Tuesday 21st December

 We had our Christmas meeting last Thursday with 15 members present.  We had a quiet stitching morning followed by a buffet lunch in the village hall and then we finished early as some members needed to be away.  It was good to see so many out and about with all the covid going around and we were all very careful to test before coming.  Decisions were made for some of the projects to start on in the new year in preparation for our next exhibition in 2023.

Merry Christmas to all who follow our blog and a happy and prosperous New Year.

New member Joan was doing this lovely piece of felting using the picture above as a guide.

Christina was stitching on some indigo tie dye she had done some time ago.

Lis was doing this beautiful piece of stitch work.  It's not very clear in this photo but it is really good.

Monday 22nd November

How lovely it was to get back to the Knitting and Stitching Show this weekend.  I took a coach on Friday and then went again on Sunday with my daughter.  Not as many stands as usual but I still seemed to spend plenty of money.  The gallery of exhibitors work was as good as ever but where have all the embroidery thread people gone?  There was hardly any stalls selling thread and it is so difficult to buy online and get the colours right.  

Our meeting last Thursday was buzzing.  With four new members we nearly had a full house and thanks to Lesley, Susan, Roma and Ann who demonstrated deconstructing a piece of work and reassembling it and also how to use tyvek.  Everyone was certainly interested and our new topic of the next exhibition in eighteen months time, Medieval - 1285 to 1485, got people making notes and discussing what to do.

Here is some of the work under way this month.

This was Lesley's painted fabric ready for cutting up

This is some of the work in her sketchbook

This is the picture that she originally brought to show us.  She has cut the work into four sections and reassembled them

Here Lesley has started to cut the painted fabric and is working on the best way of reassembling it 

This is Ann N's work

Roma is doing a collage

Susan has been experimenting with weaving

Sunday 7th November

 Sorry about the delay in posting but I have been really busy these last two weeks.  We had a wonderful exhibition, the Africa topic was really well thought of and we have a number of lovely comments in our book.  The sales table nearly cleared out, people are hungry for new bits and pieces. Having lost a few members due to the breaks over the covid lockdowns, we now have a number of people eager to join us so there will be some new members next week when we meet.

The Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate next week looks promising although there won't be as many stalls as usual and they are reducing the numbers going in so it should be comfortable for everyone.  We have a coach going but I have now closed the bookings as it will be difficult to get the tickets here in time.

Thought you might like to see a few of the photographs I took of the exhibition.  I haven't tidied them up yet so there may be some background that shouldn't be there but I am not a great photographer.

A lovely canvas work map of Africa

Can you spot the lion in Christine's beautiful fabric and stitch collage

Liz used her computerized sewing machine to make these stunning bags

This quilt by Ann was made up of 1172 squares from 72 fabrics

Lis's Red House of Madagascar is lovely, and the background of sequin waste just sets it off.

This is just a few of the pieces that eighteen members submitted and this was only part of the whole show, we also had pieces from workshops, our postcard challenge, our six stitch challenge and other things we had done during lockdown for various charities.

Thursday 16th September

 Another good meeting, nice to see people I haven't seen for some time.  Everyone is busy finishing off items for the exhibition on October 23rd and 24th. I am busy organising where to hang the work and collect it all in ready to display.

Susan sent me these two pictures of some work she has been doing.

Some lovely cyanotype printing here.

Here is some of the work done during the meeting.

Liz is putting some humour into her African pieces with this lovely child's banner.

Diane is doing this lovely image of zebra

Moyra worked on some wet felting

Helen is combining her stitch samples with her African theme

Christina has made this lovely mask

Everyone is really enjoying being back together again, let's hope nothing happens now to stop that.

Thursday 19th August

 A smaller group today but we are always reduced numbers in August due to holidays.  It didn't stop us having an enjoyable day together and it was good to catch up with each other.  Two members who had been doing the same online course during lockdowns had brought their workbooks with them and had a good discussion about what each had done.

A few of us did some work on colour balance using paints or ready prepared papers and then everyone got on with some sewing.

Lesley sent me this photograph a couple of weeks ago and she included the instructions how to do it.

Using a piece of material big enough to fold in half. Dip some thread in paint ,put one end in the middle of the fold and swirl the wet thread on one side of the cloth.fold like a book and press, firmly pull the thread towards you pulling it to the left and right as you let go of the end. Interesting patterns appear.

This can be done again with another colour. I added paint to the left piece and various stitches to the other piece.

This is work from one of the stitch books we have been making.  This is chain stitch

and this is blanket stitch.

Here are some of the papers from last months workshop with Mary Sleigh,  Ann has made hers into these lovely little bags.

Christina is making this view from her holiday cottage window into a really nice piece of work.

This is a page from Diane's Memory Book, started at Bishop Burton summer school.

Thursday 15th July

 What a wonderful day.  13 of us met in the village hall for a workshop with Mary Sleigh.  We all had negative tests, sat 2 metres apart, doors open and everyone double vaccinated.  Even though we were over the moon at getting back together, there was not hugging or getting close together for longer than a few minutes.

We had a wonderful workshop from Mary.  We all did some flour paste designs on paper and then Mary talked us through the different cultures in different countries. She had brought some pieces for us to look at and we could have sat all day listening to her but it was lunch time by then and we felt she had earned a break.  After lunch she gave each of us a one to one talk on what our plans were and where we had got to in our work for the exhibition in October.  So this exhibition should be outstanding so don't forget to try and visit us on either the 23rd or 24th October in Ayton Village Hall, YO13 9HY.

I took a few photographs of some of the flour paste designs we all did.

Next month we are going to do some work with colour balance and hopefully one or two people will have done something with their papers to make use of them.

Thursday 24th June

 Today was supposed to be out first meeting indoors after lockdown being lifted but lockdown wasn't lifted so we met outdoors instead.  Yesterday the forecast said it would be warm but cloudy, no mention of rain so I couldn't believe it when I woke up and it was pouring down.  It kept going until gone 9 o'clock but I kept my nerve and by the time we started to assemble it had stopped, the sun came out and we ended up complaining it was too hot. Everyone really enjoyed getting out and meeting up with like minded people, chatting and stitching it was so lovely and I was so glad we had done it.

I managed to get a few photographs of the work people were doing, a bit off key as they had to be laid across knees instead of on tables but interesting pieces non the less.

So this is Lis's lovely piece of canvas work. She doesn't yet know what she is going to do with it but the design is lovely.

Christina, I think, is working on a piece from an online workshop with Sue Stone.

Helen is killing two birds with one stone, working on an African piece for the exhibition as well as combining our stitch samples.

Diane's lovely stitch piece of a hot air balloon but I forgot to ask her what it was for but it is still lovely.

And I have finished my cushion cover using up bits of the African fabrics that I bought.  The orange stitch round the edge and in the middle is raised chain band.

Thursday 17th June

 Don't know about anyone else but I have found it too hot to sew this last week.  I tried using the train this week and went to Hull for the day on Wednesday with my cousin.  The temperature was 27 degrees but felt hotter as the sun bounced off the pavement in the big square.  We found a lovely little museum dedicated to the local men who fought in the two World Wars.  All the exhibits have been donated and it is run by volunteers who are so enthusiastic it made it a pleasure to go round. I thought Scarborough town centre was dead until I saw Hull, there are so many empty shops there and a shortage of little cafes and restaurants so there is nothing to pull people in.  The train wasn't too bad, not too busy but a lot of people not wearing masks.

Disappointingly, with the extension of restrictions we can't start the group again in person but I am hoping that with weather permitting we can meet on the playing field outside the village hall and have a good old chin wag.

As I have no photos of stitch work to show you I am adding a picture of the delphiniums in my garden before the forecasted heavy rain spoils them.  They have been particularly spectacular this year.

Thursday 10th June

 Summer seems to have arrived at last, including a terrific thunderstorm earlier in the week. The thunder rattled round for a couple of hours and the rain when it came was torrential, it completely flattened my Granny's Bonnets, I had to pick them and they are now shedding petals all over the lounge.  I had a lovely meeting up with Roma and Jackie in Whitby this week.  As usual, coffee turned into lunch but we had a good natter and put the world to rights.  I haven't done much sewing this week but I don't think I have published the pictures of the lap quilt my daughter made for a friend as a wedding present.

The patterned fabrics are two charm packs of Kaffe Fassett designs. The purple backing just rolls over onto the front edge as a binding.

That's all for now, will be in touch with the members soon about the first meeting on the 24th.

Thursday 3rd June

 What a lovely bank holiday week, worth waiting for.  Have had lunch at Foulsyke Farm near Scalby, went to York last Saturday which was heaving but nice to see people out and about again, did a lovely walk in Helmsley with a picnic and tea at the Walled Garden cafe and today we went to Danby to see the exhibition there and had another picnic.  The exhibition is by a number of printmakers from the area and was really good, worth the drive up there.

Just three pictures for you this week. Roma has done two landscapes using all the stitches we have been working with over the last year. The third is a piece of fabric she had printed a few years ago using a lino cut and this will be transformed into a seascape.

To all members of the group, just three more weeks and we can start meeting up again - Hurray!!

Thursday 27th May

 The sun is coming out at last and it feels a little bit warmer, lets hope it stays.  Went out last night for a meal in a restaurant, first time since last September, it was really enjoyable and the three of us never stopped talking. You don't realise how much you miss other peoples company until you get back together again.

Ann and Christina have been busy sewing.

This is Ann's quilt she has been doing.  It is all hand appliqued using 11 skeins of stranded cotton! She is also intending to hand quilt it but maybe not until the weather gets cooler again and it is nice to have a quilt over your knees.

Christina has made this lovely little landscape for her granddaughters birthday card.  She has used the technique we learned with Kate Slaughter.

I have been sewing and have nearly finished my leaf piece but I keep adding to it which is why it is taking so long.  Next week I am hoping to go to an exhibition in Danby so will let you know what it is like.

Thursday 20th May

 Is it just me or is this year going by faster than ever?  I think the fact that the weather has felt more like March than May makes you think it is March.  I have been back swimming this last two weeks, that's the first time since last March and did my legs and arms remind me, second visit was better than the first but it did make me realize how much I had missed it. No photos from members this week but I have been using my African fabrics to start this cushion cover.

It is just a small decorative cushion, no one will be allowed to sit on it so I have decided to add some stitch and beads to it.  Will have to order some threads first but hopefully I can make a start on it next week.

Keep stitching!

Friday 14th May

 Lovely to see the sun out at last, have been sitting in my garden instead of working in it.  I found a new walk this week starting from West Ayton up Cockrah Road and out into the countryside.  There is a small wood to one side that was full of bluebells, they are a stunning shade of blue in the wild. My calendar is begining to look busy again and I have to remember to look at it and check what is going on.  I went swimming yesterday for the first time since last March, first my legs screamed then my arms joined in.  Can't believe how much I used to do, I certainly need to get back in practice.

Had an email from Diane this week.  She did a Quilters Guild virtual conference in April and has done some work from the workshops she attended.

First was this patchwork piece on Colour and Contrast with Caroline Gibbs.

This next one is Simple Sewing/Bolo with Rosemary Muntus.  Really nice hand stitching, something I am enjoying at the moment.

I haven't done much since last week but I have got a cushion pad and some African fabrics to get started on so if the weather isn't too good next week I may get it under way.

Friday 7th May

 I was a bit late back yesterday to sit down and do the blog and it was a good job I hadn't already done it as I have a couple of photographs to show you.  What weather we are having, I can't remember it ever snowing in May before. I haven't done anything exciting this week, it's been too cold.  I have started stitching on one of the pieces of eco dyeing that we did a couple of years ago.

I'm afraid the colours are a bit dark, both the background and the stitiching. Not sure what I am going to do with it yet.

My friend makes her own pillowcases!  Plain cotton fabric from Boyes and these are the borders along the open edge.  They looked stunning.

She also received these two pieces of fabric from Africa where a friend currently lives.  Lots of inspiration there. I think the top one is cut back applique but the bottom one was on a courser fabric, maybe raffia cloth.

That's all for this week.