Thursday 29 November 2007

Places to Go

Some news about some events coming up in December

Lincolnshire Open Studios 'Art on the Map' is on again this weekend 1st and 2nd December. Have a look at the website http://www.artonthemap.org.uk/ for details of all the studios across Lincolnshire that will be open. I will be opening my 'studio' at home in Sudbrooke - would be lovely to see you if you can make it. Email Janet Taylor for directions. I'll have the embellisher out, so come along and have a go.

Lincoln's Alternative Christmas Market is on Saturday 1st December at Croft St Community Centre, Baggeholme Rd, Lincoln

Arts and Crafts for Christmas is at Washingborough Village Hall, Manor Road, Washingborough on Sunday 9th December

Let me have details of any other events you know and I'll give them a mention

Saturday 24 November 2007

Advent

Stitchers and quilters may like this advent calendar idea which uses up lots of our scraps

Take a look:
http://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/

Thursday 22 November 2007

EG Website

Jackie is our new IT Rep and has been updating the Branch web pages on the EG Website.

The programme up to the end of 2008 can be found there, with photos of the exhibition, the Luttrell Psalter project and information about Young Embroiderers'. We are hoping to provide monthly updates of Branch meetings too ... so keep an eye on developments

Click here to go to the Lincoln Bailgate web page

Young Embroiderers

We have quite an active Young Embroiderers' Group at Bailgate. This month they did 'Christmas Kantha' with Norma.
They meet alternate months at the Bailgate Methodist Church Hall. Next month they'll be doing some animals and creatures from the Luttrell Psalter with Christine.

Here's some photos of their work -


Monday 19 November 2007

NOLITEX Exhibition

A Question of Identity - An exhibition exploring passions and journeys through life.
This is a body of work that has just returned from a successful exhibition in Ireland. Well worth a look if you're in Newark. It is displayed in a vacant shop unit at the Buttermarket in the market square at Newark. Open 10 - 4.30pm until sat 24th Nov.
NOLITEX = Notts & Lincs Textile Designers

Friday 16 November 2007

Textile Conservation Centre Closure

Mandy-Jane Patterson is studying for an MA at the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) Winchester, which is part of the University of Southampton.

The University are planning the closure of the TCC in the near future due to funding issues.

This facility is extremely important to the heritage of this country and has an outstanding international reputation in the field of textile conservation. If the TCC closes it will be another loss in the worls of embroidery

Mandy-Jane has set up a petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/TCCClosure/, which has been registered at No. 10 Downing Street, in an effort to raise awareness of this matter and hopefully to secure the future of the TCC.

If you would like to help save the Textile Conservation Centre, please sign the petition as it could make a difference. There are 1159 names on the petition at the moment.

I am going to put a message on the EG Members Forum to help spread the word.

Thanks to Jacqui A for letting us know about this

Wednesday 14 November 2007

LP Workshop - Trapunto techniques

The next LP workshop is on Thursday 15th November (7pm to 9pm) and we will be looking at using trapunto techniques that can be used to give a raised effect to your embroidery.

Trapunto is a quilting technique and is also called stuffed quilting.

Bring calico, wadding, hand sewing kit and threads - I will have supplies with me

Tuesday 13 November 2007

Embroidery Exhibition, Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster is hosting a display of embroidered panels celebrating the psalms and saints from 9th November to 14th December.

It will include pieces by Hilary Tinley who is the tutor of the Minster Needlecraft Guild.

Thanks to Mary B for the info

Sunday 11 November 2007

Stitch & Creative Crafts Show

Stitch & Creative Crafts Show
16-18 November 2007 at Doncaster Racecourse

This show covers all aspects of quality stitchcraft including cross stitch, sewing, card making, embroidery, knitting, patchwork, quilting, scrapbooking, ribboncraft, papercraft, stamping, beading, painting, dressmaking, tapestry, decoupage, crochet and many more popular stitch and creative crafts.


Visitor information available from:

http://www.stitchandcreativecrafts.co.uk/visitor_detail.asp?eventtype=stitch&id=74

Silent Auction

I have mentioned in the last few meetings that we'll be having a silent auction.

This is a method of fundraising we haven't tried before and I've been asked to provide some more information.

First of all we need some things to auction! These can be 'things' or 'pledges'.

Examples of 'things' - you could donate something you've made - eg a Christmas cake, homemade wine, a covered book, a box, or picture. Or a set of handmade cards. Or it could be a box of threads, beads, fabrics. Or it could be a book on embroidery.

Examples of 'pledges' - a pledge is something you could do for someone else. Things like showing someone how to make felt, do machine embroidery, make cards, how to use the computer (from basic email/Internet skills to using design programmes), how to use an embellisher, how to digitise designs for embroidery, how to use a computerised sewing machine, how to ..... the list is endless. Pledges can also be 'things' that you haven't made yet, but will be ready later.

So far we have
  • Machine Embroidery Lesson (Heather)
  • Paintshop Pro or Photoshop Lesson (Janet)
  • Stained Glass Lesson (Shirley)
  • Beaded Needle Case (Mary P)
  • Bottle of Sloe Gin (Shirley)
  • Carrot Cake (Mary P)
  • Jar of Chutney (Anne)
Think about the sort of things our members might be interested in and what you can do and make an offer! Just get in touch with me and I'll tell you what to do next.

How the silent auction will work

Some tables will be set out with the items being auctioned. If it is a 'thing', hopefully it will be there so you can see it. If it is a 'pledge' there will be a description on a card so you know what you are bidding for.

If you want to bid for something you will need to register your name and you will be given a number to use.

In a traditional auction, the items come out one-by-one and people bid by raising their hand.

In a silent auction, all the items are out at the same time and people record their number and how much they bid on a sheet of paper next to the item. If someone else would like to bid for the item and is prepared to pay more, they put their number and bid on the sheet .... and so it goes on through the evening.

If you know what happens on E-Bay, it is a similar process. You can watch the bids going up.

At a certain points in the evening we will announce how long is left to bid. When the bidding closes, the person with the highest bid will win the item and will pay Anne. They can take the item home with them. If it is a pledge they will need to arrange a suitable date with the donor.

At the end of the evening we'll announce how much we've raised.

I hope that has made it a bit clearer - now ..... let's have your offers!!!!

Bailgate Meeting 30/11

The exhibition has been a great success. Visitors have been impressed with the standard of work and some are interested in joining us.

The next meeting is on 30th November and it is a practical evening. Chris P & Chris W will be showing us how to make backgrounds for embroidery.

Requirements - dyed jute scrim (or similar) and dyed loose-woven cotton/muslin - apx 12" (30cm) square. Plus co-ordinating or contrasting threads and fabric for weaving. You'll also need general sewing equipment, including a large eye needle with a sharp point.

They will be providing kits for £4 if you don't have the materials.

I'll also be bringing back the work from the exhibition, unless you want to collect it from me beforehand.

Saturday 10 November 2007

Fabric Postcards

The cards at the exhibition were made by Joan Plummer and they are absolutely fantastic!

Twenty of the cards are on a 'cat' theme. Joan has designed the cards around words or sayings that incorporate 'cats' in some way - eg cat on a hot tin roof, octopuss, cat's got the cream etc. She's used lots of different techniques and backed them with pelmet vilene.


As with the ATCs, the only 'rule' about fabric postcards is that they should measure 6"x4".

If you want to know more about fabric postcards have a look at http://www.squidoo.com/fabricpostcards/#module1500105 there's loads of information.

The nice thing about making postcards or ATCs is that you can work on a small scale and they can be quite quick to make.

Both formats are becoming very popular all over the world and the concept is based on the picture cards that used to come in cigarette packs or PG Tips tea. And the idea is to make them and swap them (like we used to do with our spares!) - 'trading' has nothing to do with selling them.

Here's some more of Joan's postcards -

(Thanks Joan - you've created a lot of interest!)

Friday 9 November 2007

ATC's

Artist trading cards are always 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. They are the size of a 'baseball' card and fit into the plastic wallets that collectors acquire.

The original atc's link is here http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/

Loads of information here http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html

see some photos of atc's here http://www.flickr.com/groups/95067770@N00/

and some textile based ones here http://www.quiltart.com/apc.html

They can be made from anything with embellishments galore, the only other rule apart from the size is that they should be traded and not sold/bought. There are quite a few groups on the internet who trade these cards.

:) Wendy
p.s. I have a few, if you want me to bring them to a meeting, please let me know

Fabric Postcards

From the Library Exhibition, we have has a lot of interest in how to make ATCs (artist training cards) which can be the size of a playing card or a post card.

Her's a good tutorial to introduce the idea - have fun experimenting

http://calidore.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/postcard-tutorial/

Tuesday 6 November 2007

'Embroidery Matters' Exhibition


We put the exhibition up yesterday. Lots of lovely work has been submitted and it looks great. A wide range of techniques and ideas. What a diverse group we are!

We didn't have many sock sculptures, but they are rather fun -

And bags were very popular this year! Lots of felt ones from Vivienne's workshop, but lots of others too -


If you get a chance, please pop in to see us. We will be at Lincoln Central Library on Free School Lane from Tuesday 6 Nov to Sat 10 November. Opening times 10am to 4pm, but on Thursday we're open until 7pm and on Saturday we close at 3pm.