Sunday, November 27, 2011

Out and About,Harrogate

Yesterday a group of us had an early start at Ann's. She had booked tickets and a mini bus to transport us to the Knitting and Stitching show at Harrogate. The weather was awful ,with a blustery wind but it did not dampen our spirits. The first port of call on arrival was a coffee and then we split up and began to attack the shops and displays. I like to get the feel of the place first , briefly wandering around and then re visiting the places of greater interest.However the place is so vast that it happens naturally as you are enticed by a display or stall. I was particularly impressed to see the Beryl Dean  and Ten Plus exhibitions.in the Main Hall. A number of us had arranged to meet for lunch, but it was a short break as there was so much to see. Barbara , Ann and I had decided to try a taster course so went along at 2.15. Please note that we are not wearing napkins under our chins!!! the tutor had kindly provided disposable aprons and gloves.

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We experimented with Lutradur and Evalon,painting it and then zapping with a heat gun. Good fun and we all purchased glue to try again at home.

I then went to check out The Embroiderers Guild stand. The competition  pieces inspired by “The Visitor book” were on display. I will publish Johns from our Branch and Sandra McFarlane from Altrincham { who was commended } as we know her well. Well done to you both.

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Christine Poole the Guild Chair was on duty and drumming up membership. Near  by were the Must Haves and an array of new books. An impressive display.

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It is a good event. Lots to see and do and the chance to meet many old friends, Once on our way home, we chatted about what we had bought,what we had seen and what we had still missed!!! Its a big venue, come with us next year.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

November Day School.

Hilary and her husband both entertained us on Saturday. There was a “full house” so her husband acted as tea maker and washer up, we were spoiled.

We began by looking for sources and then ripped up magazines to find colours and finally begin our stitching. You would think that a 2 by 2 inch square would be easy to fill but it was rather more complicated AND some members had already decided to “go bigger”004 This Ghandi piece by Hilary is much bigger and must have taken her months and months.She did tell us that she had many sleepless nights trying to gets his legs to look right!!!!

www.hilaryhollingworth.co,uk

Our pieces below need a lot more work and we hope to bring them along to our Jan meeting.012Thank you again for making my birthday weekend special. Cant believe it is a year since I became an OAP and the one candle on the pile of brownies at lunch was almost as  memorable as the singing. What a friendly branch we are.

November meeting

Our meetings seem to get more and more busy, I dont know how we manage to pack it all in.Anna White came along to collect the photos that she hoped would be” annotated with stitches”  She was delighted with the results and we celebrated by eating cake that she had made. We are also invited to the opening and I have copied her words to explain….

This year I am responding to the theme The Everyday. I am tasked with re-interpreting Humphrey Spender’s Worktown project of the 1930s, and for the last year have been documenting everyday life in Bolton.

The photographs on display are my exploration of the Bolton borough, and of the relationship it has with its industrial past. Echoing the original Mass Observation project, I have also commissioned the poet Andrew McMillan to create original works based on interview transcripts and my photography, which not only provides a written record for the archive but also helps interpret what The Everyday means to modern Boltonians.

Please come along and share in this night with me.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. Friday 2 Dec,at the Museum.008

Jackie was also delighted to see so many completed needlecases that we began with her in October.

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We were then delighted to welcome back Hilary Hollingworth who gave a very interesting talk about the technique she uses most often, darning.There were slides to see and then work was passed around. Even better, she had agreed to come back on Saturday and lead a day school. Photos will follow.

EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD - BOLTON BRANCH

NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2011

NEWS

Please pick up your copy of Contact if you haven’t already done so. There are also copies of “Your Guild”, the programme and booking form for the AGM at Southport from 30th March – 1st April, a letter calling for nominations for Chairman plus the new bookshop catalogue. Please collect these and any for friends who are not here tonight, but you will see before the next meeting.

Programmes for all the North West Area branches are available, so if you would care to visit any other branch see Marilyn who will bring the folder to meetings.

The details of the 2012 Summer School courses are now available and can be booked from Jan 15th2012.

John entered the Guild members challenge competition. Unfortunately he didn’t win, but congratulations for entering. All the entries can be viewed on the Guild website.

Stitch magazine – the first copy we will receive is the December issue.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

The Embroiderers’ Guild Collection exhibition at Barton Grange, Garstang – 17th -19th November. Entrance free but you will need your membership card. Stewards are still needed if you can give a half day.

Edgeworth Craft Group meet at the Barlow Institute, Edgeworth in the library with different programmes for afternoons and evenings including “Textile Pictures”, Felt making and Paper Work. For further details see Lesley King.

There will be a Craft Fair at Astley Hall, Chorley on Sunday 4th December

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ADVANCE NOTICE

December meeting will be on Tuesday 6th December, not our usual 3rd Tuesday. Don’t forget the Xmas competition is a Christmas Cracker. Also we are stitching our Bulgarian Postcards at our Christmas party meeting. Come along for inspiration or to finish working on or lacing your card. Please bring your postcard (to work on if unfinished) plus usual sewing kit and strong thread to lace over the card. There will be calico available for backing.

Next year Molly’s Cup title will be “Redo, Rework, Reform”

REMINDERS

The North West Regional Day will be held on Saturday 28th April2012. Tickets £25 includes lunch and refreshments.

Please start collecting pink items for the Pink Bag for the raffle prizes for the Southport AGM next year.

If you haven’t paid for the Hillary Hollinsworth Day School on Saturday please do so tonight

Also we need to pay for the Knitting & Stitching Show at Harrogate if you haven’t already done so.

If you have any ideas for new books for the library, please tell Brenda. (An IBS number would be helpful)

Raffle prizes are always welcome. Please see Judith if you have anything.

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Don’t forget our blog address for Bolton EG is http://begstitchers.blogspot.com/ .

Also just a reminder that the Guild web address is www.embroiderersguild.com

AND MEET AT 8.30 ANNS for HARROGATE.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Travelling Exhibition

Yesterday, Barbara , Ann and I set off for Barton Grange ,Garstang to help steward an exhibition. This had been organised at HQ and it is planned that it travels around the country. The North West was the first region to accept this challenge. I was really impressed by the quality and variety of work to be seen. I believe there were 75 pieces, some by famous embroiderers and others were nameless. The pieces had been selected from our Collection and illustrated the history of embroidery. There was a table of “Must Haves” to tempt the pocket, magazines on display and it well illustrated the role of our Guild. I spent a short time looking through the visitors book and was amazed to see the distances that members had travelled and the positive comments made .One criticism made was that it was a shame that it was not open to the public   I do have some agreement with this sentiment but I believe that this exhibition was a gesture from HQ to give something  back to members and make being a member of our Guild a special thing. We were asked not to photograph and publish on the web so I have included three photos of our stewarding skills.

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Out and about

Last Saturday I was invited to Parbold Branch. Barbara and I went quite early in the morning as there was an additional  fund raising coffee morning and sale of work, in aid of the Linnaeus quilts. In the afternoon we were entertained by Michaela Smith who explained her slant on embroidered landscapes. I was also delighted to be there on that day as Sue the Chair presented Kathleen Slinger with the Rose bowl, her prize for the winning design for our Journal cover. Kathleen was as self effacing as ever full of wit and humour . We are proud to acknowledge that she is one of the longest serving members of the Guild….61 years!!!!

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Recent news

I was perusing the national web pages today when I saw that the results from the members competition had been published. There were 32 entries with about 5 of them from the North West. The actual winner is an individual member in our area. Sandra from Altrincham was commended . Our own John had a very innovative piece there too. Go to the members area and then use the password on your membership card, have a look and see what you think.

Padiham meeting

Yesterday I went to the Padiham meeting. The title, Boutis was intriguing. I had never come across it but it is a form of quilting where knitting wool is inserted into channels to create a stuffing.Marie Lewis explained all this to us, had s short demonstration and passed around her work.She assured us that it was not fragile.She will be holding a workshop on Sat 18th Feb at Padiham. The cost of the day is £15.00 and an additional £2.50 for materials. At this moment there are some places so let me know if you are interested and I will put you in touch with the Secretary. Another pleasure was an unexpected visitor, Freda Morrell , a former member of Bolton and the teacher who inspired me and through this, my guild membership.

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Out and about, Manchester

Last Saturday , in my capacity as Area 2 rep , I went to visit Manchester branch. I received a very warm welcome and met many “old” friends. Manchester meet for a full day. In the morning they had a practical based on paper napkins. I arrived in time for lunch and then went into the talk. A member Ro Chin gave a very interesting talk about Japan, showing many slides to illustrate her knowledge. I was most impressed about her command of the language. She had a display of things that she had collected during her travels. Very nostalgic for me!!!! There was also a small display of Japanese embroidery being completed by members of the branch. All worth the horrendous journey there and back….don't trust the Sat Navs and don't travel near Old Trafford when Man United are playing!!!!