Mini Workshop

For the April meeting we are going to have a mini workshop from 10.30 to 12.30 in the morning.  We will be using transfoils as many people have not used them before.  If you do not have any transfoil but would like to join in the workshop, can you ring Anita and she will order some from Art Van Go at £1.25 per pack. 
The main other requirements are:
Fabric - open weave that will take thick threads
Assorted threads in different textures and colours but mostly thick threads.  Some fine gold or sparkly thread for the top
Bondaweb
Chiffon - fine chiffon scarf fabric or organza
6" embroidery hoop would be useful

Above is a picture of what the finished piece could look like.  I am taking the instructions from a recent copy of Stitch magazine if you want to have a look at it yourself.

March Meeting

Not too many of us here today but a very interesting talk on the Lacemakers of Ripon by Mary Moseley and Avril Edmondson.  It is amazing how fine the threads were that the lacemakers used, no wonder their eyesight failed at a very young age. 

The preparations for the Exhibition at Farndale on the 13th and 14th April are well under way.  Unfortunately the weather has got a bit ahead of itself and the daffodils are out now but hopefully the cooler weather forcast for this week will slow them down a bit and we will still have a good show.  There will however, be a very good show in the Bandroom of all our work and I am looking forward to getting it all displayed. 

Information was given for a coach trip to Bombay Stores and Salts Mill on the 27th July.  Anyone who wasn't at the meeting but would like to come, please give Anita a ring to put your name down.  I know it is going to be on the day of the opening ceremony for the Olympics but the concensus was that shopping at Bombay Stores was more important.

February Meeting

This is a photo of some of our members with a few bits of work and our embroidered tablecloth in front of them.  We hope to get this picture into the newspaper in a couple of weeks time to advertise our exhibition (see below). 
A big thanks to all the members who have volunteered to either help at the exhibition or to provide cakes for the refreshments or both.  All we need now is your work to show! 
We had an interesting talk by Veronica Hartley about the making of hats.  She has her own business called 'Dottie Hats' and after giving us a brief history of headwear, she then talked us through how she designed and made hats.
We have got a possible interest in a trip to Bombay Stores later this year (we are all suffering silk withdrawal symptons) and we thought we might continue it at Salt's Mill, so that could be something to look forward to when the weather gets better.

January Meeting

Not such a good turnout this month, what was keeping you all away ladies?  We all had great fun making beaded hearts with Cath.  Unfortunately our speaker could not come so Cath stepped in with a little workshop making these lovely red hearts ready for Valentine's day.  I have managed to finish mine and have put a picture up for you all to see.  I might make another one in a different colour.
We have changed the seating arrangements in the hall and I think it is much better, most people seemed to like it. 
Above is information about our exhibition in April.  I will be looking for volunteers next month to steward and generally help on the day and also to make cakes to sell.  Don't forget to get all your work finished to display and we are also having a seperate display of items in either black or white or a combination of both.  Any technique as long as it is monochrome.  We also hope to do a small display of old work from the 1970's.  I know you are all too young to have been embroidering then (!) but maybe you have something in your loft that we could borrow.

Keeping working!

I have been using one of my purchases from the Knitting and Stitching Show.  This is a thermofax screen and is used just like a screen print.  I have used mine with bleach on a piece of velvet from Oliver Twist's.  There are two designs of flowers and I have added some embroidered leaves and grasses and a few beads.  I made it into a jewellery bag for my daughter for Christmas so I can't bring it to the meeting to show you but I can bring a sample I have done and hopefully another piece I have started for our exhibition in April.

Exhibition in Hemsley

I have just been to Helmsley to a very good exhibition by Caroline Dunn.  It is at the Arts Centre and is on until the 22nd December.  There are some lovely panels with mainly machine embroidery and applique.  Besides that, there are some lovely shops with unusual christmas gifts and plenty of cafes, so treat yourself to a day out.  If you go by car, head out towards Scarborough and turn off at St. Gregory's Minster.  It's a lovely little church with two Saxon tombstones with wonderful strapwork on the top.

November Meeting

Today we had a 'Member's Day', so no speaker but we were all finishing our postcards for the Guild.  Most people had got on quite well and some were just starting but we have now got quite a few ready for the finishing off and assembly.  We should have 14 altogether which isn't too bad.  After my workshop with Francis Pickering last month, several people were interested in how we coloured the paper for the books.  I have just started another book so I brought my paper along to paint and several members had an impromptue demonstration.

A presentation of a National Garden Centre gift voucher, was made to the outgoing chairman, Janet, who had served six years and done a sterling job keeping the branch going from strength to strength.