Thursday 18th March

 I got past the Ides of March ok and now we are past the equinox summer is on it's way with longer days than nights.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone in June even if it is a slightly shorter session.  There may be some new rules we have to abide by but frankly, I will put up with almost anything just to get out.  I have been doing some gardening this week which is good but it looks as though a few plants didn't survive the frost and snow.

Diane has been busy following a Block of the Month workshop with the American Quilt Museum (in America, not Bath).  They have a facebook page which she says has some amazing designs. I haven't looked yet but I think I might.

Roma has been out walking on the beach and found this lovely piece of driftwood.  I must walk with my eyes shut because I have never seen any driftwood anywhere.  She has done this piece of weaving using it as a hanging.

I too have been busy this week.  I have finished my bag for my African stitch sampler book.

The woven strips are from the African Fabric Shop as are all the beads and tokens.

This is a project I set myself of making a little book to fit into a box I made years ago.  These are eight sea views which fold into a concertina book.  However, I didn't keep an eye on stitching too close to the edge I was going to trim off and so now the book doesn't fit in the box.  I did enjoy doing it though.

Thursday 11th March

 Well I have got my hair appointment for 15th April, so not long to go now, I think I will have a ponytail by then.  The hairdresser rang me as he starts to get ready to open up. I said how wonderful it was to hear his voice!

The wind is blowing a gale outside proving that March does come in like a lion. Let's hope it goes out like a lamb.

Some of you have been very busy this last week.

Roma has been making outfits for her granddaughters doll.

Roma has also made this little fabric book using cotton organdie so that you can see both the front and the back of the stitching.  She has used the 6 stitches in our challenge and ideas from the Mary Sleigh course that she did.

Next is Susan who has been making a little needlecase for her granddaughter who at 6 years old is a budding stitcher.

Ann has been busy with these 3 pieces for the Africa project.

Stunning work Ann.  She has used Colourcraft Soft Foam Relief Paste in transparent which she applied through a stencil to create the raised design.  This was then rubbed over with Markel oil stick.  I feel a workshop coming on.

I will be getting in touch with you all soon about dates and other things going on within the group just as soon as I have finalised everything.  Should be an exciting last six months of the year.

Thursday 4th March

 What a change in the weather since the weekend, it is so cold again although not as bad as Tuesday and Wednesday, we have at least seen the sunshine.

What sad news that the Embroiderers' Guild are closing all their branches and going online only, due to lack of funds.  Apparently, 1500 people did not renew their subscriptions this year and as they were struggling before that, the pandemic has brought things to a head.  Still, who knows, maybe this will introduce them to a whole new generation who will bring new life to them.

I haven't had any photographs this week so I am just showing my finished African stitch book. 

I am thinking of making a bag to keep it in as I have some strip woven pieces and some lovely beads and tokens that I haven't used yet and I think I can make something good from them as soon as I have the courage to cut into them.

Thursday 25th February

 I can't believe we are almost at the end of February, lets hope the next few months fly as quickly and we can get back together again.  I have been for a beautiful walk this morning with my cousin who is 80 years old./We went along the seafront, round the Marine Drive, picked up a take-away coffee and sat on a bench near Peasholm, then up Columbus Ravine, Dean Road through to Falsgrave and back to her home where I left the car, five miles in all and we never stopped chatting. We never did anything like that before Covid so there are some good things come out of it.

I am now arranging our exhibition for the autumn of this year instead of May as we won't be able to do it then and will keep you all posted when the date is fixed.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the Knitting and Stitching Show will go on in its usual format in November, I am keeping saving onto lasts years money so I will have plenty to spend.

I have had some lovely photos this week.  Ann has been doing some experimenting with cross stitch.

This is the Champagne Pool at Rotorua, New Zealand

This piece has all six stitches we have been looking at as well as cretan stitch.  The bacground is Ann's piece of felt from Barbara's stash.

Lesley has also been busy.

This is the eco dying we did a couple of years ago and Lesley has been highlighting the prints with stitch as a sampler.

My daughter has now finished book 2 cover.  The book is A Town Like Alice, her favourite book of all time and the cover is some fabric that she felt looked vaguely Aboriginal.  She has stitched around the circles and the metal piece has a traditional Aboriginal design.

That's it for this week.  I have managed to get into the garden for a couple of hours so hope to do some more in the next few days which means the stitching will get pushed to a side. I've no doubt it will still be there when I get rained off.

Thursday 18th February

 The Textile Experimental Group was 10 years old on the 10th February.  For those who joined at the start, we were in Snainton Reading Room for our first meeting which wasn't a particularly suitable venue but we changed straight away to Ayton Village Hall and have been there ever since.  I haven't done much sewing this week, I have been out walking with my daughter instead.  Had a nasty fall on the ice on Sunday, being over confident in my walking boots but am on the mend now.

Susan has been busy finishing off a quilt that her daughter started a few years ago.  The colours are lovely.

Roma is working away and has done this piece which represents the roads and houses around where she lives.  Lesley did something similar a few weeks ago so I think they are both doing the same course.  The fabric Roma used for the trees is some batik she did with Heather Gatt some time ago.

I haven't been doing a lot of sewing but my daughter has.  She is making covers for two of her prized books and the first one is finished.

The book is Jamaica Inn and this gives a feel of brooding moorland.  The colours are darker in reality, the background being a dark purple.

Here's hoping we get back together soon, we must nearly all have had our first jab now, I got mine on Saturday morning at 8.30!

Thursday 11th February

 A gloriously sunny day, I shall be going out for a walk shortly.  A very quiet week, not been anywhere and only done fairly short walks and got caught in snow showers on most of them.

This week Roma has been working on a virtual Quilt with Dionne Swift.  The yellow centre signifies the light at the end of the tunnel!  She has used fabrics from the African Fabric Shop which are gorgeous.

Cath has also been doing a course, this time with Anne Brookes.  It is on UTube if you want to look.

They are doing 52 luggage labels, one per week and Cath says they take her about an hour to do.

I decided to do one of Anne Brookes other ideas which is to make a book that fits in a tin.  I didn't have a tin but I do have a little box I made years ago that isn't doing anything and has a little landscape of the sea inside the lid.  My book is a series of seascapes using only pieces from my bit box.  I have got the fabrics laid out now and have got to start on the stitching when I get the chance.

Not sure how I will finish this, either as a concertina book or I might cut each one out and attach them to pages.

I did splash out this week and buy some lovely beads and bits and pieces from the African Fabric Shop.  I don't think their prices are too bad as the goods are quality and the postage is sensible.

Thursday 4th February

 What miserable weather this week.  I have managed to keep busy and am actually doing stitching during the day.  I have always considered hand stitching as something you do in the evening, maybe because that was the only time I had when I was at work.  Anyway, doing the online course with Mary Sleigh has given me permission to do some during the day.

This is some work I have done for the workshop which was using colours with a calming feeling.  I'm not sure these colours are calming but I enjoyed using them.

I have finally got round to doing my chain stitch samples and have really enjoyed doing them.  Took me a few attempts to get some of the stitches right but it was really good to be reminded of how nice they are.

Meanwhile, Roma has joined the TextileArtists.org Stitch Club and she has sent me these lovely pictures of some of the work she has been doing.

Has anyone else resorted to online workshops to keep them going?  Dionne Swift has some that are a zoom meeting for about an hour and a half and consist of working on a project that she sends to you in the post with all the things that you need to complete it.  Ann Brookes has a weekly video on youTube which is making a tiny piece of work to fit onto a gift tag, there will be 52 by the time she finishes it!

Looking forward to some better weather forcast for tomorrow.