Astley Bridge Tapestry.

A few months ago, a friend asked me to meet a group of stitchers and offer my support. I have since visited a number of times and brought along Brenda B and Vivienne from our branch as “experts” . The work is not actually a tapestry but applique, made into five banners, representing five local churches.The pieces are local photos, transferred onto fabric and embellished with stitch. on Wednesday we met with the aim of assembling and machining all the banners. There were delays but Christine is sure they will be ready in time for the Astley Bridge weekend  on 11/2 July.

Vivienne taught me how to modify tassels and reapply them onto chord, so I seemed to inherit this job. I have 10 tassels to play with and again it is quite tedious but I am sure they will finally look good.You will see them on display over the weekend in July. I will put up a small exhibition and chat to visitors at our day school venue, Bank Top Church. Come and say hello.

Whilst thinking about it, next weekend I will be at Follow the Thread , a n excellent festival of crafts at Helmshore Mill. Three years ago, i went along as a visitor, last year put up an exhibition and this year will do similar and demonstrate simple stitching. Love to see you there too. I will post some pictures after the event.

Ordsall Hall, up date.

At the beginning of May, Ann Barbara and I went along to Ordsall Hall. We were really busy chatting to visitors and demonstrating various stiches , so I only managed to stitch one name. I know that Liz is keen to get he names assembled so worked like mad on mine this week and finally posted it off today. as anyone who is still stitching will know, its not been an easy job, but I chose whipped running stitch and think it was the easiest choice. There will be more panels so please contact me if you have yet to get involved. below is my half completed piece.

Out and about,Padiham

I have been exceptionally busy of late and on Sunday drove down to Nottingham and back ,to celebrate my Australian aunt and uncles 60th anniversary. The motorways were rough at I was driving for over six hours so I was quite tired on Monday. I missed my aqua class but drove across to Padiham.Thank goodness that I did.  The speaker was superb and I urge anyone reading this to book her. Her name is Karen Casper and the title of her talk was Fusing old with new.  There were problems with the electricity so we could not see the power point but she illustrated her talk with huge photos. Better still she had brought along several pieces of her work, including one based on a fairground,Miss Coral and a widows veil. They were stunning and the secret was that they were based on very old articles like a tablecloth. I believe up cycling is the new buzz word? Check out her site at Tulle and Candyfloss.co.up  To top it all, I won the Bronze/copper raffle.

May meeting

My aunt and uncle from Australia have been staying with me , so i had to miss last nights meeting.Luckily Brenda took her camera and has also written a report. Sounds like I missed a very good night.

Clare Spooner who went to Leeds University to study hat making/design engrossed us with her collection of Vintage hats and trims at last night’s meeting.

During show and Tell Lesley showed us her latest creation which was a felt hat based on the Egyptian Mummies as seen on the outside of sarcophagi. It was beautifull y embellished with hand dyed silk and stitching and I managed to get her to model it! This got us off to a good start.

The hats in Clare’s collection dated from around the 1830’s up to the 70’s and involved many processes and materials in their making, including felt, straw, silk, cellophane and feathers. The hats reflected the age they came from and Clare illustrated this well with some old magazines that were in the family showing the latest trends in the 1800’s, plus some excellent books including one about the Art Deco period.

It was fascinating to hear how horse hair and wire were used to give hats their shape. One of the most alluring hats was Clare’s own creation based on the Edwardian style which was laden with silk flowers that she had made. In fact she had a rare brass tool which she still uses to mould her silk flowers.

She also showed us some trims such as peacock feathers, a horse hair plume, lovely woven ribbon and a dyed bird’s wing! In fact there was a most amazing feather concoction made entirely of game bird feathers in a 60,s sort of pill box style.

Everybody wanted to ask questions about the hats and shared reminiscences with us about their experience with hats and I think went home hoping for a wedding invitation to arrive to have an excuse to order one of Clare’s creations!and finally our member Lesley modelling her own creation.Brenda then also remembered the bulletin…..

News and Competitions

The Rose Bowl competition title is “Under the Sea”, for our Regional Day in April next year.

Northwest Region Broderers’ Cup is for October AGM. Open to our Branch only.

Exhibitions and Events

· Summer School at Alston Hall 16^th-19^th July. See notice board for details and booking forms.

· “Ten Plus Textiles @ The Silk Museum” are on exhibition from 14^th March – 30 May, Mon- Sat, 10am – 4pm on at The Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield. SK116TJ, £4.50 or concessionary £4.00- with access to the Museum. Has disabled access.

· Nantwich Museum has an exhibition by contemporary textile group Textile 21, called, “Tech Styles” which celebrates the innovative use of technology at Quarry Bank Mill. It runs from 14 March – 13 June. For more information see www.textiles21.co.uk

· Lancashire and Yorkshire Open Craft Exhibition at The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe until Sat July 4^th ; www.platform.gallery@ribblevalley.gov.uk

· For more information about textile art exhibitions checkout this website –www.textilesociety.org.uk/events.

Advance Notice

· Please keep your Pearl Exhibition pieces to put on a display at our Regional Day next year. New work would be very welcome too.

· Trip to the Wool Clip will be June 6^th. See Carole for details. Please give Judith your name tonight.

REMINDERS

The E.G.M. is in Birmingham on the 20^th June.

There is a vacancy for somebody to run the Sales Table. This just involves collecting items brought in and presenting for sale at our meetings.

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

THANK YOU BRENDA.

.

SATURDAY WORKSHOP

I was very disappointed to have missed the workshop on Saturday. Mum and I were wandering around Istanbul for a few days. I believe on Saturday we were in the Topkapi Palace, sheltering from the rain.

However I believe that a good time was shared by all.Ann sent me the message and photos , below

Marie Lewis- Boutis

Marie’s enthusiasm  was infectious from the start. Everyone really enjoyed the day _ we learnt a lot but completed very little.

Everyone received presents as it was Marie’s last workshop . She gave away lots of her beautiful samples and presents of snips, embroidery rings and special needles.

Let’s hope we all finish our needle cases in time for our meeting next week and then move on to the larger piece of work we received.

We wish her well in her retirement and hope we may see the beautiful bedspread she is working on.

Out and about, Ordsall Hall

It was a busy weekend for me. I had agreed to go to Ordsall Hall on Sunday so took along with me Ann and Barbara. We were to start stitching names for the bed throw. During conversations with Liz and Caroline we decided to have designs ready for members of the public to stitch. This proved to be very popular and we never had a free moment.This couple had paid to have their names included and by chance, Ann was stitching their names.I spent time with Isabelle who was a very enthusiastic stitcher.This project has been popular  and branches are awaiting more names to be bought  so that more members can get stitching. Do go to Ordsall Hall whenever you get the chance. It really is a jewel in the crown of Salford.

Out and about Preston

On Saturday, I visited Preston Branch . I had been invited to their Diamond celebrations. What a lovely day, members were sitting and reminiscing,stitching stewarding the exhibitions and generally having a great time. My journey took longer than expected so had less time to study the exhibitions than I would have liked but I did spend time talking to old friends. It was lovely to see and chat to Betty and husband, I haven't seen them for ages. Members of the public left and then a huge spread of food appeared. Having a heavy cold I had not expected to want much but  starting at one end and was tempted by so much that my plate was soon full.WE then saw a very pretty cake which Dea and Sandie cut up and distributed.Speeches were given and just to prove what a friendly and considerate group they are, flowers were presented to a member who will be 90 next week.Thank you Preston Branch for allowing me to be part of your celebrations.