August Summer Party

Today we eagerly gathered for our August meeting

 We arrived bearing gifts for our Summer Garden Party

 Waiting for everyone to arrive we admired the view

 Then took our seats in the work room to admire the view again

 We looked at one another's photographs

We shared information 

 Looks interesting Dina

It was all going on!

 

 Ruth shared her wonderful work from a shibori workshop with Sian Martin

 The fabric holds its shape even when wet, it will dry back to this shape

 We loved the shibori

 Pat and Heather even wore the shibori

 

Di managed to do some hand embroidery today

 Way to go Heather (Sorry Sue...you didn't manage to avoid the camera this time)

We shared new books - thank you for this one Margaret

 ...and we shared resource books - thank you Debbie

 

 We had combined a banquet

 

 Then it was time to PARTY as the sun came out to shine upon us

 We lunched in the beautiful garden

 ...and had a veritable feast

 We were honoured as Smartie joined us

 We perused the garden and met the fish...

 ...the flora

and the fauna

 

 On behalf of all the ladies who attended the bistro in Tettenhall, can I express our thanks to Clare for opening her door to us and letting us stay to share one another's company in such an idyllic setting on a gorgeous day. We all had a wonderful time in the company of thread obsessives sharing ideas, inspiration and textile chat.

JAL

 

 

 

July meeting

Wow! Today was one of our busiest meetings that I can remember...EVER!! The room was filled with enthusiastic members and the air buzzed

 The day just seemed to whizz by and I never picked up my own needle until 2pm, but it was "such fun"

 The concentration and the hard work is so evident - it was all going on.

Pat is modelling our new purchases today. Brooches, which are little ceramic rusted designs in support of a project for Uganda

 Here is Clare working on a mammoth quilt from a painting she did (and sold). Nice one Clare - by the way when you read this Clare, sipping your cocktail in Turkey...think of us

Here is a close-up of Clare. The colours are so pretty and the design so bold

 Pat is working on her "multi-colour swop-shop." See how it shimmers

 Fresh from their hospital ordeals and working harder than ever, Di and Dina, arriving and departing today via Ruth's Ring and Ride service

 Welcome welcome to two fresh faces at Connect in Threads, Kay and Cheryl. Familiar to all of us from the Embroiderers' Guild

 Ruth is working on her "Looking Through" piece of a stained glass window. A difficult task but some stunning samples are coming together

Cheryl's lady of the lake pictured on top of her bag as Cheryl was leaving - "Looking Through" and looking beautiful Cheryl

 

Where there is felt you will find Debbie. All part of Debbie's "Looking Through" wreath

The end of a lovely day - thank you girls for the wonderful inspiring way you work together and brighten one another's day

 

PLEASE WATCH YOUR EMAILS FOR CONFIRMATION OF OUR GARDEN PARTY IN AUGUST - CHANGE OF VENUE

JUNE MEETING

What a wonderful sunny day to be revelling in the camaraderie with friends!

Once again we worked on our own projects, helping one another as we created, learned and enjoyed the pleasures of our artful days

 

I love all of my ladies but I have to say that this piece is my favourite.

 It belongs to Ruth and is executed totally in herringbone stitch with some areas padded...I love it! While you admire it, can you please see if it is worked on your background fabric of green circles and triangles please

 

Continuing our A5, multi-coloured swop shop group project, here is Clare's work

There is an array of threads, in a wealth of textures and weights, threaded through the open weave compulsory fabric provided by Ice.

 

We also need to identify the maker of this background, stitched by Ice which is nearing completion in a very striking colour scheme.

 Loving the silver thread work Ice

Elaine's chain stitch work (below) with hand made paper beads is stunning as always. Elaine has used the back of the compulsory fabric so the pattern and texture is visible but not the colours. Another good idea!

 

Janet L., has used cross stitch  to wonderful effect and appliqued to give this lovely patchwork effect. I love the "snowflakes" and the tiny cross stitches around the edges of the applique pieces

 Pat W., has added a few beads and some running stitches in the sky area since our last meeting, to complete her piece on this brightly coloured marbled piece

Debbie's garden scene is completely covered in fly stitch. Do you recognise the block printed background of blue leaf sprigs as belonging to you? Loving the hidden fence and garden gate in this magical garden

 

Luggage labels are to be completed to finish this project for the exhibition - I will announce this over the next week with instructions and a template to work from

 

OUR NEXT PROJECT

This was discussed at length today and we believe we have come to a group decision working in the style of the Artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser

We will each make the façade of a house on pelmet vylene, in the "loose" free style of Hundertwasser. Bearing in mind the strong, bold use of colour and shapes, we will individually stitch, print, felt and embellish in the techniques of our own choice. Strictly NO RULERS are allowed - draw it all freehand as Hundertwasser dictates. Establish fluid lines, even at the base of your house. We may display the row of houses with an undulating fabric in front of them.

You may include a Hundertwasser tree or shrub if it helps your design

Your house may be any width but no smaller in height than the longest side of A5 and no taller than the longest side of A3. Here are some visuals of Hundertwasser houses, to whet your appetite

 

 

Ready made fabrics and beads - a textile Artist's dream

"Happy Stitching ladies"