A new hand on the keyboard.

Jean Shimmin is now taking over from Janet Thompson as IT representative for the Guild.

This post is a trial run to see how the blog works!

Theresa's piece at the exhibition was not on the last post, so it is included here. We couldn't show all of the pieces. You need to go yourself and appreciate all the work that has gone into making a good show for the IoM Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild.

'Landscapes & Gardens' Exhibition

 

 

 

 

The IOM branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild’s launch of their “Landscapes and Gardens” exhibition at Milntown  was very well attended by both current and past members as well as representatives from other crafting groups and of the trustees of Milntown Estate. 

Unfortunately our Patron, Lady Gozney and her husband the Lieutenant Governor were unable to attend due to a double booking. 

 

Eleanor Roome, our Chair, praised the members for all their hard work and enthusiasm in putting this exhibition together.  There are almost 60 pieces on exhibit from the Guild plus 11 pieces from the Young Embroiderers.  The exhibition reflects the changing seasons of Milntown with both vibrant colour and soft hues.  There is an amazing range of technique and skills encompassed within the pieces which highlights just how talented our Isle of Man branch is.  It is interesting also to see just how widely the branch has interpreted the theme.

 

Below is just a small sample of the wonderful and varied work on display.

 

 

 

 The exhibition remains open until Monday 17th October and is open each day, 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., except Tuesday when Milntown Estate is closed.

Exhibition at Milntown

Royal Agricultural Show

Once again our branch took part in the Royal Agricultural Show at Knockaloe with  members demonstrating a variety of hand embroidery techniques alongside the small exhibition of 4” squares and a selection of some completed projects from the wide variety of workshops the branch has run over the past year.  Our numbers were boosted each morning with some enthusiastic Young Embroiderers who demonstrated needle felting, making a variety of interesting animals such as sheep and turtles.  The stand attracted quite a lot of interest so lets hope for some new members!

Clasp Purse Workshop

Saturday workshop – designing and making a clasp purse – Saturday 30th July

 

Hilary Cairns led a very productive, and very popular workshop, on how to design a purse or bag to fit variously sized purse or handbag clasps. 

 

Once Hilary had explained the principles involved members began their design work followed by embellishment before getting to the central task of fitting their embellished fabric into the clasp purse/handbag fitting.

 

This workshop was a very “full-on” experience of measuring, designing, embellishing and then the critical skill of fitting the finished piece to the clasp mechanism.  Not an ounce of time was wasted other than concentrating on the task in hand!  I think that all members learnt a most valuable lesson in the time involved in construction, without design etc, of making a handbag or purse – so, all members will now appreciate exactly what is involved in any purse or handbag that they purchase!

 

 

Charity Day Presentation

Presentation of cheque following on from the Jean O’Neil Memorial Charity Day to the Breast Cancer Unit – Friday 29th July

The July meeting of the Embroiderers’ Guild started with a presentation of a cheque for just over £325.00 to the Breast Cancer Unit raised through the Guild’s June charity day in memory of Janet William’s sister, Jean O’Neil.  The charity’s  representative, Barbara Thorne, explained about how progress had been made in the research and improvement in breast cancer treatment and survival, an illness which can and has touched so many members and how much all contributions were welcomed and valuable.

 

 

The handover of the fund raising cheque was followed by a most interesting and stimulating talk by professional weaver, Louise Martin, who contrasted her work at Stirling Castle, weaving the replica medieval tapestries, with her on-going travels and exploration of more contemporary weaving techniques based on her travels to countries as far a field as Mongolia and Turkey.  Louise’s talk followed a series of weaving workshops which she had given on the island over the previous few weeks and thus had subsequently  attracted many visitors to her talk.

Charity Day Presentation

Presentation of cheque following on from the Jean O’Neil Memorial Charity Day to the Breast Cancer Unit – Friday 29th July

The July meeting of the Embroiderers’ Guild started with a presentation of a cheque for just over £350.00 to the Breast Cancer Unit raised through the Guild’s June charity day in memory of Janet William’s sister, Jean O’Neil.  The charity’s  representative, Barbara Thorne, explained about how progress had been made in the research and improvement in breast cancer treatment and survival, an illness which can and has touched so many members and how much all contributions were welcomed and valuable.

 

 

The handover of the fund raising cheque was followed by a most interesting and stimulating talk by professional weaver, Louise Martin, who contrasted her work at Stirling Castle, weaving the replica medieval tapestries, with her on-going travels and exploration of more contemporary weaving techniques based on her travels to countries as far a field as Mongolia and Turkey.  Louise’s talk followed a series of weaving workshops which she had given on the island over the previous few weeks and thus had subsequently  attracted many visitors to her talk.