August 8th - our EGM and Sit & Stitch with a Strawberry tea and chat!

To start the day off at 12noon we will have a Sit & Stitch session with Kay Kellaway on -
      ‘KNOTS OF ALL KINDS’
and the requirements for this are as follows -
Stranded cottons in a range of matching colours.   Usual sewing equipment and an 8” ring frame – if you have one.
Kay will provide suitable fabric and a design source.
                           *****

Following this we will be holding our EGM when we nominate new Committee members for the following year, and then on to more stitching (carry on with KNOTS or bring your own piece if you are working on something – maybe the ‘Bunting’ started with Sue) and then our Social Strawberry Tea.

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COLOUR RAFFLE
GOLD – ‘GOBI DESSERT’

TRAVELLING BOOKS

Pictures above - from the current 20C Artists book.

Please note that ALL travelling books must be returned to our August 8th meeting for return to their owners – there are 18 books on this second Journey PLUS -
if any owners of the previous series of books would like to bring theirs in we can then put on a good display for all members and visitors to see.

These will then be displayed at our exhibition next year so keep them ready!!   Those that I have seen so far all look fantastic!

NATIONAL STITCH DAY

We are holding 2 events to celebrate STITCH as follows -

FRIDAY 31ST JULY at PARBOLD VILLAGE LIBRARY from 12.30 to 3p.m

and

SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST at TARLETON VILLAGE LIBRARY from 9.30a.m to 1p.m

Members of the Branch will be at both venues demonstrating a wide variety of stitch techniques with the chance for members of the public to ‘have a go’ – fabrics and threads will be available and whatever you stitch you will be able to take home.

We look forward to seeing lots of visitors at both venues.

TRAVELLING BOOKS

The Books I have seen in this second round are looking really good and I know that some members have expressed their delight with what they have seen in their own books so far.

SO please do not forget to return all the current books to our August meeting – they will be put on show for everyone to see and if you only took part in the first round you might like to bring those in as well.

A REMINDER OF WHAT SOME OF THE PAGES LOOK LIKE -

    

JULY 11th meeting - Requirements for Hands-On from Sue Chisnall-Sumner

Prior to our afternoon meeting there will be a Committee meeting starting promptly at 12 noon.

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For the Hands-On session - Bring your printed/stamped A4 calico fabric, template & A4 muslin (from April hands-on)
Normal sewing kit i.e fabric & small scissors, needles etc.
Embroidery threads if hand stitching.
6-8" wooden hoop if required.
Any adornments you wish to add e.g. buttons, beads, sequins, ribbons,
Tassels or bells.

You will be given instructions on how to make the bunting at the July meeting.
Sue C-S will bring two sewing machines which can be used by members that wish to machine embroider or stitch the bunting together. If preferred you can do this at home.

The completed bunting will be collected in the future & the Committee will attach each pendant  to a tape with Velcro- the bunting will be used for our exhibition at the Art House in 2016.
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MONTHLY COLOUR RAFFLE FOR JULY

RED
KUMBUNBUR CREEK, AUSTRALIA

BRANCH MEMBERS EXHIBITING GROUPS–NEW WORKS

2nd July to 1st September 'Art & Soul' by Natural Progression Textile Group.

An exhibition & sale of contemporary textile art at the Bridge Gallery, Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Road, Samlesbury PR5 0UP- TEL: 01254 812010 - http//www.Samlesburyhall.co.uk -

Open Sunday to Friday 11.00am t 4.00pm- closed some Fridays so please check with the hall. Free entry to exhibition only.

Preview Thursday 2nd July 6.00m to 8.00pm -all welcome

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28th June to 31st October – ‘TIME and TIDE’ by Preston Threads -

This work moves from the Lancaster Maritime Museum on Saturday 21st June to Fleetwood Maritime Museum for a further 4 months.

Opening times 11a.m to 4p.m Tuesday to Saturday – cafe. 
Charges – Children free; £2 Concessions; Adults £3

For more information please contact the Museum on 01253 876621 or www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

 

DOLLS WITH ATTITUDE–a talk by Kathryn Thompson 13th June

Report by Carole Sams – one of our Joint Chairmen and a Doll Maker herself -
“We had an entertaining talk from Kathyrn Thompson explaining her development of making cloth dolls.  Her historical perspective from the plastic shilling shop dolls that she decked out in finery, to the upside down Jean Greenhow dolls made for her children through to her current embellished figures, many of which she had on show.  Latterly she has worked with the American doll designer Patti Cullea and our own British designer Ray Slater, whose methods are quite different.  Kathyrn told a tale about stuffing and gave tips from doll making that can be utilised in other textile activities with the use of finger turners and symmetrical drawing.

      

Apart from her extensive textile work Kathyrn is a heritage tour guide in Blackpool and has been asked to give talks to promote the planned Museum of Entertainment which will open in 2018, and her dolls are proving useful in aiding her with this.
The ‘Buxom Babe’ doll figure (which unfortunately I did not photograph ) provides a popular image of Blackpool; the Pantomime Dame represents the Entertainment the resort is famous for and the Mermaid is a test to see who knows where in the resort the mermaid riding a dolphin is sited.
This was a very entertaining talk, even if the dolls were a bit spooky for some of our members”

From Sandra Kedzlie – a comment -
I am the one who has always thought these dolls were spooky” BUT after hearing Kathryn’s talk and seeing her wonderful dolls with their beautiful costumes, I must say I was amazed by the detail, colour and imagination put into this work and some of them – especially the ‘Buxom Babe’ – based on the artist Beryl Cook’s work I think might help me get over my aversion!
Thanks Kathryn – a great and entertaining talk -wonderful to see someone using their work to inform others in a different way.

NATIONAL STITCH DAY–SATURDAY AUGUST 1st

Our session at Ormskirk Library last year to celebrate this event was very successful and this will run again at 3 venues, so we will be looking for VOLUNTEERS to help out with demonstrations and the loan of some small pieces of work for display.
PROBABLY 3 FOR PARBOLD AND TARLETON AND 4 FOR ORMSKIRK.

Venue 1 – PARBOLD library (new venue) from 12.30 to 3.30p.m on FRIDAY 31st JULY

Venue 2 – TARLETON library from 9.30 to 1p.m on SATURDAY 1st AUGUST.

Venue 3 – ORMSKIRK library on SATURDAY 1st AUGUST.  Times to be confirmed.

Publicity material will be available from HQ so there will be enough time to advertise well in advance.

Please see me at our next meeting – 13th June.

SIT AND STITCH–KNOTS OF ALL KINDS

Just to let you all know that the scheduled Sit and Stitch session for this month has had to be postponed and will now take place before our August meeting.

Full details and list of requirements will be available at our July meeting.

JUNE 13th MEETING–TALK BY KATHRYN THOMPSON

‘DOLLS WITH ATTITUDE’

Kathryn – a member of Blackpool branch has a longstanding love of doll making and has worked with Ray Slater the renowned Cloth Doll Maker.

Kathryn’s talk will be based on how she creates the character embellished figures, describing the fabrics and ‘other useful finds’ that she collects to include in her work.

Pictures taken from the Keswick branch meeting in 2012 where Kathryn gave a similar talk.  I’m sure she will have made more by the time she visits us.

           

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL EGM AT BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY–JUNE 20th

Please note that Proxy Voting for this meeting has to be returned by June 12th – your forms are attached to the document sent out to all members after the AGM in April.

For full details on the voting procedure and details of the recommendation - go to the Guild website, LOGIN with your membership details and under ‘Articles of Association’ you will find a copy of the Proxy Voting form.

JUNE 13 MEETING–RAFFLES

    JUNE COLOUR RAFFLE  –
   YELLOW – MAURITANIA

       

AND OUR HALF YEAR BUMPER
RAFFLE of 3 Baskets of Goodies.

Please bring any sewing supplies you can spare.

WORKSHOP - NUNO FELTING WITH LACE WITH JULIE JAMES - SATURDAY 20th JUNE

Learn about Nuno Felting techniques incorporating lace and net fabrics to create a 3D item or small bag.

MEMBERS £20 / VISITORS £24

In addition there will be a £7 charge for a pack of fabrics.

Several places still available - to book please ring Sue Chisnall 01772 461714
or
Sandra Kedzlie 01704 229097

TALK by KATIE DUXBURY–9 MAY–‘HOW I BECAME A DRESSMAKER’

At almost the last minute Sue had to find a new speaker this month to replace Linda Miller who unfortunately had to cancel due to family illness – we send our good wishes to Linda and her family.

Katie Duxbury filled the bill admirably with her talk on her dressmaking career so far. She gave a very good slide show and brought with her an amazingly colourful dress and some accessories – created from found bargains in fabric and charity shops which she recycles by cutting up into small repeatable shapes – which are shown in the amazing dress she had brought with her -

  

Katie graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Theatre Design. Since then she has worked in theatrical wardrobe departments across the country, in a range of roles such as costume maker and designer.

She is currently based at The Dukes Playhouse Lancaster where she created the costumes for ‘Robin Hood’ in 2013.
She has also worked at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre on ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’; ‘Chicago’  and many others.
The Aldwych Theatre, London; ‘Top Hat’ and other theatres across the country.

 Picture from her blog which she gave permission for me to use here.

For more information and lots more pictures of her costumes go to -duxburydesigns.co.uk.  where you will also find her blog.  
This website is devoted to sharing the work, which she is very proud to present and hopes you enjoy!

Saturday 9th May alteration to programme –New Speaker

 Katie Duxbury-'How I became a Dressmaker' 
Katie is a dress designer & will tell us about her Dressmaking History, from University to her recent creative work.
She will also talk about her experiences with Theatres, where she has worked in several theatrical wardrobe departments and has links with Dukes Theatre in Lancaster.

She will bring examples of her work and show digital images.

Well done Sue for getting this organised so quickly.

MAY - COLOUR RAFFLE

 This month the colour is - 
              GREEN

The Yenisei River, Siberia

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REQUEST FOR RAFFLE CONTRIBUTIONS -
for our Bumper June Raffle – please bring any ‘stitchy’ items you have spare to make up our 3 baskets of goodies for our half year special.

SATURDAY MAY 9th and SUNDAY MAY 10th–TALK AND WORKSHOP

I have just received this message from Sue that Linda Miller is unable to do the talk on 9th May or workshop on 10th May as her dad is extremely ill.

Everyone on the workshop has been informed but this is for anyone thinking of making a late booking.

Sue has managed to get a replacement speaker at short notice and I will put details on the Blog as soon as I receive them.

WORKSHOP AND CRAFT FAIR

Sue Chisnall-Sumner’s workshop ‘Design to Stitch’  has been rebooked for May 19th.
Full details from Sue.

ALSO

Sue and Caroline will be taking part in a Craft Fair in Preston – a wide variety of work available including some featured work of Degree students…….

MUSEUM OF LANCASHIRE
Stanley Street, Preston PR1 4YP
presents
’HAPPY AND GLORIOUS’
May 3rd from 12noon to 3p.m
May 4th from 10.30 to 5p.m

for further details go to their facebook page –happyandglorious.co.uk

9th May–Talk–‘In Stitches’ with Linda Miller–Machine Embroidery.

FIRST - the delayed April Committee meeting will be held - starting at 12 noon.   There will be no Sit & Stitch meeting.

Our afternoon talk will follow at 2.30 p.m. with Linda Miller - covering all aspects of her work and incorporating the joys of being a practising Textile Artist, working with galleries and shops, gaining commissions and working towards shows & exhibitions.

SHE WILL FOLLOW THIS WITH A WORKSHOP ON  SUNDAY 10TH -
           '3D Machine Embroidery'
Giving students a chance to work on soluble fabrics, which when dissolved can create wonderful 3D objects in stitch & colour.
Working from your own designs, you will be able to make bowls, flower bouquets, jewellery pieces, place mats and many other embellishments.

There are still 6 places left and if you are interested please contact Sue Chisnall-Sumner on  - suechisnall@btinternet.com

 Pinterest.

See Linda’s website and blog for information and pictures of her work –
go to – www.lindamillerembroideries.co.uk

.

APRIL HANDS-ON PRINTING

If you could not attend this meeting but would like to make some bunting for our exhibition next year, Sue has the instructions, patterns and fabrics so it is not too late to join in.  Please see her at the May meeting to collect all you need.

APRIL COLOUR RAFFLE–‘PINK’

The Colorado River and Lake

ONE STEP ON EXHIBITION

‘One Step On’ will be holding an Open Day at Cedar Farm on Sunday 19th April.

Several members of our Branch belong to this Exhibiting group – it should be a good day. You can see some of their work on their website – follow the link to their page – available on our Branch blog.

PRESTON THREADS EXHIBITION at LANCASTER MARITIME MUSEUM–April 11th to June 21st 2015

This exhibition, based on artefacts from the Museum, opens on Saturday 11th April and runs to Saturday 21st June.
Based in the Old Customs House, St. George’s Quay, Lancaster LA1 1 RB.
Contact phone: 01524 382264
The opening times will be 11am – 5pm seven days a week.
The exhibition itself is free but admission to the museum applies as follows - £3 adults; £2 concessions;
FREE to accompanied children and local residents (LA1 – LA6 postcodes).

There will be a preview event on Sunday 19th April with a ‘Meet the Makers’ session from 2 to 4p.m. Tickets for free entry available for this event – please contact me by e.mail.

As the only remaining Parbold branch member of this exhibiting group I have created 2 pieces based on the old Buoy with its peeling paint and rusting metal bands.

  
                 Close up of the decay.

 Hand painted cotton with hand stitched
                             detail.

Talk to Merseyside Branch–March 14th–further photographs.

If you would like to see what we got up to on our visit please follow the links to the > Merseyside Branch website > www.megonline.co.uk > Programme – go down to > Workshops and Talks and you will see us in action!!

Sue Chisnall-Sumner

Sue will be running a workshop 'Design to Stitch' at Avant Garden Centre in April – go to her website for full details – can be accessed through our Links on this Blog page.

April 11th Hands-On meeting–PRINTING with Sue

No Committee or morning stitch session due to a number of committee members unavailable.
Usual afternoon meeting  starting 2 for 2.30.

Requirement List for 11th April Hands-on with Sue – this is her updated list -

· Stamps & stencils made at Feb meeting-if you did not attend that meeting I have a supply of handmade stamps & stencils.
· a variety of small pieces of plain fabric eg. cotton etc.
· An old small towel to use as padding for stamping or stamping foam pad.
· stencil/ flat brush
. masking tape & scissors
· acrylic paint or fabric paint/tray or pot to for paint & pot for water.
· old clothes/apron & kitchen towel for spills.
· plastic & newspaper for your work area.
· plastic bag to take any wet fabric home.

PS - We have purchased some light calico for members to print on -  to make bunting for next years exhibition.
I have made a template if you would like to do some of these BUT members can bring additional fabric as requirements list to make their own items at home.

The July Hands-on will be for further embellishing of their bunting fabric with stitch etc.,  & if time – stitching the bunting together by hand or machine.

 

Japanese Beading Course

Recently received this and passing on for those of you who might be interested.

My name is Carol-Anne Conway – a member of the Oxford Embroiderers Guild - I will be running an Introduction Class to Japanese Bead Embroidery at The Crofters Hotel, Garstang on Saturday 18th April 2015.

Price: £75 - Included are all course fees, a Dragonfly Scissor Case kit, morning and afternoon tea or coffee. (Please note that scissors are not included in the kit)
email japanesebeading@gmail.com to register or for further information.

Talk to Merseyside Branch–14 March

We were invited to talk to the Merseyside Branch as part of their exchange visit to our Branch last year.

Three of your intrepid members set out on a pleasant afternoon and were greeted by a very welcoming group of ladies – below are our talks – in the order they were delivered – with pictures of our work provided by Angela McLarnon.

Sandra as the almost oldest and longest serving member, started off the proceedings talking about the Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of working with an exhibiting group – Preston Threads.

This was followed by Kay – talking about her Most Expensive Glove in the World plus a lot of other beautiful knitted garments.

And followed last but not least by Deborah who talked about her experiences as a new ‘learner’ member of the Branch and my goodness – she has done such a lot - an example to us all!!

All three of us enjoyed our afternoon with the very appreciative members of the Merseyside Branch.
Sharing times like this should surely be what we are all about!

MARCH 14 - Talk by Karen Quickfall–’Quilters Guild Suitcase Collections’.

Karen – one of our Branch members, came to talk to the branch today to show and explain a collection of quilts from the Contemporary Quilters' Guild.
This guild has members from all over the UK and indeed the rest of the world.

They hold both a winter and a summer school as well as an annual meeting in London to give opportunities for members to meet up.
Local groups meet more often; Karen is in the NW and Wales local group.

The theme for this ‘Collection’  was 'All In A Days Work' and there were about 40 quilts, approximately A3 size - all showing different interpretations of ‘a days work’  - from being in the house or garden to being actually at work i.e. paid for it!

Many textile manipulation skills were employed, from fabric dyeing and painting, collage, applique, hand and machine stitch and fabric layering.
Karen was, by profession, a statistician and based her quilt on the many and varied topics on which she had worked. It makes fascinating reading.

The rest of the collection could not be photographed but some can be seen on the Quilters Guild website  -
www.contemporaryquilt.org.uk/all-in-a-days-work.html

Report and photograph by Marguerita McBride.

March 14th meeting–Talk by Karen Hurrell–one of our members.

Due to a number of the committee being away this month there will be no Sit & Stitch session but the hall will be open from 12 noon if you want to bring your own work to stitch and have a chat with like-minded members.

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The afternoon meeting will be a talk by  Karen Hurrell who is also a member of the Quilters Guild.
Karen will be showing us the Contemporary Quilt Group’s latest Suitcase Collection on the theme of ‘All in a Day’s work’. Members could interpret the theme in any way they wished, the only requirement being that entries should be A3 size and portrait. There are approximately 50 quilts in the collection, each accompanied by a statement including details of the inspiration, materials and techniques used.

A few examples are shown on the CQ website   -www.contemporaryquilt.org.uk/all-in-a-days-work.html

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The colour raffle this month is 
–PURPLE –
based on the Islands of Crete

                    

Saturday 14th February

Several members attended our Sit and Stitch session and produced some great samples of COUCHING STITCHES –

    

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THEN for the afternoon Hands-On session with Sue and Tracey - we made print blocks using string, polystyrene and foam cut outs and made our own stencils from card – making sure the ‘cut-out’ shapes were linked. 
These will be used for the next session in April  when the blocks and stencils will be printed onto fabrics.

Blocks and stencils -

The committee held an additional meeting to discuss Guild business and it was decided that Marguerita McBride our Branch Secretary, would represent us at the AGM in Birmingham on April 11th.
Unfortunately the AGM clashes with our Branch committee meeting on the same day. However proxy votes will be available this year so please keep a look out for details on the Guild website – using your Membership Login details (this is on your membership card).
Full details will also be in the next issue of Contact – No.39 – due out soon.

   

 

Travelling Books–February meeting–handover.

There was a lot of interest in the change over of books from the first ‘Journey’  where a wide variety of work had been achieved from those members taking part – some pictures of separate pages below -

       

The 3 continuing groups of 6 members have exchanged books and will now work with a different group and different themes so it will be good to see them full to overflowing with colourful designs, drawings, stitched samples and finished pieces by the time they all return in September.
A good start for our Anniversary exhibition in 2016.

OUR LATEST WORKSHOP–Saturday 7th February with Anne Brook

Attended by 14 of our members we were all treated to a great day of design and machine stitching – onto papers!! 

Working with Anne was very inspiring – she explained and demonstrated every stage very clearly before setting us the task of choosing papers – from a huge selection of decorative wallpapers to newspaper and all things between.
Anne’s own work is often based on nature – seed heads, flowers, birds etc., but today she chose to demonstrate by creating a piece based on a sewing machine!

The aim was to create a piece of work from an image we had been asked to take with us or some members chose to work on the patterns and words on the papers available.  These are mine – there were many many more!!

    

We started by tearing, cutting and sticking images and strips of papers onto a wallpaper background before stitching – all demonstrated very clearly by Anne.

Here are some of the pieces in their first stages and after being worked on. 
FAR MORE pictures than usual but I couldn’t possibly leave anyone off!

Before and after stitching where possible -

      Kay

        Angela

 
Gilly

      Sue Abbott

 Caroline

Deborah

    Marguerita

  Wendy

 Nicky

      Monica

    
Sue Chisnall-Sumner

Enid

   
‘My Krooked Kandinski’ – my version of a great artist’s work – with apologies to him!!

There is one member’s work missing but she had to leave early so hope to get a picture later.

THANKS ANNE – for a fantastic day – we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

For more information and better photographs - go to Anne’s website -    
H-anne-Made to follow her Blog.