Play Day

I have just returned from a play day, an opportunity for us to meet and share ideas. I had suggested that we use foils and embossing powders so tried to provide a list of items.. Ten of us arrived and unpacked our equipment. We began with a show and tell, explaining what we had brought with us and what we hoped to try.Some of us were happy to demonstrate to the rest of the group We were so busy that I forgot to take photos for ages. These are five shots which show our interaction. It was a really fun day.Listening would have confused an outsider as we kept oohing and aaahing  as we saw the results of a new skill. Almost every attempt was passed around and admired.

There was not much to actually see for all our work but I guarantee that we hardly stopped. One comment was a disappointed that other members had not come along and experienced our play day. There will be another chance. We plan to try the Romeo technique and also use of Lutrador etc ,some time in February. Now I need to unpack my bags and try to put the materials away.always the downside to a play day!!!

Enjoy Christmas and the New Year and I will see you at the Jacobs Feast.

December meeting

Jackie M lead our meeting on Tuesday, demonstrating how to make a simple but effective Christmas tree decoration. Mine now adorns my tree. Thank you Jackie.

We had a lovely exhibition of Angels, our Christmas competition.When the votes were counted, Clare was declared the winner. She had said earlier to me that she  had not entered a competition before , but was pleased that she felt compelled to do something for this.Well Clare you now have quite a standard to maintain!!!

It really was Clare's night. We realised that it was actually her birthday that day and that she had chosen to spend it with us, so Ann made her a singing cake.We shared some festive food and drink and of course ,the cake. Barbara R then explained about our next project. The Lowry shopping outlet has an annual display of Xmas trees ,decorated by organisations and later auctioned off for the Hospice. The idea was met with great support. We could use ideas given to us by Jackie but in Feb more details and possibly templates and fabric kits will be distributed.The tie competition was mentioned again and we are looking forward to some interesting. ideas. I suggested that you could look up recycling ties on the net .There are many pages .

So the end of another year for us, have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to the New Year. Apols for missing the Jan meeting.

Out and about,Padiham

I attended the Christmas meeting at Padiham today. Kathryn have put out an amazing array of fabric, threads ,beads etc. As well as this she had cut up and edged loads of inchies. So what are inchies?  They are one inch squares that you adorn with embellishment.They are a bit like the trade cards but smaller. Six of us in Bolton are swapping them at the moment. However back to Padiham, the fiddly bit had been done for us so we only needed to add beads etc. Thank you Kathryn.It was a busy meeting. Nan our Chair asked us for ideas for the Tie Challenge.Lovely festive food needed to be consumed. We then had to vote for our favourite piece in the Xmas competition, this time based on the colour white ,blue or purple.The outcome of the vote was that our Secretary, Joan was awarded first prize presented to her by Nan. Well done Joan.We meet again in February.

Out and About,Harrogate

Mary, Clare, Judith and I battled our way through the crowds at the Knitting and Stitching show on Saturday. Never mind a map, I think I need a compass as well to find my way about. I saw lots of old friends,too many to mention but they all send greetings to Bolton. I joined a Japanese embroidery class which was interesting. I failed at the first hurdle as I could not knot my gold thread!!!! There were many shops but for once I went with a shopping list and tried to stick to it. There were some interesting exhibitions and I was really taken with a d beaded piece by Alice Kettle. HQ had a much higher profile there this year. I wish that I had longer to spend there as the postcards were displayed again. I have taken a couple, one of Bulgaria for Bolton and the other of Kiribati for Padiham

Can you spot your piece?

NOVEMBER MEETING.

My apologies for the delay in writing this but I have  had a really busy few days. Pricilla Jones came to talk to us  last Tuesday. A new first for us, we used an overhead projector and laptop to watch her presentation. Pricilla is well known and often seen in magazines like Stitch. She explained her imaginative processes for her degree and then how she had to transition into work that could be sold commercially. at the moment, cup cakes are very popular along with a cup of tea!!!!

NEWS

Please pick up your copy of Contact Magazine before you go and if you can deliver to anyone who isn’t here it would be helpful.

The members competition for the 2014 Regional Day will be “Black Magic” (2013 is entitled King Cotton)

The 2013 AGM will be held from 5^th – 7^th April at Cheltenham.

There are 2 vacancies on the Regional Committee. Marilyn has a nomination form if you are interested.

The 2013 Regional Day will be on 27^th April and the 2013

Volunteers are required to demonstrate at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate and also to man the stand at the ICHF Shows next year. (Manchester – February and Aintree, Liverpool – April) If you can help, please let Monica know.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Manchester Craft & Design Centre are launching their Exhibition of contemporary Scottish makers, and Christmas Shopping event on 24^th November, with carols and Christmassy concoctions from 2pm.

The Knitting & Stitching Show will be in Harrogate from 22^nd – 25^th November this year.

There will be an informal “Play Day” on embossing and transfer foil, at Bank Top Church on Saturday 8^th December. Anyone welcome and the cost of the room will be split. If you are interested please see Val Coleshaw. Requirements – Covering for tables, newspaper, face mask and packed lunch. Card and fabric(Include velvets, silks, natural and man made. Lots of Bondaweb. Embossing powders, especially gold and silver. Transfer foils (lots of colours). Paints. Metal (not plastic) stencils. Metal stamps like those used in batik. Heat gun and soldering iron if you have them. Angelina, beads and embellishments.

ADVANCE NOTICE

We need ideas for things to buy or pay for with the returned 40% of our loan to H.Q. – egg. An expensive speaker, a Friday evening talk followed by a workshop on the Saturday – this would need firm commitment from members and possibly payment in advance – or any other ideas you may have.

The Christmas competition this year is “An Angel” – any technique.

Next year’s competition for Molly’s Cup is “Metal Thread”.

REMINDERS

Ann is in need of hand made Birthday cards for sending to members if you have any to spare.

If you have any items for the Sales Table please see Jackie Martin.

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

If there are any library books you think would be suitable for us, please tell Brenda. ( An ISBN would be helpful)

.

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

I was disappointed that Marion S was unable to attend the meeting. I had planned to present her with a 25 year badge and we also had a small gift for her to take up to Kirby Lonsdale, where she is relocating. She tells me though that she will continue her association and membership with Bolton.

Julie brought along her piece for Gawthorpe. I also have an apology to make to Carol. I submitted her photo , upside down so here it is again…..

. There was also a display of work from the last Day School.I hope to see lots of Angels at our Xmas meeting which is much earlier than usual this year.

November Day School.

Yesterday, we had a sell out day school. Lizzie Wall  had given a talk earlier in the year and followed it up with a day school. We had chosen to make a Spring Tree, using a basic kit provided by Lizzie. I assumed the colour green but almost inevitably, my tree turned pink, even though Jackie kept thrusting orange fabric at me!!!

The morning was quite relaxed. Most of the time we were cutting bonded fabric and applying it in layers to the backing fabric of our choice. We did not have to concentrate TOO much so were able to catch up on gossip. Ann even managed to send a text message to us as she is still confined to a bed.

A  lovely lunch was provided again and then i was ready to start machining,

Lizzie provided individual guidance as to choice of fabric  and gave demonstrations on the sewing machine.

As always we finished with a quick show and tell and again, as always, I am amazed how we all take the same idea but move it into different directions. We are all intending to finish our trees and will bring them to an evening to show and inspire the rest of our members.

Out and about,Padiham

Last Wednesday, Barbara and I drove over to Gawthorpe , to Meet Tracey Gill at the Rachel Kay Shuttleworth Collection. We had transported our precious collection of pieces for the INSPIRED exhibition. I have written about this day school before and hope to write another article for Workbox but thought you would like a quick look at the pieces. We are awaiting one more piece so apologies that it is missing. I will attribute names and more details in the article.

Pauline, Brenda and Barbara

Carole, Ann and Jackie

Val Pam and Johanna

Marilyn and Judith.

I am sure you will be as delighted as me and amazed at the variety of techniques, considering that they were all inspired by lace. the exhibition will take place in the summer of next year.

October meeting

Lizzie Wall came to speak to us on Tuesday. She brought along a huge quantity of quilts that she had made. I have never seen the technique that she used before and I guess that she did not explain it as we are all intrigued and looking forward to her workshop in November.

The quilts are incredibly colourful and the animals seem to have adopted a personality. I wonder what we will be able to produce?

NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2012

NEWS

Please pick up your copy of Contact Magazine before you go and if you can deliver to anyone who isn’t here it would be helpful.

The members competition for the 2014 Regional Day will be “Black Magic” (2013 is entitled King Cotton)

The 2013 AGM will be held from 5^th – 7^th April at Cheltenham.

There are 2 vacancies on the Regional Committee. Marilyn has a nomination form if you are interested.

The 2013 Regional Day will be on 27^th April and the 2013 NW Region AGM on 19^th October.

The October NW Regional Bulletin from Monica Selway is on the table if you wish to read it.

Volunteers are required to demonstrate at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate and also to man the stand at the ICHF Shows next year. (Manchester – February and Aintree, Liverpool – April) If you can help, please let Monica know.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

The Postcards will be displayed at:- Plympton Library (no date yet): Artrix, Bromsgrove 8^th October – 4^th November.

Ten Plus Textiles are exhibiting until 20th October at the Garry Olsen Gallery, 27 Stoney Lane, Wilmslow SK9 6LG, Mon – Sat at 10am -5pm, Sun at 11am – 5pm. (01625 533701 or www.garryolsen.co.uk or www.tenplustextiles.com for further details)

The Knitting & Stitching Show will be in Harrogate from 22^nd – 25^th November this year.

Bead Fair at Culcheth Community College, Warrington on Saturday 3^rd November (Email Sharon Lindley at mail@beadyfairs.co.uk for discounted tickets)

ADVANCE NOTICE

We need ideas for things to buy or pay for with the returned 40% of our loan to H.Q. – eg. An expensive speaker, a Friday evening talk followed by a workshop on the Saturday – this would need firm commitment from members and possibly payment in advance – or any other ideas you may have.

The Christmas competition this year is “An Angel” – any technique.

Next year’s competition for Molly’s Cup is “Metal Thread”.

REMINDERS

If you have any items for the Sales Table please see Jackie Martin.

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

If there are any library books you think would be suitable for us, please tell Brenda. ( An ISBN would be helpful)

.

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

Finally, Brenda has sent a list of new Library books to add to your list. The earlier list can be seen on this Blog

Bolton Branch Library Books	New books 2012
Title	Author
Stash Happy Felt	Amanda Carestia
Stitch Rhythms and Patterns	Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn
Layered Textiles	Kim Thittachai
Journeys in Stitch	Gillian Travis
Page after Page	Francis Pickering
Textile Adventures	Isobel Hall
From Print to Stitch	Janet Edmonds
Stitch, Cloth, Shimmer & Shine	Sarah Lawrence
Muslin	Fiberfusion
Dissolvable Delights	Maggie Grey

Out and about,Knutsford

Barbara and I ventured into Cranford country on Thursday.We headed for the Heritage Centre to visit the Altrincham Branch Exhibition. We were warmly greeted By Diane and I was delighted to see her delicate landscapes.

We were happy to see the “old faithfuls”, the rainbow squares. Diane explained that only half of them were up this time so members of Altrincham must have worked really hard!!! They were arranged around another members piece and together made an impressive show.

Another  co incidence was that the Knutsford Tapestry had also been rehung. 2000 people had been involved in the making and must be very proud of their work.It would take many hours to look at every individual building.

Back to Altrincham, their work was quite traditional , which certainly suited me.This piece by Sandra had been highly commended at Harrogate last year and this was her piece based on a Journey and completed at Summer School earlier this year.

Thank you Altrincham for mounting this exhibition and giving me an excuse to visit such a pretty location. There are a few days left ,  if you have a free afternoon.

Out and about,Garstang

Judith and I went up to Barton Grange at Garstang on Saturday. We went to see the Preston Guild exhibition, based appropriately on flowers. There was a wide range of work, showing a multitude of techniques. Several members were both demonstrating and stewarding.

We also had a” sneak preview” of our  November workshop as lizzie wall had displayed some of her trees. She also visits us in October.

Co. incidentally Jackie Cardy will be with us in March and here is one of  her pieces.. We look  forward to their visits and a closer examination of their work.

Finally We were really impressed with the piece created by many members of the group.

A huge picture had been cut up and members were allocated a square each. They used their favourite technique and then the returned pieces were rejoined,but in a differing pattern. Can we do this, Bolton? Do call in and have a look if you have a spare couple of hours.