June 2018

 A little group of four met last Saturday for our monthly meeting, with some of our members un-well, and others attending Stitching At The Tops. We were lucky to meet in the front room up stairs to enjoy the warmth and sunshine, as well as dedicate a whole table for show and tell.

 

Jenny had finished the needle lace edge on her UFO letters and had added them to a book cover. UFO number three completed.

At the same time that Jenny had found her unfinished letters, she also found a part worked circle of Tenneriffe Lace, still on it's little home made pillow complete with pins.

The circle of lace has now been finished and mounted into the corner of a purchased handkerchief.

 A little needle lace edge was also added around the edge to finish it off. UFO number four finished.

Meet Sheila with her completed 'Monet and Me'. It was Sheila's challenge in April to do a stitched collage every day. She enjoyed the practice so much that she extended it into a project to completely fill the Monet Diary. The diary no longer closes and is more or less tied closed.

A fabulous view from the side of Sheila's 'Monet & Me'.

Just one of the many pages inside Sheila's 'Monet & Me'.

Gerri was preparing for Christmas making multiple cross stitched tree decorations in mini hoops.

Multiple appliqued pillow cases were also on Gerri's Christmas preparation agenda. This is only the beginning with many more to go. These ones have been appliqued with buttonhole stitch using  items from her stash. 

Robyn had been having fun stitching a design from the circle exercise back in  May . She is using Bokhara couching in different patterns to  give different textures.

Our little creative exercise for the day was to play with Pueblo Stitch. Sheila had found instructions in a Stitch magazine, and we all went off in our own creative direction, using different threads and fabric bases. I wonder what will eventuate form this stitching play?

Sheila also entertained us with recalling 'Susan and Sheila's Excellent Adventure', a trip the two made together in late May and early June. The purpose of the trip was to see the Marimekko exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery. 

On their travels, they also took in Donna Caffrey's exhibition at the Creators Artspace Gallery in Woodonga. Donna is a member of our group  who now lives in Southern NSW. We congratulate her on an excellent exhibition.

'Grandmother's Garden' was an installation of an eclectic mix of re-purposed linens reminiscent of old time afternoon teas.  The grandmothers, wearing the appropriate head gear for an afternoon of gentle conversation, kept an eye on the visitors.  A delightful exhibition staged in a gallery within an arts precinct.  We congratulate Donna on the success of her installation.

Continuing on their journey, the girls also took in the Raquel Ormello exhibition at the Shepperton Art Museum and the Michelle Hammer exhibition at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Both are textile artists and the exhibitions are well worth a visit.

Some fun was definitely had over the last month by our members. I wonder what fun we will have over the next few weeks? Please come back and check out what we get up to. Until then, happy creating.

March 2016

Our March meeting has come and gone with five of us attending. It was our last time meeting at Guild Headquarters for a while as the building undergoes extensive renovations. As classes were being run downstairs, we were delegated to the kitchen. Seated around the large table upstairs, show and tell was the order of the day.

Wendy had been to Effie's 'Stitch Play' in the Mountains and had produced this sample. The fabric collage was a great way for Wendy to learn the effect of one colour against another. Effie's variations with stitch proved such fun to learn, while learning with others in such a setting proved pure magic. The wonderful chance was given to purchase unusual coloured fabric and threads, with lots of play ahead. The building re-development was an important topic for discussion, as funds raised from the day went to the building fund. The excitement of the future of The  Embroiderer's Guild NSW Headquarters was everywhere, even in the stitches being produced.

Our new member, Kathleen, had also attended the same 'Stitch Play' weekend at Bilpin, in the Mountains, which  was nurturing, relaxing, and fun. The above collage was Kathleen's very first 'Effie Mitrofanis Scroll'. There was lots of chatting, walking, horizon gazing, and eating as well as stitching. Kathleen found Effie to be an amazing tutor and guide, teaching her students the use of colour, tone and beautiful stitches. There was  the concept of a piece of work speaking to the creator while relaxing and playing. Kathleen was also inspired by stories of the effort and determination of Guild members, who have been fund raising for the new building at Guild HQ. The excitement and anticipation is building as to what the future of the Guild will be.

Donna had been working on some  5cm squares. The above three pieces are by Donna, and all involve surface stitching.

Jenny had been working on finishing a quilt for a Great Niece's 1st birthday. If we look closely, we can see the free machine quilted flowers that Jenny has been practising.

The quilt is called "Grace's Garden" and is labelled so on the back of the quilt. The label was produced with digitized machine embroidery. Using her digitizing program, Jenny played with the star fill settings, the wreath tool, and the stitch fills  to produce the radiations in the petals.

Annette had been to Western Australia, and had purchased this scarf. From the "Tinctorium" Studio, the scarf has been dyed  with natural dyes from plants from the creators garden.

As our regular meeting place of Guild Headquarters undergoes it's fabulous new upgrade, we, the members of Stitchers Plus, will be meeting at various venues to gain inspiration in our work. Please come back and visit to check out where will be meeting and how it inspires our stitching.