Sunday 26 June 2011

Woolfest 2011


























































































On Friday Sandra , Maureen and Agnes went to Woolfest just outside of Cockermouth. It has grown in size over the years since it started and has a different atmosphere to the large shows at the NEC and Harrogate. It is very colourful with a very rural atmosphere with country crafts, animals and folk musicians playing live.

There is plenty to buy from fibres to looms and even more to inspire on the stalls from useful items to the purely artistic.

Wandering around gives you a good apetite and there is plenty of food to choose from at The Rampant Bull.


It is always a good day out and we recommend it to anyone who has not been yet.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

June Meeting 2011

Our June Meeting was taken by one of our own members Sandra Kendall. The workshop was on the use of Shiva sticks in embroidery and Sandra brought samples of patches made with Shiva and cushions made with hand dyed material, decorated with embroidered Shiva pictures.
Sandra showed members how to remove the skin from the sticks and how the colours mixed as in paints.
The members then carried out two tasks to familiarise, or remind themselves, of the properties of Shiva. They made a grid on one piece of white cloth and a pattern of torn strips on the second. They then applied Shiva to the tape and transferred it to the material with toothbrushes! The members were delighted with the colours and the way they mixed.





































Sandra then showed everyone how to make their own stencil from freezer paper which they could attach to their material with a medium iron. Once the stencil was attached members set

about applying the Shiva to the edge of the stencil and transferring it to the material with a tooth brush.

You can see the interesting results in the pictures once the stencils were removed.

The pictures were then ready for the embroidery to make them stand out from the background.


























































































































The members were very pleased with their Shiva patches and many had started the stitching.

I am sure we will see lots of finished pieces at the next meeting!
























Twentyfive Year Badge

Sandra was very pleased to present Mary Seaman with her twentyfive year badge at the June meeting. Mary has now been a very committed member of the Embroiderers' Guild for over twentyfive years. She attends both North Lonsdale and Parbold branches and enjoys a wide range of embroidery and sewing.
Well Done Mary!