21st October 2017 PATTERNS FROM NATURE - DRAWING AND DESIGN WITH ANNE PITTS

We had a very productive Saturday workshop with Anne Pitts, a retired art teacher, who shared her knowledge and skills and encouraged us to use sketchbooks and to work freely. We experimented with drawing very quickly using wax crayons and then adding water colour, also using water colour

pencils and oil pastels.

We then had a go at simple, formal pattern making, by cutting out shapes and using the cut-out shape to form the next part of the pattern. Some ladies even started creating their own work from the

ideas they had brought! It was a very enjoyable workshop and hopefully everyone has taken away ideas to use in their own designs.

The workshop followed a very interesting talk by Pat Kelly on the Friday evening, entitled " The history of colour and natural dyes". Pat focussed on the primary colours and we learnt a lot about how these colours and dyes have been used over the centuries and by different groups of people to emphasise their status and to control others. Pat always researches thoroughly and it was a very informative talk and it is a shame not more members attended.

CHARITY DAY 2017

Our annual event, remembering Janet's sister, Jean O'Neill, was held in aid of Bowel Cancer on 29th July this year.

Janet has made a photo collage of the day and sent a message to go with it.

Thank you so much for your support. The total raised to date is £610 which

is incredible! Thanks also to Haldane Fisher for buying the bags for us! You are all amazing! Thank you. Janet x

Quilts and Crazy Patchwork 24th June 2017

On Friday evening Sheila Huxley brought along the Mannin Quilters' Suitcase collection and talked about the samples it contained. She is pictured holding up the crazy patchwork Manx quilt, which she and Marian Cunningham had made, with many Manx motifs included in the design.

This was a prelude to the workshop on Saturday, where we learned that the "crazy" relates, not to the state of mind of those participating, but to the crazed glaze on the Japanese porcelain,which was all the rage in Victorian times.

Our morning was spent choosing materials and colour combinations and placing them on the base material. We found that it is a far from random task and quite demanding. Silence reigned for much of the time! After lunch the really fun part began with the embellishment of the pieces, using a variety of stitches in different threads, adding ribbon, lace, buttons and beads. Quite a lot of progress was made and all agreed that it had been a most enjoyable day and that our pieces were NOT destined to become UFOs.

 

 

I hope to receive some photos of completed pieces, that I can add later.

 

20th May - Casalguidi Workshop with Angela Teago

 

Angela explained a little of the history of Casalguidi-style embroidery.  It is a style and not a technique and it came from a small Tuscan village where the embroidered motifs reflect the architecture of the churches.  It is an interesting mix of counted thread work and free-form stitching. We were shown the basic stitches which make the style recognisable as Casalguidi. For example, the background four-sided stitch, the Venetian rosette and bars of padded stem stitch.  Angela also demonstrated a couple of other stitches characteristic of Casalguidi, so that we can build on our samples later.  Angela brought along lots of finished pieces, in both coloured thread and the more traditional white on white.  The workshop was very well organised and informative and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt a lot.

 

 

 

And finally what was achieved - for such intricate work, ladies did very well in the time and it is to be hoped that some pieces will be completed for display at the Royal Show!

 

                                        

Another beautiful brooch.

This one completed by Celia Kay.

Millefiore - update

 

 

Just in -  what beautiful brooches. Well done to the anonymous ladies.

28th-30th April Visiting tutor, Jenny Adin

Those attending the Friday evening meeting were greeted by a wonderful display of the exquisite work produced by Jenny  and we knew we were in for a treat. Jenny's talk, "Preserving the Past and Creating the Future" didn't disappoint.

Knowing from primary school days that all she wanted to do was stitch, Jenny obtained one of only 6 coveted places for a 3-year apprenticeship with the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court.

 The RSN was founded by Lady Victoria Welby to give genteel employment to "ladies", who had fallen on hard times. The organisation flourished and expanded. Well-known designers were brought in and items were created for great State occasions like the coffin cover for Queen Victoria's funeral and Queen Elizabeth's Coronation train.

Having completed her apprenticeship, Jenny spent 10 years in the Studio at RSN working to their exacting standards of perfection. We were fascinated to learn that she was the one working on Catherine Middleton's wedding dress up until 2am on the morning of the wedding!

The arrival of Jenny's baby daughter brought a change of direction. She decided to go free-lance and, with her own home-studio, she now divides her time 50/50 between commissioned work and teaching.

Her teaching skills were experienced by those on the very enjoyable, two day workshop at which they learnt the intricate methods to create their own millefiore brooch.

Unfortunately there are no photos of these available, just one of the happy group who took part!