Feb Meeting

Apologies again for this delay. After the meeting I dashed home to complete my packing and was then off to Cyprus at 5.00am. However the meeting was well worthwhile. Sue Sercombe and her husband came over from the Wirral  on quite a miserable night, to talk to us. Sue brought along a vast aray of pieces of work and many of them were passed around for closer inspection. She shared her love of embroidery and textiles but admitted that she had not concentrated on one technique, rather trying all that was on offer.,This is something to which I concur. Some of her pieces were clothing and members modelled them with grace. No one attempted to wear the wedding dress that Sue made for her daughter but we heard stories about its construction and reconstruction and then why and how it was washed!!! Sue spoke without notes and we were quite disappointed when Brenda had to draw thw time to her attention. I believe we could have been there all night.

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      February 2020

This Saturday, 22 February is our next Saturday Stitchday.  A chance to work on your current projects or try something new with support and encouragement from other members.  Carole will lead a demo on papermaking so please bring an apron and plastic table covering.

  On 21 March we welcome Rachel Singleton (who came to our October meeting) for an exciting   workshop.  See the poster or Julie’s email for photos of her work and what we could be making. The cost of this workshop is £30.  £10 deposit when booking and full payment by 17^th March.

  All Saturday events take place at Bank Top Chapel, Ashworth Lane, Bolton.

   Competitions

The national Members’ Challenge for 2019/20 is “My Favourite Things” – people, places, mementos, etc.  Details on the Guild website, you will need to log in. 

This year’s regional day is in Liverpool on 25 April and the Rosebowl competition theme is “All you need is Love”.  Tickets are £30 including lunch, please see Sheelagh if you wish to attend.  See the poster for details of speakers, traders, etc.  Competition entry forms are available. If anyone thinks they are now entitled to a 25 year badge, please see Brenda or Sheelagh.                                                

 Unfortunately, the National AGM is on the same date, in Birmingham.

Exhibitions

Manchester HOME gallery: Work from the first Greater Manchester open arts exhibition including some pieces by Marion.  Until 29^th March.

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. ‘An English Lady’s Wardrobe’ 70 outfits and accessories showing changing fashions from Edwardian times to WW11. 23 Nov – 1March.

Whitworth Gallery, Manchester. ‘Tapestries’ – an exhibition of textiles from the Whitworth’s collection of tapestries including historical and contemporary examples. Until 1 March.

Preston EG are having an open day on 4^th April including a talk by Valerie Wartelle.  See poster.

The Palm House at Sefton Park, Liverpool is hosting an exhibition by the L/P based Contemporary Threads group, using the Palm house itself as their inspiration.    9-18 March, open 10-5pm.

If you have any items for the sales table, please give them to Karen.  Please don’t just leave items.

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

Birthday Cards: Ann still needs of cards for members birthdays.  Please, if you have any handmade cards or you       can make some can you give them to her.

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 web

Jacobs Join January

 I had been madly busy all week and out for lunch or dinner every day so that thought of another lunch out did not seem to attractive. However I try to attend as many of Bolton's events that I can so on Friday night I boiled a dozen eggs ready to prepare an egg mayo as my contribution to our lunch. Roadworks on Blackburn road made my ten minute journey into a half hour nightmare so all the tables were set up when I arrived. I also noticed the stitching that we began last year at this event. Very colourful.

Brenda and her team had done a great job. We had a relaxing coffee and then played a "controversial" game of true or false. In turn we read a card to the person next to us, choosing one of two accounts. The other person had to guess whether it was true or false. General knowledge[HA HA}and lots of guessing, Judith won the game.

We were all feeling hungry so arranged a wide range of contributions on the table. It was an excellent feast and we still had to go home with goodie bags.
 Another coffee and then Brenda introduced our afternoon stitching. She had made kits for about 30 persons, felt circles or lozenges that we needed to cover in stitches. They would then be threaded onto cord to make a very colourful hanging. I manged one and a half during the afternoon and came home with another which I completed that night. I know that Pauline has also completed three so that's 1/2 dozen ready to assemble.

Brenda also showed us the bowl of flowers that we had all been stitching. She had roughly joined our pieces but must be quite annoyed that there are still gaps. Some members have taken a piece but yet to return it even though its been about a year. A personal plea from me to search , finish or own up if you have a square. Id love to see our finished piece as soon as possible.

There were only 10 of us at the lunch which is in itself a little disappointing but on the other hand it really was great fun. We were all chattering together throughout the event and able to speak to every person in turn, However I do implore you to put these dates into your diary and whenever possible support our Branch. As a former committee member I know how difficult it is to arrange all the events and variety of activities and know it is frustrating when they are under supported. Use it or lose it!!!!

January 2020

Happy New year to all my readers, even though it is rather late!!! We were entertained in Bolton by Suzy Huxley this week. I was really impressed with the work that she brought with her.Lots of animals captured with  machine embroidery that were extremely lifelike. She also had three sewing machines{that were quite ominous} as I am not comfortable with a sewing machine. Suzy brought along her daughter who acted as her technical support.Why I wondered, until later in the evening where Suzy set up a small camera close to her sewing machine which then projected her actions immediately onto the screen. Just like looking at You tube!!! Her talk was quite reassuring to a novice embroiderer. She was happy to make her own rules and also remind us that it takes practice, we cant lean a skill in minutes, hours of practice over and over again.

The photos above give a flavour of her work,followed by Suzy in action at the machine and how it projects onto the screen. Contact her at craftykids@btinternet.com

Barbara brought in two pieces of work, inspired my a Mindfulness talk late last year.

Embroiderers’ Guild – Bolton Branch      January 2020

Happy New Year, welcome to our first meeting of 2020 and we start with some good news. Last year Manchester HOME invited artists living in Greater Manchester to submit work for their first open entry art exhibition.  They received over 2000 entries and shortlisted 20 to win 1 of 5 Manchester Open Awards – and Marion is one of the artists shortlisted!   500 of the entries are included in an exhibition at HOME (near Manchester Oxford Rd station), open till the 29^th March.   Congratulations Marion!

  Events

 This Saturday, 25^th, we have our annual Jacobs’s Join. There is a list for each member attending to        note which food items they will bring for our buffet lunch.

 22 February is our next Saturday Stitchday.  A chance to work on your current projects or try something     new with support and encouragement from other members.

  On 21 March we welcome Rachel Singleton (who came to our October meeting) for an exciting   workshop.  See the poster or Julie’s email for photos of her work and what we could be making. The cost of this workshop is £30.  £10 deposit when booking and full payment by 17^th March.

  All three Saturday events take place at Bank Top Chapel, Ashworth Lane, Bolton.

   Competitions

The national Members’ Challenge for 2019/20 is “My Favourite Things” – people, places, mementos, etc.  Details on the Guild website, you will need to log in. 

Next year’s regional day is in Liverpool on 25 April and the Rosebowl competition theme is “All you need is Love”.  Tickets are £30 including lunch, please see Sheelagh if you wish to attend.  See the poster for details of speakers, traders, etc.

Exhibitions

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. ‘An English Lady’s Wardrobe’ 70 outfits and accessories showing changing fashions from Edwardian times to WW11. 23 Nov – 1March.

The Creative Crafts show is at Event City, near the Trafford Centre from 30 Jan-1 Feb.

Whitworth Gallery.  ‘Tapestries’ – an exhibition of textiles from the Whitworth’s collection of tapestries including historical and contemporary examples. Until 1 March.

If you have any items for the sales table, please give them to Karen or Julie.  Please don’t just leave items.

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

Birthday Cards: Ann still needs of cards for members birthdays.  Please, if you have any handmade cards or you       can make some can you give them to her.

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     

December meeting

I forgot my camera for this meeting. I had been to Aqua then hosted lunch for 19 aqua friends in a local pub, which was excellent. home for a short time then out to Horwich. I remembered my cards and sewing stuff, but no camera.
We had a very festive evening. Marian was able to share some good news that she had been offered a book contract. I  passed around a very positive and friendly letter that I had just received from Dorothy.
 Carol had materials ready for us to stitch a star and then we had excellent food, prepared by the committee. Pauline sent me her finished piece which was not a star , it was a snowflake. I cant have been listening again!!!! Below are our attempts.

There were only 5 pieces for the competition and I will need to borrow the photos from Brenda  to publish later.

Brenda displayed the group piece based on a vase of flowers. There were still large gaps where kits were taken but not yet returned. She said that if any kits had been "lost" then she could make a duplicate. I took another one home as it was almost black with just a small petal. I have started the black in Bukhara couching which should grow quite quickly.
Our next meeting is advertised on the programme as the Jacobs Feast but I think the date might be 18 and not 19th. This is followed by our Tues meeting on 21st. So organise your food contribution, find your flower piece but most of all,

HAVE A VERY GOOD CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

K and S at Harrogate

I try to go to the K and S show at Harrogate each year but this year was extra special. Marian one of our members was invited to both Ally Pally and then Harrogate, to show some of her remarkable pieces. I was delighted that quite a few members of Bolton also thought it important to support Marian. I had seen pictures from Ally Pally and I know that i am prejudiced but I truly thought it was one of the best exhibitions...ever.  I spoke to members from HQ and encouraged them to come and meet Marian. This had lead on to a possible Contact magazine article and another in Embroidery. I even told Anthea that Marian could become more famous than she. Below a few photos but  do not do  her work true justice.

  

As a footnote, I was pleased to see that another member of Bolton, John had entered a competition again 

and Diane from Pendle who has spoken at Bolton was also exhibiting as part of her Lace group.

I AM SO PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NORTH WEST REGION OF EMBROIDERERS GUILD.

November meeting

 Joanne Frankel stepped in at the last minutes as our tutor was unable to attend. it was our gain as Joanne gave a very informative talk about her work and how it had been influenced by life changes. In addition, she was able to bring along a vast array of work and we had the bonus of being able to handle many pieces. Thank you Joanne.

Phil also joined us for the evening and brought along another of his amazing pieces. This time it was based on a stitch that Liz had taught us about a year ago.

Finally Pauline persuaded me to pose for a photo, as I had brought along the piece awarded second prize  at the NWR Day, called Twist it Turn it