Sunday 18th Feb 2024

 Happy New Year to everyone.  Sorry there was no blog last month but due to the weather here, we cancelled the meeting.  Back into the swing of things this month and our speaker from January was able to come to February's meeting.  Helen Birmingham, the creator of the Stitch Collective gave us an interesting and informative talk about producing a cohesive piece of work as a group which was very helpful in regards to our travelling journals.  

The journals are 'travelling' well although there was some confusion with having missed January and some had already passed on their journal because they would have been away in January if the meeting had gone ahead.  Everything sorted itself out in the end.

Member Lesley will be  April's Artist of the Month at the SeaGrown Centre in Scarborough.  Just go down to the harbour and you will see the large boat moored up there.  There is a cafe on board as well as information about the seaweed farm.

Some photographs of the work people brought this month.

Lis made this lovely goldwork heart for Helen Birminghams 'Hearts and Minds' project but she couldn't bear to part with it so has kept if for hereself.

Cath just wanted some stitch to do so started this with the wiggly line and is now expanding it with some lovely stitch work.

Moyra brought us a lot of men's ties as a challenge and Susan made the lovely landscape in the background with her selection, Diane made the bird on the left with some carefully selected colours. Not sure whose the hanging is but it makes a super seascape.

Lesley has produced these small pieces, probably done while she was away on holiday.

Friday 22nd December

 Nothing much to report this month.  Only ten members were stitching this morning but two more joined us for a delicious lunch at Betton Farm.  We are all looking forward to the new year and a talk by Helen Birmingham at our January meeting.

Merry Christmas to all our followers.

Sunday 19th November

 I can't believe this is the second month I have forgotten to take any photographs at the meeting.  Actually doing some sewing takes my mind off other jobs.  Needless to say, there was a lot of interesting work going on and people are beginning to think about the flight project.  The journals are now passing along fairly seamlessly and they are looking really interesting.  Christmas lunch has been organised, Betton Farm has been booked and we all wish them well after the fire they had earlier this year.

I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show yesterday and it felt a bit better than last year although there is less and less embroidery stands and no book stand.  However the exhibitors were outstanding this year.  The Hand and Locke winners were amazing as were Jean Littlejohn's Moon pieces.  I loved all the quotes stitched onto dusters and the Guild prize winners were really good as were their new graduates.

Going now to look over the purchases I couldn't resist.

Sunday 22nd October

 I apologize for the lack of photographs this month, I completely forgot to take any I was so busy with other jobs.

We had a nearly full attendance this month so the hall was buzzing.  Lots of finished pieces from the workshop last month as well as members passing on their knowledge from it to those who were unable to attend.  

Moira supplied us with a table full of ties for us to choose from to take away and produce something with them.

The travelling journals are now beginning to take shape and we are able to see the continuation of the theme of 'Decay' and they are looking good.

Friday 22nd September

 A busy month, I have been to the exhibition that was at the Museum of Doncaster which was showing Henry Moore's paintings and drawings done down the coal mines during the war. It was really good to see the drawings in the notebooks and then to see some of the paintings he did from them, a really good exhibition and I hope it travels further.  I have also been to Shibden Hall and the Bankfield Museum in Halifax, both of which were good.  The Bankfield has a good exhibition of hats and another one of fashion.

Enough of my exploits, what about the group?  Yesterday we had a super workshop with Karen Lane.  We made Lutradur Leaves all of which turned out wonderfully well.  A few people had not used Lutradur before and some had not done free machining so some got more than others out of the day.

Here are some of the finished leaves.

Friday 18th August

 What miserable weather we have been having.  Have just come back from a holiday in Shetland and Orkney where the weather was considerably better than here. Not hot but at least sunny and dry if a bit windy.

This month was the first time we passed the travelling journals round and after some confusion we have all managed to get the next one we that we should have.  It is quite exiting to unwind the fabric strips and see the first piece of work there and I think the interest will grow with each month.

Here is some of the work that people have been doing this month.

Lis has been doing this beautifully fine work on a very old piece of linen.

Karen bought these fabrics in one of our mixed scrap packs at the exhibition and is now starting a piece of work with them.

This is a decay piece heading for someone's journal.

Judith is crocheting this stunning border for a shawl.

Mavis has made herself this amazing waistcoat using crazy patchwork.

Tuesday 25th July

 A very busy meeting this month.  We have finalised the arrangements for our Travelling Journal project and will start passing round the books next month.  I have revealed the topic for our 2025 Exhibition and it will be 'Flight' which should offer a wide range of ideas to work on.  

We had a visit from two friends who brought large quantities of fabric, books, threads and wool for us to purchase.  Like having a travelling shop! We raised £146 towards the local hospice so that was a bonus.

Three members went to the Regional Summer School the week before and did some really interesting pieces of work.  It is a great weekend away meeting up with people you probably only see once a year and working with excellent tutors.

This is Diane's goldwork sampler from the Summer School

A finished kit purchased at our day out at Stamford Bridge Tapestry

Lesley was working on these lovely leaf and flower pieces

Geraldine has finished her rag rug cushion cover