MACHINE EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP – 19th JUNE

I got to the hall about 3p.m to see what everyone had been doing and I arrived just in time for tea!!
They were all working very hard at making samples and experimenting with, what was for most of them, some new techniques. These included fabric distortion, manipulation using scrims and working on dissolves, as well as some simple stitch exercises to get them started..
The results are shown below – don’t know who did what but members present included Donna Eaton, Angela McLarnon, Mary Heaton, Pat Barends, Brenda Jackson, Kay Kellaway (sorry if I have missed anyone off).  All ably tutored by Sue Chisnall, Karen Hurrell and Tracey Ramsey.

 

Apologies for the poor photo quality but it was a very bright day with a lot of reflected light in the hall.

TALK BY DIANE GAFFNEY – 12th JUNE

We had a fascinating talk and a most enjoyable afternoon with Diane when she talked about costume for special occasions from Java, Bali and Northern Thailand.  There were weddings, Court , Temple and street ceremonies – all shown with our new digital projector, which is really proving it’s worth as most speakers now seem to bring a laptop or memory stick with all their photographs.

The printed batiks, amazing patterns and colour were a main feature of the talk, with some really incongruous sights – like a little girl from the Hmong tribe in Northern Thailand,  having her school lunch and dressed in a beautifully embroidered and patterned top with a pair of jogging bottoms and plastic sandals!!  Also a group of men from Bali at a street ceremony all wearing red T-shirts with the word PECALANG printed in white on their backs and over their traditional long ‘skirt’.  Diane explained that the word means SECURITY and they were the crowd control for a street ceremony!!

After the slideshow we then got to handle and even try on some of the fantastic collection of items that Diane had brought with her and here are some pictures.

One of the beautiful Batiks from Java

 
Sue – our (joint) Chairman in all the finery of the Hmong tribe –  love the T-shirt, necklace and badges, but having seen the items they put together I’m sure they would be more than pleased to do the same.

 
Top view of the lampshade (sorry – hat!) she is wearing.

 
Detail of her skirt – very finely pleated with hand stitching mainly in cross stitch.


A man’s ceremonial hat – for Court ceremony.

 
Karen our Programme secretary in a very grand gold embroidered jacket and holding a pair of matching slippers.  Would make a nice item for evening wear maybe.

AND FINALLY -  I just couldn’t resist this one – John our official photographer is always ‘snapping’ away when we least expect it , and I for one like to make sure it’s my best side (!!) when I am photographed so I am not always best pleased !!!!!

SO JOHN this is just for you – we just had to get our own back, so on the catwalk now is John Clark wearing  a skirt and pinny!!!!!
Finished off with a natty little hat – it really suits you and I’m sure you would fit in with the best of them in Java.  Thanks John for being a good sport.

Amendment for bookings – 19th June

For this workshop can you please contact either Sue or Tracey and NOT Karen – or me if you can’t get through to anyone!!  Sorry about this but Karen has changed her phone number.

Saturday 19th June Workshop

Sue, Tracey and Karen will be running a ‘Machine Embroidery for the Uncertain’ workshop and there are still a few places available.  If you would like to book please contact Karen Hurrell our Programme Secretary.

You will need to bring -
Your sewing machine which is capable of dropping the feed teeth; an extension cable; darning or any open front foot; spare needles and bobbins and your machine manual.
If you do not have a suitable machine, there will be 3 available for use.

You will also need a thin embroidery hoop (capable of fitting under the machine foot.
Cotton fabrics, machine embroidery threads, pins, scissors etc.
Paper and pencil for notes.
Your lunch.  (Tea and coffee will be provided).

The tutors will have supplies of cotton fabrics, dissolvable fabrics, material scraps and plastic wallets.  A few spare hoops, thread etc., will also be available.

 

JUNE 12th MEETING

This months Colour raffle is based on Hard & Soft Coral, Sponges and Algae – lilac; gold/yellow and white.

Our speakers this month are Diane & Jim Gaffney
talking about ‘Clothes for Festivities, Ceremonies and Special Occasions’.
Diane and Jim Gaffney run Textile Techniques and their shop, Textile Traders.  They have an excellent website with lots of information  at  www.textiletechniques.co.uk

They specialise in buying, selling, and exhibiting hand made textiles and learning and talking about the people who make them and the techniques they use to make them.

Quoting from their website -  “Glamour, glitter, gold, intricate weavings and stunning embroideries are all part of the textiles and costumes made and worn for weddings, festivals and temple ceremonies.
A wedding in Java, a temple ceremony in Bali, and a New Year celebration amongst the hill tribes of Northern Thailand.
The significance of the textiles, and the stories of their designs are as fascinating as the way they are made and the events they are made for. Come and enjoy!”

“Fair Trade has always been an important part of our business and we do our best to keep things fair by buying directly from the maker wherever possible. That way we know everyone is happy with the deal. It also helps to give money to those who continue to make high quality textiles in the teeth of considerable global economic pressures. 
We particularly specialise in silks, brocade and ikat weavings from Laos, Thailand and Indonesia, batik from Java, Malaysia and Thailand, kilims, carpets and flat weaves from Turkey and tribal costume and textiles from the hilltribes of the Golden Triangle. Going to see the people who supply us with textiles and tools is the best part of our job and we try to visit at least once a year”.

OPEN DAY NEWS

WOW what a day we had  - if you couldn't get there you really missed a treat.
Sue Chisnall and Tracey Ramsay our joint Chairmen, deserve special thanks for the enormous amounts of time and effort they put into the planning and background; the visits to Mills, Museums, Canals and Coal-mines to prepare samples and ideas for our Hands-on days that we had in the build up to this event.  It really was worth all that effort - thanks U2.  
The displays looked absolutely great with a table devoted to each of the four subjects of Local Industrial Heritage.

 
Wakes Week Postcards - There was a huge variety of fabric postcards on show and for sale.

 

 Mining - The miners ‘buttie’ (or sandwich) boxes proved very popular as they each contained a little colourful gift – brooches, pendants etc.

 
Canals - A variety of stencil printed bags following Canal barge painting designs and the horses feed bag shape.

 
The Canal bargemen wore intricately stitched belts made by wives and girlfriends, based on check tea-towel material and these proved very popular.
Christina Mutch and Sue Tyldesley ran an ongoing hands-on workshop throughout the day and many of the visitors took part.   I think these might become a popular fashion accessory in the branch!!

Weaving -
A variety of weaving equipment – clogs, shuttles and posters were on display as well as some hand woven pieces by members.

Continuous spinning and weaving demonstrations throughout the day were undertaken by several members of the Merseyside Weavers group and their contribution was much appreciated.

IN ADDITION we also had a display of members own work, which never ceases to amaze me – we never see some of this work being done but we always get a good display for an exhibition that does everyone proud – a few examples -

The 'Catering team' did sterling work and kept everyone fed and watered and we had great fun on the door, talking to all the visitors.  AND of course our two Trade stands selling a wide variety of paints, dyes, fabrics, beads etc………………..

The whole event seems to have been a great success with  over 145 visitors who appreciated absolutely everything and have written some really nice comments in our Visitors book.  Do read it at the next meeting.

We hope now that some of them follow up on this and return as visitors to our monthly meetings and eventually of course join us as new members in September.

WELL DONE TO EVERYONE – IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS and worth all the hard work put in by members.

 

LOST PROPERTY

At the end of our Open Day last Saturday we found a pair of black leather gloves with a label inside which says -
100% Goat Nappa – size M-L.

If anyone has lost these please contact me at sandrakedzlie@gmail.com and I can bring them to our next meeting on the 12th June. 
If they belong to someone who is not a member they can be collected from our meeting, from me or they can be posted.  Just get in touch.