Monica Selway - Manipulative Techniques

We had an opening evening on the 22 October with Mrs Monica Selway who gave us and interesting talk on American Smocking and did a presentation on her work.

On the day of the workshop Monica taught us how to do the wave, honeycomb and flower pattern. Sheila Dove had a break through moment when she created a new design and adapted the sewing technique for the left hand members of the group.

Helen was in her element as Monica created her patterns on graph paper and Helen's Engineering background was called in to place with straight lines and precision sewer. As a more organic sewer I am still trying to catch up but all in all we had an enjoyable day.

Barbara Kelly

Monica Selway - American Smocking

We had an opening evening on the 22 October with Mrs Monica Selway who gave us and interesting talk on American Smocking and did a presentation on her work.

On the day of the workshop Monica taught us how to do the wave, honeycomb and flower pattern. Sheila Dove had a break through moment when she created a new design and adapted the sewing technique for the left hand members of the group.

Helen was in her element as Monica created her patterns on graph paper and Helen's Engineering background was called in to place with straight lines and precision sewer. As a more organic sewer I am still trying to catch up but all in all we had an enjoyable day.

Barbara Kelly

Bits and Bobs from Barbara

After a successful AGM on the 24th August. Mrs Theresa Saxon is taking over the role of Workshop Books and Mrs Sheila Dove will also be joining our Committee. A big thank you to Janet Williams who has hung up her committee boots.

On the evening of our AGM we had a very entertaining talk by a Prof. Trevor Norton, who gave us a very jovial insight to life as a writer which we all enjoyed..


Our first workshop of the year was a half day session with Liz Brand our Chair Lady. We made Lavenders Bags with a twist and we enjoyed doing a spot of painting and beading create a very unique piece of work. It was a very relaxed afternoon and enjoyed by all.

Lacy Lavender Bags - Liz Brand

My husband was invited to do some work at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. We spent several months there and while he was busy I had to amuse myself. I found a branch of the Embroiderer's Guild ten minutes from where we were living. I was made extremely welcome and went along every week. One week there was a workshop making these pretty lavender bags. I thought how wonderful it would be to show our branch how to make them so I sourced all the materials and left them to be packed to come home on a sideboard. Unfortunately my dearest thought it was a bag of rubbish and threw it in the bin!

Sheila's Workshop

We spent a very relaxed and friendly day going back to basics by producing a simple back stitched design big enough to insert into a patchwork cushion or get framed as a picture.

Learning to use Equipment

This evening proved to be very enjoyable with Sheila showing how to use a rotary cutter properly, Jane showing us how to produce embroidered postcards ready for the Guild project, Janet and Rachel demonstrating lacemaking, Dee was on the braidmaker and Angela was happily heating up Tyvek.

The Royal Agricultural Show

The couple of days spent at the show were very worthwhile as a great deal of interest was shown and we hope to get a few more members from our time spent there. Many thanks to all who manned the stall. Fortunately the weather was lovely this year.