April Meeting

We had a visit from the PAT testing man today, all of us getting our machines checked out ready for the residential workshop season.   Because they had their machines with them, some ladies decided it was a good opportunity to get some machine sewing done, so two were quilting and one was making machine cords.
Most people were busy with their Warriors work as October is now looming up and a sense of urgency is beginning to take hold.
Below are some of the papers we all made last month with Niki Hampson of Pulpitations.  Of course, Colleen has made hers into a lovely book with a poem she has written about becoming 'beige'.

Roma has been busy felting for her Warriors. Tea is always at the ready.

Colleen has done a one day workshop with Chris Gray and was finishing off her piece of work.  Several of us are doing the Regional Summer School with the Embroiderers' Guild and will have a 3 day workshop with Chris so hope it is as good as this looks.

Royal Armouries Exhibition

Five members of the group have contributed to the exhibition at the Royal Armouries called Threads of War.  The exhibition was the idea of Annie Parkinson who started people working on quilts, hangings and embroideries and who now has over 100 items in the collection.  She started displaying the work in local libraries and small venues and a large portion of the work is now in the Armouries.  It will stay there until 21st June when it will then move to the Armouries other venue in Portsmouth.  The amount of work Annie has put into this has been tremendous and we all thank her.  The opening preview of the exhibition was on Friday 27th March so I went along and took these photographs.  They aren't very good because the lighting was low.
This poster is in the entrance to the armouries.

This panel is outside the gallery along with a video of the Leavening Embroiderers at work.

This is the start of our part of the exhibition.

This small side area of the gallery was devoted to the Leavening Embroiderers work.

There were a number of workbooks on display.

More of our groups work.  My blog is mixing up the pictures and it is difficult to move them without making a complete mess of it.

Each piece of work is accompanied by one of these notices.

It is well worth a visit as the armouries is free to go in and there is lots there for children to enjoy.

Just wanted to add this picture of an embroidery done by the Ladies of Leavening village which now hangs in their church.  It was what started the Leavening Embroiderers group and it is beautifully stitched.  All the central panel is split stitch and each picture shows an activity done in the village.