Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch 2011

It hardly seems possible that this show has come round again, but on Thursday I set off at 6.30am bound for the NEC , planning to spend  two whole days  being inspired. It lived up to expectations, and I have included some images from the visit.

Mermaid in her watery grotto.

These  pictures show bits of the 'Above and below the Waves' life-size project created to raise money for the RNLI, and part of the Sewing for Pleasure section of the show. Everything is knitted, apparently by over one thousand knitters. The detail is amazing!

An old sea-dog with knitted lobster!

The cliffs, complete with lighthouse and seagulls!

A day on the beach

Next, images of the costumes made by two French artists. Very theatrical, and beautifully-made, they are the work of Ollivier henry and Jean-Noel Lavesvre. Photographs can't do them justice; they were truly incredible.

No wonder they needed help to dress!

Unbelievably beautiful detail!

My favourite.......very very pretty!

Gorgeous Goldwork!

I also loved the exhibition celebrating Jan Messent's work, 'Recreating Celtic, Viking and Anglo-Saxon Artifacts. The original pieces that were shown in her recent book were on display, and fascinating to see close up. I was lucky enough to meet Jan as she passed through.

Lots of textile groups have displays of work here; I was directed to the 'Through the Wardrobe' exhibit, based on the theme of Narnia, by Fulcrum.  It was a collection of evocative hangings based on snow, and very effective.

I really enjoyed talking to textile artists from groups all over the country and fitted in one workshop, Lynda Monks' class. We made a lovely folded pocket book, from spunbond, using foils to decorate, and soldering iron to finish the pages and cover. Examples of these books I saw beforehand looked so exotic, and difficult, but we all managed to produce an equally attractive version in the hour we had for the class, and I will photograph mine at some time in the future.

If anyone else from Keswick Embroiderers got to the show this year, I'd like to post their pictures and impressions, too.

March Meeting, and Squares

We met today for the second of our sessions working on the 'Mystery stitch'.  We spent the time investigating the possibilities of the stitch we 'chose' last time, and looking at the effects of changing the size, direction, and the thickness of thread.

We were  surprised by the arrival of a visitor, and even more surprised when she turned out to be Jackie Cardy, who is due to join us for our April meeting. She was in Keswick with her husband,  realised it was our meeting day, and popped in to say 'hello'!  Now we can put a face to the name on the Dog Daisy Chains blog, and we look forward to seeing her next month.


More of the squares for the Meeting House are now complete. They all look very different, as members have used their own choice of techniques to interpret the brief. Here  are some.........................

We ( or at least, I ) don't know exactly how they're going to be displayed, so it will be interesting to see the final result.

Embroidery in St Bees Church

This is the new superfrontal recently dedicated in St Bees Priory Church. 

www.stbees.org.uk

Several members of the church's embroidery group worked on the large and heavy frontal, but the beautiful and skilful embroidery on the superfrontal itself is the brainchild of just two of them, and the work, mostly, of one.  (Not me!). The Priory has other pieces of embroidery to look at if you are in the area, the Millenium wallhanging, and lots of seat cushions, etc, mainly in the sanctuary and the Lady Chapel. It's also an interesting church to visit for its history, and for two pieces of modern sculpture made specially for the church.

More Squares

Here are some more of the squares for the Friends Meeting house in Keswick;

Red, as you can see!

Bloglist

You may have noticed that I've added 'Dog Daisy Chains' to our bloglist. This is Jackie Cardy's blog, which shows her lovely work with hand-dyed velvets and silk. As she is scheduled to visit us in April, I thought you might like to look at her work.

February Meeting; Machine Embroidery with Jan Hicks

Val sent this report of last week's workshop;

Machine Embroidery with Jan Hicks –

Thursday 17^th February 2011

        As this was a basic machine embroidery class, Jan began at the beginning and showed us how to set up our machines for free embroidery. Then it was darning/embroidery foot on, feed dogs down and away we go, practising, may I hasten to add. We had all brought some cotton material and this was soon filled with free machining scribble, then as we got more used to it our names were added and then some attempt at flowers and trees.

        Jan explained how she makes embroidered ‘lace’ using water soluble fabric and as she had brought some with her for us to buy if we wanted to, most of us were soon machining over designs we had drawn on the fabric. Jan warned us to make sure we had machined all the bits together as it could all disintegrate when the fabric is dissolved! Adding bits of fabric and lace between two layers of the soluble fabric – this was to keep the scraps in place while machining – made for a more robust piece. For first attempts the results were quite acceptable.

        3 o’clock seemed to arrive all too soon and with heads buzzing with the possibilities hinted at, machines were returned to their original settings and packed away. It was an enjoyable workshop and, I for one feel that I have learnt something, all I have to do now is find the time to practise!

Thanks, Val; I was really sorry to miss this meeting.  Pat sent these pictures;

Thank you, Pat!

'Friends' squares

You may have seen here;    stitch&bake    some of the squares our group is producing for the Friends' Meeting House. Pat sent this picture of four more .............

 Lovely, I think!