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!

October meeting - guest speakers from Altrincham Branch

At our meeting on 25 October we were very pleased to welcome speakers from Altrincham branch, who came along to talk to us about their work.  The first speaker was Sandra McFarlane who talked to us about her beautiful Japanese embroidery.  She displayed several pieces of exquisite work which showed great skill, and huge amounts of patience, and was very much admired.

The second speaker - Beryl Waterfield - described her journey through embroidery which showed a wide range of experience including quilting and passementerie.

Here is Beryl's wonderful quilt, the design of which, she told us, was based on a sheet of gift wrapping paper (you can just see it, rolled up on the table in front of Beryl).  We were then shown this distinctive, colourful box and a beautifully embroidered fan.

Finally, Jenny Legge began by telling us that after she completed her City & Guilds she wished to start making dolls.  But we really didn't expect to see the amazing work which emerged from her boxes!

Jenny showed a range of dolls inspired by the characters which appear in the paintings of Mr L S Lowry, the celebrated local artist:-

                 (apologies for the background photographs of cricketers, which were sadly unavoidable)

 
 I think this chap's name is Alphonse

All members of the audience were left feeling very privileged and inspired by seeing such a range of fabulous work - thank you so much, Altrincham!  

North West Regional AGM

The AGM was held last Saturday,  21 October at Garstang Golf & Country Club.  Several of our members went along and the event was well attended despite being held in such dreadful weather.

All the NW Region branches have submitted a piece of stitching which represents their location, and these have been made up into a beautiful tablecloth.  Glossop's embroidery represented the area's history in textiles, represented by four bobbins.  You can see the work on the bottom row, showing four circles with red centres.  

After lunch there was an enjoyable stitching session where everyone embroidered a paisley motif.

When all the finished works have been received they will be incorporated into a Regional group work and will make up the feathers of a peacock's tail.

GEG Rosebowl competition September 2017

The theme of this year's Rosebowl competition was 20th century artists. Members looked at the work of a variety of artists as a starting point for some very original textile work. The overall winner was Judi Brown whose industrial landscape was inspired by the work of local artist Trevor Grimshaw.

 Her winning entry is below:

All the entries were of a high standard and included reference to the work of Van Gogh, Raoul Dufy, Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Alphonse Mucha, Pablo Picaso, Takumasa Ono, Cornelia Parker and Gustav Klimt. See if you can match the textile images below to the artist who inspired the piece!

  

A visit to York Minster

I am a regular visitor to York Minster, and thought you might like to look at a small sample of the work of York Minster Broderers, which is on exhibition near the choir stalls.

These panels were worked by individual members and are based on birds and beasts to be found in the Minster:

The images aren't quite straight because I was stretching two feet above my head.  I seem to recall there are over thirty pieces of work which make up the exhibit.  If you have an opportunity then they really are worth looking at, as well as the rest of the Minster, of course.

There are also some beautiful embroidered textiles which are changed during the year.  Here is a picture of the altar frontal currently used: beautiful stitching and design.   Definitely worth a visit, especially if it can be combined with a visit to Betty's Tea Shop!