May Meeting

The first warm sunny day for a long time and we spent the day indoors!  However, we had a good meeting.  Moira had brought some of her dyeing equipment along and several members had a short tuition session on dyeing your own fabrics.  It was very much appreciated by all who joined in. 

In the afternoon we had a very enjoyable talk by Nicoa Hulme on Stumpwork.  This tied in very nicely with our recent workshop on that technique with Kathleen Laurel Sage.  It is always interesting to see how different people approach the same topic.  Unfortunately, although I had my camera with me, I completely forgot to take an pictures of Nicola's work.  It goes without saying that it way wonderful.

Stitching in the Dales

For the first time, Moira and I, joined a group of ladies on the residential course run by the Grassington Branch of the Guild and had an extremely enjoyable couple of days stitching.  Our tutor was Linda Westerman and the topic was 'Fragments of the Past'.  Everyone did something different, from memories of summer picnics to Egyptian tombs and all the work was brilliant.  Linda was an excellent tutor, never trying to overide what you wanted to do but guiding us through the moments when our brains seemed to just block up.  We had an interesting B&B by the river, in an old 17th century farmhouse.  All beams and stone staircases and doorways even I had to duck to get through.  The buffet lunches provided were amazing, the lady preparing it being only too pleased to have different tastes to the rugby players she usually provides for.  I am looking forward to seeing what they are going to run next year as I would love to go again.  I now have loads of work to complete from the two courses I have done recently but it feels good to have the inspiration going again.

Kathleen Laurel Sage Workshops

We have just had a wonderful 2 days in workshops with Kathleen Laurel Sage.  We  joined forces with the Textile Experimental Group who meet in Ayton near Scarborough and on Thursday we had a machine embroidery day in Ayton village hall, making organza panels.  This was a really busy day and lots of work was achieved with several people going home with a nearly completed panel.  On Friday we met in Wrelton village hall and had a much more sedate session doing stumpwork flowers and leaves.  We didn't have much in the way of completed work to take home but we did take away lots of ideas and information for the future.  Our thanks to Kathleen for being such a lovely friendly tutor.

April Meeting

Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera this month and therefore I have not got any photographs of the wonderful quilts our speaker brought, nor of the experiments that were done in the mini workshop.

Members were interested to know what other people had used Lutradur for, so Christina brought along some painted Lutradur of her own together with her soldering iron and heat gun and did a mini workshop for those who were interested.  It was very much appreciated and the sharing of knowledge is what the Guild is about.

The Kathleen Laurel Sage workshops are fast approaching.  The Maching Embroidery Panel workshop is now full and the Stumpwork one on Friday 10th May has just 3 places left if anyone is interested.

Several members attended a workshop to learn about using their sewing machines.  They learnt all sorts of useful things about tension, thread, needles, etc.  Everyone agreed what a useful day it had been and some of them have booked further sessions.  Kathy Selwood who runs the courses has taught and serviced sewing machines for many years and there isn't much she doesn't know about them.  Even the manufacturers have consulted her!

We have got plans afoot for an exhibition next year in the Spring and to boost our funds while we wait for that, we are having a cake stall at Kirbymoorside Market on Wednesday 4th September.

An outing to Bowes Museum is planned for the 19th September where we hope to have a good look round the new textile gallery.

Our speaker was Antonella Jones who is a member of several quilting groups in Whitby and who brought lots of lovely colourful quilts for us to look at. 

March Meeting

A bitterly cold day but thankfully no snow.  We had a members day today and sixteen people braved the cold to bring their work and chat.  We all brought 'Something I have had for years and don't know what to do with' which got everyone talking together and sorting out each others problems.  One thing that did emerge was that several people owned lutradur and hadn't used it so next month we are having a mini workshop making small samples using lutradur and other mediums. 

The Kathleen Laurel Sage workshops on the 9th and 10th May have gone very well although we do still have a few places left on the Stumpwork day on Friday the 10th at a cost of £30 if anyone is interested.

Some members will be attending workshops with Kathy Selwood learning all about the sewing machine, getting the tension right and using different needles etc.  We have also had interest in an outing to the Bowes Museum so we hope to get that under way in July.We are all set for a busy year ahead, we just need the weather to warm up and encourage us.

At last we have managed to have a meeting.  It seemed strange to be wishing everyone a Happy New Year this late.  It meant that we had lots to discuss in the business part of the day but we started a few minutes early so that we could give our speaker as much time as possible.  The new bag for our banner is coming along and several members took squares home to embroider ready for piecing together with the machine embroidered squares that Jackie has prepared.  Bookings for the Kathleen Laurel Sage workshops are going well.  Thursday 15th May, Machine embroidered panel is now full but there are a few spaces left on the Friday 16th May for the Stumpwork class.  We are now opening this up to non members at a cost of £30.  Anyone interested please contact acassedy147@btinternet.com. 
Next month we are having a members day where we hope to make a start on putting together some of the pincushion bases we have bought and turning them into unusual pincushions.  We are also going to bring in 'Something I have had for years and don't know what to do with'.  I am sure there is someone in the Branch who can help you out!  We are all guilty of buying things that look interesting at the time but then we forget what we bought them for.  I hope everyone will get involved in looking at something that they haven't tried before.
Our speaker was Carol Coleman who gave us an interesting demonstration of a 'Clingfilm Sandwich'.  We were all fascinated by the variety of surfaces you can create using this method.  She also showed us how to cut and shrivel plastic carrier bags to make some interesting shapes.  I hope we will see some finished pieces from the members next month. 

Some of Carol's work using cling film and snippets of fabric

What you can do with an old carrier bag.

January Meeting Cancelled

The sudden fall of snow last night has caused me to cancel today's meeting.  As you can see from my front garden, I am running out of space to put the shovelled snow.  It's certainly keeping me fit.

Make use of all this white stuff and try some Snow Dyeing.  Disolve one tablespoon of soda crystals in half pint of warm water.  Double up quantities until you have enough liquid to cover your fabric.  Soak some cotton fabric in the liquid.  Place a sheet of glass or similar in your sink or bowl at an angle.  Lay the fabric on the glass then cover it with snow.  Sprinkle powder dyes over the snow and wait for it to melt and dye your fabric.  I have got some interesting colour and patterns from the pieces I have done.

Hopefully by next month all this will have gone and we can get out again and get back to normal.