Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch/Sewing for Pleasure

Like many others, I was disappointed that what used to be the 'Madeira' Show would not be in Harrogate this year, but very keen to go to its replacement at The NEC. There was more than a little doubt about whether this was a good idea, mainly when I was preparing to catch the 6.30 AM! train from Whitehaven on Thursday. After that brutal start, the journey was very easy, and I was in the show by 11.30. I was there on two days, and so had time for a good look round, and managed to fit in two workshops as well as talking to various designers and makers on Friday morning, before the crowds arrived.

I really enjoyed the show, and though it was busy, felt that there was plenty of space to get around. All the usual suppliers were there, of course, but I especially enjoyed seeing inspirational work from groups and individuals, many of them incredibly generous with their time and advice. No pictures, sadly, because many of the designers, understandably, don't allow photographs. I did get contact and website details, and books, of course!

 The workshops I took part in were taught by Pauline Verrinder from Fibre Fusion, whose display was stunning, and I felt on Thursday that if I saw nothing else, the journey would have been worth while. But, I did see plenty of other things that made my mouth water, and I came back with all kinds of goodies, and books, but also ideas to develop back at home.

I have added a website to our list. Linda and Laura Kemshall run ‘Design Matters TV’, online workshops for textiles, which, as their work is lovely, must be worth looking at. One of the introductory videos shows needlefelted and embroidered brooches, and I know there are some of us who'd be interested. However, my broadband connection is so volatile that I haven’t been able to watch more than a few seconds of it, yet. You may have more luck. http://www.lindakemshall.com/

Did anyone else get to the show? What did you think of it?

March meeting Eleanor Paxton

Today's was a slightly different kind of meeting for us; instead of the workshop format we're more used to, we were treated to a talk by Eleanor Paxton. She was for many years involved with the costumes, props and scenery for Keswick Amateur Operatic Society, performing first at The Blue Box, and then, as it became, The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The slides showed her scenery for Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and other musicals to be so realistic, and she brought along examples of the costumes she has made over the years, always on a small, and often a shoestring budget.
We were very impressed by her talents. The talk ended in theatrical fashion, when Keswick's Town Crier made his entrance, giving us a sneak preview of his new costume, designed and made, of course, by Eleanor.

No photographs can do justice to what we saw today.

Mikado

Mikado

A saucy showgirl, this one!

Town Crier

Two very realistic (and surprisingly lightweight) Props

One of Eleanor's first backdrops

Many thanks to Eleanor for a glimpse behind the scenes!

More silk purses.

More examples of little purses made after our silk paper workshop. I'll add more as I get them.

These two bags were embroidered and finished by hand and machine.

Marilyn's purse, made on the day of the workshop

                          

Purses finished at the informal meeting last week. I'll have more pictures of them soon, hopefully with some names.

I travelled up to Glasgow last week, for the Creative Stitches show. It's not the biggest, but that meant there was time to get around all the stalls and exhibitions, without rushing. This year there was plenty to see, and a chance to talk to designers and makers, such as Isobel Hall, Margaret Beal, and Kim Thittichai. I bought Margaret Beal's book, and am looking forward to experimenting more with soldering iron and heat gun.

If anyone is interested, look at http://www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk/, for details of a Tea-cosy competition!

Our next meeting is on 18th March, when we will be treated to a talk about Theatre costumes, and then we will have a brief introduction to the embellishing machine. See you there!

Silk Paper!

We might be in exile from our usual meeting-place, but there can't be many guild groups who meet in such lovely surroundings! This was the view from outside Threlkeld Village Hall when we met for our silk paper-making workshop on Thursday.

We enjoyed a fascinating session; Lyn Armstrong showed us some examples of little bags made from silk paper, and some of her larger pictures, to whet our appetite for this technique, and went on to demonstrate her method of making silk paper. She managed to make it all seem very straightforward, and guided us through the process. I, for one, have been a little put off in the past, by quite complicated instructions in books, and it was good to have the de-mystified version, using  easily-available materials.

We were soon at work, laying down silk fibres, adding decorative threads, (and a sprinkling of gold leaf!)

Applying the medium,

Drying the paper with several hair-dryers,

Cutting it to shape,

Embellishing with beads and stitch.

A work in progress... nearly there!

It is difficult to do justice with a camera, to the delicious, delicate  pieces of paper made this way.

Until we have some pictures of the finished work we did on the day, here is some of the work Lyn brought along to inspire us;

So, a lovely workshop, with new skills learned.  And, as soon as I have pictures of completed projects to show you, I will post them. 

KEG February Newsletter

Greetings! The year has now got off to a good start, with a great day spent with Marilyn showing us how to create beads, jewellery and small items from felt. It was great to get together again after quite a bumpy couple of months; the floods in November and the snow in December/January seemed to curtail all sorts of get-togethers, but we (hopefully) are back on track now.

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PLEASE REMEMBER – the next few meetings will be at Threlkeld Village Hall, until the Friends’ Meeting House has completed its works after flooding. We’ll keep you informed.

The next meeting is at 10am on Thursday, 18th February (coffee available at 9.45am). It is an opportunity to make silk paper (a different technique to the one we tried with Sandra Kedzlie a couple of years ago), and then to embellish our work and even make a little item with the resulting ‘fabric’.

Lyn Armstrong is bringing the raw silk, detergent and setting medium and a pattern to make a purse, as a kit, and this will be provided at no extra charge. However, you do need to bring the following if you have them:

•  usual sewing kit
•  stuff to attach, i.e. beads, sequins or anything you fancy. The colours are going to be in the range of blue / green / pink
•  Any nice threads you have.
•  Bits and pieces you might want to add to the paper as you make it, i.e. tiny bits of cut up threads, tiny sparkly bits, dried flower petals, angelina, etc.
•  The messy bit will require:- a paint brush for the wetting of the paper with detergent about 1” – 2” will do
•  a smaller paint brush for the setting medium
•  some old nylon net (some will be provided, but you might have to take some 'wet' paper home on the net so you might want to bring your own)
•  a hair dryer will help to speed up the drying – we will provide a couple but you may have room to bring your own
•  some paper towels for helping mop up the water etc
• Your lunch!

An example of the silk paper we will be making.

Two examples of purses made from the paper

The 18th March meeting is to be a talk about costume making by Eleanor Paxton, and should prove very interesting. This will be followed by a demonstration of Lesley’s embellishing machine (following on from Marilyn’s dry felting by hand), and the opportunity to do some of your own work – perhaps bring along that Chairman’s Challenge sampler to catch up?

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Branch News

Sally Evans has asked us all to let her have any ideas, sketches, drawings, examples and explanations of fabric used, etc, for our motifs supplied to the KEG banner. She has kindly offered to create a file which will contain all the information, for posterity!

Regional News

The North West Region, Area 1 (which is us!) has set up a workshop in Sedburgh on 20th March. Contact Kathryn Thompson on 01253 882121 for further information.

The Regional Day this year is on 17th April and is in the Manchester Conference Centre. Information is with Pat if you would like to apply for tickets. As you know from the Rheged meeting we co-hosted, it’s a very interesting day, and worth the visit.

The Regional AGM is on 16th October, at Preston. I am letting you know this date very early, hoping that somebody will be able to attend on the club’s behalf. It would be great to show that Keswick is represented, and supporting the Region.

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Upcoming Exhibitions

9th to 20th March – Quilt Museum in York – The Celtic Fringe: Wholecloths of Wales and Scotland and Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt – Bita Ghezelayagh.

25th and 26th June (Friday and Saturday) - WOOLFEST 2010 at Cockermouth

19-22 August, NEC - Festival of Quilts

Pat Knifton 01768 779448

February Informal Meeting

A very select group gathered for our informal meeting today, and all manner of 'goodies' were 'rehomed.'

We celebrated Val's birthday, caught up with events and news since we last met, and still managed to get on with some work on individual 'works-in progress'

This is a detail of Val's crewel work , Jacobean Bell-pull, from Anchor.

Moira's Cross Stitch is from Bothy threads,   'Cut-through Castle'

There be dragons in this castle!

Pat experimented with needle-felting after Marilyn's workshop, and after reading an article by Gilda Baron, in a past issue of Stitch magazine. This landscape, felted, then embroidered, was the result!

The next blog will be the February newsletter, featuring among other things, details of Lyn's silk-painting and embroidery session, and pictures of what we'll be making.

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More pictures!

It's hard to believe that it's February tomorrow! Our next informal meeting will take place at Pat's house in Threlkeld on Thursday 4th Feb, and we are invited to take along any sewing related bits and pieces that we'd like to exchange, sell, or gift to someone else. Time for a bit of a clear out.

Melanie has passed on more pictures of our felting day, which I am posting here. It would be lovely to see pictures of any work completed at home after the workshop.