March meeting - Tori Riley

Our speaker this month was Tori Riley, her talk was on traditional and Indonesian batik.

Batik fabric

Tori grew up in Jakarta, and later studied at the Batik institute, so she was able to speak very knowledgeably about the different styles and techniques of batik.

Batik fabric and stamp

She also brought a delightful collection of different fabrics to show the variations in style and type of fabric used. These included pattern books made from copper stamps, and the corresponding fabric.

Embellished fabric

This sample has a raised gold design added after the dyeing has been completed.

Mask

Her collection even included wooden masks which had been decorated using the same wax resist techniques, to produce highly intricate pieces.

This was a very interesting talk, and having the opportunity to handle all the samples of different types of batik and ask questions, made for a very informative and sociable afternoon.

In other things . . .

The travelling book has gone missing. It was last seen in a hessian bag. If anyone knows of its whereabouts, please let one of the committee members know.

Regional day is on the 6th June. Further details in the Regional Handbook.

The library now gets Embroidery magazine - available to borrow. We also have a book missing. Embroidered Landscapes by Judy Wilford. Please return it if you have it.

The trip to the Castle Museum with a behind the scenes session with the curator will be on Monday 6th July at 2:00pm. Please sign up if you would like to go.

Please Note the April meeting has now been cancelled. At the April meeting, the competition theme is 'Best Commercial design' which means any piece worked to a commercial design. (And it doesn't have to have been completed in the past year!)

Sue would like help with designing the banner which is being made to hang in the Folk Hall.

Sign up for Elizabeth Almond's Kogin darning workshop in June, will open at the April meeting.

Stitch club in April will continue with stumpwork with Shirley (requirements as for last month) and Josie will be working with paper moulds.
To take part with Josie, you need:
Toilet paper
Water
Spray Starch
Shapes to press the paper in to - Rubber stamps, Print blocks, heavy lace etc
Gesso
Fabric - canvas etc to fix to
Cards
Paints - rub on and spray paint
And importantly, something to take the things home on!

Stitch club requirements

Update . . . The stumpwork session will not be taking place tomorrow (Saturday March 7th).

Carol's Initial design will be going ahead as planned, and the sit and sew group will also go ahead as normal.

If you're coming to the morning session this Saturday 7th March, and want to take part in Stitch Club with Carol where the theme is Initial Designs, this is what you need to bring . . .

Carol Coleman - Initial Designs

Several square pieces of paper 8” – 12”
Paper scissors
Craft knife and cutting mat (if you have them)
Pencil
Freezer paper (if you have it)
Back-up supplies of requirements will be available

If you wish to try out your design on fabric to make a small quilted sample, bring some fabric and backing and batting (wadding) together with sewing/embroidery supplies.

Paints will be available if you wish to use them to apply your design as a painted stencil transfer onto fabric.

If you're doing stumpwork with Shirley, the session is not going ahead on March 7th.

Usual sewing kit with 9/10 size needles
6" embroidery ring
Calico
Fine water soluble pen or pencil
Small piece of brown / tan/ beige felt

Stranded cotton in selection of greens and Browns, ALSO berry colours or reds and purples

Paper covered cake wires if you have them- I will have some if not.

Stitch Club starts at 10:00.

And if you're staying for the afternoon talk, the speaker is Victoria Riley, talking about traditional and Indonesian batik. See the programme page for more details.

And don't forget, we put information out on our facebook page throughout the month.

February meeting - Elaine Hughes

Our speaker at the February meeting was York based artist Elaine Hughes. She graduated from MMU with a degree in Embroidery. Over time her work has evolved to become paper based collages assembled with stitch.

Elaine Hughes - On the Beach at Night Alone (detail)

Her love of the 1930's 40's and 50's ephemera is reflected not only in her work, using found objects from those periods, but also in the style of her work and the name of her business 'Oh Golly Gosh'.

After graduation, Elaine took on a number of roles, but she stepped away from creating her own work. Eventually, it was entering the Embroiderers' Guild Page 17 Project with her piece 'On the Beach at Night Alone' from Walt Whitman, that re-established her creative practice and ultimately led to a studio in York.

Elaine Hughes - On the Beach at Night Alone (detail)

Elaine's very interesting talk considered her influences, her methods of creating her quirky artworks and her plans for the future. And . . . a piece of advice we can probably all relate to - never 'save' your best pieces of fabric for something 'special'. Use them now!

In other things . . .

Don't forget Young Embroiderers next meeting is on 18th February at the Viking loom. See the YE page for more details.

Morning stitch club is thriving - though please let the committee know if there is a topic you would like covered, or would be happy to demonstrate, to keep up the momentum. Next month Carol will be covering Initial designs, and Shirley will be continuing with Stumpwork.

Regional Day is 6th June at the Regen Centre in Riccall. Speakers to be announced at a later date.

A trip is planned to the Castle Museum, York. to have a behind the scenes look at some of the textiles. Proposed date is Monday 6th July. Please sign up to express an interest.

February Young Embroiderers meeting and a Library update

We now have finalised the details for the next meeting of the Young Embroiderers. 

This will be one session on Tuesday 18th February 2020

Time: 1pm - 3:45pm
Cost: £2.50 per child
Venue: Viking Loom York,  Wigginton Rd, Wigginton, York YO32 2RH, https://www.vikingloom.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

The session will be an opportunity to take part in the mark-making drawings for digital print (for those who didn't attend the last session)
and/or
a mini hedgerow leaf and flower badge stitch session.

Who can come along: Anyone - you do not need to be a member of Young Embroiderers - children under 8 need to be supervised with an adult for the session please!

Feel free to bring along school friends, brothers and sisters just let us know in advance who is coming along so we know if we need any extra helpers on the day.

If you are interested, or would like any further information, please could you email maria.york.embroidery@gmail.co.uk or  jgradyembroidery@gmail.com by Sunday 9th February.

Many thanks and appreciation for your continued support!

And . . . if you wonder what we've got in our library we now have an online catalogue. See the library tab, or click here. Books can be borrowed by York branch members.

January meeting - Sarah Jackson

Our speaker this month was Sarah Jackson who, as she explains in her talk, produces pieces of vintage and textile art under the guise of Winifred Taylor.

Khokhloma - Sarah Jackson

She talks enthusiastically about the path her life has taken, and how all these elements ultimately led to her interest in Folk Art and how this has fed into her creative practice. She speaks knowledgeably about the history of Folk Art and how it has developed and been held in esteem in the UK and also in other countries most specifically in Russia and Sweden.

Matryoshka -Sarah Jackson

The talk is full of interesting little nuggets of information - that we might have sat on the work of Enid Marx - that a deer's antlers are a symbol of fertility - that the Russian words for red and beautiful sound very similar. I think everyone present will have learned something new.

Vasilisa the Wise - Sarah Jackson

The talk was illustrated with examples of folk art through the centuries and also contemporary art works. We were also able to see (and touch!) examples of Folk Art from Sarah's collection, and examples of her own work. A very interesting talk.

In other things . . .

We have a new chairperson. Chris has agreed to take on the role. New committee members are still sought, so speak to a committee member if you might be interested.

Young Embroiderers will be running in the February half term. Again they will be led by Jess, but because of her other commitments, they will be on Monday and Tuesday this time. See the Young Embroiderers page for contact details for more information.

Stitch club is continuing next month. It begins at 10:15 - just turn up. Shirley will be leading a session on stumpwork, and Carol will be demonstrating uses of lutrador, tyvek and the like (there may be a small fee to cover costs of materials used). Offers from other members to demonstrate techniques would be very welcome.

December meeting - 40th Anniversary Christmas meeting

This month was a rather special meeting. It was the 40th anniversary of the branch, and we celebrated it with a three course Christmas lunch before the meeting proper.

Lunch!

After lunch we created little wreaths embellished with ribbons, beads, embroidery and in one inventive case, the greetings from the Christmas Cracker at lunch!

Christmas wreaths

After such strenuous efforts, and much chatting and reminiscing, we needed some more food, and instead of a Christmas cake, we had these gorgeous individual iced buns.

Celebratory buns

Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a competition. This year the theme was 'A Christmas Card'

Sue announcing the winner

Members voted for their favourite card, and the winner was Nicky, with her very festive Christmas tree.

Nicky's winning card

There was also a raffle, and thanks were given by the members to the committee for organising such a lovely, celebratory day.

In other things. . .
Stitch club will resume in January. It will take the form of a 'Demo and Dabble'. Requirements are an old magazine which will be used as table protection from all the glue, metallic seed beads, thin metal (the inside of tomato puree tubes would be suitable) and a stitch kit including a pair of 'not best' scissors.
From February, Shirley will lead three months of Stumpwork demo and dabbling. Future sessions are being planned to cover goldwork and shadowwork. So if you've ever wondered, now is the time to come and learn - and be part of the branch as it goes forwards - perhaps for the next forty years!

November meeting - Heather Cawte

Our speaker this month was Heather Cawte. Heather has been a member of this branch for several years, and is heavily involved in the Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project.

Heather's talk took us on the journey of her life, and the influences that shaped her creativity. Her involvement with the Tapestry project led ultimately to her studying for City and Guilds qualifications with Tracy Franklin and Julia Tristron at Stitchbusiness.

Heather's final project was inspired by hallucinations when she was seriously ill. I'm sure not everyone would hallucinate neon doughnuts - but this was the start of the design process which, she says, has transformed how she approaches her work. Samples, experimentation, analysis, evaluation and design development have now become the way forward. Heather explained how she used these tools (and the pitfalls she encountered along the way) to create her final piece for City and Guilds.

Heather Cawte Doughnut samples

Heather Cawte Doughnuts - only the box is 'real'

This was a very interesting talk, hearing how other people approach the design process.

In other things . . . 

Next month is the Christmas meeting - and 40th Anniversary meal.
Stitch club will be running in the morning from 10:00. The meal (which must be pre-booked) is at 12:00 for 12:30. The afternoon talk will include making a Christmas wreath. Please bring some Christmassy ribbon to wrap the basic wreath. Also bring a small sewing kit, and whatever glittery sparkly things you might have!

There will be a raffle. The theme of the Competition (there are prizes) is 'A Christmas Card'