newsletter

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch

Newsletter – December 2015

News and Competitions  The Rose Bowl competition title is “Under the Sea”, for our Regional Day in April next year, hope you’re thinking about it!

      The Capability Brown Festival is a celebration of landscape and gardens in stitch.                     See below for details.

 Exhibitions and Events

4-6 February : The Stitching Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show is at Events City, Manchester M178AS.  Adults £8.00, Seniors £7.00.

 Advance Notice

·        A beginners/slight experience embroidery and contemporary stitch class is starting on October 8^th at the Triangle Centre, Chorley Old Rd. It will be on Thursdays 10-12 noon. More information at www.facebook.com/pages/Enjoy-Learning-Bolton/141379002171999 or see Glennys Astley.

·         January Meeting’s Speaker is Laura Rosenzweig – “Woven Fabrics from her Travels” on the 19^th

·         Saturday 23^rd – Jacob’s Feast. Put it in your diary!

Capability Brown Festival

A stitched piece in any technique that reflects the essence of CB ie a landscaped garden. Piece to be  portrait or landscape mounted   onto an artist canvas, A 2 3 or 4. in size. Our venue is Gawthorpe , ready in the summer of 2016. Val is liaison officer.

 Chairman Challenge

Based on the travelling books idea, each branch is allocated 2 facing pages of an A3 pink pig book. One page to record inspirations, sketches notes postcards etc.Facing page a stitched piece/pieces. Theme for each branch to reflect their location. It could be done by one and or many members. Inspiration mounted on paper 1 cm smaller than the A3 page. Stitched , similar but mounted on fabric or paper. I will attach by double sided sellotape. The finished

books could be borrowed by any branch for exhibitions etc. Jackie will coordinate for us.

Ann needs more handmade birthday cards for sending to members if you have any to spare please pass them on. Raffle prizes are always welcome.  Please see Barbara Ryall if you have anything. If there are any library books you think would be suitable for us, please tell Sheelagh Madden. (An ISBN would be helpful)

If you hear of any interesting exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest, please let Brenda Brown know and details can go on the newsletter; brownhovis33@yahoo.co.uk

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

The Northwest blog address is http:/www.info@nwregionembroiderers.org

Apologies, still having problems with windows 10 and written this Blog a different way , so forgot the newsletter. Have a lovely Christmas and I will see you all in February. Val

December Christmas party

Our meeting began with a show and tell. Phil displayed his recent kit, a glass bauble encrusted in jewels, very pretty.

Pauline brought along a piece that she had started at the NWR AGM. It was based on circles but finished however the embroiderer wished.She reminded everyone about what a good day it had been.

Barbara then led the meeting, handing out pre prepared packs and we were able to stitch a hedgehog. Whilst we were doing this, the committee had prepared an excellent buffet for us to share.

Our competition this year was called Snowman. There were quite a few entries. The pink boxes are used to collect how many pennies you wish to put in  for each piece.

Some of us remembered to bring along our metal workshop[ pieces.

and finally,

the pennies were counted and the winner this year was announced, my friend Barbara.

Out and about, our Museum

A couple of weeks ago, Pauline invited me to join her in a workshop held in the Museum. We were going to make a LED  Christmas decoration so it was very appealing. We arrived and invited to help ourselves to drinks and biscuits and then we got serious. The demo was simple and the instructions looked OK but I have never been so frustrated. At one point I was ready to walk out , but I persevered and completed a snowman ,with LED lights down his chest. Not my best piece of work but a new skill learned.

Out and about Pendle

Monday was a glorious day after the awful rain over the weekend. I took my godson from Canada who is staying  with me,to the train and then drove past Padiham to our new venue , and new branch name Pendle. I am delighted at the success of this branch, very friendly members and producing lovely work. Our Xmas competition was to create a book cover.and there were many to choose from , but our amazingly hard working Secretary , Joan,found the time to make a lovely piece and was presented with a small gift by Sue our Chair

We ate another very successful Jacobs Feast and then had to stitch our names onto a pre assembled badge. Thank goodness I have a short name., because we were then given a quiz to complete.Patricia sitting next to me won with 12 correct answers but I was quite pleased as I managed 11 correct and I had finished my badge too. An exchange of hand made cards and I was ready to leave. We no not meet in January so look forward to my next visit in Feb next year!!!

Out and about, Altrincham

On Thursday, I braved the awful weather to go down to Altrincham . Sandra had kindly invited me to tea and then we went to the opening of their exhibition. I was really impressed by the venue and will find it hard to explain, but will try. The place was right in the centre of Altrincham, called Art with a Heart. Two women were in charge of this charity where they encourage art and heritage.They rely on donations and work with an incredibly small budget but was to make art accessible to everyone. The room was huge and divided into many smaller area but I was there to concentrate on the Altrincham embroideries.

Some of my favourites are below….

I have a new camera and am still learning how to make the best of it so some lovely work did not photograph too well.Do call in the centre open Thurs to Sunday, 10.00 till 5.00pm. The embroideries will be there until17th Jan 2016.

Out and about, Ordsall Hall

Its been a busy few days. It was my birthday on Saturday and my mum insisted that I celebrate. I finally agreed and so she organised a very posh afternoon tea for 18 of us. Too much to eat and bubbles galore. Better still my close friends and family around me.

 

So getting up quite early on Sunday was not at the top of my list. However it was cold but very bright, I even needed my sun specs as I drove to Salford. Sue had just arrived and so we set up two tables and soon after Sandra came along to help as well. As before we were going to demonstrate our stitching and also allow guests to stitch if they wished. I managed 6 French knots during the 12.00 till 4.00pm session. We were so busy. We used the photos that had been transferred onto fabric again and the public were keen to stitch. i lost count of how many people we spoke to. A really worthwhile experience. It was well after 5.00 when I returned home  and only just managed to unpack all my demo bits etc..

Out and about,Rochdale.

 Yesterday,I had been invited to Rochdale to demonstrate how I make wire and bead jewellery. More important, it was a chance to chat with members in a more informal manner. I was so pleased to be there as I felt that i was amongst friends. Rochdale branch was one of the very first to invite me when I was area rep.Two in my group were visitors but were planning to join this branch. I wish them happiness. Of course I invited them to Bolton.

I have just remembered that we were going to bring our metal embroideries from a recent workday to our Xmas meeting…dont forget.

November branch meeting

Newsletter – November 2015.News and Competitions

The Rose Bowl competition title is “Under the Sea”, for our Regional Day in April next year, hope you’re thinking about it! The Christmas competition is “Snowman”, for the December meeting on December 15th, when we’ll be having a Christmas activity and refreshments. The Capability Brown Festival is a celebration of landscape and gardens in stitch. Entries required later next year. See over for details.

Exhibitions and Events

Crafts in the Pen. Skipton Cattle Mart, BD23 1UD. Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22^nd November; 10.am -4pm; £5.00 free for under 16’S.

· Harrogate -The Knitting and Stitching Show. Thursday 26^th – Sunday 29^th November; tickets £12.50 concessionary and children from 5-18yrs £6.50. Group discounts available.

· Textile 21 have an exhibition called “Created in Colour”, which is well worth seeing at The Whitaker, Rawtenstall until 6^th December. Checkout the new coffee bar and restaurant.

Advance Notice

A beginners/slight experience embroidery and contemporary stitch class is starting on October 8^th at the Triangle Centre, Chorley Old Rd. It will be on Thursdays 10-12 noon. More information at www.facebook.com/pages/Enjoy-Learning-Bolton/141379002171999 or see Glennys Astley.

New in the library

Sheelagh has bought 2 new DVD’s for the library: “Creative Bondaweb”, with Kim Thittachai and “Creative Free Machine Embroidery”, with Gina Ferrari.Ann needs more handmade birthday cards for sending to members if you have any to spare please pass them on. Raffle prizes are always welcome. Please see Barbara Ryall if you have anything. If there are any library books you think would be suitable for us, please tell Sheelagh Madden. (An ISBN would be helpful) If you hear of any interesting exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest, please let Brenda Brown know and details can go on the newsletter; brownhovis33@yahoo.co.ukDon’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 The Northwest blog address is http:/www.info@nwregionembroiderers.org

.

Capability Brown Festival

A stitched piece in any technique that reflects the essence of CB i.e. a landscaped garden. Piece to be  portrait or landscape mounted   onto an artist canvas, A 2 3 or 4. in size. Our venue is Gawthorpe , ready in the summer of 2016. Val is liaison officer.

Chairman Challenge

Based on the travelling books idea, each branch is allocated 2 facing pages of an A3 pink pig book. One page to record inspirations, sketches notes postcards etc.Facing page a stitched piece/pieces. Theme for each branch to reflect their location. It could be done by one and or many members. Inspiration mounted on paper 1 cm smaller than the A3 page. Stitched , similar but mounted on fabric or paper. I will attach by double sided sellotape. The finished

books could be borrowed by any branch for exhibitions etc. Jackie will coordinate for us.

It was a varied meeting, beginning with the presentation of the Broderers cup to Judith.Her very colourful piece was chosen for the next Journal.Here it is

We then celebrated the forthcoming 90th birthday of Dorothy with a cake and a gift of an orchid.

There were several Show and Tell pieces but these were overshadowed by the number of pieces brought in by Marion.They were beautiful.

Our speaker was Lynn Setterington who spoke about Kantha work.She illustrated her talk with slides and a variety of pieces,historical and recent.

Reminder to bring paper and fabric scissors,neutral thread and crewel needle for Xmas activity and of course your Snowman competition piece.

Out and about Rossendale.

Joan from Padiham , sorry Pendle branch recommended this exhibition to me. Textile 21 were exhibiting at the Whitaker in Rossendale. The title was Created in colour and I was interested because the advert was full of colourful voiles. It was an awful day today but Barbara was happy to drive the 30 mins to the venue and we warmed up with cappuccinos in the newly appointed cafe.The exhibition is upstairs but there is a lift. I wont spoil the drama by explaining how many of the pieces were displayed but it was very effective. Many of the pieces were delicate and exquisitely stitched. We chatted about each and every one and then decided to have another tour around again and saw things that we had missed on first examination. Of course by now it was lunchtime so we both chose from a limited but lovely menu. Barbara was really shocked when I said that I fancied a piece of carrot cake. It oozed fruit and she said it was the best that she had tasted in years. On the way home Barbara said that she was so inspired that she wanted to get home and stitch straight away. So we would recommend it to you. Its on until 6th December but do go on line and check opening times.

Out and about, Padiham

What a busy few days, On Monday I missed Aqua to visit Padiham, my other branch. It had recently moved location and now opened at 12.00 for an informal chat, sew and lunch. I had a few things to sort and then sat down to hear Sue Bartlett. Poor Sue was feeling awful and her throat was really sore but she battled on. She had brought an amazing number of hand made books and gave us an insight as to how they were made. Better still. she started to pass them around and all we wanted to do was to study their formation and examine the lovely covers. I remembered that our Xmas competition is to be  a book cover so perhaps we found some inspiration.When you study these photos you will see the amazing range of work and Kathryn tells me that she makes quilts as well!!!!!

This is my last visit to Padiham, no we are not folding but are changing our name. We will now be known as Pendle EG but at this moment will keep the same blog name and address.