AGM September 10

36 members attended our AGM on Tuesday. What a busy night. The formal part took about an hour but there was so much else to do. Maggie Wilde had been invited to come and tell us about the bonnets made for women convicts sent to Australia. Unfortunately, Maggie had recently suffered  a really bad accident and broke her leg, thus unable to attend. She kindly sent a DVD that was  to be shown, for our use. We send her our good wishes. We had already purchased fabric and cut out bonnet brims ready to embroider with hearts and flowers so members just needed to make a choice of a convicts name.

As usual we had our annual competition for “Molly’s Cup”. This year we used the same theme as that of the NW Region, Buildings and Architecture. There were perhaps less entries than usual but I am delighted to say that the Rose bowl was won by Margaret Hulton. It is the blue bag at the front. Margaret sent apologies for the night so she will have a formal presentation in October.I will then include a better photograph.

We also collected some of the canvas blocks that members   are making for our next installation. They certainly look colourful. BUT we need lots more , so keep going.

The local newspapers had been invited to see and photograph our Bolton Market Hanging. Neither were able to attend so John did the honours.

In addition to all this, Barbara showed us the latest designs for Nancy’s Pulpit Fall and asked for volunteers to firstly machine applique the roundels and then for hand stitchers to add details.A meeting of those interested is planned.We plan to use threads donated by Geoff, Nancy’s husband and then we were able to sell quite a lot of fabric and thread donated by Nancy’s husband.

We managed a short Show and Tell, too. Jackie had brought along the two quilts featured in the previous article. Eileen brought photos of her latest ecclesiastical commission. She also shamed us by bringing along details about Bulgaria and her postcard!!!! I will type up this information for our next meeting. No excuses then, for lack of knowledge. Florence shoed us a baby quilt that she has just completed and finally I showed everyone the bowl that I made at summer school, reminding everyone of the great weekend that one has ,at Alston Hall. So as I said at the start,a very busy night.

Out and About

Yesterday , Ann and Pauline invited me to join them on a trip to The Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate . It was a lovely day, travelling in a coach with members of the Quilters Guild and meeting several people that I knew. The buzz went round that Jackie Martin, one of our members had won two awards.

 

We all rushed around to see these two wonderful quilts. I cannot the patience that one must have to make such amazing creations.The use of colour and technique emphasise their beauty. Well done Jackie and I am proud to call you a friend.

There were some incredible quilts to see. Of course there were also the obligatory stalls as well as demonstrations and mini workshops. We watched a very interesting demonstration by Maggie Davies, who was using a paper product in her work. Later we joined a Folk   Art Anemone workshop lead by Jane Rollason.

Here you can see Ann and Pauline busy at work. Finally we wandered around the rest of the exhibition and saw that Pauline had also won an award for her mini quilt seen to the right of Anns

piece. So a very good representation by members of our guild. It made the very early start for me all worthwhile.

The market hanging

 

Pretty impressive, don’t you think?   Thank you Lesley for your imaginative idea and leadership throughout this work. Lets hope that we do find a suitable permanent home for it. Would all contributors sign the fabric that I will bring to the AGM and then we will attach to the back.

Out and about

Last Wednesday, Barbara Ann and I , visited the current Progressive Threads exhibition,”Whispers from the past”.

It is a lovely venue, good parking and cafe and the exhibition room is well lit. You can see above that Ann and Barbara are intrigued . Ann is checking to find photos of herself. Why? How?Maybe Pauline piece of work will explain this.     

  A deckchair!!!!

The exhibition lasts until30August. Mon to Fri 12 till 4 and weekend 12 till  5.00pm. Small entrance charge to the site.
Helmshore  Mills Textile Museum. BB4 4NP

Summer school 2010

Last weekend Jennifer Bamford, Eileen Holmes and I, attended the NW Region, Summer School at Alston Hall. By co-incidence we had all chosen Kath Danswans Silk Bowl class. We began with a huge silk cap which Kath promised would be transformed into a stunning creation, similar to her own. Kath demonstrating.

 

 

 

  Managing the huge cap was quite a challenge to us all. We then added water soluble and stretched   it into a frame and began machine stitching. This was my start and almost competed vase. I  still need to add beaded raindrops

Jenny Burns found a new use for her vase and then you will see some of our nearly finished items.

 

Ruth Peel demonstrated how to make and bead, stunning tassels.

And finally Annette Morgan ran a three day course”Dying to Stitch”.This time fabrics were dyed using microwaves and then embellished with stitches.

So just a taster to show what happens at our summer school. I have added the new details to the Web site BUT you cannot apply until Jan 2011. I have lots more photos if anyone would like them.

July Meeting

We had a most unusual July meeting. Due to varied commitments by members of the committee it was decided to combine our EGM and Annual meal into one evening. So about 40 members attended a short EGM at Ridgmont House where the committee for 2010 –2011 was approved. We then  celebrated with a Kir Royal or Bucks Fizz and then moved upstairs to enjoy a delicious meal.

Ann plans to send our the usual Chairs letter during August but wanted to remind all members that the Mollys Cup competition to be judged at the AGM in September is Buildings and Architecture.

Also for anyone unable to attend the EGM, Ann announced that our country for the postcard challenge is Bulgaria.More details about this in September.

June meeting

Well we certainly saved the best until last. I was delighted to see that one of our founder members, Eileen Pepper , was to talk about  “Tudor Times “ and was  not disappointed.  One clue to this,  was perhaps the variety of artifacts and embroideries that were displayed.

Eileen gave an amusing and comprehensive talk about the hardships of   life in Tudor times. She passed around a range of items including a tussie mussie and a hand made orange and clove pomander.

Ann our Chair was not able to just sit and listen as she was used as a model. Eileen had loaned her a thin white shift and then proceeded to dress Ann in rich Tudor clothing.

As Ann said in her vote of thanks,  that Eileen gave us such an informative and entertaining talk and we all wish that we had such History teachers when we were  at school  .Thank you Eileen.

 

EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD - BOLTON BRANCH

NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2010

GUILD NEWS

A message of sympathy was sent to the family of Charles Gotto, the Guild President from the North West Region, tragically killed in a farming accident, as it was too far for anyone to attend the funeral.

Summer School at Alston Hall – There are a few places left for Elaine Peel’s Beaded Tassels workshop from 16^th – 18^th July, or as a day student for the Saturday at a cost of £44, including morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. Contact Sheila Shaw (s.shaw@sk12.demon.co.uk) for further details or to book.

EXHIBITIONS

There are quite a lot of these at the moment, so I have listed them briefly. If you are going further afield this summer, the Embroiderers’ Guild website has a long list of exhibitions from all over the country and beyond.

BANKFIELD MUSEUM Boothtown Road Halifax - 10+ Textiles. Until July 4th Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 5. Sunday 1 – 4.

DRUMCROON GALLERY 2 Parson’s Walk Wigan - Textile Narratives. Until June 22nd, featuring the work of Val Jackson & Jane McKeating. Tel. 01942 233303

TOUCHSTONES GALLERY Rochdale - Knit One Purl One – an exhibition of contemporary knitting & crochet. Until 4^th July, Monday – Saturday 10 – 5, Sunday 12 – 4.30.

PLATFORM GALLERY Clitheroe – Artefact. Until July 17^th, including work by textile artists Alice Kettle and Isabelle Wright as well as other artists working in glass, ceramics etc

WHITWORTH ART GALLERY Oxford Road Manchester - The Manchester. Until July 1^st Monday – Saturday 10 – 5, Sunday 12 – 4. Thomas Wardle & India.

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. Tel. 01772 258248.

FARFIELD MILL Sedburgh Cumbria – Trees in the Park, quilted textiles by Turning Point. Until July 11^th. AlsoWear It – wearable textile art from July 11^th - September 19^th. 10.30 -5 daily. Tel. 015396 21958.

WEST PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Harrogate. An exhibition by Harrogate Branch of the Guild from June29th – July 10^th Wednesday – Saturday 11 - 4 Tel. 01257 463113 for information.

ECCLES FARM Eccles Lane Bispham Green Nr. Ormskirk. City & Guilds Textiles Exhibition, June 30^th – July10th, Wednesday – Saturday 11 – 4 Tel 01257 463113.

HELMSHORE MILLS TEXTILE MUSEUM Holcome Road Helmshore. Whispers from the Past – Bolton Progressive Threads. From July 3^rd – August 30^th, daily 12 – 5. Tel. 01706 226459. NB There is an admission charge.

TURTON TOWER 10 Decades of the Barlow Institute in Stitches Edgeworth Craft Group – 10 tapestries depicting images from local, national and international events to commemorate 108 years of the Barlow Institute. From Augush4th – 30^th. Normal entrance fee applies.

ADVANCE NOTICE

The AGM will be on September 21^st and we will be having a talk about the project to make a bonnet for every woman who was deported to Tasmania.

REMINDERS

Don’t forget the EGM will be held at Ridgemont before our annual summer meal on 20^th July, starting at 7.00pm. If you would like to join the committee, please let Ann know before the meeting.

Don’t forget that Val has set up a blog for Bolton EG at http://begstitchers.blogspot.com/ .

Also just a reminder that the Guild web address is www.embroiderersguild.com

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