Events

Discover the rich tapestry of human storytelling through the ages with a captivating presentation on narrative embroidery history. From the grandeur of the Bayeux Tapestry, which vividly recounts the epic Battle of Hastings, to the poignant quilts commemorating the global COVID-19 pandemic, this presentation delves into how embroidery has been a powerful medium for chronicling historical and personal narratives. Join us as we explore how intricate needlework has preserved and shared collective memories, reflecting cultural shifts and personal experiences across centuries. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an art lover, or just curious about the intersection of craft and storytelling, this presentation offers a fascinating journey through time and textiles. Saturday, October 19, 2024 4:30 Newfoundland Time 4 pm Atlantic Time 3 pm Eastern Time 2 pm Central Time 1 pm Mountain Time noon Pacific Time Members, sign in to My EAC/Mon ACB to register for the Narrative Embroidery presentation at member prices. Not a member of EAC/ACB yet? Join us now, or purchase a virtual seat for this Speaker Series event.

Join Dianna Thorne and Barbara Gilbert as they recap an unforgettable journey to Japan, featuring mini workshops and experiences enjoyed by six EAC/ACB members this past fall. Saturday, March 22 via Zoom 4:30 pm Newfoundland Time :: 4 pm Atlantic Time :: 3 pm Eastern Time :: 2 pm Central Time :: 1 pm Mountain Time :: noon Pacific Time Members, log in to My EAC/Mon ACB to register for this presentation without charge. The Speaker Series events are free for members! Not a member yet? You can purchase a seat for this Zoom webinar to learn more about the world of cosplay's use of embroidery to elevate their personas. Please note that in order to provide registrants with the webinar information, sales for this webinar end on Friday, March 21, at noon Eastern time. Highlights included exploring traditional textiles such as sashiko, kogin, chiku-chiku, temari, weaving, and trying multiple dyeing techniques. Participants also crafted washi paper and quilts and visited a variety of historical and cultural sites.

Attend The Art and Science of Appraising Needlework with Laurie S. Kelly to gain insights into how needlework is valued by professional appraisers. The presentation reviews the process for appraising personal property, the valuation methods commonly applied to needlework and the "keys" to concluding value. Sunday, April 19 via Zoom 4:30 pm Newfoundland Time :: 4 pm Atlantic Time :: 3 pm Eastern Time :: 2 pm Central Time :: 1 pm Mountain Time :: noon Pacific Time Members, log in to My EAC/Mon ACB to register for Laurie's presentation without charge. The Speaker Series events are free for members! Not a member yet? You can purchase a seat for this Zoom webinar with Laurie S. Kelly. Please note that in order to provide registrants with the webinar information, sales for this webinar end on Friday, April 18, at noon Eastern time. The main discussion focuses on the "keys" to appraising needlework, including identifying characteristics of value and the use of value ranking to pinpoint value. The discussion is highly participatory, and we'll walk through short case studies that illustrate how the appraiser applies both connoisseurship (“art”) and technical methods (“science”) to conclude value. You'll be surprised to learn that you already have insight into the factors that affect the value of needlework. Finally, the discussion includes specific factors that affect value, including condition and provenance. The huge variety in needlework forms, eras, and regional variations makes every appraisal assignment a unique challenge. Laurie S. Kelly is a Certified Needle Arts Appraiser with training through the American Needlepoint Guild and the State University of New York (Purchase) in conjunction with the America Society of Appraisers. Laurie has fulfilled and maintains the requirements for the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice for Personal Property, Gems & Jewelry and Technical Specialties with The Appraisal Foundation. In addition, she is a member of the Embroiderers' Association of Canada/Association canadienne de broderie, the American Needlepoint Guild, the Embroiderers' Guild of America, National Academy of Needlearts and the National Embroidery Teachers Association.

Arounna Khounnoraj is a Canadian textile artist based in Toronto and co-founder of bookhou, a multidisciplinary studio and online shop. Her work spans many textile techniques, but the one that has been with her the longest is embroidery. During this presentation, Arounna will share her work and business practice, and she will also demonstrate a few of her favourite stitches. September 27, 2025 :: Zoom Webinar 4:30 pm Newfoundland Time :: 4 pm Atlantic Time :: 3 pm Eastern Time :: 2 pm Central Time :: 1 pm Mountain Time :: noon Pacific Time Members, please log in to My EAC/Mon ACB to access the registration code for Zoom.   If you're not a member yet, you can purchase a virtual seat.   Arounna has written several books, and later this year, she will be launching another book, The Handmade Home: 21 Simple Sewing Projects for Your Home. In 2026, Arounna will be launching her second embroidery-focused book. Arounna's upcoming (October 2025) book, The Handmade Home: 21 Simple Sewing Projects for Your Home   Cover of Contemporary Patchwork: Techniques in Colour, Surface Design & Sewing Interior page from Embroidery: A Modern Guide to Botanical Embroidery (June 2022) Interior pages from Visible Mending: A Modern Guide to Darning, Stitching and Patching the Clothes You Love (November 2020) Arounna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookhou/ Arounna's Website: https://www.bookhou.com/

Rasha led the “Threads of Diaspora” project, … resulted in the creation of 120 pieces of collective artwork to be added to the Edmonton tapestry, involving the participation of 22 women from diverse cultural backgrounds. It worked closely with skilled Palestinian designers in the community to celebrate and preserve this traditional craft. This beautiful tapestry has been featured on CBC.

Join us as Greensleeves Project director, Tamsin Lewis FSA FRHistS, shares the tale of one of the most famous English historical songs, the Elizabethan ballad Greensleeves. Sunday, December 7, 2025 :: Zoom Webinar 4:30 pm Newfoundland Time :: 4 pm Atlantic Time :: 3 pm Eastern Time :: 2 pm Central Time :: 1 pm Mountain Time :: noon Pacific Time Members, please log in to My EAC/Mon ACB to access the registration code for Zoom.   If you're not a member yet, you can purchase a virtual seat.   Tamsin is a musician and historian, specializing in the early modern era. She is an associate lecturer in Renaissance music and art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She has written numerous books and articles on early modern music and society, covering a wide range of topics, including popular music and song, broadside ballads, seasonal festivals and customs, weddings, clothing, chocolate, coffee, the Lord Mayor, the Mayflower, and the plague. Tamsin directs Passamezzo, an established early music ensemble known for its ability to bring historical events to life through engaging performance and programming. She has also written, arranged, directed, and played music for theatre productions and events at various venues, including Shakespeare’s Globe and Hampton Court, as well as the streets of Marrakech. She has collaborated with theatre and dance historians and practitioners to reconstruct masques, jigs, and other 16th- and 17th-century entertainments. Tamsin has extensive experience working in film and television, as a presenter, performer and consultant. Recent work includes Firebrand, A Discovery of Witches, Becoming Elizabeth, Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas, and Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family.  

Documenting Historical Needlework Skills to Preserve Cultural Heritage Before it is Too Late Sunday, February 22, 2026 :: Zoom Webinar 6:00 pm Newfoundland Time :: 5:30 pm Atlantic Time :: 4:30 pm Eastern Time :: 3:30 pm Central Time :: 2:30 pm Mountain Time :: 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time In this talk, Yvette will explain the urgency to document historical needlework skills before they die out. In many places around the world, the cultural custodians of traditional embroidery styles are disappearing. At the same time, younger generations within these cultural groups often have different priorities and do not take the opportunity to learn skills from their elders before those elders are no longer with them. We are at a point where it will soon be too late to preserve many historical and regional needlework styles.