Embroiderers' Guild visit.

I have been without my laptop for nearly a week, so have not been able to post about our day out.

We visited the new headquarters of Embroiderers Guild last Thursday, and we were made so welcome.  A cup of coffee and a lovely gallery of textiles which able to examine closely.

 One of our members had rung HQ prior to our visit asking for a chance to look at the work of Mrs St Osyth Wood, which they were more than happy to do.

 Terry Murphy came down and chatted to us.

Our Branch took part in the Olympic postcard challenge and although most postcards are on display in different venues there was one box waiting to be hung.  One of the strips was one of ours, so a chance to see it all sewn together.
As all the work on display will be changing later on in the year, we shall have to go back again!

Annette Morgan.

A lovely talk from Annette Morgan last night.  Her photos were very  good and she bought along some of her work, some as yet unseen. Annette was very generous with information on how she got her inspiration for each piece as well as the techniques. At the end of her talk we were allowed to examine and touch her work.  Annette is back next month to do a workshop for us making 'Jazzy Books'

Members night.

A different time of evening was organised last night for our members.  Different activities wee set up in the hall, one of which was Lynda Monk doing demonstrations of various techniques.  A lady who is very willing to share her techniques and methods.

Denise from Craft Arena was doing metal embossing.

 Margaret and I were talking about the books we make using paper napkins.

Libby from EAST was helping members make a stunning beaded star.

 And a members night isn't complete without a slice of home made cake........

and a nice cup of tea and chat.

Myfanwy Hart

Myfanwy Hart of Winifred Cottage, came to our Guild tonight to give a talk on 'The Embellisher'. She bought along several different makes and models for our members to try .

Jock was in charge of the 'shop'.

 Here's two of our members experimenting.

 At our Regional Day, one of our YE got the visitors choice award.  She came along tonight to collect her prize and cup.

 At the Linda Miller workshop on Saturday, Dot happened to mention that she had been on a course with Linda before and had made some panels.  We asked if she would bring it to our meeting tonight for everyone to see and- VOILA!!  That panel and the two ends are all machine stitched!!!!!

All that stitchin'!

Everyone who was on the workshop bought their work along for our members to see what they had been up to.

Linda Miller workshop.

A great workshop, we all learnt so much. 
The day started off with Linda taking us slowly through the different stages she uses to make her pictures.

And then we had to go and start work!

 Sheila with her piece of work, well under way.

At the end of the day, we had a show and tell.

 This was Sue's first go at machine embroidery!  Didn't she do well!

Here's everyone's work. Linda worked us very hard, LOL.

My work was a bit different to everyone else's, I wanted to stitch a picture of Percy Bysshe Shelley.  So, just 2 different threads used so far.

Some more machining, and then some hand stitching-might save that bit to do at my Mother's when we go there for a break in a few weeks time.

Our Regional Day

The doors opened at 9.30, ( and we were ready just!) our visitors had a cup of coffee and biscuits to start the day.

 Nickie (Chelmsford Chair) kicked off proceedings with her  welcome speech.(rather her than me!)

Gill Riordan (Regional Chair) and Nickie gave out Long Membership badges next.

Denis Nothduft of the Fashion and Textile museum gave the morning lecture on Zandra Rhodes.  Some wonderful photos accompanied his talk.  I hadn't been aware of this museum until I got in touch with Denis to invite him, and now it is on my list of places to visit.



Pauline Hannon,(Chair) gave us a talk on  the Embroiderers' Guilds plans for the future.

Then lunch, some people ate outside as the weather was so good.  Others enjoyed the food provided by the  Writtle College retaurant.

There was plenty of time to view the exhibitions.  Our Branch has members that belong to various textile groups and each group exhibited 3 pieces.

No Regional Day is complete without Retail therapy!!!!

There was also four demonstrators to watch and talk to.

The competition was 'Paradise Gardens' and we had lots of entries, both from adults and Y.E.  Pauline Hannon, Gill Riordan and Lesley Morgan were the judges.

2pm saw the start of the afternoon lecture, sponsored by Madeira, given by Lesley Morgan.

After her lecture, it was presentation of prizes to the competition winners and raffle.  It was then over the the Writz for a cup of tea and a slice or two of home made cake.

Regional Day Competition.

Over the last few weeks, in between writing my school reports and tying up the loose ends for our Regional Day, I have been making an entry for our Regional Day competition ' Paradise Gardens.'  I hadn't posted any of this work, so here is a brief 'recipe'
My inspiration is my own garden, where I am fighting a constant battle with the slugs and snails  who want a free meal!

 My 'flower pot was constructed with a technique I learnt when on a workshop with Lynda Monk.  Flowers were layers of sheers, machine stitched then cut by hand.  Stem were  made with wires wrapped in flt. 

 My plant label was a photocopy of a real plant label coated in Omni Gel several times to make a decal.  Applied to craft vilene which was then coated with Mod Podge Gloss. Snail trail was UHU glue and a very fine glitter. 

 Embellished fabric into sponge to create earth, and bugle beads cut to size for my 'slug pellets'.

 The snails were made with Heart paper clay and silicone rubber.  Leaves from felt and sheers which I then attacked with my soldering iron.

I had great fun experimenting to create my piece.  I am not sure what to do next, it should really be something for FET, but waiting for inspiration to strike-in the meantime I am thinking 'hanging basket'. Watch this space
Photos of the Regional Day I hope to post tomorrow evening as it now past 1 a.m

Regional Day update.

We have now sold all the tickets for the lectures, sorry!  If you live within travelling distance of Writtle and at a loose end, you can still come along and view the exhibitions by eleven textile groups and have some retail therapy with our traders:-

1.  Art Van Go
2. Benton & Johnson
3. Craft Arena
4. Knitting4fun
5. African Fabric Shop
6. The Silk Route
7. Winifred Cottage
8. Pandorion Beads
9. 21st Century Yarns
10. And of course, there will be lots of bargains on the Branch Stall.

It should be a brilliant day!!!

Linda Miller

 What a busy night we had!!!

Linda Miller gave us an amusing and informative talk last night, she also bought along slides of her work, it is stunning!

She is coming back in July to do a workshop and as life has been a bit full on, I WASN'T going to do it.  BUT after seeing her work and listening to her, as there was some spaces, I couldn't resist. Still some spaces if anyone is interested.
After the talk, it was handing out Regional Day tickets and tying up all the loose ends-cant believe that is going to happen a week on Saturday!
A late night and a very early morning today, means that I have now finished writing my school reports, now to do some more paper work for Regional Day.  I have been trying to make a piece of work for our Regional Day competition, but I am not sure if I will get it finished in time.

Tonight.

It is Embroiderers' Guild tonight and we have Linda Miller.  Tickets for Regional Day will also be available to non-members who want to visit us tonight.  7.30 pm at Christ Church, New London Road, Chelmsford.

Regional Day.

Tickets are now available to the public.  It should be a good day, if you are not busy and live not too far away we would love to see you.

Lynda Monk workshop II

Had a wonderful time yesterday playing with glue, paper and various mediums on an Embroiderers' Guild run workshop with Lynda Monk.  The day flew by all too quickly.  If you ever get a chance to go on one of her workshops, grab it.  She is very generous with sharing her materials and knowledge.

Here Lesley is being guided on how to use a Themofax screen.

Nickie showing the start of her work on a book cover.

 And here are some of our samples above and below.

Lynda bought lots and lots of her own samples for us to look at too.

My samples, above and below and there will be a photo of the book I started yesterday too, but you will have to wait until it is finished