Monday, 24 February 2014
(Lack of) Catering at the March meeting
We're sorry to have to announce that we have been advised by the staff at the Folk Hall that, because of the current refurbishment being undertaken at the venue, it will not possible to provide a catered lunch on March 1st. However, in a change to their usual policy, it will be acceptable to bring a Packed Lunch and eat it at the Folk Hall. Tea and Coffee should be available. For those who arrive without a packed lunch and are really hungry it is usually possible to buy food from the shops in the village. Morning Stitch Club and the afternoon meeting should be unaffected by the refurbishments.
Sunday, 2 February 2014
February Meeting - Alice Fox
The Talk at the February meeting was given by Alice Fox and described her experiences during her Artist's Residency at Spurn Point and her newer work which has developed from her initial excitement in discovering and making marks in the natural environment.
Of course, she explained it all much better than I can and her blog is full of examples of her work. Alice's talk was illustrated with many images and video of her time at Spurn Point and highlighted the unpredictability of the weather there. You obviously need many layers of thermals and waterproofs for a residency during a Yorkshire summer!
Throughout the talk Alice's enthusiasm, in discovering marks in the landscape and then creating marks on fabric and paper using found objects, shone through. Not surprisingly, these Coastal Perspectives have fed through into her more recent work finding inspiration in the streets of Saltaire and beyond. Alice brought along examples of her collographs presented as concertina books, sketch books and stitched pieces so we could see up close how she successfully integrates her found images into finished pieces. A really interesting and inspiring talk.
Other things
Booking for a dayschool with Jo Wilson to make altered books will open at next month's meeting.
The sales table raised over £100 to send to the Sreepur project
Tracy Franklin has been shortlisted for the Embroiderers' Guild Beryl Dean Education Award
NELLI The New Earswick Less Loneliness Initiative is having a Hobby Craft Fair at the Folk Hall on 12th April and the branch will be having a stall. Volunteers are sought to help on the day.
There was an announcement from the committee about a branch entry into the Regional Competition. Shirley mentioned riding a carousel at the seaside. I'm intrigued but non the wiser. Further details at next month's meeting.......
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| Alice at work (image taken from her blog) |
Throughout the talk Alice's enthusiasm, in discovering marks in the landscape and then creating marks on fabric and paper using found objects, shone through. Not surprisingly, these Coastal Perspectives have fed through into her more recent work finding inspiration in the streets of Saltaire and beyond. Alice brought along examples of her collographs presented as concertina books, sketch books and stitched pieces so we could see up close how she successfully integrates her found images into finished pieces. A really interesting and inspiring talk.
Other things
Booking for a dayschool with Jo Wilson to make altered books will open at next month's meeting.
The sales table raised over £100 to send to the Sreepur project
Tracy Franklin has been shortlisted for the Embroiderers' Guild Beryl Dean Education Award
NELLI The New Earswick Less Loneliness Initiative is having a Hobby Craft Fair at the Folk Hall on 12th April and the branch will be having a stall. Volunteers are sought to help on the day.
There was an announcement from the committee about a branch entry into the Regional Competition. Shirley mentioned riding a carousel at the seaside. I'm intrigued but non the wiser. Further details at next month's meeting.......
Sunday, 5 January 2014
January Meeting - Cluny Chapman
Happy New Year.
The speaker at this month's meeting was Cluny Chapman - textile artist, York Minster broderer, owner of Highfield Textiles and member of our branch.
Her talk 'Generations - a family history of textiles' linked the history of embroidery over the past 150 years with her own family's involvement with textiles over this time...
from the sampler stitched by her great great aunt...
...to the costumes designed in London by her great grandfather...
...and her grandmother's involvement with the Needlework Development Scheme...
...leading on to her mother's work including a major commission for the Guildhall of the Glazier's Company in London...
...and Cluny's own work including her exquisitely embroidered wedding dress...
...and showing how she is now passing on her skills to her own children.
Many of the textiles which featured in Cluny's talk have now been passed down to her and she was able to bring a wide selection of garments including dresses, Christening gowns, and some exquisite embroidery for us to ooh and aah over after the talk. A really interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
Other things:
The morning Stitch Club next month will include more developments of ATCs and Josie will be showing how to make raised work faces.
Gina Smith announced her exhibition 'Journeys with a Needle' is now at Helmsley Arts Centre having previously been at Dales Countryside Museum
Bookings for Ruth Brown's Cyanotype Printing workshop on 8th March will open at the February meeting.
The speaker at this month's meeting was Cluny Chapman - textile artist, York Minster broderer, owner of Highfield Textiles and member of our branch.
Her talk 'Generations - a family history of textiles' linked the history of embroidery over the past 150 years with her own family's involvement with textiles over this time...
from the sampler stitched by her great great aunt...
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| Sampler dating from 1879 |
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| Design including the caption 'Lampshade' ! |
...leading on to her mother's work including a major commission for the Guildhall of the Glazier's Company in London...
...and Cluny's own work including her exquisitely embroidered wedding dress...
...and showing how she is now passing on her skills to her own children.
Many of the textiles which featured in Cluny's talk have now been passed down to her and she was able to bring a wide selection of garments including dresses, Christening gowns, and some exquisite embroidery for us to ooh and aah over after the talk. A really interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
Other things:
The morning Stitch Club next month will include more developments of ATCs and Josie will be showing how to make raised work faces.
Gina Smith announced her exhibition 'Journeys with a Needle' is now at Helmsley Arts Centre having previously been at Dales Countryside Museum
Bookings for Ruth Brown's Cyanotype Printing workshop on 8th March will open at the February meeting.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
AGM September 2014
Please note there has been a change to the date of the AGM in September 2014. The AGM (and branch meeting) will now take place on Saturday 13th September 2014.
December Meeting
The December meeting was a very sociable occasion, with members making Christmas themed gift bags based on a design by Kumiko Sudo from her book 'Omiyage'.
Everyone was very engrossed in the task and keen to complete at least one bag. As the serious stitching business was nearing completion there was time for cake.
After the exertions of the afternoon, the competition winners were announced. The theme this year was Christmas Pudding.
Everyone was very engrossed in the task and keen to complete at least one bag. As the serious stitching business was nearing completion there was time for cake.
Two lovely cakes with prancing reindeers along the sides were made and decorated by Liz and rapidly demolished by the members - stitching and talking is energy sapping work after all...
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| Just some of the completed gift bags - filled with chocolates |
Second prize probably encapsulated a sentiment many members could agree with...
... and First prize was won by someone who has an uncanny resemblance to one of our long-standing members and who was photographed modelling her prize winning festive fascinator!
Saturday, 2 November 2013
November meeting
This month's speaker was Wyn Ingham who gave us a very interesting and highly entertaining talk on the life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Wyn confessed to a long standing interest in medieval architecture often to the bemusement of her family. Visits to places such as the Church of Notre Dame in Poitiers with a connection to the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine have inspired a series of pieces of textile art which Wyn brought to illustrate her talk.
Textures and colours in her work are based on wall paintings and ancient plasterwork.
In several examples of work, Wyn used cocoon strippings to create silk paper which was then painted and stitched in to. It has been proposed that we invite Wyn back to give us a dayschool on some of her techniques. Watch this space...
Announcements:
The Christmas meeting starts at 1.30. There will be a Stitch session in the morning and lunch will be available from 12.00.
The meeting is a members' day and we will be making small Japanese bags. Please bring the usual sewing kit - needles, threads, scissors, and pins. It was also suggested that a ruler would be useful.
Small, stitch related, wrapped presents for the bran tub are welcomed. There will also be a raffle and the judging of the Christmas Competition. There will be cake!
At the January meeting Artists Trading Cards (ATCs) will be re-launched. There will be a demonstration on how to make these cards in the morning stitch club.
Josie will be continuing with teaching raised work in the morning Stitch Club and her next session will be in February when she will be showing how to make raised work faces.
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| Eleanor and Henry II - Effigies in Fontevraud abbey |
Wyn confessed to a long standing interest in medieval architecture often to the bemusement of her family. Visits to places such as the Church of Notre Dame in Poitiers with a connection to the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine have inspired a series of pieces of textile art which Wyn brought to illustrate her talk.
Textures and colours in her work are based on wall paintings and ancient plasterwork.
 |
| Felting, fabric manipulation and embroidery feature in Wyn's work. |
In several examples of work, Wyn used cocoon strippings to create silk paper which was then painted and stitched in to. It has been proposed that we invite Wyn back to give us a dayschool on some of her techniques. Watch this space...
Announcements:
The Christmas meeting starts at 1.30. There will be a Stitch session in the morning and lunch will be available from 12.00.
The meeting is a members' day and we will be making small Japanese bags. Please bring the usual sewing kit - needles, threads, scissors, and pins. It was also suggested that a ruler would be useful.
Small, stitch related, wrapped presents for the bran tub are welcomed. There will also be a raffle and the judging of the Christmas Competition. There will be cake!
At the January meeting Artists Trading Cards (ATCs) will be re-launched. There will be a demonstration on how to make these cards in the morning stitch club.
Josie will be continuing with teaching raised work in the morning Stitch Club and her next session will be in February when she will be showing how to make raised work faces.
Friday, 1 November 2013
Young Embroiderers
Young Embroiderers met for two mornings this half term holiday. Cords were made and leaves were embellished to create a striking collection of trees. As this was Halloween there had to be a pumpkin...
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| Just three of the many trees that were created by enthusiastic young stitchers. |
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