Maureen volunteered to go first and she unrolled what she had in her hands. Three brightly coloured pieces of felt spread across the table. She explained that she had been inspired by the flowers in Australia particularly the eucalyptus blooms and she wanted to get movement into the felt before she stitched into it. She had three goes and they all looked equally good to us but Maureen said she was still not sure she had what she wanted.
Lynn had brought along a piece of embroidery that had the words of a song which was very personal to her across the middle with trees that had been inspired by the war artist Paul Nash.In the upper section she had embroidered a wheat field and in the lower section poppies. This had produced a very thoughtful piece of embroidery.
Anne had brought two pieces, the first was related to the Great Embroidery of Scotland and had an amazing lace cuff and the second was a squirrel embroidered all in white and was very sparkly.
Wendy had been trying out a new technique of flower pounding which she had been learning from a book. She demonstrated the technique for us and then set up a table for us to have a go. After the pounding transferred the pigment from the flower to the cloth it can be stitched into after ironing. Members showed a lot of interest in this technique and a workshop was asked for.
She also showed us a nearly finished piece of very delicate stitching.
Alison showed us some very pretty fairies that her and her daughters had made using feathers and bits and pieces.
She also brought a piece that had been made using squares cut and reassembled as different squares thus making very interesting patterns.
Paula loves weaving and she particularly enjoys colour and texture which you can see in this pretty sea green piece of weaving.
Agnes brought her beautiful embroidery based on the myth of Hades, Persephone and gentians from a poem of D H Lawrence.
The embroidery depicts Hades with the door through which all shades must pass.
Sandra showed us two samples of embroidery she had created on tea bags as a preliminary to June's meeting when the workshop will be on tea bag embroidery led by Sandra.
The first pieces will be worked on individual tea bags and members can attach anything they like to create a small picture/pattern/attractive texture: a bit like inchies. We were shown a piece made by gathering velvet and securing with stitch over frayed muslin.
The second piece was made by gluing opened tea bags to a piece of hand made paper, printed and then a flower appliqued on top.
In between looking at members' embroideries the folio contents was spread out for us to look at and gain inspiration.
Thanks to everyone who took part and Alison for hosting the day.