Thursday 16 June 2011

Stumpwork workshop

Stumpwork workshop



Nicola Hilton, whose credentials include a stint at the Royal School of Needlework, led an intensive but cheerful workshop on 28 October. Eleven branch members took part with the aim of leaving with a nearly-completed stumpwork name badge. Beaded grapes, 3D leaves and tendrils, berries and a ladybird were our challenges. Nicola made sure we all understood and had a go at each technique. As a result we have already seen one finished badge and two box lids featuring the design, and several more pieces are well on the way. Good fun was had by all and a satisfying outcome was achieved.



Maggie Rubin: Back to university

Back in October we heard from our very own Maggie Rubin about her adventures going back to university. Maggie explained how she came to return to university to study embroidery and how her fascination with Stumpwork evolved. We all marvelled at her beautiful work and were astonished by how much Maggie fits in to a day!!!!




Maggie


Maggie with her beautiful samples


More samples and some finished work: stunning!

An Apology and an Update

First: apologies for the lack of updates on the blog: this has been due to technical difficulties, illness and a new puppy all of which are now sorted!!

Silence on the blog does not however mean that the branch has been quiet.  Far from it!  We have amongst other things had talks from our own members on their travels and studies, laughed at Sue Warburton's stories of her life and quilts, and got started on our postcard projects.  Updates from all our meetings will be here soon.

Friday 8 October 2010

AGM 2010

AGM 2010

September’s meeting was our AGM and time for our annual Rose Bowl competition where members vote for their favourite piece of work. This year’s winner was Margaret Steeden with a beautiful box. Margaret explained her inspiration for this piece:

“The memory sewing box was inspired by photographs I had of my parents after their deaths, some of which only came to light after the funeral when relatives found them amongst their own possessions. The images along with memorabilia were made into a collage, printed on to calico and them embroidered with appropriate designs pertinent to Emily and Bert's life together. The box was a faded discarded sewing box originally owned by my daughter so in true recycling mode it was given a new lease of life. The said mentioned daughter now quite likes the idea of having the heirloom one day!!!"



Margaret's memory sewing box


detail of box

detail of box

Margaret talking about the inspiration for her box


A truly stunning piece of embroidery.

Next month: Maggie Rubin talks to us on “Back to University”.

Monday 20 September 2010

Gallery of Members' Work

Here are pictures of recently completed items by Catherine Leighton:

The first is a Christmas cushion, hand and machined embroidered with beads and other embellishments: a beautiful and timely reminder that Christmas is getting closer!

Catherine's second cushion is in silk in shades of coffee and cream, again machine and hand embroidered, made as a present for a friend's special birthday.














Really beautiful. Thank you for sharing them Catherine.



Sunday 19 September 2010

African Cloths and clothing. A Visit by Maggie Relph

Beyond the ordinary, into the fabulous” – this is how Maggie Relph described African costume at our June meeting, the final one of the current season before our summer outings and September AGM.


Maggie brought a sales table full of enticing African fabrics, beads, kits and much more. She also brought vintage and modern African clothing, ranging from special occasion wear to everyday outfits. She finished her talk by showing us a pair of sandals made from car tyres – they weren’t comfortable but they showed the resourcefulness of the African people.





Dorothy models a man’s garment made from a single piece of cloth. Such voluminous outfits made from heavy damask and beautiful embroidery were not intended for comfort but to demonstrate the owner’s wealth and importance.






Maggie and Elaine hold up two North African kaftans.






Maggie holds the top of a formal Moroccan man’s outfit while Norma has the bottom half! Made from damask cloth, it is embellished with Cornelli chain stitch embroidery



Maggie holds the top of a formal Moroccan man’s outfit while Norma has the bottom half! Made from damask cloth, it is embellished with Cornelli chain stitch embroidery


Carole’s garment would be worn by a Muslim and therefore would be accompanied by a hat like this one. The hat’s embroidery would have been stitched by a man.



Dorothy and Betty wear modern smocks from North Ghana, each weighing about 2 kgs. The cream one is hand spun cloth. The construction method for each is different and quite complex. Maggie told us that a person would buy a smock in the market then take it to an embroiderer to be personalised.


Hilary and Maggie show off a patchwork suit made from tailors’ offcuts. These cheap garments would be given to religious people who live without money.



Wendy – Pat Milius’s daughter-in-law from New Zealand – volunteered to wear this wealthy Nigerian woman’s outfit called an Aso-oke. Made from stripcloth it has a top, a scarf, a wraparound skirt, headdress and shoes. It would be worn at ceremonies, weddings, etc. The owner would buy an expensive piece of cloth and take it to a tailor. The unhemmed scarf showed that she was so rich she had cloth left over from the garments, but it didn’t matter if it unravelled because she could afford to buy more.


Dorothy’s outfit from West Africa shows the skill of the tailor. He has used the printed pattern of the cloth to make a feature on the fitted sleeveless bodice. As well as the top and skirt, the outfit includes a length of cloth for the owner to wrap around her when sitting on public transport or on a bench, to keep the skirt clean.



An extremely interesting and informative meeting!



 

Pulled thread workshop


Pulled thread workshop

In May ten of us were treated to a day workshop on pulled thread embroidery by Dorothy Hodgson.

Dorothy started by explaining that in pulled thread work the holes were created by pulling the threads of the fabric together rather than by withdrawing threads in ,eg, hardanger. She then showed us the sampler which we were going to attempt. This drew gasps of amazement at Dorothy’s beautiful work and sharp intakes of breath at the thought of what was going to be required of us!!


                                                                   Dorothy's sampler


Dorothy was as ever a patient and inspiring teacher. We learnt, to name but a few, satin stitch, four-sided stitch, honeycomb stitch, reed border, step stitch, wave stitch and three-sided stitch!! Although there was a fair amount of chatter, most of the day passed in deep concentration punctuated only by whispered counting of threads and anguished cries when the ends of the rows weren't level!!

But despite the challenges everyone was very happy with what they produced, and gladly took their sampler home, along with Dorothy's excellent intructions, to finish it!  Many thanks to Dorothy for an excellent workshop!