A half-dozen women with stitching on their minds met on a snowy Jan. 5 at the Bangor Public Library to launch a new organization, the Maine Needle Arts Guild. The guild is designed to appeal to those who love the art of embroidery, including but not limited to crewel, needlepoint, cross-stitch and hardanger, a drawn thread-cut work style of whitework that originated in Norway.

“I just love embroidery,” said Michele Goldman, 45, of Pittsfield, who came up with the idea of forming the group. “I’ve always been drawn to textiles, and I want this group to be about stitching.”

Goldman was for many years president of a chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America before she moved to Pittsfield from Baltimore two years ago.

There is no EGA chapter in the Bangor area, but Carolyn Ulrich of Castine, who attended the meeting, said she is a 20-year at-large member of the southern Maine chapter of the EGA. Goldman also is an at-large member of the EGA.

But the Maine Needle Arts Guild, the women decided, will be an independent group.

The group’s aim is to learn and to teach embroidery skills. Those at the meeting said they are interested in learning more about needlework history, needlepoint techniques, samplers, free embroidery and needlework tools and related history.

There is so much needlework and fiber arts-related talent right here in this area, Goldman said, that the group won’t have to look far for those to invite to share their expertise. Indeed, the women around the meeting table were skilled at many types of embroidery. Goldman showed several pieces of intricate and lacy hardanger that she had done, and Ulrich showed several large pieces of her finely shaded crewel work designed by Betsy Leiper, a nationally known needlework teacher who lives in New Hampshire.

In order to keep embroidery from becoming a dying art, the group discussed ways to bring embroidery into the community. Suggestions included school programs, public library programs or social service programs.

The new group plans to set yearly dues at an affordable rate, in the $10-$15 range. The group won’t need a lot of money to make it go, Goldman said. A newsletter can be done online, and Cityside Yarn Co., 1460 Outer Hammond St. in Bangor, has donated meeting space to the group.

Cityside is in the process of expanding its product line to include embroidery supplies through a consignment agreement with Goldman, she said. The shop also will add a line of fabric, said Cityside owner Kathy Harmon.

The Maine Needle Arts Guild will meet 10 a.m.-2 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. The next meeting will be Feb. 4, and embroiderers of all persuasions are invited to attend. The meeting will feature a lesson in hardanger taught by Goldman. Kits will be available for a small cost. Lunch is not provided, but participants may bring a bag lunch.

The group plans to invite needlework teachers with national reputations and members of the Maine fiber arts community to teach at future meetings.

To learn about the Maine Needle Arts Guild or to arrange to teach your skill at a future meeting, call Goldman at 487-6825, or e-mail michele@

jobmaster.com.

Snippets

Fiber College, a three-day event planned for Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10, in Searsport will be the host for more than 25 classes in all categories of fiber-related arts. A shopper’s boulevard will be part of the event. Fiber College is putting out a call for instructors and vendors. Those interested in teaching a class should visit www.FiberCollege.com and click on Instructor Application. Those who want to be vendors should e-mail info@fibercollege.com to obtain the vendor application form.

Those who want to attend the event, take classes, shop or talk with fiber animal breeders should check the Web site www.fibercollege.com in May when more information will be posted.

Fiber College is sponsored by the Penobscot Marine Museum, Purple Fleece and Searsport Shores Ocean Camping.

Ardeana Hamlin may be reached at 990-8153, or e-mail aham

lin@bangordailynews.net.