February 2014

There were eight of us present at our first meeting for 2014, with much talk about our project for the coming year.

Show and tell, as usual brought a wide range of  eye candy.

First up we had Annette's biscornu featuring an Afghanistan reversible stitch. Although not visible in this pic, the little flap at the top opens to reveal a needle-case. The flap is only a single layer of fabric, and  on the reverse side, the colours of the stitches have reversed, ie green squares and  red crosses. This stitch is illustrated in some versions of Jacqueline Enthoven's "The Stitches of Creative Embroidery".

Next we have Sheila's book. It features both fabric and paper  leaf prints, dyed in a class with Kirsten Ingemar. Some surface stitchery has been added  and  the book assembled.
 

 

Just some of the pages inside Sheila's book.

Sheila's  "Beneath The Trees" . Natural dyed shibori silk made in class with Kirsten Ingemar. Surface stitched to highlight the gum leaves.

Jenny had been working on her latest piece of Tennerife, joning the motifs together and adding a filling in the center. The piece is still in progress.

Gerri had finally made the fabric she bought  in Paris into table runners for Christmas presents.

Susan's left handed artwork due to a broken arm. A shell in mixed media, and first thoughts for printmaking, based on Gwen Harwood's " Carapace". A piece for her OUA Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Sheila's book cover, made from a re-cycled cushion cover using raised chain stitch.

Susan's cup and saucer, an unfinished molar variation and an exercise for the textile unit of her OUA Fine Arts course.

Jenny was  knitting a wrap in a 2ply wool that she bought on sale in country NSW. Using 3.75mm needles, the yarn is producing a very open structure. The pattern is a slight variation of the free "Meandering Vines Shawl" to be found on Ravelry.

Gerri's crocheted blanket for her No 1 son's future children. These children are a long time coming so she is wishing, hoping, and being prepared.

Annette's Furoshiki bag will be the February surprise for the Southern Highlands Group. A square of fabric, dyed with Drimarene K dyes, featuring a shibori dyed corner.

November 2013

Another Small group meeting this month with only five of us present. It was only a morning meeting this month as there were exhibition presentations to attend.

Congratulations go to Sheila for winning the "Say It With Words Challenge" . Sheila  won for her piece "Haystack", and also won the peoples choice award. All the entries can be seen here.

 Even with only the five of us, show & tell is always inspiring.

Donna had made this fabulous statue using knitted fabric, T-shirt fabric, and a doily. All were stiffened with a fabric hardener and Donna is now thinking of a series of statues.

Another book cover by Sheila using raised chain stitch and couching.

 

Donna's lace collage with beads & a tiny bit of hand stitching.

Robyn's needle-lace pumpkin flower, a UFO from 2009 that she is trying to finish.

Sheila's quilt that she made for her grandson. Mostly machined in the "quilt as you go" technique.

Robyn's ribbon and beaded Christmas Decoration.

Sheila's Christmas decorations made from felt and sequin waste, using a design from a "Stitch" magazine.

Following show and tell, there was some inspirational discussion on our direction for 2014. No letting the cat out of the bag though, you will all have to come back next year to find out what that is.

September 2013

September 2013 

Our group was small for the September meeting but the quality of the works presented was outstanding.  Show and tell brought lots of oh's and ah's.

Annette is creating a hussif for the Embroiderers' Guild NSW Inc Summer School 2014 course called 'Colour Between the Lines'.  The work is with drawn thread stitches worked with coloured silk threads.
The completed piece was used as a sample in 2003 and is being used as a template for the upcoming summer school.

Sheila has made more signs for the window display at the Embroiderers' Guild.  She has used her own hand dyed threads for the raised chain stitched letters.  The works are machine quilted.

Wendy is stitching with thread and stitch from her stash.  She is also knitting from her stash using hemp, ramie and silk.  The pieces will be joined and embroidered.  Her current thoughts has seashore colours in her mind but watch this space!

Gerri is crocheting Christmas bell decorations.  When finished, they will be stiffened and shaped.
The stunning front and back covers of a needle book was made in a class led by Annette.  Fabric with a lace overlay was painted with gesso then acrylic paints.  Added buttons, beads and stitching complete the book.   
Gerri has been busy with her crocheted granny square that is finally finished.  It is a proposed wedding gift.

 Robyn's work is her entry in the upcoming challenge for the City of Canada Bay library organised by our group.  Robyn was inspired by Australian artist Rosalie Gasgoinge in her creation of the background created and printed image.  She then over stitched some words using satin stitch with coloured threads.  The hands of the clock were painted.
The challenge 'Say It With Words' will be exhibited during October and November  in the libraries of Canada Bay City Council.

Robyn and Sheila both collected the work they had submitted to the Embrioderers' Guild  Margaret Oppen competition.  This is a biennial event for the Guild.

Robyn pulled threads to create the base grid on which she stitched her design.  The work was under laid with a gold shot fabric and the bag constructed.

Sheila re purposed a book into a year long stitch diary.  She used basic embroidery stitches in a limited palette to stitch a small embroidery on paper for each day of the year.

 We discussed a number of options for a collaborative work for 2014.  Several members outlined their thoughts and we went wild with ideas for a variety of concepts.  The ideas will be collated and shared with the decision to be made at our November meeting.  Next year should be exciting for the group.

August 2013

Our meeting this month brought seven of us in attendance. Of course there was the usual show & tell, along with discussions on a possible combined group project

Donna had created these little dolls, the start of some brooches. Stitched using Perle threads, cotton, ribbon and sequins made by "Colourstreams".

Jenny had finished stitching the border on her drawn and counted thread sampler. It is yet to be blocked & framed.

Gerri had made these little biscornu pin-cushions, experimenting with stitches and glittered even-weave fabric. Warning - the glue from the glittered fabric attaches itself to the needle! Finished result s are great Christmas stocking gifts.

Gerri had also made these Christmas decoration dream catchers. Once again, Christmas stocking fillers that can be decorated as you go, however you like.

Robyn's self made printed fabric, inspired by Rosalie Gascoigne's art. The fabric will be used in her "Say It With Word's " challenge later in the year.

July 2013

The July meeting of our group brought six of us in attendance and 3 apologies. Show and Tell was the order of the day.

Susan had finished "Summer After Summer". It is her  interpretation of time passing, and the change over the seasons, years, colours and textures of summer. The riotous colour at the height of summer, drought and the aftermath, bushfires and the new growth in a new summer. The piece is worked totally in stem stitch in a variety of threads. Above is the finished piece while below is a small close-up view.

 Annette had started a sampler of reticella in a class with Margaret Stephens earlier this month. A wonderful class , great learning experience, and with more to do.

Jenny had attended a fabulous workshop with Alison Snepp - "Hussif Using Linen Stitches" . The finished piece is supposed to be a hussif, but Jenny is going to make hers into a needlecase.

The Embroidered letter project is gaining momentum with Sheila stitching up these mini quilts .

 

 

 

 Annette had stitched her letters on the train. A good way to make the journey go faster as well as helping in the Guild Project.

Gerri had been playing with buttons and beads to form her letters.

Mararenelle returned for another day and had also taken on the letter challenge. Each letter had been used as an opportunity to experiment with different fabric and threads to see how they work together.