Brenda and Pam

Gnome Brenda presents Pam with her gift , whilst Pam shows off her 3 Wise Men. 

My thanks To Ann for the photos, battery on my phone was terminal!!!

December meeting

We had quite a long discussion about the state of our finances and our future at the start of our meeting. Tutor fees and travel costs have inevitably risen yet we still charge very little for out Bolton fee, We must all be aware of the situation and think carefully about what we can do, The committee have decided that refunds cannot be given for non attenders at workshops but still want to encourage support for these events.Personally I can sympathize with their dilemma., it is so hard when time and effort has been invested but support is declining.  Use it or loose it.
Brenda announced that Bolton Art Gallery had not accepted our request for gallery space. We were there a few years ago and supposedly it was a very successful event but we are competing with so many craft associations. She requested ideas of possible venues. However she still went ahead in publicising her challenge. She would like to make a bird installation and so brought along many photos, worksheets and ideas. The plan is to create free flying 3 D birds that might be attached to a branch of a tree. They shouklld NOT be more than A4 in size and completed for end of March. My mind is buzzing as I saw so many wonderful pelicans very close up whilst in Namibia. Their beaks are pink, orange, yellow, and turquoise and i cant forget them.
Barbara then distributed small packs which were used to make a tree or angel decoration for the tree.The idea was to complete one during the nmeeting as well as voting for our competition and having some food, kindly made for us by the committee. I finished my angel just before the end so its now on my tree.
Our competition was a piece inspirad by a line from any Christmas Carol[not the novel}. There seemed to be fewer entries this year {why , it was a simple idea......} but I was delighted when Brenda announced that Pam was the winner. I did have a word with Brenda, It was hard to take her seriously when dressed as a Gnome....but only a joke as I was really impressed that she had made such an effort.
We meet twice in January, our usual meeting and also our annual Jacobs feast. Please try to support each of these events, organised for us by the committee. Can I wish you all a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year.

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      December 2018

Welcome to our members’ Christmas Evening and our last meeting of 2018.

Competitions

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

The subject for the Rosebowl competition for NW region next year is “Twist it, Turn it”.  There will be no regional day next April, a joint regional day/AGM for 2019 will be held on 28 September at the Crofters Hotel in Garstang.

Chairman’s Challenges.  Brenda will give details tonight of two challenges she has lined up for us in 2019. 

Courses

Classes in embroidery take place every Tuesday 10-12 and 1-3 at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bolton.

Further details: contact Lucy 07977 821119 or visit lucysembroidery.com

Summer School.  Details of next year’s residential school from 31 May - 2 June are on the notice board.

Exhibitions

Sorrell Kerrison has a display at Bolton Art Gallery consisting of intricate hand embroidered portraits of four of the museum’s founders, together with a short film describing the processes involved in their creation.  Until 24 February 2019.  Also from 24 Jan -23 Feb, in the museum’s temporary exhibition gallery, there will be an exhibition showcasing the work of staff and students from the BA(Hons) Textiles and Surface Design course at the University of Bolton, inspired by Bolton’s textile heritage.

Alice Kettle has an exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester until 24 Feb 2019. ‘Thread

Bearing Witness’ contains large textile works that consider the subject of migration and how individuals, groups and communities respond to it.

The Creative Craft show is at Event City in Manchester, 31 Jan – 2 Feb.  Among the demonstrators

will be Bex Raven the “Queen of Rust” who will be coming to our June meeting to talk about the art of

Wabi Sabi.

Ann’s stock of cards is running low.  If you have any hand-made cards you can spare, please give

them to Ann.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh.  Both Preston and Rochdale EG branches have exhibitions planned in Feb and April 2019.   More details later. 

Our Bolton 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       www.nwregionembroiderers.org

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Barbara caught in the act{she does not like photos!!!!}

Harrogate Knitting and Stitching

It was an early start for me on Saturday as I was off to Harrogate. I believe that over the three or four days about a dozen of us travelled from Bolton. We arrived at a back door adjacent to the Embroiderers Guild area so I went there first. Quite a few trustees and our CEO were all in attendance. I do feel proud of our Guild at this time, lots of exhibitions, the longest emmbroidery , graduates and scholars. This year I especially wanted to see our display of 100 Hearts. Pauline and I had both contributed.

This is Paulines

and mine.

I did not count how many were on display but it was a considerable number. Above is another view of some of them.

I also photographed some of the entries for the Guild competition "Underfoot" but many have been seen in the Stitch magazine as well,

For once I didnt spend much money , mauch of my time catching up with "old friends"or studying the many exhibitions. I will share just a couple of photos. The first is a huge knitted piece , one of many by Dawn Hemming, called "Spiralling out, Lapland"

Finally a piece thay I dont think I will ever forget, based on Jenni Duttons mother and her transition through Dementia. SO POWERFUL.

November meeting

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      November 2018

Competitions

The Christmas competition at our meeting on December 18^th will be your interpretation of “A Christmas Carol”, any carol, not the book of that name.

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

The subject for the Rosebowl competition for NW region next year is “Twist it, Turn it”.  There will be no regional day next April, a joint regional day/AGM for 2019 will be held on 28 September at the Crofters Hotel in Garstang.

Chairman’s Challenges.  Brenda will give details tonight of two challenges she has lined up for us.  Briefly, one will be a bird – templates available if you want, and the second will be a 4-inch square piece of work on an Egyptian theme.

Craft Fair. We had a successful day at the Triangle Fair last Saturday.  Thanks to all of you who made such a wonderful range of products to sell and display our talents and thanks to those members who attended on the day to help on the stall and lead the workshop.

NW Regional Journal.  This will not be produced in the future.  The regional website has been revamped and will contain more up to date information than the journal. 

Courses

Classes in embroidery  take place every Tuesday 10-12 and 1-3 at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bolton.

Further details: contact Lucy 07977 821119 or visit lucysembroidery.com

Summer School.  Details of next year’s residential school from 31 May - 2 June are on the notice board.

Exhibitions

Sorrell Kerrison has a display at Bolton’s revamped Art Gallery consisting of intricate hand embroidered portraits of four of the museum’s founders, together with a short film describing the processes involved in their creation.  Until 24 February 2019.

Alice Kettle has an exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester until 24 Feb 2019. ‘Thread Bearing Witness’ contains large textile works that consider the subject of migration and how individuals, groups and communities respond to it.

Ann’s stock of cards is running low.  If you have any hand made cards you can spare, please give them to Ann.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh 

Our Bolton 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       www.nwregionembroiderers.org

............................................................................................................................................

Our meeting was again very interesting. I arrived quite early but Wendy had already begun to set up her work. Wendys work was Silk paper with inclusions, and also the title of her talk. I have made silk paper before, many years ago but Wendy demonstrated another very interesting method. I was keen to try and so bought a kit from her. The range of work that she brought along for us to see was very varied. The lampshades were so pretty but quite amazing when lit up with electricity.Im sure our photos will not do them justice. Wendy lives in Penrith and is available for talks and workshops.
WendyAnn Strange
A final note, I have just found out that a friend of our branch Mary Rudkin died last weekend. I will attend her funeral at the New Chapel, ironically we had an exhibition there years ago.

October meeting.

A very busy night. Barbara began our show and tell with her completed piece , a collaged landscape.

Eileen then told us that she had recently found a packet of buttons and had incorporated them into small stuffed toys. Dont tell the grandchildren as santa is coming soon!!!!

Our talk "My textile story" was the main event of the night, Corinne had travelelled down from Carnforth with an amazing collection of her work. She is constantly inspired by flowers and more recently ,butterflies which she recreates in machine  embroidery. Have a look at some of her work, below. You can almost smell their fragrance.

Corinne can be contacted at

corrineyoung562@hotmail.com

Our meeing ended with several of us buying tickets for the K and S in harrogate and thanks from Brenda for the many contributions towards our forthcoming sale at the Triangle     

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      October 2018

This Saturday, 20^th is our next Stitch Day at Bank Top Chapel.  We will be making, packing and pricing  goods for the Triangle Craft Fair on 17^th November so please come along to help.

Competitions

The Christmas competition at our meeting on December 18^th will be your interpretation of “A Christmas Carol”, any carol, not the book of that name.

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

The regional AGM is on 3 November at Barton Village Hall. All members are welcome.   This year the competition for the Broderers’ Cup is open to all members in the region.  You have been sent all the details by email.

Craft Fair.  The organisers of this fair have asked all participants to advertise and promote the fair using social media and any other means.   We will be running a workshop there as well as our stall, to promote the branch and raise funds.

Courses

A creative course in Contemporary Stitch is being held at the Triangle Centre, Church Rd. Further details from www.enjoy-learning.org.uk

Classes in embroidery also take place every Tuesday 10-12 and 1-3 at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bolton.

Further details: contact Lucy 07977 821119 or visit lucysembroidery.com

The Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show takes place from 22-25 November.  Tyrers are again running a coach trip on 24^th and tickets for the show are £11 if more than 10 are booked. However, this year the tickets are date specific, so you need to decide beforehand which day you want.  Pease give your name to Brenda if you want to attend, with or without the coach trip which is £17.

Exhibitions

Sorrell Kerrison has a display at Bolton’s revamped Art Gallery consisting of four intricate hand embroidered portraits of four of the museum’s founders, together with a short film describing the processes involved in their creation.  Until 24 February 2019.

There is an exhibition by “One Step On”, textile artists at the Fylde Gallery in Booth’s Supermarket, Haven Rd, Lytham FY8 5EG until this Saturday, 20^th.  The theme is the “Passage of Time” and the exhibition is open supermarket hours – 8am – 9pm

Alice Kettle has an exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester until 24 Feb 2019. ‘Thread Bearing Witness’ contains large textile works that consider the subject of migration and how individuals, groups and communities respond to it.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh 

Our Bolton blog: begstitchers.blogspot.com    NW Region website: nwregionembroiderers.org

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.comg

September meeting.

On Tuesdays meeting, I was flying over Africa having spent time in Namibia. Lots of insprational photos , as usual.I asked Brenda for a brief report and Carole added photos, In addition, the usual newslettter. Hope it all copies,,,,,

Show and Tell - Liz with some new designs for her Blackwork collection.

Barbara hiding behind her piece on Malta which she started at a Lilianne Taylor workshop. Also Brenda who had to adapt a piece which she scorched but by adding some painting and more stitches she actually enhanced it ! 

Mollys Cup - ‘Recycle, Resuse ‘, was won by Julie Cross with a cute hanging created from embroidery hoops to store sewing bits n bobs. It was very close and a pleasing amount of entries this year. 

I also presented Margaret Hilton with flowers to celebrate a special birthday .

.Well here is the report but Im yet to sort the photos,so will add the newsletter next and then play....Guild website:  www.embroiderersguild.com

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      September 2018

Welcome to our first meeting of the 2018/19 season.  Hope everyone enjoyed our lovely summer weather.  We have a varied programme to look forward to and there are copies of our programme for you to take and give to any friends who might want to join us.  There are also posters, please take one if you know of a shop, etc who could display one.

Competitions

The Christmas competition at our meeting on December 18^th will be your interpretation of “A Christmas Carol”, any carol, not the book of that name.

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

The regional AGM is on 3 November at Barton Village Hall. All members are welcome. If you wish to go, please let Sheelagh know tonight or before 15^th October.  This year the competition for the Broderers’ Cup is open to all members in the region.  You have been sent all the details by email but they are also on the noticeboard.

The National Celebration of Stitch was on Saturday 4^th August.  Some members gathered at

 Bolton Hobbycraft store to stitch felt hearts.  Photos on the noticeboard.

Craft Fair.  We will be having a stall at the Triangle Craft Fair on 17^th November.  We will also be running a workshop there.  Again, this is to promote the branch and raise funds, so we will need plenty of embroidered goods to sell. We have already started producing items and we will be making more this evening and at our 20 October Stitch Day at Bank Top.

A creative course in Contemporary Stitch is being held at the Triangle Centre, Church Rd starting 4^th October.  Further details from www.enjoy-learning.org.uk

The Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show takes place from 22-25 November.  Tyrers are again running a coach trip on 24^th and tickets are £11 if more than 10 are booked.

Exhibitions

Merseyside EG: “Endeavour” at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral from 22-29 September. Further details:  www.megonline.co.uk.

Natural Progression Textile Group: exhibition and sale of textile art on the theme of “freedom” at the Farmhouse Gallery, Astley Hall, Chorley PR7 1XA.  Open 12-3.30pm except Tuesdays and Thursdays.  7 - 30 September.

Alice Kettle has an exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester until 24 Feb 2019. ‘Thread Bearing Witness’ contains large textile works that consider migration and how individuals, groups and communities respond to it.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh 

Our Bolton blog: begstitchers.blogspot.com    NW Region website: nwregionembroiderers.org

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

our activities.

Annual Meal

Tuesday was our annual meal and EGM. It was another warm and bright evening.We arrived from ^.30 and began with the EGM. This identified the officers and committee for the AGM in September. After this about thirty of us sat down for a very enjoyable 3 course meal and coffee. A lovely way to finish our "year". Below are 3 photos of those attending and also the newsletter. Next meting could be at Hobbycraft on sat

4th Aug to celebrate National stitch Day.I will not be at the Sept AGM but might remember to send in my piece for Mollys Cup. Enjoy the sunshine.

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      July 2018

Competitions

The theme of the Molly’s Cup competition this September 18^th will be “Re-use, Re-cycle”.  The subject is up to you but most of the materials in the work must be re-cycled.

The Christmas competition at our meeting on December 18^th will be your interpretation of  “A Christmas Carol”, any carol, not the book of that name.

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

The National Celebration of Stitch is on Saturday 4^th August.  This year the theme is “Hearts” and we hope to be stitching and promoting the branch at the Hobbycraft store in Bolton from 10.30am.ww  Do come and visit or join in.

Craft Fair.  We will be having a stall at the Triangle Craft Fair on 17^th November.  We will also be running a workshop there.  Again, this is to promote the branch and raise funds, so we will need plenty of embroidered goods to sell. We have already started producing items and we will be making more at our September meeting.

Exhibitions

Textile 21:   “On the Edge” at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Birkenhead, 8^th July to 9^th September. Open Wed – Sun, 10am-5pm. 

Merseyside EG: “Endeavour” at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral from 22-29 September. Further details:  www.megonline.co.uk.

Natural Progression Textile Group: exhibition and sale of textile art on the theme of “ freedom” at the Farmhouse Gallery, Astley Hall, Chorley PR7 1XA.  Open 12-3.30pm except Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Creative Craft Show is at Event City, Manchester  6-8 Sept.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh 

Our Bolton 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

Saturday Play Day

It was a bit of a worry on Saturday. The final of women and semi final of mens tennis at Wimbledon and a play day. Apologies I know the day has changed its name but I cant remember it. Well I promised Carol that I would attend and take along the lace lavender bags that I had been making so I arrived. It was also gloriously hot and I think many members must have felt like me. Anyhow the hardened few arrived. Barbara assembled the batik stuff and 3 members joined her, Brenda made a book cover Ann made a bag and I made another lavender bag. I had a compromise though, the bag needed filling and the lavender was at home, so I left about 2.00 arriving home in time for both matches. Most of these items are being made to sell at the Triangle in November. More are always wanted.Can i make a plea from gardeners for any spare lavender later in the year.

See you at the summer meal tomorrow,

Bags and bookcovers being ironed.

June meeting

Hilary Naghashi was invited to speak to us tonight. Her title was Persian Delights which was mystifying and exciting at the same time. She began to unpack an enormous amout of textiles and we were eager to hear more about them. So her story began when she married a Persian, or as we might say an Iranian. She gradually assimilated his culture and went on holidays to visit his family. Of course the family wanted to show Hilary more of their country and she nmade several visits to small tribes and really saw how the textiles were used and created. It was fascinating and to be recommended.
hilaryn4@googlemail.com

 Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      June 2018

Our next meeting will be our Summer meal at the Ridgmont in Horwich, as before, on 17^th July. Price £25. Menu choices are available. If you wish to come, we need final numbers and payments tonight.  The weather has been kind to us in recent years for our Summer meal, so hopefully we will have another lovely evening this year.

Competitions

The theme of the Molly’s Cup competition this September will be “Re-use, Re-cycle”.  The subject is up to you but the majority of the materials in the work must be re-cycled.

The national members’ challenge for 2018/19 is “Life’s Rich Pattern”.  Details are on the member’s section of the Guild website, you will need to log in.

Exchange Visit.

A group of us visited Merseyside branch last Saturday.  Our thanks to Barbara, Eileen and Jenny who each spoke about their work and took along samples.  Merseyside members were impressed by the quality and variety of the work on display.   They will visit us next May.   

National Celebration of Stitch is on 4^th August.  This year the theme is “Hearts” and we hope to be stitching and promoting the branch at Hobbycraft in Bolton.  Do come and visit or join in.

We will be having a stall at the Triangle Craft Fair on 17^th November.  We will also be running a workshop there.  Again this is to promote the branch and raise funds so we will need plenty of embroidered goods to sell.  More details to follow.

Exhibitions

Ten Plus Textiles are having exhibition in the Atkinson Gallery, Lord St, Southport until 15^th July.  Open Mon – Sat 10am-4pm. 

Textile 21 have an exhibition “On the Edge” at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Birkenhead, 8^th July to 9^th September. Open Wed – Sun, 10am-5pm.

If you hear of any exhibitions or events that you think may be of interest to us, please tell Sheelagh 

Our Bolton 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.

If you have any spare hand made cards for birthdays, please give to Ann.

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

If there are any library books you think would be suitable for us, please tell Linda. (An ISBN would be helpful).    Anything for the sales table please give to Karen.

Guild website:  www.embroiderersguild.com