A MEMBER’S ENTRY FOR A COMPETITION IN HER OWN WORDS by Karen Hurrell.

I signed up for Janet Browne's workshop at the NW Region Summer School at Alston Hall this year, but struggled to think of what I would do during the workshop. I came up with an unusual solution. I took along an idea for a piece on the theme of 'York - celebration of a city' which, if I could make it quickly enough, could become part of an exhibition celebrating York's 800th anniversary. I hoped that this would prevent me from ending up with another UFO in the cupboard!

Well, I spent the Summer School weekend working on two samples (still unfinished) and only got as far as drawing up a design for the full size piece. A couple of days' leave and a weekend later, I had managed to do most of the appliqué and submitted two rather poor quality photographs of my 'work in progress' for consideration - on the final morning for entries. Over the next two weekends I continued working on it: finishing the appliqué, embellishing with free machine embroidery and adding texture with free machine quilting. I still didn't know at this point whether it would be selected.

On 13 August I got the email I had been waiting for, and to my surprise my work had been selected! I then had only five evenings to finish it: adding a facing to the shaped edge and finally a label and hanging sleeve. I just managed to finish before heading off on holiday. You can see the finished piece on display, along with 30+ other quilts, in York until 16 November. A list of venues is available from York Tourist Information, the Quilt Museum and Gallery or anywhere displaying a quilt.

Go to Karen’s own blog for more information and close up pictures – Serpentine Stitches

Well done Karen – a great achievement and a super piece of work.

SATURDAY 6th OCTOBER at TARLETON LIBRARY–OUTREACH PROGRAMME.

A few of our members  will be demonstrating and showing some of their work at this Library in Mark Square, Tarleton PR4 6TU - just off the A59/A565 junction.  Turn at the A58/A565 cross road traffic lights towards the village centre; row of shops on left and the Library is straight ahead – turn right at the  mini-roundabout and first left will take you to a large car park at the side and  rear of the shopping precinct.

We will be there from 9.30a.m to 1p.m and we are inviting the public  to come and see what we do; talk to the members and pick up a programme for the forthcoming year. 
Branch members will be working on small pieces of hand stitching – called INCHIES - and you might like to come along and ‘have a go’ and find out what they are!! 
Please pass this on to as many people as you know who might be interested.

For more information you can contact me through the Guild website – Parbold Branch page.

NOTICE – We will be doing 2 more of these events at Eccleston (24th November) and Leyland Libraries (19th January 2013) – more details of these nearer the time.

NATURAL PROGRESSION AT BRABINS

5 of our members belong to the Natural Progression Exhibiting Group, and they will be showing their work at the Brabins Gallery in Chipping, north of Preston as follows -

The exhibition and sale of Textile Art  - “UNDERGROUND, OVERGROUND”
will be open from 3^rd - 30^th October 2012

Brabin’s Shop & Gallery, 22 Talbot St, Chipping, Preston PR3 2QE.

Telephone: 01995 61221

SATURDAY 8th SEPTEMBER–Talk by Nikki Parmenter

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an inspirational afternoon we had with Nikki who gave us a great talk today, full of colour, fun and enthusiasm.  
She is a fine artist by profession, but after working on paper and then wood, decided to work on fabric, creating HUGE and exciting hangings and 3D pieces based on cultural and religious themes.
In fact many of her pieces were so big they had to be ‘displayed’ on the floor!!
She incorporates various items, mostly bought at BQ, and which include hosepipe and garden mesh; beer cans and acetate sheet, with paint, fabric, old lace, ribbons, beads and even hair extensions! - to create her work. 

Our members really enjoyed the talk & I am sure the memory will last for a long time – the vibrancy of the colours and the amazing 3D animals making her work almost surreal.

Many thanks Nikki for a fascinating afternoon – a new experience for us.

I’m sure my photographs will not do her work justice, but here goes………    

      

AND the ‘piece-de-resistance’ was the last piece of her display which is still ‘work in progress’ – The TURTLE – a turtle on a plinth with an Elephant on his back carrying the World on his shoulders – amazing!!!!!

The words are both mine and those of Sue Chisnall and the photographs are mine – ENJOY.

SEPTEMBER RAFFLE

This month we start our new Colour Themed raffles based on Nursery Rhymes – the first one is

LET’S MAKE THE COLOUR PINK – red and white in different quantities for various shades, and I couldn’t resist this picture of roses – my favourite flower.  So bring along as many shades as you can find.