Archive | wcecheritonbishop

The Programme of 2016

12-Jan-16 Embroidery...My Personal Journey - Speaker Frances Sinclair

2 - Feb-16 'Out of the Hedge & Pockets and Purses' - Helen Bamber

1-March-16 Ribbon Embroidery' - Lyn Bennet

5-April-16 P.A.T testing & cream tea

7 -April-16 'Art Van Go' Day School

16-17 April Spring Embroidery Fair

3-May-16 Mounting, Framing & Presentation - Tracy Curtis

1-June -16 Day School - Beach Hut Etui Boxes - Suzanne Hutchins

7-June-16 Introduction to Gold Work - Debora Hastings

10-Jun-16 Contemporary Craft Fair - to 12th June at Bovey Tracey

5-Jul-16 Beads from polymer clay - Jo Hunter, £3.50

6-Jul-16 Day school - Beach Huts and Cottages - Suzanne Hutchins

2-Aug-16 Introduction to Trapunto - Jane Hopkins

6-Sep-16 A talk on Indigo by Jenny Balfour-Paul

4-Oct-16 AGM and The right tool for the job -Tracy

6-Oct-16 Day school, Eternal Star hanging - Marlene Chaffey

1-Nov-16 Blackwork and beyond - Jo Kingdom

6-Dec-16 Christmas party, starts at 12.30

Reflections on some of the 2016 Workshops

September Meeting 2016

Members were treated to a memorable afternoon when Dr Jenny Balfour-Paul gave us a talk. She is a well know expert on the subject of indigo. Her fascination with this natural dye was triggered when experimenting with her first vat in her Devon garden and watched the plain textile change from yellow & eventually to the blue we know. Over a number of years she pursued her interest and investigations meeting many people of different cultures and visiting places where the skills were fast disappearing. Her travels led her to Near and Far East recording what she saw and over the years she has collected wonderful textile examples. This led to her Doctorate from Exeter University. Jenny then told us of her investigation of a mid 19th century Indigo Planter in India, Thomas Machell, tracing his life and links with his descendants. The talk was illustrated with slides, an example of an indigo block and lengths of textiles from her large collection coloured with the natural dye, some embroidered. Jenny has been involved with the Silk Route Project encouraging the use of this natural indigo dye so the skills are not lost. She is also the President of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. The National Exhibition was held recently at Killerton House near Exeter.

A fascinating and very enjoyable meeting.

October Day School

A number of our group enjoyed a very productive day with Marlene Chaffey who taught us how to create the Eternal Star patchwork pattern. Both hand sewn and machine methods were used and she cleverly encouraged us to master this rather intricate piece so we had confidence to complete the project later. As always, it was a very enjoyable day with satisfying results and a very convivial 'Bring and Share' lunch - a day when we all felt we had learnt a great deal from a superb Tutor.

Stitching and Knitting Show

Three members of our Group enjoyed a visit to Alexandra Palace for the recent Stitching and Knitting Show. They came across West End Embroidery and were very impressed with the range this firm could offer particularly their threads. Please visit our Links page for contact information should this be of interest.

November

A very full afternoon was spent at our November meeting busily stitching under the Tutorship of our member, Jo Kingdom. Jo introduced us to 'Blackwork' by giving us a short history of the skill before demonstrating Christmas snowflake designs in red or green on white Aida fabric which could be used as a decoration or a motif for cards.

The Programme of 2015

In April we were extremely fortunate to welcome Alison Holt for a Day School. She is internationally recognized

for her expertise in free machine embroidery and the theme for the 1 day course was 'Woodlands'. She demonstrated various techniques, adjusting tensions on the machine so we were able to create samples of foliage, ferns, bark and tree trunks using only straight stitch and zigzag. Alison showed us amazing skills but also left us with much encouragement to put these ideas into practice.

Our Summer Outing in June was to nearby Castle Drogo. In the morning we were treated to a wonderfully detailed talk on the conservation of the tapestry 'Char de Triumphe' made for Louis XVI at the Gobelin's factory now in the keeping of the National Trust. We then had the opportunity to view the tapestry at close quarters identifying the various repairs worked at various periods. Other embroideries held at Castle Drogo were on display for us to view as well.

The afternoon was spent in the grounds sketching to collect ideas for future work. How lucky we were to have Kari McGovern to lead this inspiring time. A very happy and rewarding day together.

Welcoming Maggie Grey, West Country Embroiderer's President in July, was a special treat. She is much admired for her inspirational embroidery and books and her illustrated talk 'Inspired to Stitch' was just that. Maggie not only showed us slides and samples of embroidery but examined the number of sources to trigger the imagination. Maybe it could be from personal photographs, a sketch book or just the desire to get your hands on fabric and thread and work intuitively. How much there was to take away from this exceptionally enjoyable afternoon.

'Patterns, Bands and Borders' was the title of another Day School this time in September. Steph Francis was our Tutor showing us a number of techniques which involved printing, layering, applique and hand stitching to achieve such rich work. Included in our requirements for the day were beads, sequins, pieces of decorative fabric , ribbons, braids and sheers. As always, its amazing how an inspirational tutor is able to encourage such individual and varied work within the group.