Craft Fair

We are all working hard making things to sell at the Craft fair we will be attending on the 22nd October to raise money for our funds to help subsidise our workshops. The pictures show a range of items completed so far ranging from mirrors and Christmas decorations to bags and hats.

October Meeting 2011

After our A.G.M. some members carried on working on their Olympic postcards.

When completed they will be displayed with postcards from other branches of different countries.
Our country is San Marino and a whole variety of embroidery techniques are being used to represent the flavour of San Marino.

September Meeting 2011 Nuno Felt

At our September Meeting we welcomed Jan Hicks who showed us how to make nuno felt. We laid out towels then a slatted blind followed by bubble wrap. Our piece of damp open weave fabric { silk, muslin] was laid out on top. We then laid out our coloured merino wool fibres thinly, either in patterns or randomly.

After the fibres were laid on the base fabric of silk or muslin hot water and soap were applied. Friction was then applied by rubbing with hands, rolling and finally banging and beating on the table to encourage the wool fibres into the spaces in the material. We all enjoyed getting rid of our stress by beating on the table!

As the wool began to shrink and felt interesting patterns began to appear on the fabric rather like seersucker.

The nuno felt was laid out to dry but most went home in plastic bags to finish the drying at home.
Once the felt had dried some were going to be used as scarves, some were going to be incorporated into other embroideries and some embroidered into to make a new embroidery. It was an enjoyable work shop and thanks go to Jan for her help and expertise.

Olympic Postcards

It will soon be time to think about our Olympic Postcards based on the country of San Marino. The pictures show two that have been made already. One is about the founding of San Marino in 301 making it the oldest continuous republic in the world and is machine embroidered. The second one is based on a picture looking through a window and is hand stitched.
I know some more of our members have started to think about what they will put on their postcards. They will look really good when all stitched together.

Stitched Book

At last Sandra has finished her stitched book from Summer School! These are just a few of the 40 pages!!!!

Festival of Quilts 2011

One of our members went to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham and these are just a few of the magnificent quilts on display.

Summer School 2011

Last Thursday, Elizabeth, Jennifer and Sandra went to Summer School at Alston Hall. There was a choice of three courses, stitched books, 3D crewel work and a stitched collage.
All three of our members had chosen to make a stitched book with Frances Pickering.
Frances brought with her many of her stitched books which were inspirational as you can see from the pictures below.

Members working hard on designing and making their own books on subjects personal to them.

The covers were made from pelmet vilene which was coloured with transfer dyes. The pages were also coloured with dyes and then stitched to the cover to make a book. The pages were then ready to draw on and stitch into about a subject of the members choice.

Elizabeth completed her cover and stitched in the pages. She began working on the pages, including some of her own photographs taken on a recent holiday in Scotland. The book will be about the machair found in the Hebrides.

Jennifer finished the cover and made a bookmark for her book. She sewed in the pages and took it home to complete.It will be a book on memories.

Sandra completed the cover and sewed in the pages. She then started working on the pages and has nearly covered 4. Only 36 pages to go!

The crewel work group produced beautiful embroidery with a modern slant on 3D crewel work, including a pea pod, a hare a butterfly and flowers with a rabbit.

These are just a few of the vibrant and cheery stitched collages created with Liliane Taylor.

All three of our members enjoyed their time at Alston Hall and hope to return next year.