There will be a committee meeting this month – starting at 12 noon prompt. Agenda’s will be sent out prior to the meeting so to all committee members - please let Kay have any notices as soon as you can.
The afternoon meeting will be a Show and Tell by 3 of our members – Sue Chisnall-Sumner, Caroline Percy and Marguerita McBride - who attended a very interesting course in 2014 and they will be sharing their experiences and finished pieces of work with you.
If you would like to see what some of our Branch members are doing, there are a few who have their own Blog or belong to a Group blog or website. You can catch up with their latest news by going to the “Links” on the Branch blog and follow what is going on in neighbouring branches as well.
Our members with personal Blogs are
Karen Hurrell >serpentinestitches - who posts news of her latest miniature quilt pieces;
and
Tracey Ramsey >traceysthreads.blogspot.com
and who belongs to Natural Progression.
and
Sue Chisnall-Sumner- suecstextiles.blogspot.com
Her latest news includes the textile courses she runs at Avant Garden Centre.
We also have members who belong to different exhibiting groups and information can be found on the following sites -
One Step On > onestepon.co.uk
and
Preston Threads> prestonthreads.co.uk (this site is in the process of being updated at the moment but does show an archive of past work).
Our stitch and chat Christmas event was a great success with 35 members in attendance – all of whom actually took part in the Stitch Challenge and of course the chat and hearty lunch, with one of Kay’s wonderful cakes to follow and Mincepies of course – many thanks Kay.
The rest of the ‘banquet’ was provided by a local village caterer thanks to the work of Marguerita, our branch secretary, who unfortunately had to miss the event due to a chest infection. Hope you will recover soon Marguerita – unfortunately we couldn’t keep any food for you!!!
Coffee or tea – while you stitch!
Members concentrating on their stitching.
‘The tea ladies!!!! – Carole, Deborah and Kay – our joint Chairmen and our assistant Programme Secretary – many thanks ladies for all the hard work.
Kay's ‘Friday night Cake Company’
All the eating and chatting was interspersed with 2 very different quiz sheets which baffled many of us and was followed by the prize giving for the best Christmas decoration.
Look below for ideas and inspiration!!
The winners are shown below – June’s Christmas Angel won first prize and …….
Karen’s extra large Bauble won third prize – on the left below.
There was a second prize winner – Gilly – but the photograph of her piece – a pretty little bauble - did not print well enough – sorry Gilly!
It is the brown background of the table which does not show things off to their best – must remember a cloth next time!!
Have a good holiday everyone and see you all in 2015.
We have just been informed by the Regional committee that the course fees, including accommodation will be - £360 for the three day course -
16-19 July Bella May Leonard 'Sculptural Embroidery' - traditional hand stitch & exciting bright man made materials – e.g electrical wire etc.
and for the 2 day courses - £237.50
17-19 July - Alice Fox 'Rust marks' - using rusty items for printing & dyeing on paper & fabric.
17-19 July - Ruth Brown 'Cyanotypes (blue prints) on fabric'- introduction to cyanotype on fabric.
There will be reductions for non-residents or if members are prepared to share a room.
A deposit of £20 per night is payable on booking. These need to be sent to Alston Hall with a booking form by 15th January.
Our extended Christmas meeting- including a fun Hands-On challenge - starts at 11.30a.m.
Please bring with you a sewing kit, small pieces of fabric or felt and if you have them some ‘bits of bling’.
Prizes will be awarded – not for stitching ability but for fun and an inventive approach!
A finger buffet lunch is being provided – the committee are looking forward to seeing you all.
Our Three Stitchers - Sue, Tracey & Caroline will be taking part in another Christmas Fayre to be held on Sunday 7th December 12.00noon to 6.00pm in Chipping.
They will be selling jewellery, bags, scarves, cards, Christmas baubles & tags & their usual unique gifts in the Village Hall.
The Fayre will extend to the School hall & Brabins Shop, as well as the Village Hall.
Proceeds in aid of NW Air Ambulance & McMillan Nurses.
Our extended Christmas meeting includes a fun Hands-On challenge - starts at 11.30a.m.
Please bring with you a sewing kit, small pieces of fabric or felt and if you have them some ‘bits of bling’.
Prizes will be awarded – not for stitching ability but for fun and an inventive approach!
The committee will be providing lunch and if you have any specific dietary requirements please let Carole know in advance. Tea or coffee as usual.
Our Colour Raffle for December is WHITE
‘SUMMER ICE IN THE ARCTIC’
AND of course the Bumper Christmas raffle – if you still have some items for this please bring them along to this meeting.
Samlesbury Hall will be showcasing a wonderful array of traditional & contemporary crafts - there will be lots of Christmas food to sample, ample free- parking & refreshments. A great family day out.
AND
Our very own Sue Chisnall-Sumner and Tracey Ramsay will be selling some of their vintage threads, fabrics and stitched pieces.
Father Christmas will be making a visit between 12 noon & 2.00pm.
Adults £3.00 & Children £1.00
Charlotte – a young and enthusiastic speaker - explained she had always knitted, stitched and done craft work from an early age so her studies for a degree included knitting and textiles -
initially working with a wide range of materials – including concrete – she developed a range of techniques but focused mainly on knitting.
She graduated in 2013 and after short term placements in industry and with a Milliner, she developed a range of work focusing on colour and weaving – which eventually became a cross between Macrame and Weaving.
She found it hard to make a living from this work so took a teaching qualification and now teaches Art, Design and Technology which she loves.
At the same time she still develops her work which she shows at Interior Design shows – some pieces are shown below
25 members are taking part in this project and amazingly there have only been 6 or 7 who have chosen similar themes – mostly to do with Gardens, Flowers etc.
Below are shown some of the pages – not attributed to anyone in particular -
BUGS AND BEETLES
MICROBES
Lesley Mercer passed on 400 quilts for delivery last month and she is now collecting all finished quilts for delivery at the end of November. These are to go out ready for Christmas.
If you have any outstanding quilts you are making for Linus, could you let me have this Saturday or I am willing to collect them up to 22nd November, so I can pass them onto Lesley.
Many thanks to all those who have helped Linus so far. Angela McLarnon.
Our first Sit & Stitch session for this year, to be run by Carole Sams will be based on CHAIN STITCH and its variations.
Some members may have already started a Sampler so - for those doing the Chain Stitch samples please either bring your ‘sampler’ to add to, or some cotton fabric for practising the stitches; an embroidery hoop, needles, scissors and threads.
These sessions are intended for members who want to expand their stitch knowledge or work on a piece they have already planned, whilst working with likeminded friends.
The Branch will have a selection of fabrics and some threads available for your use but if you want to use your own favourites please bring whatever you have.
Charlotte is a young designer of Textile Crafts graduating in 2013. She produces pieces for the Bespoke Interior market and her colourful work is based on geometric shapes, grids and repetitive, striped Aztec designs.
Look her up on the Web – just type in Charlotte Nash Textile Crafts and you can view many images of her very colourful designs.
NOVEMBER COLOUR RAFFLE – BLACKS
based on the Imja Glacier, Himalayas.
Kathleen, who lived in Clitheroe at the time, joined the Guild in 1949 before there were Branches or Regions as we know them now – she remembers attending the occasional meeting in Manchester and was delighted when the Southport Branch was formed by Pat Birch in the late 1980s and she immediately joined that Branch.
When Pat decided to form the Parbold Branch in 1996, Kathleen joined this as well as it was nearer her home, and she has remained a member ever since.
Although now in her 80s she still attends our meetings regularly and has taken part in many full day Workshops and Branch exhibitions over the years.
Her skills are amazing – Goldwork Aand Whitework being her favourites, but she has always been willing ‘to have a go’ at anything – traditional or modern, but recently has found she cannot do her favourite ‘fine work’ anymore.
SO she mostly now tends to paint in watercolour and of course she is extremely good at that too. A lady of many talents.
The Parbold committee therefore decided that she should be awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Branch, as recognition of her 65 years as a member of the Guild.
The photograph shows Kathleen with our Joint-Chairmen – Carole Sams and Kay Kellaway.
After one month working on their books, our 25 members taking part have created a wonderful array of different work covering a wide range of Themes – from -
Ancient Egypt, Architecture, Artists of the 20th Century, Butterflies, Gardens, Trees, Microscopic pictures, Land and Seascapes and so much more …………
We had such a busy meeting this month that there was no time to take pictures, but I will get some next month and keep you updated with progress – so keep on stitching, drawing, sticking and doing whatever pleases you most to make those books little works of art!!!
Go on, you know you can do it………………….
A couple of pages from the trial books completed by the committee.
Isobel visited us last year for a Workshop on ‘Stitching with Paper’ and today she entertained us with a talk on her current way of working using a variety of the latest materials including Light Moulding Paste and Relief Paste – these are both Textile mediums which are applied to surfaces to create a base for stitching.
She also uses Calico and Weed Suppressant ‘fabric’ which she paints with flour and water paste to create a surface for colour and stitch.
Isobel loves to hand stitch so all of her very intricate work is covered with lots of stitches before she colours with a variety of paints and inks. These are left to dry until they become quite hard and made into boxes, books, panels and bags.
For close up detailed pictures of her work go to her website – lots of information about her and her work.
Members of our Branch who belong to this exhibiting group will be showing their work in their latest exhibition which is taking place at the Brabin’s Shop & Gallery in Chipping, Preston PR3 2QE and is open daily 9a.m to 5p.m until 5th November – free entry.
Information from 01995 61221
Still time to buy some early Chistmas presents!!
This year the monthly Colour Raffle has been based on images from space and there are some wonderful pictures coming up over the months.
October’s colour will be – BROWN –
based on the ALGERIAN SAHARA
If you will be working an A3 page for the Branch Themed Folder this will be the colour to work with.
Committee members should note that there will be a meeting starting at 12 noon, before the afternoon meeting at 2p.m.
This months speaker will be Isobel Hall, who visited us last November for a fascinating workshop on Stitching with Paper.
This time she will be talking about Mixed Media and Stitch and we look forward to an interesting afternoon.
Isobel writes on her website -
“My personal obsession is that I like to embroider and work with fabrics that have been made from scratch. Experimental sketchbook work is important for me and I go on to create items that are fit for purpose so my bags, books, vessels, boxes and jewellery all have to be robust and useable.
I started as a traditional hand embroiderer and over the years gradually made the move over to being a mixed media textile artist who uses machine embroidery but who maintains a love for traditional stitching”
As most of you know we always have a Special Bumper Christmas Raffle of 3 baskets packed with great ‘stitchy’ things.
Nicky will start in October by collecting items you might like to donate – anything from fabrics, threads, books, beads etc. etc…
SO if you have anything that you have spare please bring along to the October and November meetings to make this a ‘Bumper’ event.
Many thanks.
For almost 3 years some of our Branch members have been involved in supporting the Linus Project, by making knitted blankets; small patchwork quilts, for traumatised children in hospitals etc.
Angela McLarnon is organising this project and will be running a Drop-in session at her home at 24 Pear Tree Road, Croston PR26 9HX from 10a.m to 4p.m on Saturday 27th September.
Anyone who would like to assist for an hour or so will be most welcome – help is needed with joining together a collection of donated knitted squares into comfort blankets, or to stitch fabric patches for quilt tops.
If you have any crochet hooks please bring with you to do the joining of the knitted squares and Angela will provide everything else.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Our AGM confirmed our new fees and one new committee member for the coming year.
We were also very pleased to welcome 3 new members joining us on the day and hope they will enjoy their time with us.
2 of these have joined after our National Stitch Day demonstration at Ormskirk Library.
The business meeting was followed by the launch of the Travelling Books project to members and we had a fantastic take up for this with 25 of them ‘signing up’ for their first ‘journey’.
We are really looking forward to seeing what comes back to the October meeting.
Some members cannot always make the monthly meetings so we have also started an alternative A3 Branch Folder with loose-leaf pages which can be added to at any time – based on the monthly Colour raffle satellite images.
About 8 to 10 members have already decided to join this group - the topic for September – ‘ Bay of Biscay’ – Orange.
Keep a lookout for these topics each month on the Blog.
We thought this folder would also be useful as a demonstration piece to take to future Library Days, Exhibitions and other events.
The start of a new year for our Branch with the commencement of our 2014-15 Programme and election of Committee members. Also subscriptions will be due.
A NEW PROJECT - “Travelling Books”
The Branch committee have been trialling this project since January and our Books will be on show for you to look at.
For those of you who are interested in joining in (19 so far), we will have some ideas to share and discuss. You will not be working alone but in groups of 6 so that you can encourage each other to try something new. If you cannot get to the meeting but would be interested in taking part please let me know and I can send some information.
Below are some pages that have already been completed in the current books – a wide variety of themes, designs, techniques and stitches.
Woven Sari knitting ribbons – machine stitched, make a good fabric for scarves, bags etc.
Machine stitch on paper – Tree Design
Architectural design – drawings and stitch samples.
NEW COLOUR RAFFLE TOPIC –
‘THE WORLD FROM ABOVE’
SEPTEMBER – ORANGE
Bay of Biscay
Thanks to 6 of our members – Anne Baldwin, Judith Bradshaw, Angela McLarnon, Deborah McLarnon-Riches, Kay Kellaway and myself – from 10a.m to 2p.m we were very busy answering questions, demonstrating stitches and talking about some of the work on display.
More importantly we had a lot of visitors who stopped to try some stitching and many of them took away the short introductory programme for our new year events so we do hope they come to see us soon.
We would like to thank the Library staff for their hospitality on the day which included tea and coffee – and to Alison Davies who provided the photographs.
After the short formal business of obtaining nominations for new committee members to be elected at the AGM in September, the committee has organised a Summer tea - Strawberries and cream and of course there will definitely be one of ‘Kay’s Yummy Morsels’ – don’t know what but we can look forward to something very different I’m sure!
TRY IT AND SEE!
Meanwhile, if you have been to a show; purchased something in the excitement of the moment, put it away when you got home and then forgotten what it was for!! – bring it along and hopefully one of us will know how it works. Who knows we might all learn something new!!
BRANCH EQUIPMENT
We will also be encouraging you to use some of the items the Branch holds which can be hired for a monthly fee – Cord Winder; Pleating machine; Heat Guns; Glue Gun and other bits and pieces. The Branch will provide some fabrics, threads, card etc., for you to work with but if you want to make some CORDS please bring a variety of thick and thin threads to include knitting wools, ribbons, metallics etc.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that we no longer have any storage at the hall, these have to be kept by committee members, so we need to know in advance if and when you would like to borrow them.
We are working out a system to do this, which we will discuss at this meeting.
MONTHLY COLOUR RAFFLE – YELLOW
The Yellow River – China
PLEASE NOTE – IF YOU ARE FREE ON SATURDAY 2nd AUGUST FROM 10a.m TO 1p.m – SOME OF US WILL BE AT ORMSKIRK LIBRARY FOR NATIONAL STITCH DAY SO DO COME AND JOIN IN.
