June Day School.

I was double booked on Saturday and was therefore unable to attend the day school. A friend from Australia was returning home after a few days with me. However , Fiona had formally lived in Bolton for one year and I encouraged her to join our guild. So on the way to the train we called in.Our members were busy making canvas work squares to be collated into an installation. Fiona was given a warm welcome and was frustrated that we did not have the time to join in. She was impressed with the range of colour and techniques used. I have promised to send  her a photo  of the finished work.

 

Out and about

As area 2 rep for the NW committee, I plan to visit as many of the branches in my area as possible. I began in May with a visit to Glossop. After a very warm welcome,  I looked forward t0 their  speaker, Maggie Wilde who told us about bonnets being made to recognise the women convicts deported to Australia in the 18th century. There has been some publicity about this, but Maggie was so enthusiastic and made this project come to life. I went back to my Branch and she has now  been invited to our AGM in September. I’m sure there will be many bonnets made by our members.

It was a glorious day on Wednesday as I drove over to Little Morton Hall to see the Altrincham exhibition. I was really impressed  as always with their work and the extra special setting that was chosen. Sandra the Altrincham Chair was there and we had time for a chat too.

On Saturday I went to celebrate with Rochdale at their  cream tea.  Of course they also had an exhibition and many “shopping opportunities”. I was really honoured when Jan the Rochdale Chair asked me to present a silver badge to Marjorie Davies who had just completed 25 years with the Guild. A delightful day.

May meeting

This time I will begin with the newsletter, composed by our secretary, Marilyn.

NEWSLETTER – MAY 2010

This email was received from Kathryn last week
I have just had some bad news via Neil Hitchens -  Charles Gotto the Guild President was killed in a farming accident on Sunday.  This is a terrible tragedy not only for his family and friends but also for the Embroiderers' Guild he was working very hard to raise our profile and promote the Guild's aims.

REMINDERS

Don’t forget that Val has set up a blog for Bolton EG at http://begstitchers.blogspot.com/ . Please log on and become a follower.

Also just a reminder that the Guild web address is www.embroiderersguild.com and then enter your username and password which is on the back of your current membership card.

EXHIBITIONS

MACCLESFIELD and District Branch regret that their exhibition "Samplings", due to take place from 22 May to 26 June in The Silk Museum, Macclesfield, has been postponed until January 2011. New dates and a new venue will be announced in the Autumn. Meanwhile we regret any inconvenience caused, should members who have seen our announcement in the NW Journal not receive news of this postponement in time and go to The Silk Museum expecting to see our work.

PRESTON Branch will be holding an exhibition from 17^th – 31^st October 14 – 4 Mon – Sat 2010 at Preston Minster

The HARRIS MUSEUM and Art Gallery in Preston - Embellished: The Art of fabulous fabrics, runs until November 2010. Open Monday- Saturday 10am – 5pm except Tuesday 11am – 5pm.

CHELFORD and NORTH CHESHIRE EG – Rags to Riches – Saturday 22^nd May 2010, 10am -4pm at Chelford Village Hall, Knutsford Road, Chelford SK10 9AS. £3 admission charge for adults. For more information go to www.chelfordstitchers.blogspot.com or contact 01606 871450.

ALTRINCHAM Branch is exhibiting at Little Moreton Hall from Wednesday 2^nd June – Sunday 6^th June from 11am – 5pm. National Trust charges apply.

ADVANCE NOTICE

The Theme for the Rose Bowl Competition 2012 was voted on at the Regional Day and will be “Two Peas in a Pod”. The 2011 Theme is “Lights Fantastic” and will be held at King Edward and Queen Mary School, Lytham St Annes 0n April 16^th 2011. The Madeira lecture is by Paddy Killer.

The Embroiderers’ Guild is launching a project to produce embroidered postcards for Olympic Year 2012 rather in the style of “Rainbow Squares” Each branch will be allocated a participating country, to be drawn at random. More details later.

FINALLY

Please go and look at our library as we have bought several new books at the Regional Day.

Marilyn refers to the Guild website. Using the appropriate passwords, the e newsletter is now available.[Val}

The meeting

Ann Christy came to talk to us in May. She was the former IT Rep on the NW committee and supported me in setting up this Blog. Thanks Ann. She then became the Vice Chair but is currently our NW secretary. Ann was asked to present Barbara with her certificate for taking the second prize in Manchester. 

The title of Anns talk was “From a Distance” and could have been interpreted in many ways.  However Ann told us of the joys and pitfalls of distance learning when she studied for her C and G. She demonstrated her IT skills, with a computer  presentation of her work and of course better than this,a display of her actual pieces. We all appreciate those tutors who explain the inspiration for their work and then bring it along for closer inspection

Assembling the Market piece.

A busy few days, NW Regional Day, a Branch meeting and then 4 of us met to work on the market piece and all within 5 days. Is this a record?

Rough placement before we began the stitching. Anns husband

is on hand to record our enthusiasm.

Lesley checks on one piece.

The piece grows. Ann Lesley and Pam adjust the placements.

After warm home made scones we were re energised and managed to attach all the items. We still await 2 or 3 pieces but know where they will fit. Ann volunteered to join together the separate panels , Over half of our members have contributed to it and I am sure that Lesley will be delighted with our completed piece. I will put together an article and hope that Workbox will again publish it. Next time I report on this could /should be to show it in its finished state.

April Meeting

Ann Burrows paid us another welcome visit this month.  Several of us had completed our haberdashery pieces from the day school and displayed them for Ann to see. She was delighted. Ann spoke about her family and how she incorporated photos of them into her work. Another skill for us to learn, maybe another day school to book.

 

Some of our day school pieces.

NW Region Day

Saturday 17th April was a bright and sunny morning.  Eight members of Bolton Branch made their way to the Manchester Conference Centre anticipating a wonderful day. The venue was excellent, within a reasonable walking distance from public transport. Morning coffee and afternoon tea were included in our tickets and the hot lunch was delicious. The morning began with the usual formalities but  then Anthea Godfrey had come up from Hampton Court and gave a very comprehensive account of the present situation  I am sure that the problems of the past are now buried and feel that we have a much stronger foundation to plan for our future.We were  then treated to two speakers. In the morning a “local” , Hilary Hollingworth described her love of darning. Many of her pieces were quite tiny but exquisite in their execution. After lunch, Alysn  Midgelow Marsden explained her thought processes when planning her work. Looking at her many incredible completed pieces, I could appreciate this pre planning. I must take this on board!!! Our day was relaxing and as always it was lovely to meet up with so many embroidery friends.As usual we all spent more than anticipated at the stalls but our day was “made” by Barbara Ryall who won the second prize for her piece based on Florence.

Our chair looking at a display

Formalities ready

Barbaras piece in top right corner

We are now looking forward to our next Regional Day on April 16th 2011 at KEQMS, Lytham St Annes. The Rose Bowl competition is Lights Fantastic.

The Market Panel

I’m sure that Lesley is pleased with the work now submitted for the Market panel. There have been many arrangements and re arrangements of the pieces but we are still waiting for a few promised items. Philip has added the lettering.  Some of us will meet on April 21st to begin attaching the individual pieces to the backing fabric.