December Meeting

The talk at the December meeting was brilliant and gave us a fascinating insight to Victorian Dress. How the Ladies were layered up and restricted, with the corset then crinoline then a bustle, followed by  the many petty coats they wore, was a real eye opener, and that was before the outer garment! I volunteered to be helped into a 1/3 of what they used to wear, it was very heavy and this was the everyday dress, I don't think that kind of fashion would fit very easily into modern day society. 

The faith supper as usual was very tasty and more than enough for everyone to enjoy.Thanks to all the committee for their hard work .

Look forward to seeing you at the February AGM.

Jacquie

November Meeting

Nice to see so many faces now the dark nights are upon us. Thanks to all who support the charity sales table and our wonderful raffle.

Cas Holmes gave us her fascinating insight to her way of working and recycling. It was an enjoyable workshop for all those who attended. It will be lovely to see your finished work in December.

Don't forget that the December meeting is a faith supper and a change of talk, to be by Letty Lovage's Husband (Pat Courtney), about Victorian costumes.

Please bring your work for all to see , it is our last meeting of 2015.

Jacquie

An Example of Cas's work used for the workshop

Examples of work created at the Workshop

November Meeting Cas Holmes

THE FOUND OBJECT IN TEXTILE ART

After Cas had obtained a Fine Arts degree in the early eighties, her understanding of paper and related media was further enhanced through two periods of long-term study in Japan in the mid to late eighties.

In 1991 she worked with art based organisations and community groups in Canada and more recently she has studied and worked in Europe, India and Australia.

She continues to develop her techniques, drawing and use of colour remain the foundation for all her work. The fragments of found materials are layered and mark the passing of time, the rituals of making (drawing, cutting, gathering materials, machining, sewing) acting as part of the narrative of the work.

Her work relates to the natural and built world and the elements that make it up. 

An example of her work

Remnants 

If you want to find out more about her work visit www.casholmestextiles.co.uk

October Meeting

It was a very informative talk by Crazy Mary, her work was inspiring and would make lovely presents to give to friends and family. Her demos were very good, showing us how straightforward the working is to make the projects quickly with a great result.

Thanks again to all who helped and supported the fund raising for Cancer Research. Wonderful amount of money raised.

Look forward to seeing you all in November with your show and tell.

Jacquie

Examples of Mary's work

Mary Halbert - Speaker at the October Meeting

Mary Halbert is an experienced teacher, having worked in primary schools in both Warwickshire and Solihull since qualifying in 1989. She runs Crazy Mary Crafts and also work part time at her local village primary school here in Kingsbury, North Warwickshire.

Her passion is art & craft, particularly textiles, and it has long been her secret (or perhaps not so secret!) ambition to make at least part of her living from this obsession. She is ‘into’ loads of textile related stuff, including hand/machine embroidery, felting, needle felting, papermaking, patchwork, quilting, beading, slightly random toymaking, mixed media etc etc….!

She now focuses on her teaching skills and concentrates on providing classes and teaching textile crafts, regularly leading workshops for adults. In addition She provides textile days and workshops to schools and community/social groups, often creating legacy pieces of artwork for display.

Over the next few years She also intends to set up an online shop selling her textile craft kits, which are always popular purchases at her classes and craft fairs/shows.

 An example of her work

Mary with an example of a project done with Kingsbury Primary School.

Apologies To Gemma

I apologize to Gemma for the incorrect information that was posted about her baby.  It is a little girl called Alexandra and she was born on Wednesday, 17th June.

Viv's Workshop

Photographs from Viv's Workshop on Saturday 12th September

Alison Holt at the September Meeting

It was lovely to so many people last Wednesday now that the evening are getting darker and Autumn is in the air.

We had a very interesting talk from Alison Holt, her machine embroidery was amazing. Her work is always lovely to admire and aspire to.

Thanks to you all for supporting our raffle.

We look forward to seeing you at The Big Textile Show. Shirley and I are doing a bag raffle. We will raffle 10 bags on Saturday and 10 Bags on the Sunday. The bags have been made and donated and the money will be going to Cancer Research. We hope to have lots of support.

Jacquie

Alison's Pictures

 

Alison's Embroidered Jumper and Detail

September Meeting

Alison Holt will be the speaker at our September meeting.  Her talk is entitled "The 30 Year Journal"










Examples of her beautiful machine embroidery.

There are still spaces left on Viv Denscombe's workshop on the 12th September

‘Chill Time’ – Viv Denscombe  -

One quick pull of the pattern, then sit, relax, hand stitch and bead.  I have designed and will bring my Thermofax screen and paint for you to create an original quick pattern that just calls out for hand stitch and beads. ( to be developed into a small pikki. ) 

There are also places on the messy play day 24th October (creating textiles designed by you) using stencils, thermofaxes, stamps etc.  There will be a selection of these provided or you can bring your own equipment.

New Arrival

 This is a picture of our youngest member, Gemma with her baby 5 hours old, Alexander born 19th June.

  

July Meeting

It was lovely to see so many at the July meeting on such a hot evening. Lynda gave us an insight to using the rug making methods for making other things. From bags to brooches with hooking prodding and weaving sticks. I hope some of you where inspired to try new techniques.  (See below)

The committee wish you all a great sewing time through August. Hope to see you in September with all your lovely projects for show and tell.

If you  have any wall hangings, quilts, bags or cushions you would like to display at The Big Textile show in September, could you please bring them to the next meeting ready for us to hang.

Jacquie

Speaker for July Lynda Kinnard

Lynda's talk is entited "Rug Making Techniques - not for walking on!"

This is a modern take on traditional crafts - prodding, lockerhooking, hooking, weaving etc for bags, hats, cushions, seat pads, corsages etc

She is very passionate about the creativity that working with fabrics and threads gives you and is always looking for new ways to use them.  There are two aspects to her work.  The first is using her sewing machine for free machine embroidery and creating textured fabrics from all sorts of materials including patchwork, applique and quilting.  The second is weaving, spinning and dyeing and all forms of rugmaking techniques, particularly using recycled fabrics to make  hats, bags, mirror frames, wall hangings etc.

June Meeting

The June meeting was very interesting with a talk from Heather Jacks, the winner of The Sewing Bee in 2014, giving us an insight to the workings of a reality show on the BBC. We only see the edited bits, but Heather told us It was hard work and a lot of pressure. Her talk was amusing and kept our attention all the way through, showing us the garments she made on the show.

A big thanks to Chris for bringing lovely things for us to buy for her charity.

We look forward to seeing you with your lovely work in July

Jacquie

Speaker for June Meeting

Heather Jacks will be talking about her experiences as the winner of the 2014 Great British Sewing Bee.

Pictures from the workshop on 14th May

Mandy Pattullo - Vintage Textile Collage

May Practical Evening

This months practical evening was very well attended and the projects were varied techniques of  lovely things  to make. Its always nice to have a chat and catch up with friends. The show and tell was very inspiring , everyone is  always eager to see what other sewers have been up to.

Thank you for surporting the raffle, Sue did a great job.

Look forward to seeing you and your wonderful work in June.

Jacquie