This annual event was held on April 26th, organised jointly by the Cumberland and Keswick branches, at Rheged near Penrith – a wonderful venue with lots to see as well as the two branch exhibitions; two competition displays; traders tables and space for lunch – all on the top floor. Congratulations must go to these two branches for a great choice of venue and smooth running of the event.
We also had two excellent speakers – in the morning Shirley McKeand entertained and amused us with her down to earth observations from first hand experience of training and working in haute couture in London. Shirley was immaculately turned out as always in one of her own ‘creations’ – an example to us all!
The afternoon speaker was Maggie Grey, well known for the books she has written under her own name and with the late Val Campbell Harding. She enthralled us all with an excellent slide show (aided and abetted by her husband), and again a very down to earth approach in her talk.
A wonderful display of her very innovative work was on show for us to see at first hand what she does. Very inspiring, making a lot of us want to go home and try out some of her techniques straight away – but I’m sure that like me, most of us went home to cook the tea!!
There are always two competitions held at Region Day – one following a theme chosen by members – this year ‘Myths and Legends’ and judged by the members who attend. Unfortunately no-one from the branch won a prize in this category.
The second competition is the Coats Anchor Open competition for a piece of work completed in the previous two years, following a subject of the members choice and their own design.
I was thrilled to get the third prize for my piece in this category, entitled ’Recycling Grandma’s Linen Chest’ – based on three generations of stitching in my family and using a collection of old, worn, torn, damaged, and faded tablecloths, bed linen, lace, curtains etc., to create a 4ft x 8” wide hanging. (Sorry can’t do metric, which somewhat gives my age away!!) The whole piece and a detail are shown below.
I won a very nice bag of Coats Anchor threads.
I have belonged to the branch for almost 9 years and in that time I know that several members have won prizes in both these competitions, but this year we only had two members who entered, so it would be great next year to see a few more entries – the themed competition is ‘Buildings and Architecture’ so why not have a go? Remember it’s not the winning (though that is very nice) but the taking part!!
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