September 2012 Meeting

Welcome back to the new term, and hope everyone had a happy holiday. During the summer Freda made progress with her daffodils and has branched into split stitch for the flower head.

 Jenny has also been working, on a pincushion to give to a friend. She used a synthetic ribbon for the flower head, rather than silk, so that the item can be washed.

The morning sessions are going to be more structured this year and we kicked off to a good start with Hilary running a class on applique......

 

A new bag to carry samples to the Guild meeting

 

 The kit and finished sample from Saturday morning's session. We hope that everyone will bring in their finished pieces next month to post on the blog.

Audrey not only brought in a cake to celebrate a significant birthday but also two samples of applique from the branch collection. The crinoline lady teacosy was bought from a charity shop, it's unusual in it's use of applique with the surface stitches. 

 

The applique below is unfinished and is labelled as Japanese applique. Does anyone know anything about this style of work? Research needed!

Finally, the afternoon speaker, Sue Seeger, was very interesting. She has studied and taught the history of women's dress in great detail and is involved with the costume department at the theatre. She was also involved with Homburgs and designed costume for their shop. Sue gave us a slide show of the development of fashion from about 1850, illustrating how design has been influenced by social history and the march to women's equality.

See you next month, when I hope to have developed the library list.

July Meeting and Leeds Flower Show 2012

 First up, Freda's progress with the daffodils

July's afternoon meeting was all about maps. Two people brought maps they had made, I'm sorry that I don't know who they belong to. The photographs are courtesy of Ruth

 Hilary brought her new jacket to the afternoon session and explained how she had made the border. She had also traced small portions of the AtoZ road atlas pertaining to each member of the branch and we all set to work embroidering our own portion of the map with wool in chain stitch. During the week Hilary stitched these together and the result was exhibited at Leeds Flower Show.

 

Part Two, the Flower Show

 Two of the Children's categories in the Art and Craft Hall where our stall was.

 

 Our Stall

 Catherine's patchwork

 

Margaret's embroidery

 

The Grey Squares and Debbie's necklace

There are other displays in the Arts and Crafts Hall

  Alwoodley Quilters

 Spinners of Aire

White Rose Lacemakers

Regional Exhibition at Ripley

Carole's newsletter yesterday reminds me that I haven't posted the pictures of the Exhibition. So, here they are in no particular order, and with an apology that I took far fewer photographs than I thought at the time. Don't forget that if you double click on one of the photographs you can view the them as a larger slideshow. 

 This snap was taken to remind me to investigate 'poor man's pewter'

 Our own branch shield, made by Maureen Hindes, and beneath it the tablecloth made by the people who were members at the 75th Anniversary of the Yorkshire Branch @ Leeds (or was it the 60th?). Each member embroidered a square and included her name

 A close up of the leaves on the shield.

 The background of the hanging is handmade felt

 Nidderdale's exhibition space

 Not sure which branch this one came from

 or this, the princess and the pea

The winner of the Tin competition at Riccall

 A close up of our table - sorry, it's a bit out of focus

 Our stand

If anyone else took photographs of the exhibition I could include them on the blog if forwarded to me.

See you on Saturday

I've added this photograph again because the first doesn't seem to work in the slide show. If I remove the first from the blog, then the next picture doesn't work. Will try to sort it later

Barbara

June Meeting 2012 - Talk by Pauline Bloomfield

This afternoon I visited the Regional Exhibition at Ripley and realised that I can't post photographs of it until I've blogged our June meeting. So, here we go.

Pauline was a very generous speaker who not only handed round all of her exhibits, but also allowed the audience to talk amongst themselves about the pieces they were handling, this is often something we can't do while the speaker continues talking.  She gave us a potted history of her life as an embroiderer and showed both work books and finished embroideries.

Her latest group of work is based on African folklore of the origins of the people on earth.

Below are some of the images from her work sheets, when she realised that she should specialise in textiles

 Pauline explained that as an Art teacher she had to come to terms with teaching pottery and learning how to use a kiln. The 'stones' below are her work from the kiln

Another very enjoyable afternoon!

June Meeting 2012

The morning meeting had a few more members attend this month.

Freda's daffodils are coming on nicely, she's added another colour but still keeping to stem stitch.

  Jenny brought in a very interesting embroidery hoop which she bought in South Africa. Does anyone know if they can be bought in England - or any useful joiners/carpenters/DIY folk out there who could make one? It looks as if the ends from a slate frame have been used and because these are in grooves any sized embroidery hoop can be added.

 Jennifer is making a candlewick cover and the frame is perfect for leaving both hands free for making the knots.

Audrey went to Miss Womersley's funeral and collected several memorabilia given to the Branch by Miss W. When she moved to Sunderland Point the Yorkshire Branch gave her a book signed by all the members at the time and an embroidered picture. These have now been added to the Branch archive.

I'll report in later with the afternoon event. Pauline Bloomfield's embroidery and pottery.