To all those members who have attended either or both of our latest Workshops -
MAGGIE SMITH’s – Stuffing and Stitching - and
LINDA RUDKIN’s – Flower Pounding -
Will you please bring along your work, finished or still ‘in progress’ to let everyone see the results – my Stuffing and Stitching is still underway but it will be travelling with me soon when I go away. Hope to get a bit more done by the time I return.
Prior to this meeting the Committee will meet at 12noon. There will be NO Sit and Stitch session.
Followed at 2.30p.m by ‘United we Stand’ - Part 2 of the Hands-on session started at our April meeting –
The 3 stitches started then - Back stitch, Chain Stitch and French Knots - will be developed to create stitched layers and a
hand-out will be available on the day.
Please bring you usual sewing things plus a selection of threads.
NOTE - If you could not attend the first session then try to work these 3 stitches in time so that you will be ready for the next stage.
I couldn’t be at the last meeting so hope my sample will be OK???
COLOUR RAFFLE– BLUE
The Blue Mountains, Australia
Linda gave a fascinating talk on how she has developed, through experimentation, a vast range of depth in colour dyeing using natural materials found in her garden or local hedgerows.
Her talk was backed up by a wonderful display of sample boards showing each dye method using a variety of mordants.
The piece below is her first piece, in the form of a ‘Box Lid’ created for her City & Guilds work.
A piece of weaving created from dyed wools.
Dyed silk velvet pieces using a variety of mordants used to make a cushion.
Linda also showed some pieces using the flower pounding method which she would be demonstrating for members on the Sunday workshop. We look forward to see the results of their day.
Pouring with rain – a very grey day, but we 3 – Kay, Marguerita and I, set off hoping for an improvement in the weather. After a longer journey than we thought – spray on the motorway and a lot of Monday morning traffic, we managed to get there just before 11a.m.
Our Branch was well represented with 29 pieces from 7 members, making a good show amongst the 130 pieces on display.
In addition to members work, there were some Branch entries using the “ties” as their starting point – a panel by Warrington shows this to good effect.
The following pieces are some of those by our branch members – Gillie Charlson; Sue Chisnall-Sumner; Sandra Kedzlie; Nicola Robertson; Carole Sams; Monica Selway; Ann Stark.
It was good to meet up with a group of Keswick members, some of whom agreed to add some stitches to the ‘World’s Longest Embroidery’ and 2 foreign design students who also added some stitching later in the afternoon.
We start our day with the morning Sit and Stitch session which starts at 12 noon – usual sewing things.
This will be followed at 2.30 by Linda's talk “Colours from Nature”.
Linda will give you an insight into how she uses a wide range of natural dyes for creative work with textiles. The talk is well supported by more than 60 stitched sample boards and pieces of textile art.
MONTHLY COLOUR RAFFLE - ‘GOLD’
The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
PLUS Our Bumper Half-year Raffle when we have 3 Baskets of Stitching Goodies up for grabs – this might be your lucky month!!!
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SUNDAY 15TH JUNE – WORKSHOP
10a.m – 4p.m ’FLOWER POUNDING’
This workshop involves using fresh flowers, leaves and a hammer to create instant images on fabric. The workshop also covers additional techniques that combine well with flower pounding and extend the range of designs that can be produced. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAMMER YOUR FRUSTRATIONS AWAY!
Places are still available – book with Sue Chisnall-Sumner.
I visited the exhibition for the Preview on Sunday 25th May and was met by a wonderful array of colour and pattern all set in a huge white exhibition space, which set off the pieces very well.
It must have been a massive job setting up the Regions displays and the ‘Nations of the World – Regional Postcards’; ‘Finest Stitches’ and the ‘World’s Longest Embroidery’ – well done to all those who undertook this work.
There are 130 pieces from the Region’s Branches, 29 of which came from 8 of our Branch members. Well done ladies – a good show!
The Regional committee is still looking for volunteers to steward this exhibition which closes on the 25th June and is open from Monday to Saturday 10a.m to 4p.m. I will be sending dates out to the Branch when I have them.
No need to take lunch – there is a very nice cafe in the building on the ground floor.
Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I am going back soon and will post some of the images later to the Blog.
What a super weekend we had with Maggie – a great talk with lots of samples to handle - a generous speaker and tutor for those who attended the Sunday workshop.
15 members all enjoyed ‘Getting Stuffed’ – a new take on Quilting techniques which included Trapunto, Italian and a variety of traditional and experimental English style quilting – mostly representing Architectural patterns from friezes.
Below are some photographs taken at the workshop - of the samplers started on the day - looking forward to seeing the finished or on-going pieces at the next meeting in June. Please bring them in for everyone to see.
