October 2009 Workshop

Seven members enjoyed a magical day creating a pair of fairy slippers with a return visit from Marion Wagstaff as our tutor. We were greeted with a lovely display of fairy slippers, felt and sheers in every colour, threads, beads and an excellent handout with step by step instructions in both writing and pictures.

Marion began by showing us her very unique way of producing the basic slipper shapes with the use of a fine tipped soldering iron. This method also fused the different layers of fabric together so we were all off to a very quick start. Silence was golden as we all concentrated and worked none stop. The embellishing of the slippers was the next step and Marion was at hand with lots of advice and ideas. Before assembling these small treasures the surface that would be the inside the slippers had to be painted with acrylic paint and allowed to dry. Marion then explained just how she stitched the  slippers together and by the time the class had come to an end most members had completed their pair. What an enchanting day.

Other members attending the meeting had a most enjoyable day in the other room. There was a very colourful display of members 3D work , lots of chatting, Pat had brought her thread shop along and most members worked on their own projects. In all of our meetings our textile successes and failures are shared and most times any problems we have are solved.

 

August 2009 Workshop

Members came together for a rather different meeting in August. The meeting started with a goodie bag swap which would be followed by a mini challenge for those members who were interested. Nearly everyone came with a goodie bag that contained items from the following, fabric, threads, beads, buttons, ribbon, paper and anything that could prove to be useful. This goodie bag was then swapped with another member’s goodie bag. The room was filled with great excitement and it felt just like Christmas. Each bag was such a wonderful surprise and members found that they now had a surprise colour scheme as well as items that they may not have worked with before.

Our mini challenge that was to follow was not compulsory and some members chose to work their swap on another occasion. The members that were taking on the mini challenge were asked to create a 4inch by 4inch piece of work using any technique in either hand or machine stitching.

Walking around the room at intervals during the rest of the day proved very interesting as everyone had a completely different approach to their own piece. Some pieces where manipulated, some collaged and some had used appliqué. There were couched threads, along with various hand stitches and applied beads. Each one was developing into a delightful MASTERPIECE.

These members could then take their masterpiece to the next step and use it on a final piece for our Christmas competition which is held in the December meeting. So you will need to watch this space to see what develops from this unusual meeting.

 

July 2009 Workshop

The day got off to a very good start with around sixteen members arriving for the day. Some ladies had booked for a tutored session with two of our members, Marion Wagstaff and Ros Bissell. ‘Gifts from the Sea’ was the title of the day and it would be spent creating a textured surface with hand stitches and applied treasure that had been collected from our local beaches.

This treasure was placed on and covered the top of one of the tables from the hall, there were different types of shells in all different colours from very small to large. Marion and Roz began by guiding us though how to apply the shells and then suggested some of the many hand stitches that could be worked alongside. There was a selection of stitch books available alongside some wonderful samples to take ideas from. For most of the day you could hear a pin drop as everyone was concentrating on producing their piece.

For the rest of the members who had arrived for the meeting, they had got together in another room and were Beading, working Hardanger, Canvas work, Knitting and playing with Friendly Plastic. Some members had brought in pieces of work showing texture and this was exhibited to give the members a talking point during the day.

One of the founder members of our group had decided to join us for the day which was a lovely surprise. June had not been able to attend for a while as her husband was in ill health, it was lovely to see her and catch up with what she had been doing since we last saw her. Another founder member had sent in a huge amount of threads for us to sell, this money would then go into the group funds and as you can imagine we all were like bees around a honey pot and guess what, they all found a home. Thank you Eleri for your generosity.

The day proved to be another successful and enjoyable meeting. We all went home with our pockets full of shells and threads. Just a stitcher’s delight.

 

June 2009 Workshop

Members attending the June meeting enjoyed the last of our Craft Extravaganza days for this year which had been organised by the group’s co-coordinator, Joan Robson. Our Chairman, Moragh Bradshaw began the day with a demonstration and talk on her experiences of using Transfer inks and crayons. Moragh had lots of samples to show of both products and showed a variety of ways that could be used in their application. Joan Robson then reinforced this and followed on with her own development of Transfer Crayons and Paper Bag Printing.

Joan then explain the method of Slashing, this was reinforced with samples and more suggestions of how to take this technique further. Couching was the next on the list and again Joan showed a selection of her own samples using a more modern approach to this technique. Members then spent the rest of the morning having a go at the techniques that had been covered.

Just before lunch members gathered to take a look at a selection of member’s textile pieces that would be going into local exhibitions during the month of July. Both Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolgellau Libraries had invited our group to exhibit and give an insight into what our members produce from our meetings.

After lunch Joan Robson gave a demonstration of creating an embellishment that could be added to a textile project using a Glue Gun and glue sticks. Members needed no encouragement to have a go and for the rest of the meeting they continued to experiment with all the ideas of the day. Another very busy and rewarding day was enjoyed by all the members attending.

 

More photos from the workshop can be seen on our Flickr page here

 

Funk Felters – May and June Meetings

In the May meeting members were encouraged to make pieces of felt in both white and coloured merino tops. It was suggested that around twelve to sixteen pieces be made before the next meeting. These pieces would then need to be gathered, tied, folded or scrunched in preparation for the June meeting.

The June meeting proved to be a very colourful meeting. Members brought in their pieces of prepared felt and dyed them using yellow, red and navy. Some of the pieces were over dyed using two or all three colours. Pam Ryan led the group on both occasions. These sessions came about after group members had seen a lovely piece of patchwork felt that Pam had previously made. Thank you Pam, for two wonderful days.

 

May Meeting 2009

Group members meet on both Saturday and Sunday in May. We had invited Liz Welch who has developed and specialises in using Friendly Plastic with Textiles. Liz gave a talk and demonstration on Saturday morning about her journey using this very exciting medium. The members were shown some wonderful samples, heard some colourful stories and were given a small taster of how simple it was to use this product. We really did not want Liz to stop as Friendly Plastic was so intriguing. After the talk we enjoyed a group buffet provided by the members attending.

On the Sunday a smaller group of members experienced a very busy day using all the methods that Liz had developed. There was a fully stocked shop available along with some of Liz’s jewellery items for sale. What more could a girl ask for. Liz kept us all very busy and everyone ended up with a delightful stash of treasure to take home. What a wonderful two days. Thank you Liz for such an experience. If you go to Liz’s blog, which is listed in ‘our blogs to visit list’ under Rarelizzie’s Blog, you will see some more photos along with a lovely write up about these two days.

 

April Meeting 2009

The April meeting was an outstanding success. Led by the ever efficient Joan Robson a select number of members were encouraged to explore the diverse qualities of paper through making, moulding, manipulating and colouring samples.

We all came away buzzing with ideas and plans for further experimentation and development. The backgrounds and embellishments produced were a welcome addition to our own particular and individual store of useful treasures which will enhance our embroidery and card making projects.

After lunch, the making of SILK PAPER was clearly explained by Jane Price. Joan Robson then talked members through the method of dyeing with TEA BAGS and then demonstrated colouring fabric with Potassium Permanganate. To follow on, Joan then demonstrated how to print with a lemon juice paste onto the Potassium Permanganate fabric. Members then enjoyed having a go to print on fabric Joan had already previously prepared.

Coloured Paper	Potassium Permanganate printed with lemon paste

 

Fabric dyed with tea bags

For more photos please see our Flickr page here

 

March Meeting 2009

Sixteen of our members took part in an exciting and creative day making fabric wraps with Pat Gibson.

‘Tsutsumi’ as it is known in Japan is the art of wrapping and plays a very important part of Japan’s day to day life. It even includes the wrapping of written letters and would you believe a packed lunch! During the day there was an opportunity to experiment with ideas and techniques on a small scale. Machine made cords and foiling was only two of the techniques Pat demonstrated. Although, Pat was still suffering with a broken wrist, the day went with no hiccups at all.

 

A thanks also goes to those members who brought in their 2D and 3D pieces to create a talking point and delightful display for the members who were not taking part in the tutored day and working in the back room. Also on display was the fabric that had been dyed in a jam jar by Joan Robson in the February meeting along with some beaded jewellery that Maggie Powell had made at the Plas Tan y Bwlch craft weekend with Heidi Jenkins. Hilary Norton was wearing her name badge with pride which she had started in the last meeting. Well done Hilary.

 

 

Finally, we had been told the sad news that one of our honorary members had died. Peggy Moses was 90 at the end of 2008, had moved closer to her daughter a few years ago and had slipped away peacefully the week before our meeting. Those of us who knew Peggy have some very dear memories of this lovely lady. Peggy gave us a lovely wooden bowl before she left that we give to one of our members each year for the best piece of embroidery of that year. Val Hayes holds the bowl for this year until a new member is picked in our Christmas meeting at the end of the year.

More pictures from the day can be seen on our Flickr page here

 

FEBRUARY MEETING 2009

Members came together for an extravaganza of techniques in this 2009 February meeting. The morning began with a small display of name badges brought in by Beryl Hadland, Jane Price, Jackie Cosslett and Joan Robson. Members then gave freely of their ideas of the techniques that they had used and just how their name badges had been put together.

Mary Durrant gave a demonstration of stitching a name using her computerised sewing machine and a few of the members had their names stitched onto some fabric that they had brought along to the meeting.

One of our honorary members, Angela Barker, who we had not seen for a long time popped in to have lunch with us. Angela is chatting to one of our founder members, Cynthia Lewis in the photo with two persons in it.

After lunch the members were given a demonstration of dyeing in a jam jar using Dylon Dyes by Joan Robson. This method gives you an opportunity to dye very small amounts of fabrics and threads, it covered the mixing of colours and over-dyeing of colours giving a mouth watering out-come. At the end everyone was given a copy of Joan’s fail safe recipe.

 

Members were then shown a small display of items from Moragh Bradshaw, Joan Robson and Pat Gibson that had Markal stick applied. Pat Gibson then showed members some of the many ways that can be applied when using this medium. Pat also touched on colouring fabric using water colour crayons, dye in a solid form, felt tip pens and ended by showing the technique of foiling Bondaweb. As you can see in the photos, Pat had broken her wrist and we thank Jackie Cosslett for being her assistant. Quite a few members then began to experiment with these wonderful ideas. This was the type of meeting where you could join in, or just simply watch or you could choose to do your own thing.

    

 

Drawn Thread workshop January 2009

A wonderful day was had by all.These are our starting projects, with a lot more work to be done on them, I hope to see some completed works soon.