December 2011

As usual we had a Christmas ‘Jacob’s Join’ get together at the Studio. It was as always nicely set out by Marion and her team.

I demonstrated ‘furoshiki’ – Japanese Gift Wrapping.  I used this technique very effectively last Christmas when wrapping gifts for friends and family.  I was able to bring a selection of cloths that I had made and  wrap a number of different items to show how effective they can be.

Our Christmas Competition was to create a 2” diamond shaped Christmas decoration.  At this moment in time I can’t remember who won the competition and I don’t see to have any images of the pieces produced.

We are looking for ward to the January meeting on the last Monday of the Month (we don’t have meeting in January on the first Monday) when we will be having a talk ‘The Story Sew Far’ by Liliane Taylor.

November 2011

We started the month with a Saturday workshop led by Val Hughes. Val’s passion is wearable art. She has worked and exhibited throughout the UK and secured many commissions from Theatre companies, promotional advertising and bridal wear. She brought some interesting pieces of her work to show us.

Val steered us through a design process getting us to talk about a meaningful possession, event or place to inspire us to create an embroidered bag. It was a really good day enjoyed by all who attended.

Our two branch meetings in November were given over to working on our Olympic Postcards. They are all beginning to take shape. One or two have been completed and handed in. The remainder need to be handed in at our first branch meeting in February.

‘Bags’ – work in progress

October 2011

Wyn Ingham came to our first meeting to talk to us about the ‘History of Lace’. Wyn has been setting us some challenges through out the year and came to meet us all at our July ‘Strawberry Tea’.  We were delighted to see her again.

Wyn is very entertaining as well as interesting and informative. She brought some lovely samples of lace and passed them round for us to look at in more detail.  She will be returning in February to teach a workshop on ‘Casalguidi’.   We are really looking forward to the workshop.

At our second meeting in October Val Anderson got everyone working on ‘Inchies’. These had been very popular at the joint exhibition that we had in the summer with the Lytham St Annes Branch. The technique was very well received

Val had been really busy before the meeting make a collection of inchies with which to inspire everyone. I was really disappointed that I couldn't attend the meeting. I know I missed a treat.

September 2011

September 12

Our first branch meeting in September was our AGM. I stepped down as the Chairman and became the programme secretary. Seonaid stepped up to be our new Chairman.

This year the Trudie Goode enough competition was won by Sallie Wiles with her stitched panel – ‘Something for a Child’.

Well done Sallie.

Sylvia Davies came to our second meeting in the month with her extensive collection of threads and materials for all those unfinished items that were just waiting for the ‘right thing’.  We all managed to find lots of goodies to tempt us to part with our money!