Christmas Party 12th December 2020

Our Christmas Party was very well attended as you can see from these photos.

 

 

We enjoyed a very varied sharing lunch and then set to making threaded Christmas Cards.

The adults made a Christmas Tree

and the Young Embroiderers made a star.

We also had a good display of Sewing Sisters and there are more not yet completed, so we hope to have them all exhibited next year to mark our 30th Anniversary

I hope  you all have a good Christmas and New Year and I look forward to seeing you all at our meetings and workshops next year.

Marilyn

21st November - Heat Transfer Surface Design

Calum Harvey gave a talk about himself, his career and how he is currently enthused with “Heat Transfer Surface Design”.  He brought a table full of examples including small accessories such as keyrings, purses and wallets.

 

 

 This photo shows the application of vinyl to the fabric in the heat press.

Five Young Embroiderers, including two new sewing enthusiasts, all managed to complete a felt thread catcher with beautiful blanket stitch and decorated them with beads, buttons and sequins.

 

Young Embroiderers

 The Young Embroiderers' Wall Hanging is now complete and on display at Green's Restaurant, St John's.  An article was published in the Manx Independent and we have got a new recruit as a result from it.

 7th November

A very successful afternoon social stitching at the Bowling Green Cafe in Castletown when 13 people attended, all busy undertaking various embroidery and knitting projects.

24th October - Embroidered Flowers workshop.

 

This was a well attended workshop and, although it wasn't really 'tutored', Janet supplied examples, kits and good old-fashioned iron-on transfers. It was very relaxed and there was plenty of chat and sharing of ideas and advice. There were also plenty of useful books to study from the library.

Mo preparing with embroidered teacloths in the background.

The photographer left before the end, so, sorry, no finished items but Janet's piece promises to be stunning.

 

Friday 16th October - Confessions of a Wardrobe Mistress

 This talk had been well advertised and was well attended. There were probably more visitors than members, which was a shame, because it was a most interesting and entertaining talk.

Despite having the front half of her car wiped out, when turning into the hall car park, Jude Fullerton, lived up to the adage "the show must go on" and her talk was a performance in itself.

Jude with the dragon suit from the show "Mulan"

She explained how it was her job to 'translate' the director's ideas into sets and costumes. Budgets are always tight, so, for the amateur shows, mums and friends help with making or adapting costumes. Basic costumes can have many lives, being reincarnated to suit the show in production.

'Little Mermaid' costume on the right. The pink dress is "adaptable"

Jude also sources costumes online. Made in China is cheap and especially useful for a show like Mulan - and then they can be used again for "The King and I"!

Sometimes, costumes have to be hired. The show in preparation at the moment is "Shrek" and the padded green ogre and donkey, are beyond the local seamstresses.

Jude is full of ideas for the local shows, so we were given a sneak preview of Donkey visiting the Home of Rest for Horses, as a promotional video.

The time just flew by and we came away with a greater understanding of the work that goes on behind the scenes, not just in getting the actors and singers up to speed but in the creation of the whole magical setting, to transport us away from the real world.

Showing some of the headgear which is often very important in creating character.

Social Stitching 6th October

 Onchan Park was an excellent venue for the Social Stitching gathering. The staff were so welcoming, arranging the tables and waiting on us. The refreshments and cakes were also delicious. 

Six ladies attended and had a most enjoyable morning. Only one lady carried on with a Sewing Sister doll, everyone else had brought along another personal project.

We are trying to vary the days of the week and the venues for Social Stitching so that members can get to attend a few at least during the year. Onchan will certainly be on the list of places to return to.

AGM Friday 18th September 2020

 Our well attended AGM was preceded by the presentation of a cheque for £400 to Manx Blind Welfare, this being money raised, and donated, at our Garden Party back in July.

Everyone wanted the dog!

After the business part of the meeting, a circle was formed and ladies showed what they had created during the (for us, mercifully short) period of lockdown. Short it may have been but our members had been exceedingly busy and creative. It was awesome!

During the course of the next day, Saturday 19th September, eleven members came along to work away at the "Sewing Sisters" kits, which is our current group project.

So happy to be on a Covid free Island.

Our Young Embroiderers joined us. Their project was to appliqué and decorate cup-cake shapes. These will be put together into a group piece, which Green's restaurant in St Johns has agreed to exhibit. It would be good to gain some more YEs.

Pleased as punch!

Social Stitching - September

 

Twelve ladies gathered together at JJ's in Laxey on Wednesday, where we were made most welcome.

There was much chatter and laughter, as we caught  up. Most ladies had brought along their dolls kit and progress was made. There were also several completed dolls for everyone to admire and these acted as a spur to get on and complete more. It looks hopeful that we shall soon have a wonderful display. Everyone has put their own stamp on the basic patterns and diversity is the name of the game!

Garden Party/Charity Day. 25th July 2020

Firstly. apologies that this post is unaccompanied by a visual record of what was a most enjoyable day.

We were all so taken up with seeing each other again, that no photos were taken!

Despite a rather dull and breezy day, Marilyn's garden was looking superb and we marvelled at how she manages it all.

Most ladies who came, at least started off stitching outside in the sheltered nooks around the garden before migrating indoors.. Some had brought their own stitching, others opened their kits and started on the "Sewing Sisters" project - I'm not quite sure whether tongues or needles were most employed! Tea, coffee and some home baking meant we were well "fed and watered".

A cake and produce table, and plants for sale, generated interest and donations for our chosen Charity and Janet will be able to hand over the sum of £250 to Manx Blind Welfare. 

Thank you to all of you who came and made the day a success. Those of you who didn't make it to Patrick may find that their kits are delivered to them, otherwise you will be able to pick yours up at the AGM in September.

Coronavirus

All meetings, workshops and Social Stitching are currently cancelled.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as we possibly can.

Meanwhile, think positive- there’s all the extra time you may have in self isolation to get those UFOs finished!

We made the press!

Sorry about the rogues' gallery, but the write  up was good!

Social Stitching on 3rd March at Greenfields café was attended by 6 members and also 3 others, who had had their interest stimulated by the Open Day. We hope that they may want to join us on a more permanent basis. They will be very welcome.

22nd February - a successful Open Day

Advertising in the local press (Theresa) and on Manx Radio (Marilyn) paid off and we were busier than we had dared hope.

The exhibition of competition items from National Guild were super to see in reality, rather than in Contact or Stitch magazines. Our local samples though, were of equal merit and it is amazing what our members actually go on to finish from workshops or are inspired to create on their own.

Competition winners from National

Winners every one! Our own pieces.

Our visitors didn't only see finished items. Members were on hand to demonstrate their skills, or to let those who wanted, try things for themselves.

Taken before the crowds arrived!

Our Patroness, Lady Gozney, came to see us and view the exhibition. She was pictured with our Meeter- and Greeter-in-Chief! The press also photographed the committee, so buy the local papers next week!!

Our Open Day

LOVE to STITCH

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Exhibition of Embroidery including pieces on loan from the National Embroiderers’ Guild, Demonstrations, Sales Table, Try-out sessions, and Refreshments

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St Andrew’s Church, Glencrutchery Rd, Douglas

Saturday, 22^nd February 2020 10am – 4pm

FREE ADMISSION

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Children welcome with accompanying adult

For more information see www.iomeg.blogspot.com

Saturday 18th January 2020 EGM and Workshop

With a good attendance at our meeting, we were able, unanimously, to pass the amendment to our Standing Orders to allow committee officials to serve longer than the previously permitted 3 year term. We also were able to plan for our February "Love to Stitch" open day and lots of members had answered the call to bring in pieces for exhibition. 

Workshop - Dorset Stitchery

16 of the 18 ladies who had signed up, were able to attend, so it was the best showing that we had had for a long time. Everyone received a kit with the  necessary materials to produce a small pouch with an embroidered front. Dorset Stitchery uses fairly basic stitches and ladies seemed to enjoy refreshing their memories of blanket, chain and feather stitch. Two even managed to complete the embroidered front and those who stayed to the end, had made very good progress.

Hopefully, most will go on to follow the instructions and complete the pouch.

Social Stitching in the Freezing North!

On Thursday 9th January, with the first snowfall on the Mountain, nine ladies made their way to Costa in the Mooragh Park, Ramsey. We were especially pleased to have Caroline with us.
It was quite a busy venue for such a morning, but the lighting was good and, as usual, it was a pleasant couple of hours with, possibly, more use of tongues than needles!!

Saturday 14th December Christmas Celebration

A goodly number of ladies and Young Embroiderers came together at 1pm to enjoy, first of all, a wonderful contributory spread of all sorts of goodies.

And this was AFTER we had eaten!

Afterwards Our Chairman, Marilyn, had prepared kits for us to create a Christmas tree decoration.

One finished earlier and one work in progress.

A couple of hours then passed pleasantly as everyone stitched away.