February Meeting

A belated Happy New Year!  Our first meeting of 2017 was our AGM on 1st February.  The 2015/16 minutes and the chairman's report on 2016 reminded us of the variety of speakers and topics we have enjoyed.  There were two committee changes for the coming year:  Jacquie Durber stood down as chairman and also Elaine Capewell.  We thanks them both for all their hard work.  Fortunately Gina Cooke has agreed to take over as chairman.  Our treasurer reported quite a healthy financial situation but there will be a slight increase in the annual subscription and workshop costs in line with the rising costs of speakers/travelling expenses.

The "business part" of the meeting was followed by a most inspiring "suitcase collection" of small quilts from the Quilters Guild Traditional Quilt Group.  It gave a fascinating glimpse of different interpretations of "Traditions".  They illustrated so many designs and techniques coupled with skilled workmanship which was enjoyed by both new and established quilters.

Examples of the quilts in the suitcase collection

Change of Speaker

We have had to change our March meeting when we were having Lynn Edwards, who has had some devastating news yesterday, her son Tom aged 41 suffered heart failure and died while touring Canada with his band.

Lynn understandably feels unable to commit to anything for the next few months and has given us plenty of notice.   We have managed to get Roxana from Hannah’s Room  she is coming to give us a talk  on how she and her mother started, she will also bring some of her lovely batik material for sale.

February 2017

On Wednesday 1st February it is our AGM, which will be followed by a collection of small quilts from the Traditional Quilt Group of the Quilters Guild.  This new suitcase collection is entitled Celebrating Traditions.

Visitors are most welcome and free for your first meeting and you do not have to be a Quilter to come.  We meet at the Cosby Community Church, Croft Road at 7.30 pm doors open 6.45.

The speakers and workshop pages have been updated for 2017.

We have  a workshop on Wednesday the 1st of March taken by Lynne Edwards. The workshop is entitled "Roll back the Corners"

 

 













Create this starry block using an origami-type technique, where folded pieces of fabric are layered on a background and the folded bias edges rolled back and stitched into a gentle curve, either by hand or by machine.  The technique can also be used to enrich regular patchwork blocks in a quilt or to create curves and soften the straight outlines of pieced designs.  Several extra designs will be offered, including two nine patch blocks that can be combined in a quilt design, ideas for borders  and curved-edge birds and cats. 

Then on 6th April we will have workshop with Philippa Naylor entitled "Precision Piecing".  A practical workshop to help you achieve prize winning accuracy. Masses of techniques, information and advice on every stage of the piecing process. Fabric selection, using the correct rotary cutting methods, sewing accurate seams, matching points and pressing are examined in detail with extensive demonstrations. Make a perfectly sized, ‘no points lost’ block. Learn about borders and how to produce really neat corners. Add double borders to your block choosing either mitred or square cut corners for a perfect finish!

If you would like to attend either of these workshops please contact Pat Screaton.  Further details about workshops and contact details for Pat are on the workshop page.

December Meeting

The December meeting was very exciting with amazing costumes . The ladies were a little squashed changing in the kitchen,but a great job was done by all. I didn't hear the talk as I was being dressed.

I think everyone enjoyed it by the laughs and applause we heard while changing.

The usual wonderful selection of food went down very well. Everyone manages to bring a great selection.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

Looking forward to seeing you in 2017.

Jacquie

November Meeting

What a lovely talk from Susan Briscoe. She showed us her beautiful quilts. We had a wonderful insight into her world of quilting. Enjoyed by all . Nice to see so many visitors.

Look forward to seeing you in December . Don't forget our faith supper, you always bring such lovely food.

Don't forget to bring show and tell.

Happy sewing 

Jacquie

The talk at the next meeting is Janet Wroe the wardrobe mistress at the Concordia Theatre

Pictures from Susan Briscoe's Sashiko workshop.

November Speaker

 Susan Briscoe will be giving us a talk entitled "From a British Tradition Textile and Folklore"

She is a designer and textile artist, author of several books and she teaches creative textile workshops.  She also sells vintage Japanese fabrics.

Her new book 'The 1718 Coverlet: 69 Quilt Blocks from the Oldest Dated British Patchwork Coverlet" (published by D & C) was launched at Festival of Quilts.  It is available from The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles in their online shop , where there's lots of lovely 1718 themed gifts and souvenirs too (Guild members get a 10% discount online as well as in the shop)... She has written this book to help raise funds for The Guild's charitable aims which includes the very important upkeep of the biggest collection of antique British patchworks, quilts and coverlets in the British Isles - you can browse the collection online and see just how amazing it is!  

More information about Susan Briscoe can be found at www.susanbriscoe.com

However her workshop is about her other love Sashiko.  

October Meeting

We had 2 wonderful workshops in September. The nightlight houses came out very well enjoyed by all, who bought kits to go home and make more. Viv's decorative felt beads turned into a very relaxing hand sewing day. Thanks to all for the organising.

It was amazing to see Maria Tomas again. I thought her work was wonderful and very inspiring. I love the combination of the different elements in her work, they blend together so well and it makes you want to go home and raid your recycle bin to find stuff to work with. Her jackets were lovely using the  table cloths with the hand embroidery and lace. Her denim jacket was just mind blowing made with parts from old jeans.

Don't forget The Big Textile Show on the 29th and 30th October being held in the Kube Oadby.

Hope to see you in November with your finished projects for us to see.

Jacquie

Examples of Maria's beautiful work