Today we had a visit from Pauline Heyward who is the Regional Chair and she brought along the Guild Suitcase Collection. This is a series of slides showing some of the items that the Guild has in it's collection. It starts with some beautiful embroidered gloves and travels through time and styles to the present day. There is a good range of items shown and it was interesting to see how embroidery styles have changed. Those awful pieces you have in the loft that you made in the 1960's and 70's don't look so bad now.
We have decided to try and do something for National Stitch day and several of us are going to approach local libraries to see if we can sit and stitch there on the Saturday. Hopefully we will get some attention although here it will be Yorkshire Day so all towns and villages will be very busy.
I didn't get any photographs this time as I forgot my camera as usual. One or two people had finished their little books that they did with Christina last month and a few were still finishing off their stumpwork pieces that they had done with Alison.
Our bag for the Regional Day bag raffle has now been made and just requires filling with any items you can spare in the the colour range of apricot and also deep, bright pink. Please bring any pieces to the May meeting.
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Thursday, 2 April 2015
March Meeting
We had a lovely day today with a visit from the ladies of the Hull Branch of the Guild. The room was full and the chatter went on all day but we still managed to get a fair amount of work done. I even had to clear them out at the end of the day.
In the morning, Christina did a workshop using transfer crayons. She did a demonstration first and we all had a go and then she gave each of us a kit to make up into a small book using hand painted papers. Here are some of the work done trying out the crayons.
In the afternoon, Alison did a workshop with stumpwork. She provided kits with varying degrees of difficulty and we chose which we felt we could best cope with. Most people did either the holly leaves or the dragonfly. Here is some of the work in progress.
The work being done at St. John's Church in East Ayton on the the alter frontal is well on its way now. Only a couple more sessions should see the embroidery finished. It has been quite difficult doing some of the stitching but it does look a lot brighter than it did. The one on the right has had the central gold added and the one on the left is still to do.
I recently went to a church in Leavening just outside Malton and they have this wonderful embroidery on the wall of the chapel. If you are ever out that way it is worth a look. All the central picture is done in split stitch and this piece was the starting point for the Leavening Embroiderers. The surrounding pictures are all activities to do with the village.
In the morning, Christina did a workshop using transfer crayons. She did a demonstration first and we all had a go and then she gave each of us a kit to make up into a small book using hand painted papers. Here are some of the work done trying out the crayons.
In the afternoon, Alison did a workshop with stumpwork. She provided kits with varying degrees of difficulty and we chose which we felt we could best cope with. Most people did either the holly leaves or the dragonfly. Here is some of the work in progress.
The work being done at St. John's Church in East Ayton on the the alter frontal is well on its way now. Only a couple more sessions should see the embroidery finished. It has been quite difficult doing some of the stitching but it does look a lot brighter than it did. The one on the right has had the central gold added and the one on the left is still to do.
I recently went to a church in Leavening just outside Malton and they have this wonderful embroidery on the wall of the chapel. If you are ever out that way it is worth a look. All the central picture is done in split stitch and this piece was the starting point for the Leavening Embroiderers. The surrounding pictures are all activities to do with the village.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
February Meeting
At last I have found a way to post photographs. I have to open the blog via Google Chrome which is a longer way round but at least I get there. I still can't do anything via Internet Explorer despite numerous messages to Blogger. I think it is just another way to make you use Google products.
We had a very good meeting with 27 members and visitors there all day. Lots of work seemed to be done except at my seat. In the afternoon we had a 'Show and Tell' session. We hadn't done one for a while and it was interesting to see what people have been doing. It also gave some inspiration to some of our visitors.
We started with Christina who showed us her two pieces from an exhibition on 'Elements'. She had looked at farming ancient and modern and produced one piece showing strip farming and done in hand embroidery on natural fabrics. The second piece, pictured here, was on modern mass farming using modern techniques and fabrics.
The second speaker was Barbara who is also a member of York Branch and at their last meeting she had got hold of some Bernat Klien knitting wools. This reminded her of a few years ago when she was doing her weaving degree at Bradford and she gave us a short talk on Bernat and his work. These are some of the wools she has collected.
Our third speaker was Moira who had a a nasty accident with a washing machine and a jumper. She showed us how she had used the shrunken garment(s) to make cushion covers and the one in the photograph was my favourite. The back of the cushion is the back of the jumper.
After Moira came Colleen who described how when her father died she kept some of his shirts and sent out small pieces of them to a number of people, asking them to embroider something small on each piece. As they all started to come back she made them into hexagons and stitched them all together to make a lovely memory quilt.
Colleen also told us about her button collection and how she was amazed at the price old buttons are sold at these days.
Ann brought us a wall hanging made from a beautiful tablecloth that her grandmother had embroidered. She had never known her grandmother which made it all the more poignant. She also brought a tablecloth embroidered by her mother and a tray cloth she had done herself when young. Three generations of embroiderers. This is her grandmother's cloth.
And this is her mother's.
Christina had also brought her piece of work that gained her a 'Highly commended' in last years Guild competition.
This was a lovely piece of work that Ann was doing during the day.
We had a very good meeting with 27 members and visitors there all day. Lots of work seemed to be done except at my seat. In the afternoon we had a 'Show and Tell' session. We hadn't done one for a while and it was interesting to see what people have been doing. It also gave some inspiration to some of our visitors.
We started with Christina who showed us her two pieces from an exhibition on 'Elements'. She had looked at farming ancient and modern and produced one piece showing strip farming and done in hand embroidery on natural fabrics. The second piece, pictured here, was on modern mass farming using modern techniques and fabrics.
The second speaker was Barbara who is also a member of York Branch and at their last meeting she had got hold of some Bernat Klien knitting wools. This reminded her of a few years ago when she was doing her weaving degree at Bradford and she gave us a short talk on Bernat and his work. These are some of the wools she has collected.
Our third speaker was Moira who had a a nasty accident with a washing machine and a jumper. She showed us how she had used the shrunken garment(s) to make cushion covers and the one in the photograph was my favourite. The back of the cushion is the back of the jumper.
After Moira came Colleen who described how when her father died she kept some of his shirts and sent out small pieces of them to a number of people, asking them to embroider something small on each piece. As they all started to come back she made them into hexagons and stitched them all together to make a lovely memory quilt.
Ann brought us a wall hanging made from a beautiful tablecloth that her grandmother had embroidered. She had never known her grandmother which made it all the more poignant. She also brought a tablecloth embroidered by her mother and a tray cloth she had done herself when young. Three generations of embroiderers. This is her grandmother's cloth.
Christina had also brought her piece of work that gained her a 'Highly commended' in last years Guild competition.
This was a lovely piece of work that Ann was doing during the day.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
January Meeting
I am still having problems with blogger, I cannot upload photographs, it keeps telling me that it has lost the connection to the server. If anyone out there has any idea how to remedy this I would be grateful for some advice.
We had a good meeting with one new member joining and four visitors, some of whom we hope will join next month. We had a lively discussion about the changes proposed to the Guild and some questions were sent to HQ from this. Terry has already replied to these and where possible they have been forwarded to members.
There were a few items on the finished display but I think most people have had some time out over the christmas holidays.
Our speaker was Cluny Chapman who gave an interesting talk on Archaeological Inspiration and it certainly was inspirational. You could spend a lifetime using archaeology as a basis for your designs. Her work was beautiful and was much admired as were her rare breed sheep!
Although it wasn't a very nice day, I think everyone was glad to get out and meet up with friends again.
We had a good meeting with one new member joining and four visitors, some of whom we hope will join next month. We had a lively discussion about the changes proposed to the Guild and some questions were sent to HQ from this. Terry has already replied to these and where possible they have been forwarded to members.
There were a few items on the finished display but I think most people have had some time out over the christmas holidays.
Our speaker was Cluny Chapman who gave an interesting talk on Archaeological Inspiration and it certainly was inspirational. You could spend a lifetime using archaeology as a basis for your designs. Her work was beautiful and was much admired as were her rare breed sheep!
Although it wasn't a very nice day, I think everyone was glad to get out and meet up with friends again.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
November Meeting
I was hoping to give you a display of finished patchwork from our workshop a fortnight ago. Some pieces did come in but several were missing because they weren't completed. Below is a picture of the ones we did see.
In the morning Jackie and Ann did another 'Make and Take' session with the help of Moira as well. We made a variety of Christmas decorations and cards as you can see below.
Everyone who takes part in these sessions enjoys them and it is great for getting to chat with people you don't normally sit with.
We had a great speaker in the afternoon, Diana Barrett whose talk 'For What it's Worth' looked at the perceptions of embroidery throughout the ages and how it has always been deemed 'Women's work'. It caused some discussion over the tea cups at the end of the day.
This last picture is a christmas tree that has been on display at the Beck Isle Museum. Each year they ask local businesses to sponsor and decorate a tree and this is our Branch's tree. All the decorations have been made by members. Christina carefully looked after them all year when we took them down from our own trees in January so we didn't have to go digging in the decorations boxes in October.
I think this looks super and so much nicer and more traditional than the 'tastefully toning' arrangements you see today.
In the morning Jackie and Ann did another 'Make and Take' session with the help of Moira as well. We made a variety of Christmas decorations and cards as you can see below.
Everyone who takes part in these sessions enjoys them and it is great for getting to chat with people you don't normally sit with.
We had a great speaker in the afternoon, Diana Barrett whose talk 'For What it's Worth' looked at the perceptions of embroidery throughout the ages and how it has always been deemed 'Women's work'. It caused some discussion over the tea cups at the end of the day.
This last picture is a christmas tree that has been on display at the Beck Isle Museum. Each year they ask local businesses to sponsor and decorate a tree and this is our Branch's tree. All the decorations have been made by members. Christina carefully looked after them all year when we took them down from our own trees in January so we didn't have to go digging in the decorations boxes in October.
I think this looks super and so much nicer and more traditional than the 'tastefully toning' arrangements you see today.
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Patchwork Day
We had a really good day with Jackie and Ann demonstrating how to piece together a table runner. Most of us made christmas ones, some made square table centres and some made non christmas items. We were all kept very busy by Jackie, there was no slacking or sitting chatting but Ann made up for it with a supply of her wonderful blueberry muffins. Some were so busy that at the end we didn't get chance to display everyones's work together so we are bringing it to the next Guild meeting when hopefully there may even be a few completed pieces of work.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
October Meeting
Today we presented our advent calendar, that we made for the Regional AGM challenge, to Cath Temple who will take it to the local Guides and Brownies to raffle for their own funds. We also made a decision on our new Rose Bowl Challenge for 2015 and it will be 'Winter'. You can do any technique or any item but it must have a winter theme.
Some of the members recently went on a trip to the Royal Armouries at Leeds. It was organised by another local group who are doing work on a theme or 'Warriors' so it was an appropriate place for them to go. We all had an enjoyable day and everyone got some ideas for future projects.
We have another 'Make and Take' session coming up next month and we are doing 'Christmassy Things' similar to the items in this photograph.
We also had a selection of the flowers that Brenda showed us last month that people have got finished and one item even included into a cushion cover.
Next month we are having another patchwork day and will be making a christmas table runner or a table centre, whichever you prefer.
Christmas lunch is booked for the 13th December at the Crossways so anyone not yet booked who would like to go can you contact me as soon as possible and I will get your name on the list.
We are hoping to have a joint meeting with Hull Branch and do two 'Make and Take' sessions at the March meeting. They are only a very small Branch and don't have much opportunity for workshops so hopefully this will be the start of many joint ventures.
We had a very enjoyable talk from Gina Smith about her 'Travels with a Needle' who brought along some lovely pieces of work for us to drool over and who gave us an entertaining journey through her holidays and trips to some very exotic places and some not so exotic but just as beautiful.
Some of the members recently went on a trip to the Royal Armouries at Leeds. It was organised by another local group who are doing work on a theme or 'Warriors' so it was an appropriate place for them to go. We all had an enjoyable day and everyone got some ideas for future projects.
We have another 'Make and Take' session coming up next month and we are doing 'Christmassy Things' similar to the items in this photograph.
We also had a selection of the flowers that Brenda showed us last month that people have got finished and one item even included into a cushion cover.
Next month we are having another patchwork day and will be making a christmas table runner or a table centre, whichever you prefer.
Christmas lunch is booked for the 13th December at the Crossways so anyone not yet booked who would like to go can you contact me as soon as possible and I will get your name on the list.
We are hoping to have a joint meeting with Hull Branch and do two 'Make and Take' sessions at the March meeting. They are only a very small Branch and don't have much opportunity for workshops so hopefully this will be the start of many joint ventures.
We had a very enjoyable talk from Gina Smith about her 'Travels with a Needle' who brought along some lovely pieces of work for us to drool over and who gave us an entertaining journey through her holidays and trips to some very exotic places and some not so exotic but just as beautiful.
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