Out and about

Today, Sunday, Barbara and I went to the Embroidery 2000 exhibition at Astley Hall,that I had told you about. It was a glorious day so we sat outside  at the cafe and ate lunch. We then went upstairs to the  newly refurbished stables. We were warmly greeted  by Margaret and then began to study the exhibits.

The works were based a poem, chosen by each embroiderer. The work was exquisite. Jacky had alerted me to the details of the exhibition and we loved her work.

This was our favourite piece in the exhibition and the photo does not do it justice sorry, Jacky.

Another by Jackie.

This nuno felt piece was created by Margaret,colourful and beautifully stitched.

All I can say is that I strongly recommend that you visit this exhibition,open Sat and Sun 12.00 till 4.00 until Sept 4th.

EGM and Summer Meal

Tuesday was our formal  EGM meeting but for the last couple of years we have met at the Ridgmont and combined it with a delicious meal. Of course we did the same this year.  The committee were announced and introduced. Several members were retiring and volunteers have been found to replace them. Clare will replace me at IT Rep, Lesley replaces Pauline as Programme Secretary and Brenda B replaces Eileen H as the Librarian. The rest of the committee remains. These persons are “committee elect” until being ratified at our AGM in September but their names can now be printed on the programme. A workshop was announced, see below.

CREATIVE INTERLINING WORKSHOP

Saturday 13^th August at Bank Top

Please bring:-

Assorted Vilene , Bondaweb , Lutrador etc

Paints, brushes and newspaper to dry on.

Black bin liner and tape for table

Parchment to iron on

Heat gun, soldering iron, craft knife and cutting mat

Notebook and pen

Usual sewing stuff and/or machine.

Angelina , beads, voiles ,fibres to trap, little bits of fabric

Thread for hand and/or machine sewing.

Embellisher if you have one

Ideas, instructions from magazines and books

Stitch no 25,31,41,43,49,69,70 71

Your own lunch – tea and coffee will be provided.

Lots of IMAGINATION !!!!!

JULY NEWSLETTER

An index for STITCH magazine is available from the Web - very useful

Workbox has suddenly and surprisingly ceased trading.

Louise Gardener exhibition at Quarry Bank until Sept.

Natural Progression at Salmesbury Hall until the end of July

Exhibition by Embroidery 2000 at The Coach House Gallery, Astley

Hall, Chorley , Saturday and Sunday until Sept 4^th

Bolton Branch AGM Sept 20^th. Bring your broderie perse piece.

Further details and programme available in Chairman’s letter due

end of August.

Good food shared with good friends.

Return from Summer school,

I returned last night from a weekend at Alston Hall. The NW Region of the Embroiderers Guild takes over the venue, once a year for an incredible weekend. This year the tutors were, Liliane Taylor, Frances Pickering and Nicola Jarvis.Frances started her class on Thursday and the group created amazing “Books to Cherish”. Liliane gave inspiration to create huge “Pictorial Collages”. In a conversation with her ,, she told me that she is booked to speak in Bolton in October. I will look forward to that.I chose the “Modern 3D Crewel work taught by Nicola.

We began after dinner on Friday,selecting fabric, threads and designs. I had decided that I did not want to work in wool so took along perle thread. I was more inspired by a traditional design than the 3D offered but as always with embroiderers , we all moved off in different directions.

We worked hard and then moved into the bar for a little R and R.A good nights sleep and up for a cooked breakfast and I was stitching again soon after 9.00am. Morning coffee and home made biscuits .buffet lunch, afternoon tea and scones and then another 3 course meal in the evening punctuated our stitching,

I was also in charge of selling our raffle tickets and taking photos of the event so often went on a ramble to get some fresh air and shake down the food! You can work as much or little as you wish but again on Saturday, some of us did not reach the bar until well after 10.00pm.

Sunday followed the same format but after lunch we began to tire and think about clearing up. We held a mini show and tell in our group and then visited the two other groups to see what they had done. Afternoon tea was served at about 4.00 to set us up for our journeys home.

Alston Hall is a comfortable venue set in very pretty gardens.It even boasts a croquet lawn. Several of the regulars were unable to spend the whole weekend with us but called to see old friends. On Saturday, Jennifer Bamford and Sandra Kedzlie arrived and then on Sunday, Betty Mansfield and Pauline Hannon. If you have ever thought about joining us , but were not sure , then do think again. Persons of all abilities are accepted. Friendships are made and a whole weekend of stitching whilst being tempted by excellent food is a dream come true.

This was my weekend stitching, soon to be finished.

Nicola proudly displays our work,

Padiham Branch

Yesterday, I went over to Padiham again. It was the last meeting of the “year” so we celebrated by having a “Show and Tell”. Joan the secretary began the event, showing inspiration from her city and guilds days.

I was really impressed that every member had brought along something to show and  was happy to stand up and discuss their work.  It made a very good mini exhibition and we can always learn from our colleagues.

Mona the chairman completed our event, telling us about the highs and lows of bookbinding.

Finally having already been refreshed by tea or coffee , we were treated to strawberries and vanilla cream, by members of the committee.

We meet again in September for the AGM and and some other activity,yet to be confirmed. Members from Bolton  (or in fact any other branch member who might be reading this} can join Padiham as well as their home branch.  Fees to HQ are already covered by local membership so only the Padiham fee is needed.Padiham meets on the first Monday of the month , from 2.00 till 4.00.It takes me about 1/2 hour to get there and we have a large, free car park. As a new branch we would appreciate all support.

Extra information

I am sure we all enjoyed Laura's talk and I had intended to add her contact details,

laurajhughes.hughes18@googlemail.com

I am also still working on my competition piece and have found a couple of useful web links. Go to Wikipedia and type in broderie perse and when you have read this go to the extended link.This will bring up a long article and photos from an American Quilts link. Hope its useful. Val

June meeting

I was intrigued by the title of our meeting last night,From North Wales to Nottingham in the Textile World.  Laura Hughes soon to graduate, gave a very slick computer generated talk. I wish I had her IT skills. Her home is in North Wales but she chose to study for her degree at  Nottingham University. Accomplished in many fields , she has concentrated on weaving and more especially using recycled materials like cassette tapes.   I  was also amazed that she actually brought her working loom along with her……quite a visual aid!!! Laura poses in one of her jackets,below.

 

Laura had many samples which she was happy to pass around so we could study the pattern and feel the texture. We all wish Laura success as she begins her career.

BOLTON NEWSLETTER JUNE 2011

· Ridgmont meal Tues 19^th July, £20.00. Have you a seating request?

· Casket workshop, this Saturday, £5.00, including lunch. Spaces.

· National AGM weekend Southport 30 March 2012.Pauline Hannon to Chair the W/E

· NW Reg AGM Preston, Sat 28^th April. Have you finished your “Two peas in a pod”

· I have spare copies of NW Reg Journal, £1.50, a good read and colour pictures!!!!

Competitions

· Molly’s Cup , please suggest Themes for the next competition, this evening

· Xmas, stitch a cracker

· I’m sure your Persee piece is almost completed. See it in September.

Postcards

We are planning a Bulgarian themed party and practical for our Xmas meeting. Postcards will be displayed at the National AGM prior to the Cultural Olympics.

Visits and exhibitions

· We are planning a trip to Harrogate in November, are you interested?

· Preston Threads exhibition, Rossendale Museum till July 31^st. details on poster.

· Five of us attended a service of dedication for the pulpit fall at Nancy’s church last Sunday .The congregation was delighted with the gift. Photo on Blog.

Sadly HQ has increased our fees by £2 and we feel unable to absorb these costs so must charge £39.00 next year. It still amounts to less than £4.00 a meeting.

At the EGM we hope to elect our committee. All positions are” available” but some committee members are prepared to stand again. However, the booking secretary, IT Rep and librarian pasts are vacant. I am pleased to say that there has been interest in all of these vacancies. I will continue with the blog until someone feels able to take it on.

http://begstitchers,blogspot.com/

Ann also added that I had heard today that Workbox had folded. We are all saddened as it was a popular magazine. The article about the Pulpit Fall was ready for printing in the next edition so they kindly sent me a proof copy.

Out and about

Last week as area 2 rep , i was invited to visit Rochdale branch. I had a very warm welcome and recognise and was also recognised by a number of members. It was a very busy meeting. Rochdale had just organise a very successful cream tea exhibition. They are planning visits and workshops galore. The speaker was a lady from Empress Mill who spoke about the making and uses of thread. It was very interesting and of course made even better by bringing along a shop. Empress Mill is holding an open workshop on Friday 1st July,

On Sunday I went to Helmshore Mill to “Follow the thread” which I believe was organised by the Friends of Helmshore. Again I knew quite a number of people. There were demonstrations and sales tables from a variety of  textile crafts. The mill was open and the water wheel worked.Outside they were visited by a family of Alpaca.