Lymefield Garden Centre, Winter Fair

Following our attendance at last week's fair in support of Amnesty International, this week we took a selection of our work and items for sale to Lymefield Garden Centre's Winter Fair in Broadbottom where we had been offered a table.  A local event such as this is a great opportunity to introduce what we do in the Embroiderers' Guild, and to meet new people.

Lots of people came along to enjoy the fair, and were delighted to be entertained by a brass band:-

Joy Newington generously supported us by bringing two hand-made dolls, which she had made herself, and which were then raffled with the proceeds donated to a charity.  Here are the two very happy winners:-

 

Many thanks to all members who supported us by making cards or other items for sale, or by simply coming to support the Winter Fair.

Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate

Its that time of year again!  We drove over to the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate with large, empty bags and lots of money.  Of course, we came home with heavy, full bags and empty purses.  But very pleased with our purchases and with the show.

As last year, the Embroiderers' Guild had its own, separate area with lots and lots of work on show including entries to last year's Members' Challenge - Imprisoned Splendour - and to the latest theme entitled 'Page 17'.  For this competition the entries could be based on Page 17 of any book chosen by the member and it resulted in a wonderful group of work, which included two entries from our own Secretary: Liz Smith:-

 

The works submitted for the Imprisoned Splendour Members' Challenge have already been exhibited in different venues and it made us very proud to see there were four entries from Glossop branch.  This embroidery was submitted by our Chair, Ann Cornes and is based on items found in a box left by her great grandmother:-

Here is the work submitted by Christine Bardsley, and by Judi Brown:-

and this is the entry designed and worked by Liz Smith:-

- a very creditable group of work from Glossop EG! 

Also exhibited in the EG area was our branch work based on Harry Ousey's painting:-

which attracted much interest and many compliments.

Machine Embroidery Play Day with Sheila Conchie

We were treated to an enjoyable and stimulating day with Sheila, where we all learned so much about our sewing machines and were urged to just 'have a go', with some impressive results.  

Sheila brought along some of her own work, giving us something to admire and to aim for! 











To start with, we were shown how to use straight stitch and zigzag stitch to make patterns on fabric, and to couch down threads:

then Sheila showed how to use the sewing machines' decorative stitches to create circles, using nothing more technical than a drawing pin!

 
We were then ready to 'lower the dogs' (feed dogs) and have a go at free machine stitching, and we were also introduced to soluble film.  We created our own 'fabric' by making a sandwich from pieces of sheer fabric between soluble film.  This was subsequently free machine stitched and we each created a beautiful and unique piece of free machine embroidery:

We all had a great day, learned a lot and took home our enthusiasm to continue experimenting with free machine stitching!