Out and about.Harrogate

It was an early start yesterday, a group of us travelled to Harrogate to visit the Knitting and Stitching Show. It was very cold and crisp but the frost could only enhance the magnificent landscape and stunning seed heads. I wanted to stop the coach and take photos....
Once at the Show it was tempting to look around first but my main reason to visit was to see White Walker before it became too busy. WOW he is amazing. Huge, powerful and very scary. I took lots of photos but must apologise as they do not do him justice.

The inspiration is from a TV programme, Game of Thrones, and seeing him reminds me of why I do not like fantasy!!!! I could have nightmares for ages.

The Show was even bigger and better this year, and the Embroiderers Guild had a massive space at the far end. I had a chat to Anthea first then so many trustees and members from HQ. There was an excellent exhibition, including pieces from the Capability Brown project. The worlds longest embroidery was spread out over about 5 tables ready for members of the public to add their names etc. Phil told me that he did add a flower. There are several sections of this work{ we had one up at Lancaster} and I have stitched several times but yet to see my name again!!! I was proud to be in this area and acknowledge that HQ and trustees have worked really hard to put together such an impressive show

I then spent quite a long time chatting to our 2 presidents Jean and Jan. They had a special exhibition, representing 25 years . Seeing their current work was a privilege but looking at pieces that were in the books I owned made it even more special.

I did not go with a shopping list but did manage to buy a belated birthday gift book for me and 2 presies that my sister will buy me for Xmas. Also a few more beads to add to my statch!!!

The journey home was again, beautiful. There was a golden stripe of sunset on the horizon for about an hour. Janet and I discussed how it would make a wonderful embroidery but no one would believe the colour.

November meeting

November 2016

The Emily Notman workshop in November was about making a mixed media wall hanging. This is Emily with some of her work.

   

Some of our members having fun using mixed media techniques to create a layered landscape.

                  

These are some of our pieces at the end of the session.

  

 These some of our pieces after developing them using the cheat’s French knot (which Emily showed us how to do) and others stitches and appliqué.

At our November meeting it was a pleasure to announce that Ann and Pauline had both received their 25 year badges. Here they are wearing them!

Wyn Ingham was our visiting speaker who shared with us with some very entertaining  stories of her family and of course brought her beautiful collection of lace, one piece dating from the 7^th century!

  

It was suggested by Jenny that she should write a book about her collection in particular Caselguidi.

               

Hopefully she will include some of her family stories too!

        

November newsletter

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch

November 2016

Competitions

     The Rose Bowl competition title for our Regional Day next April in Lancaster is on the theme of Entrances -  Doorways, gateways, windows, etc.

The Members Challenge theme for 2016/17 is “Imprisoned Splendour”.  Details on the EG website together with some ideas to inspire you.  Entries must be received between 5^th December and 27^th February 2017.

     The Madiera / Stitch magazine Competition is “Glimpses of the Roaring Twenties”.  For hand or machine embroidery, entries to be submitted between the 6- 17 February 2017.  Details are in the Oct/Nov issue of Stitch magazine.

Exhibitions and Events

For our next meeting on Dec 6^th, we will have our branch Christmas competition “A Winter Landscape”.   There will be refreshments and Scandi style Christmas decorations to make, so please bring a sewing kit.  Also the committee would like to hear your views on our branch Playdays and what activities we can include in them.  There will be a short questionnaire about this (so bring a pen!) 

     To celebrate their 60^th anniversary year, Merseyside E.G. are presenting “Glorious Colour” – an evening with Kaffe Fassett.  This lecture by “the King of Colour” is designed to motivate and inspire creativity.  The presentation highlights work from Kaffe’s latest projects including patchwork, needlepoint, mosaic, painting and knitting designs.

The evening will be held from 7pm on Friday 2^nd December 2016 in Capstone Theatre, Hope University Campus, Shaw St, Liverpool L6 1HP. Tickets cost £20 and are available from Eventbrite on Merseyside E.G. website www.megonline.co.uk

Harrogate -The Knitting and Stitching Show. Thursday 24^th – Sunday 27^th November.  Advance tickets are still available.  Please see the noticeboard.  There may still be places on Tyrer’s coach going to Harrogate.  Tel 01257 480979

Membership:  those members with e-mail addresses should have received an e-mail confirmation of membership renewal for 2016/17.  Membership cards are not being issued this year so please retain last year’s card as proof of membership.

Ann needs more handmade birthday cards for sending to members. If you have any, please pass them on. 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 Jenny. (An ISBN would be helpful)

If you hear of any interesting exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest, please let Sheelagh Madden know and details can go on the newsletter; smtmadden@talktalk.net

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

Guild website:  www.embroiderersguild.com

October meeting

At our meeting in October we had Katie Duxbury talking about her “Costume Making Story”

She had a fascinating story to tell of how starting out with a degree in Theatre Design her first job took her into costume making for pantomime. This proved to be quite a challenge, but from here she eventually designed her own collection which obviously looks very “theatrical”. In fact her work was featured in Creative with Workbox edition 148 March/April 2015. As she considers her pieces to be wearable art it was not surprising that her latest venture is called the Thousand Mile Dress. Her aim is to work a 1000 miles across the countryside in different weather conditions and see how it stands up and to raise money in aid of refugees!  Apparently she has already walked many miles in it and we wish her luck achieving her goal. Please feel free to donate.

October play day and meeting

October 2016

In October we had a batik playday which Brenda and Barbara organised.

   

These are some of the samples we made, some of us using a tjanting tool for the first time!

We brushed the colour on using procion dyes which give a splendid range of hues.

Barbara then got us all sort of doodle a design or pattern in turn on a large piece of fabric, which she’d already brushed random colour onto. The effect was astounding as you can see in this next picture.

                           

Barbara cut this piece up into smaller rectangles and asked us or I should say directed us to take them home and make them into a finished product such as a card.

It was great to see the response at our next meeting when we turned up with lots of different things. It’s always nice to see the different ideas  people have.

 Some completed pieces.  We made cards, book covers and pictures.

     

At our meeting in October we had Katie Duxbury talking about her “Costume Making Story”

She had a fascinating story to tell of how starting out with a degree in Theatre Design her first job took her into costume making for pantomime. This proved to be quite a challenge, but from here she eventually designed her own collection which obviously looks very “theatrical”. In fact her work was featured in Creative with Workbox edition 148 March/April 2015. As she considers her pieces to be wearable art it was not surprising that her latest venture is called the Thousand Mile Dress. Her aim is to work a 1000 miles across the countryside in different weather conditions and see how it stands up and to raise money in aid of refugees!  Apparently she has already walked many miles in it and we wish her luck achieving her goal. Please feel free to donate.

October play day and meeting

October 2016

In October we had a batik playday which Brenda and Barbara organised.

   

These are some of the samples we made, some of us using a tjanting tool for the first time!

We brushed the colour on using procion dyes which give a splendid range of hues.

Barbara then got us all sort of doodle a design or pattern in turn on a large piece of fabric, which she’d already brushed random colour onto. The effect was astounding as you can see in this next picture.

                           

Barbara cut this piece up into smaller rectangles and asked us or I should say directed us to take them home and make them into a finished product such as a card.

It was great to see the response at our next meeting when we turned up with lots of different things. It’s always nice to see the different ideas  people have.

  

             Some completed pieces.  We made cards, book covers and pictures.

     

At our meeting in October we had Katie Duxbury talking about her “Costume Making Story”

She had a fascinating story to tell of how starting out with a degree in Theatre Design her first job took her into costume making for pantomime. This proved to be quite a challenge, but from here she eventually designed her own collection which obviously looks very “theatrical”. In fact her work was featured in Creative with Workbox edition 148 March/April 2015. As she considers her pieces to be wearable art it was not surprising that her latest venture is called the Thousand Mile Dress. Her aim is to work a 1000 miles across the countryside in different weather conditions and see how it stands up and to raise money in aid of refugees!  Apparently she has already walked many miles in it and we wish her luck achieving her goal. Please feel free to donate.

September meeting

September 2016

            

At our first meeting of the year Jackie Martin astounded us by bringing these two beautiful quilts for Show and Tell.  Apparently Clare Jady has interviewed Jackie for Talking Quilts which you can find at www.talkingquilts.org.uk      Try and catch it if you can.

And Ann Heather who produced this fab dinosaur quilt, designed with the help her grandson, for a friends grandchild( lucky baby)!

                                                                                                               

Ann was also this year’s winner of Molly’s cup (Seeds, Pods and Fruits), with a lovely delicate hand and machine embroidery in pale blues.  Well done Ann!  We’re looking forward to seeing many more of Ann’s creations in the coming months!