Flower Show 2013

Now that I know some of you actually visit the blog, I've made the effort to a) track down the password to this site and b) find the photographs from the Flower Show (I've also wasted a fair amount of time trying to find the photographs from the August meeting!).

A shot of our stall, showing the fantastic collection of Dresses for Africa. Charlotte is willing to accept more of these at the November meeting, so get those sewing machines out again.

At the Show this year the category of machine embroidery was re-introduced to the competition categories. Our branch scooped the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Highly Commended categories, well done all.

 Hilary won a prize in the crochet category with her bag made re-using plastic carrier bags,

 and a prize for her doll in the toy category.

 This photograph and the next few are shots of our stall at the Flower Show. For those who haven't visited the Show we are invited each year to put on a display of the work the members have done over the past year. The organisers have tried to encourage us to enter the competitions as well, hence the re-introduction of machine embroidery.

 These are entries into the patchwork competition

 Marie's entry in the hand embroidered category

 

Alwoodley Quilters

 

 Guild of Lacemakers

 I think this group are called Airedale Spinners, they meet at Armley Mills on Wednesdays, though I'm not sure whether that's every week or not.

The Committee, chilling at the end of the weekend.

 

The Edible Monster competition entries

and finally one of the entries into the 'any other craft' category. As usual, I don't think I took photographs of all the entries or enough of the display stalls but they should serve as a taster to visiting the real event next year.

Now, the next blog entry should be Riccall, Regional Meeting, where are those photographs?

July 2013

Oh heck, we're halfway through August and I've only just got round to posting on July's meeting. The morning session was spent working on our own projects and generally chatting. Jan brought in some beautiful linen pillowcases found in her mother's house. The weaving was really fine and the buttons intriguing. They seem to be two 'puffs' of linen joined together. An ingenious way to create fastenings - were they made because of a lack of buttons or to prevent hard lumps on the pillowcase? Does anyone know of any other examples?

As mentioned on last month's post Charlotte had asked if anyone would be willing to make pillowcase dresses for the underprivileged in Africa, I think that would be a yes then....

The afternoon session was lead by our very own Judith. She brought in some samples of shisha work and showed us how to do a very interesting stitch to hold the mirrors in place. I failed miserably with a needle too large for the thread and fabric but will endeavour to have a go before September. Below are some of the results....

 Some were slower than others ( too much talking again?) but brought in samples of various stitches used to anchor shisha mirrors in the past

 

  

And others brought in other work they wanted to catch up on. The advantage of having a Member's Day is that although there is usually an activity planned those who don't wish to participate can do they own thing and not miss the meeting.

Don't forget by double-clicking on one of the images you can create a slideshow of the photographs. 

See you in September, and before then I'll report on Leeds Flower Show held last weekend, now where did the photographs of that go.......................

Branch Meeting June 2013

 Yesterday's morning session was how to make Dorset buttons. The three buttons above illustrate the speed with which one can be completed

a) by using the right thickness of thread

b) arriving for the start of the session!

 Hilary also demonstrated how to cover a button with weaving, hope people will try these at home and bring the results to the next meeting.

 

 In the afternoon we had a very special speaker who was 12 years old when first spotted at the Knitting and Stitching Show two years ago wearing the shoes below. Sarah has been embroidering and making shoes under the guidance of her grandfather for seven years now and brought in examples of her work covering this time, including the first piece she did with her sister, the Parbold canvas work.

 It's difficult to tell from the picture above but the embroidery is actually stitched on slate. Sarah spent a very long time drilling holes into the slate to hold the stitches.

 Sarah's Grandfather told her that if she wants to be a shoe designer she should learn how to make shoes. She has made several pairs with clog like bases but finds them too heavy to wear for too long. It's a pity that all shoe designers don't do this!

 We all really enjoyed Sarah's talk which was enhanced by the series of photographs passed round the group during the talk. This was an interesting alternative to showing slides or power point presentations and was greatly appreciated. We even had two Halifax members come along especially to see Sarah. 

Good luck with your ambition to be a shoe designer Sarah.

Two other bits of news

Margaret has an article in "Stitch" magazine this month (June/July) on how to make a biscornu pillow in counted thread work. Congratulations Margaret.

Charlotte brought in a 'pillowcase' dress to encourage other members to make them. These dresses are simply made and are sent to deprived children in various parts of the world. The idea behind making these dresses is that every girl deserves one pretty thing of her own (other organisations make shorts for boys). Charlotte is hoping to make 100 by the end of October so why not give her a hand? An ideal opportunity to use up the stash in the attic

Next month Judith is going to do a workshop on Shisha work, below are two examples of her samples. The second one uses bottle tops rather than mirrors. See you then.