November branch meeting

It was an awful journey last week, travelling to the Guild, thick thick fog. Our speaker had set off in plenty of time but was a little late. She then spent some time setting up a very impressive display.

 Brenda gave out all the messages

And then our speaker,Marie Bellamy was able to begin.

Above is a small part of her varied and quite technical display.

She talked about" The wonder of Books" how the word was important but then how she made her own and even altered books.

She passed around lots of her pieces for us to study in detail and Im sure inspired many of us.Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      November 2017

Competitions

The Members’ challenge for 2017/18 is “Underfoot” and the closing date for entries is 28 February 2018.  Details are on the noticeboard and they are also on the   EG website, but you need to log into the members’ section.

The Rose Bowl competition, to be judged at the regional day in April 2018, is on the theme of “Our Beautiful North West”.  Our branch has done well in regional competitions in past years so hopefully we will have some good entries next year.

News

Our branch Christmas competition this year is “A Christmas Gift Bag” decorated in a technique of your

choice for our next meeting on 5^th December.  There will be refreshments and Christmas decorations to make so please bring a sewing kit.

Details of the regional Summer school are on the notice board.  The two tutors are Julia Triston who

came to our regional day at Haigh Hall and Valerie Wartelle who came to our June meeting.

Introduce a Friend. Extra copies of our programme are available for you to take and give to any friends

 who might like to join us.  There are also posters, please take one if you know a shop, etc that could display one.

The Amy Williams award for this year was presented to Sue from Lytham branch at the NW Regional AGM.

 Exhibitions/Events

There is not much happening in the in the exhibition world at present. If you hear of any exhibitions or events which you think might be of interest to us, please forward details to smtmadden@talktalk.net and details can go in the newsletter or on the noticeboard.

The Knitting and Stitching show is on in Harrogate this weekend 23 – 26^th.  Tickets are still available and there may still be places available on Tyrer’s coach trip.  Tel 01257 480979. 

 Textile 21 group are exhibiting their work at Ordsall Hall from 1 Oct – 4 Feb 2018, in an exhibition titled “Shaped by Time”.

Bankfield Museum in Halifax will be showcasing some of their textile treasures in an intriguingly titled exhibition “A Hat or a Husband?” until 27 January 2018.  Information from www.museums.calderdale.gov.uk

Our Sales Table is in urgent need of some new stock.  If you have anything you think is suitable to donate, please give to Karen.  Also raffle prizes welcome – see Janet and birthday cards – see Ann.

The Northwest blog address is www.info@nwregionembroiderers.org

Our blog: begstitchers.blogspot.com

We now have Facebook pages for Bolton and NW Region. Please ‘like us’ to help publicise the Guild and our activities.

Guild website:  www.embroiderersguild.com

DONT FORGET RED AND WHITE STRANDED COTTONS AND USUAL SEWING STUFF FOR XMAS MEETING

Ordsall Hall

A busy weekend, Barbara joined me on a trip to Ordsall Hall. There we met with Sue from Manchester and Patricia from Pendle. We set up a table with a few pessonal pieces{the travelling books were well used]our programme and the address labels that we had made, Sue had previously taken a design of a dragon fron the Radcliffe bed so we used this a  base for the public to stitch, She had also worked some bee designs which she made into brooches, We had all taken along work that we were currently doing so there was a lot on show. I hoped to push on with my blackbird but we hardly had a free moment. There was a lovely family with two small boys we wanted to see and know about EVERYTHING.

They were charming and enthusiastic. Nikki from yesterday came alon with her mother and several Guild friend as well. All of the programmes for both Manchester and Bolton vanished so we do hope that we have encouraged some more members of the public to pick up a needle and maybe even join us. Just three photos, the top one is a guest showing off her newly made bee brooch, the middle is two persons working on their brooches and the bottom is really the first, as we set up our table. Liz from the Hall kept popping in and at the end told us that over 200 members of the public had visirted that day.Its alovely venue so do call soon.

November workshop

I had missed the talks at Pendle and Bolton that out Saturday tutor, Nikki Parmenter had given so had to rely on opinions. I did look at Nikkis site and wondered if it were too clever for me but always up for the challenge.

Nikki began by showing us three of her recent pieces and then we chose from some prints that she had brought along.

I think the bird in the middle, created by Pam was my favourite

WE had the usual discussion at the end of the day

As per usual, I decided to try it my way. I wanted to create a Chameleon to represent my holiday in Madagascar earier this year. I had my own photos to work from but really went to town with colour. It was a perfect chance to use those fabrics that you wondered why you had bought them. He is supposed to blend in with the background but the usual response when friends see it is Well, yes err. I ve called him Claude and I enjoyed making him!!!