Chelmsford Embroiderers Guild

Our Branch A.G.M was on Monday night.  The competition for the Chairman's challenge was to make a small piece of work for Cas Holmes's, Tea Flower Tales.  We had 20 entries, Nickie and Jean had such a job choosing which was the winning entry, we ended up with three winners. I will now be posting them off to Cas.

Getting excited!!!!

Only 1 sleep to Ally Pally!!!

Look what came in my post today............

My little book from Gina.  It took me ages to decide what theme I wanted for my book, and I think my book must be the last to be made because of my dithering.  In the end I decided on New Zealand or Australia, leaving the final choice up to Gina.

I just love it!

 Paua shells decorate the top of the matchbox which is also covered in ferns, the national symbol of NZ.

Inside the box, my wonderful book. Machine embroidery and beaded spine, so much patience to make such a small book, I know I couldn't do it.

Exhibition



An exhibition not to be missed.

 



Just popping in.....

Still very busy stitching for the exhibition in February, but have made a small canvas for my daughter,

 

 an anniversary card for Karen and Paul in their wedding colours,

a birthday card for my Great Aunts 105th birthday,

a get well card for a friend  AND

 a small stitched piece for Cas Holmes Tea- Flower -Tales.

Clive Barnett at Embroiderers' Guild.

C&G and Beyond was the talk from Clive Barnett last night, and what a great talk it was, you could have heard a pin drop.  Nickie and I met him at the FoQ on the Graduate showcase last year, and he was back there again this year with his quilt which is in the photo.  Working mainly with linen and printing in layers, we gained an insight into how he got his inspiration and the process he went through to achieve the finished items.

Lynda Monk at AVG

Wednesday and Thursday (5th & 6th September)  Lynda Monk is teaching some of her Mixed Media techniques at Art Van Go, using thermofax screens and more.  There are a few spaces left, (pity I am back at work :0(   )  If you are interested contact Viv or Kev at Art Van Go.
I decided last week to withdraw from the tag challenge, I really enjoyed doing it, but  I need to knuckle down and get on with my work for the next F.E.T exhibition in February at Textiles in Focus (15/16/17 February 2013).

Tag Tuesday- Theatre and Cinema.

Another tag using a paper napkin.  Using only the top layer, the images were stuck to card with Mod Podge and cut out when dry.  For the background I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil and TH Distress Ink.  Film strip edge was cut on my Bind It machine.  The ticket was a free stamp with Craft Stamper some time ago.  Buzz was stuck onto a large button that has been in my button jar since last summer. 

I'm very late for Tag Tuesday.

Just got this made in time for last weeks theme of Casino amusements and Bingo as I was away last week.
The only thing I could think of was the phrase Royal Flush, so I Googled it to find out exactly what it was.  Luckily, I had bought packs of playing cards a few years ago and I had one pack left. 
Crown made from Grungepaper and painted gold before being embellished with gems and glitter.  I used rub on letters for the phrase.

Tag Tuesday - Mermaids and Water Babies.

The only thing to hand that I could find to use or adapt for this weeks theme, was this photo of my youngest daughter Kezzy, taken by a professional photographer when she was about 5, a Christmas present for me from my oldest daughter. I scanned to photo and printed it onto canvas.
The background, is yet another page from my very old music book, never heard of the song.  I coloured the page with TH Distress Ink.  The 'rock' is coloured copper coloured sandpaper which I added additional colour with a wax crayon.  'Seaweed' is a strip of synthetic silk, attacked with a heat gun. I cut the picture out, had to stitch a few pearls on and then attached it to the tag with sticky pads.  All other embellishments from my stash.

Yet more butterflies.

The other week when I went to Barleylands with my friends from work, I bought this piece of metal wall art for my kitchen/diner.  I have been looking for something for this wall for over 18 months, saw this and just knew it was what I had been looking for.  Problem was, it blended very nicely with the walls.  Luckily, hubby used to be a panel beater/car sprayer and an short time in the shed......

Voila!!!!!!

Perfect!

Raffle prize.

My friend is having a BBQ on Saturday to raise funds for charity and  I offered to make a raffle prize for her.
As it has been too hot to be indoors, I have finished making this in the garden today.  The other night I covered a small canvas with sheet music, the painted with a thin layer of gesso.  A.T. mask laid on top and sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Dust.
Today, all I had to do was cut out the flowers and butterflies using my Big Shot and punches and stick them to the background.  The LOVE plaque is made by East of India, I took of the string for hanging it and filled the 2 holes with brads. I hope someone will want to win it!
Butterflies are going to be seen here again soon, as my daughter wants me to make her a butterfly canvas for her newly decorated sitting room.

Tag Tuesday-Rock pools and beach finds.

Since the sun has been shining, I have had two trips to Mersea Island :0) and I have used some of my 'finds' to do this weeks challenge.
 I managed to find some small bits of driftwood, not being as weathered as I would have liked, I decided to paint and distress them.  These strips were then glued to some pieces of rope that I had pulled out of a rope tassel that had been washed up.  The three different, seaweeds, shells and sea glass were then stuck to the tag with hot glue.  Photo taken on an appropriate piece of scrapbooking paper I had. As there are some fragile pieces on this tag, it wont be going in my tag book.

Butterfly canvas.

Canvas's with  a heart full of butterflies on, are everywhere.  Judi and I wanted to make one, but we wanted to make ours a little bit different:-

It is surprising how many butterflies are needed for the project.

We had a lovely afternoon making them.

Bunting.

On Wednesday, my friend came round for the day as she wanted some help to make some bunting.

Today is her MIL's 80th birthday party. 

This piece will have a photo of today's party on it, when it has been printed.  As I was going out early on a girly night to the pictures to see Magic Mike (don't bother going to see it )  Some of the bunting needed trimming and dates added by Kay when she got  home. The photo's were taken very quickly at the end of session, we didnt have time to clear the table and it was so dark because of the rain, we needed lights on, hence the glare-sorry.

Tag Tuesday-Sea Birds

Another simple tag this week. My nearest beach is Southend, but when tide and time permit, I prefer to go to Mersea.  This image came from a bird watching calendar, and when the tide is out, we see these birds on the mud flats.
The tag is made with bits already in my room.  The fish skeleton embellishment I made with hot glue.

FET

It was the final meeting of the year yesterday, so we all had to take a small present for a Secret Santa and some party food.

 I drew Sue's name out of the hat last meeting, and as she is doing work based on the beach/sea, I bought her some beads to use in her work.  The beads looked so small and insignificant, that I decided to make them look a bit more exciting.  First of all I found a tiny plastic bucket, added a variety of seashells, a couple of silver charms and of course the beads.

I made 2 large tags joined together with another contrasting piece of card to make an tent shape, embellished with a mini windmill and lollipop.  Unfortunately, Sue couldn't make it yesterday, as she had been doing some housework and had a nasty fall ( good reason I reckon not to do any)

 I made Very Berry Tiramasu for the party lunch.

My Secret Santa, was beautifully wrapped in fabric with contrasting ribbon, inside  lots of lovely beads and some threads.

 We did do some work- as our next exhibition is 7 months away, and with Christmas  in that time, we were given the chance to work on our own work.  Lynda showing Nickie her work

Nickie showing the group that there is some stitch on Lynda's work-LOL!!

Nickie wont be getting much sleep she reckons, if she is to finish her quilt in time.

Margaret working on a sample, deep in thought.  Me- well, I have a lot of work to do on my project, I am busy making feathers at the moment, 21 nearly finished, 7 more to go.