March 2018

Our little creative group met in the library again, beginning the day with a fun exercise by Annette. We were all handed a little kit which contained the beginnings of a cute little needle roll, and a blindfold. The object of the exercise was to stitch blind onto pre-prepared fabric, then later we added some foils.

This is our results of stitching blind. The sample on the left is Annette's finished one

This is the results of our samples once we ad added some foils.

Annette's finished needleroll, both inside and out,  to show us what to turn our creations into.

Following this fun little exercise, we continued with show and tell

This hanging by Sheila was her entry into last year's Margaret Oppen Competition. The theme for the competition was 'Diamonds and Other Treasures'. Sheilas hanging consisted of paper, wrinkled and stitched to create faces. The diamonds have been machine stitched to a background.

Jenny had finished stitching on her 'A year in Stitches' blackwork/drawn piece and was beginning to put it together into a needle book.

These two samples of needle darning are by Robyn. The patterns are by Heath Matthews and Robyn is using Pearle 8 variegated thread.

Jenny had finished the final band on her blue drawn and pulled sampler. The band is a Schwalm design from the book 'Schwalm Whitework' by Renate Fernau. This is the final band on her sampler which so far has taken 7 years of work. 

Annette had started on her coloured pulled thread 'Peacock Feathers'. The instructions have been carried around for many many years and now hope to be completed

Wendy had taken on board some suggestions from the group last month to add  to her 'Stitching on the go' pieces. Suggestions were to add smaller daisies in finer thread to the top one,  and to add red to the bottom one. Wendy is much happier now.

Gerri had been making biscornu pincushions using up scraps from her stash. They feature some surface stitching and button embellishment.

This journal cover of Sheila's is made from an old carry bag that was beginning have seen better days. The better parts have been re-purposed onto this cover.

This is Sheila's new carry bag. It features an old cross stitched rabbit that has been re-purposed.

. This organza work is by Gerri,  for the installation at the Craft and Quilt exhibition. She has used both single and double stranded thread in her surface stitching. The colours  reflect the seasons.

These are Christmas teddies made by Gerri using a tartan fabric and polyester filling. Faces are embroidered using surface stitching.

Gerri’s mandala uses surface stitching to explain that all comes from the heart. This reveals how Gerri enjoys coming to our little group meetings at HQ. The mandala includes the needlework that we do; various aspects of our new building - the library; the walls designs; the sharing of coffee and ideas, as well as friendship experienced in the group. The Mandala was our design exercise from last month.

Gerri has also made some very quick needle cases using scrap fabric and embellishments from her stash.

In preparation for Easter Gerri has used rice paper decoupage techniques with a spray sealant to make these eggs. The eggs were made of paper mache.

. This is Gerri's contribution for the postcard installation that the EG will have at the  craft and Quilt exhibition. Gerri has used all manner of fastenings, combining stitching for repairing and joining fabric.

Sheila's personal challenge for the year is to create art every day. She will be changing her focus each month. January was to do an expanded square every day. The photo above and the photo below are just two of her expanded squares.

In February, Sheila's art focus was on collage, using only an architectural magazine and creating an alphabet. The above two photos are of her letter W and P.

In December the focus was on stamp carving. Above is her trial at stamping pattern repeats. 

Annette had made these socks on 2.75mm needles using Bendigo Woollen mills multi coloured sock yarn. The pattern was also purchased from Bendigo Woollen mills.

Jenny is in the process of knitting herself a new cardigan using an alpaca/wool blend in 8ply from Bendigo Woollen mills.  Using the Paton's Classics for Women pattern book, combined with a decorative pattern  from her 'Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches' book, Jenny has finished the back and is now working on her left front.

Now for some fun Australian Flora and Fauna Christmas decorations worked by four different members of the Southern Highlands Evening CWA group. 

A fun day was had by all. Please come back for another visit next moth to see how we are getting along with all our challenges