more information, should send an email to susankoellner@gmail.com.

 

Their work on display:

The East Texas Embroiderers’ Guild’s Needle Art Show will take place from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. March 18 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 19 at the Rose Garden Center.

Members of the guild will have some of their work on display and there will be a boutique selling hand-stitched items, a bazaar table of stitching books, patterns, pamphlets and more. There will also be stitching during the show

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