Make do and mend project

About our group project - by Sue Woods

The individual aim: To create a small piece of work using one or more mending techniques– but stretching it to make something that is interesting to look at . The completed piece is to be a 6inch square.

The group aim: Depending on numbers of pieces received, either to combine these to make a wall hanging or to have a display on a display board that can be taken to the Festival of Stitch (F of S)

What you need to do

1.      Start with an 8 inch square of unbleached calico (the type that is cheapest and has a slight off white colour.) The background calico should not be painted or dyed.

2.      Your “design” should fit into a 6 inch square.

3.      Make one large or 3 or more small holes. The holes can be real or “virtual” as the idea is to use a mending technique creatively in a textile piece; not to demonstrate that you can mend holes neatly.

4.      Mount the completed work over a 6 inch square of cardboard as we did for the Moldova postcards project. Back it with fabric.

5.      Write your name and the title of your work on the back.

What materials can I use?

You must use at least one recycled material. Either

• Recycled clothing, curtain etc; or
• Genuine left over materials  from another project e.g. from dress making, quilt making, knitting, an embroidery project etc; or
• A sample created at a workshop that you have never found a use for

Nothing must be purchased for this project but you can use anything in your stash of materials.

Criteria

The completed work is to be a 6 inch square mounted on cardboard (with fabric backing.

Make either one large hole or a minimum of 3 holes in your square and “repair” them

You must use at least one recycled material. Either

• Recycled clothing, curtain etc; or
• Genuine left over materials  from another project e.g. from dress making, quilt making, knitting, an embroidery project etc or
• A sample created at a workshop that you have never found a use for

Nothing must be purchased for this project (except the card) but you can use anything in your stash of materials.

Put your name and the title of the work on the back

Happy New Year

Hi the January meeting is on 3rd at 7.00pm and the session will be led by member Toni Stanford.

"FOLLOW A WORD"

Handmade and altered books can make lovely presents, for a small child, a special occasion, or as a way of preserving special mementoes.  They can also be a powerful design aid when you have lots of ideas around a subject but no idea of where to go next. Tonight we will use the simple methods of cutting, folding, sticking and sewing to travel through a book.

Toni will bring some books for you to try out the exercises on, but you can also bring your own book for altering...

you will need:
paper scissors
sewing needle
ruler and pencil

if you have them you can also bring:
hole punch - plain and/or fancy
ONE sheet of used christmas wrapping paper
ribbons and fancy bits from parcels - don't buy anything specially
reel of sewing thread - anything bright or to match your paper
craft knife and cutting board

Altered Books

The general theme for this year's programme is Altered Books.
Anne Menary introduced the programme with a selection of her books and a short mini workshop on beginnings, using old photographs, greetings cards, postcards, leaflets, tickets, papers, paint, glue and scissors to create a book to remind you of particular memories, or just taking ideas from the text..

In January's meeting Toni Stanford will 'Follow a word...' as with some of the examples shown in December's meeting Handmade and altered books can make lovely presents, for a small child, a special occasion, or as a way of preserving special mementoes. They can be a powerful design aid when you have lots of ideas around a subject but no idea of where to go next.

Please bring your own book in January if you wish but Toni will have some pamphlet books for you to try the excercises on too.

You need to bring:
paper scissors, sewing needle, ruler and pencil
plus, if you have them:
hole punch - palin and fancy
one sheet of used xmas wrap paper
ribbons and left over fancy bits from parcels
bright sewing thread - one reeel
craft knife and cutting board

 There are lots of images, and plenty of information and ideas on Google about altered books
They can be used as a resource for finishes, design ideas, the development of design, or just as a thing of beauty!

You don't have to cut up or destroy an old book, although of course there are many unloved books in charity shops across the region waiting to be re-invented.
Combine textiles and stitch with paint and print to make it special for you.

Sandra Goddard is hosting a studio closure sale at Unit 15 Crossroads Business Park, Cresswell Road, Clowne S43 4PU on Sat and Sun 29-30 September 10-4.30 and later 1-5 Oct by appointment.  50% of proceeds to Ashgate Hospice. Sandra may be contacted on 07749711611 or sandicraft@talktalk.net

Also the region's Kimono exhibition will follow on to Charnwood museum in September -15th to 30th 2012.

Georgina Bell

Originally from Leeds Georgina mapped out her life with often extremely funny and openly honest tales of narcissism (in the nicest possible way) "It's all about me' she claimed, her own experiences, journeys, longings and discoveries. Well, of course, that's what we were there for!

Georgina 'didn't get out much' as a child, developing her own self expression at home, in an effort to escape  she talked of the safety of the wardrobe as a haven of quiet in the home (this, with a life size model of Aslan the Lion on the stage behind her, courtesy of URC) The first story bought to mind of course the Lion the witch and the wardrobe; the escape being from her 'wicked' and argumentative elder sisters (Cinderella - the 2nd story...); but as a teenager she began to 'discover' the world following a trip to the US announced by her father.

Georgina spoke of chopping the hem off her mothers BIBA dress to improve it...and lived to tell the tale; making herself a mummy outfit out of rolls of kitchen roll and sellotape. Studying Fine Art initially, Georgina found herself making video documentaries and installations; then worked abroad, held a variety of residencies, often looking at journeys and places, but always thinking of home - home is where the heart is (Wizard of OZ?).  All her mapping of journeys began and ended at home and Georgina began to realise it was the thought of the journey not the arrival that held the interest for her; it was the same with her work - the process of making.

Her 'map frock' destined never to be worn, on journeys never to be made, began a body of work over many years now, to map out her personal, emotional, journeys to the gate of guilt, the isle of ironing and the cuddle cove to name but a few recent expeditions...

Her enthusiasm and passion for her subject was never in any doubt, and having stepped in at the last minute to cover for an absent colleague, our branch were fortunate in discovering a very entertaining gem in our midst, who with great generosity took us on a journey to some of her incredible places.

September 6th meeting

As the next round of Olympic fever kicks off so does the penultimate meeting on this years programme:

Unfortunately Louise Presley of 'Hope and Elvis' has had to drop out at short notice for our SEptmber evening, but her place has been filled by Georgina Bell also based at the Harley Gallery Studios. Georgina Bell is a practicing artist and maker, and founder of Atelier Crafts. With over ten years experience as a lecturer in Art & Design and fifteen as an artist, she has a commitment and passion for making things and sharing techniques and processes. Georgina regularly exhibits her work and attends contemporary craft fairs in the UK and abroad, and can often be found looking for a bargain in sewing and haberdashery shops, she also has a serious love of afternoon tea and is partial to the odd cake. The inspiration for Atelier came from a trip to Berlin in 2006 where Georgina visited several artisan makers' shops and galleries.

Has Olympic Fever got you?

If not and you are looking for something else to do during the summer here are a few suggestions:

The Beatles story in stitch?

Second Turning Textile Group open a new exhibition at Kedleston Hall, open now to 22nd September
Elements at Rufford Notts
Art Through Textiles - Tuesday 31 July to Sunday 9 September
'Art Through Textiles' is a group of creative individuals with a strong professional interest in promoting and developing textiles as an art form. Members share a love of all textile skills as a means of creative expression and wish to show, through their work, just how rich, lively and versatile textiles can be.
This exhibition “Elements” shows the diverse nature of the work of the members and is a dynamic expression of textiles as an art form.
http://www.artthroughtextiles.org.uk/

Anne Menary can now confirm the DCC classes from September 2012.

All classes start week commencing Monday September 17th 2012. If you are interested in any of the courses, please contact the centre concerned to put your name down from July 23rd.  

These are all non-voc classes at the Hunloke Centre, Chesterfield Tel 01246 201687:

Monday evening 7-9pm

Creative Design from Sketchbooks - in this class we will be creating personal sketchbooks using a variety of paper and textile materials and ephemera. The sketchbooks will provide a wealth of inspirational information for future projects.

Tuesday afternoon 1 -3pm

Creative Textiles/Fabric Collage also called Creative Textile Workshops - a hand stitch course where you work creative samples and use them in personal textile projects.

Friday morning 10 - 12am

Experimenting with Stitch - a hand stitch course with the emphasis on using stitches creatively for use in personal design projects.

Friday afternoon 1 -3pm

Experimenting with Design - a design course which can be combined with the morning course. Creative and fun ways of designing using both paper and textile techniques.

All are for 11 weeks

I will also be teaching at the Eco Centre, Wirksworth for 4 weeks from 7th November (excluding 28th November) so finishing 5th December; 10am - 1pm:

 'Hand Stitch and Print using Recycled Fabrics.'

The Eco Centre phone number is 01629 533038.

I am teaching a one day workshop at the Art Room, Barlow on Saturday 20th October on 'Textile Postcards' 10am - 4pm £40 (£20 deposit) all materials included. Please get in touch with me directly if you are interested in this.

I am sending this out before I go away so apologies if you get in touch and I don't respond immediately.

Best wishes

Anne

July Meeting - Alysn Midgelow Marsden

This Thursday July 5th 7.00pm for 7.15 start:

Improvisation & Serendipity  – The creative process discussed and illustrated – following on from the very successful and popular workshop earlier in the year, more good stuff from Alysn Midgelow-Marsden, - plus the opportunity to buy materials.

Paul Johnson Book Art

The artist I mentioned at June's meeting for the pop-up books is Paul Johnson (click here to link)

More info later

Thursday 7th June - post Jubilee....

Hi all Emily Collis led a folded book making workshop, pictures to the left - it was a great success and thanks to Emily for making it so...

equipment required:
4 sheets A4 paper
paper scissors
glue stick
papers you like for the cover
bits of ribbon to tie round your book
a favourite phrase or title for your book

A reminder that we have a small exhibition planned at Created Gallery again in October 2012 - 'Contained' so we need your coiled pots and printed bags by the September meeting please.

Diary Dates:

STUDIO 102  - Textile Art, Paintings & Ceramics

at home with Barbara and Robert Meeke

102 Holymoor Rd, Holymoorside, S42 7Du

10.30am - 4pm Fri 22, Sat 23 and Sun 24 June 2012

Course information below, also at Holymoorside:

Derbyshire Open Arts events

Antonia Stanford at Derbyshire Open Arts
At Calver Village Hall

Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd, Monday 4th June 2012 11:00am - 5:00pm daily

The main website is here and there are plenty of local artists taking part not least ourselves with a presence in Holymoorside.

Thursday 3rd May et al

Hi all quick note to remind you the next Guild meeting is coming up Thursday May 3rd 7pm coffee for 7.15 start - Jo Owen is coming to talk about her artists books - a taster for next year's programme.

Jo is a member of ATT and Alive and stitching

 

Jo was also one of the tutors on our current Kickstart programme for 2011 - the exhibition opens soon:

 

I am off to The Festival of Stitch Saturday 28th near Northampton to launch the next kickstart, along with  Barbara, Jean and Toni - you can preview the new kickstart book here.

 

 

 see below for info on exhibitions if handmade books take your interest:

Cath Ray Books are out and about this Spring/Summer and some BEAUTIFUL leathers have found their way into my green shed over the last few months...

Sat 2nd June - Southwell Minster Jubillee Craft Fair - 10am-4pm

On-going displays at: The Harley Gallery, Welbeck
                                Thoresby Gallery                         and  The Mac Gallery, South Parade, Doncaster

 

Postcards for Moldova by Guild members

April meeting Thursday 5th

As Beryl has abandoned us in favour of a trip down under, Barbare Meeke will be leading a workshop on coiled baskets. Please bring your usual sewing kit and a bodkin. Some cord and fabirc and wools will be available but if you do have any you would like to bring along please do

Sculpted Surprises - Stitched, slashed and burnt...

20 people took part in the workshop organised by Chesterfield Embroiderer's Guild on Saturday 31.3.12 at Calow. Most were guild members but we had a few visitors making up numbers. Alysn Midgelow-Marsden led the group in working with fine metal mesh fabrics in copper, steel and bronze, adding layers of sheer man-made fabrics with stitch. Some worked by hand and most with machines, to create grids and free flowing forms. The sheers were cut , folded and beaded to expose the metal mesh base, or burned away with heat guns. The mesh gives the final piece structure and can be formed into tea light holders, moulded around shapes or just left free. Have a look at the photos to the right. If anyone has anymore to add to this, particularly detail of your own work please let me have a copy to add to the album.
It would be great if those taking part could also bring their pieces to the meeting on Thursday 5th April.

Alysn Midgelow-Marsden Workshop

*Reminder*Alysn Midgelow-Marsden Workshop Saturday 31st March 2012, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Calow Community Centre
Allpits Road
Calow
Chesterfield
S44 5AT
There is a phone number at the hall – 01246 201366
Carole Hodges will not be attending - Penny Marsden will be there on the day 07892854979
Remember to take a packed lunch!

ECO Centre Information and courses

For those few of you who make it here to see what is happening in the guild you might be interested to know thateach post I write gets only a few views - i.e. people looking at it - but the item entitled 'fish and chip babies' with the knitting pattern had 140 page views! So I need some snappy and contemporary titles to get people looking! - Answers/ideas on a postcard please...

Anne Menary is running a 5 week course starting in April at the Ecco Centre

Details here:

Hand Stitch & printing using recycled materials Thursday afternoons for 5 weeks, starting Thursday 19^th April at the Ecco Centre

Course includes

Stitching and layering on a variety of fabrics

Layering and applique techniques

Creating textured surfaces

Mark making with hand embroidery stitches

Students will be encouraged to develop their own skills and knowledge and follow their own interests to create individual, personal and expressive art work

Course fees - Band A - £48.00, Band B - £42.00, Band C - £19.00

Further details contact the Ecco Centre 01629 533038

A Wool and Craft Fair is taking place at the Eco Centre Wirksworth on the weekend of 14^th and 15^th April 2012 11am to 4pm; an exciting, interesting weekend with lots of activities for all the family, art works, foods or textiles from locally sourced materials.Hand spinners, feltmaking and lost of other related activities. The Babbling Vagabonds will be enacting the Derby Ram using props made in association with pupils form Anthony Gell School

Barbara, in her role as chair was asked to put a few words together to go along with our Moldove postcards:

If anyone has any photos of these I would appreciate them so they can be added in here

Sporting Postcards

Chesterfield Branch

After what I thought was a slow and shaky start the Chesterfield Branch members turned up trumps. Initially I thought we might struggle to produce even 9 postcards however I underestimated our members and in the end we produced 18, 2 strips of 9.

We have Branch members with a variety of embroidery styles, skills in design and favourite stitch techniques.

The process was started by encouraging members to research MOLDOVA ---- yes most said “Where is it” but via the internet and library services we quickly learnt lots of interesting facts about the country both in its previous Soviet days and post-independence. Facts including geography, architecture, demography, economy and sporting successes.

We had a great evening with Anne Menary, a textile artist well known for, amongst other works, her fabric postcards. Anne’s knowledge and enthusiasm fired the imagination of our members and 17 of us began stitching and comparing notes at branch meetings.

The designs represent, mainly, landscape and architecture but with postage stamps, maps and sportsmen as well. Putting these pieces together was an interesting experience, trying to give the strips some sense of balance.

I am proud of all our branch members and it would be invidious to single out, for mention, any particular individual postcards as they all represent a shared effort to produce a  great textile homage to a country and its people.

Barbara Meeke,

 Chairman, Chesterfield Branch

Launch of new East Midlands Region Website

Welcome to the new East Midlands Region Website click to view.

Sunday 18th March at the Regions meeting with Terry Murphy in Ruddington, saw the launch of the all new East Midlands Region Website. Chesterfield, as with every other branch in the region, has its own page, which also links directly to the blog.

Erica Thomson from West Bridgford Guild has put alot of work into getting this new site running, following a request from the Region. Erica succesfully creaed West Bridgford Guilds own website initially and over the coming months I hope we can learn from her to improve what we have. Good, easily accesible information about the guild is the best way we have of geting new members.

If you have any comments to make about the new site, or this one, or information you would like to see you can add comments here or on the 'contact us' page of the new web site.

Young Embroiderers

Her is a photo of the piece displayed at Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show last year made by our Chesterfield Young Embroiderers group

Invitation from Lutterworth Guild

Costumes of the Titanic

A presentation by the History Wardrobe Group at Wycliffe Memorial Methodist Church, Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth, Leices LE17 4EW.

Saturday 21st April 2012 at 2.15pm. Doors open at 1.30pm

'Take an evocative journey into Edwardian Society and follow the story of the famous dress designer Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon and the events of that fateful night.'

£10 to include coffee and cakes
contact Marilyn Nemsley 01455 554564 for tickets

Thursday March 1st

Katie Chaplin talks about Kimono - if you haven't already started a peice of work for the Regional exhibition in May it isn't too late? With the Japanese contingent staying at Loughborough for the Olympics
this year, Katie will get us into the mood - for the cultural Olympiad if not the sporting bit...?

February Meeting

February 2nd Lavender Hearts - Practical Workshop led by Anne Dilks.just bring your usual sewing kit.

Information will be available for the summer school including application forms - applications open 1st April. The venue is Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln 13th to 15th July 2012. The tutors on offer are:

Jenny Adin-Christie Whitework, Jenny was a member of the Royal School of Needlework team which created the applied lace panels for the Duchess of Cambridges's wedding dress

Ruth Smith author of 'Miao Embroidery from South West China', amongst others.

Cherilyn Tyler s work has an ethereal quality using a very delicate colour palette and fine fabrics strongly based on quality of stitch and design.

Sarah Welsby part of the 'Committed to Cloth' team 'paper has enabled me to explore my love of textiles in a way I had not previously thought possible'

We will be reinstigating the competition as part of the AGM evening and this year it will be entitled 'Containers' continuing the theme of the year ahead.

The Festival of Stitch will be held at Daventry on 28th April 2012

Lincolnshire Branch Invitation

14th April Renowned Quiltmaker Pauline Burbidge will be giving an illustrated presentation. Tickets are £6 and there will be retail therapy provided by Art Van Go, amongst others to provide threads, quilting goods, silk and patchwork fabrics etc. To be held at the Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln 10-4pm

Fish and Chip babies

Ann spoke to us briefly at the January meeting about Fish and Chip Babies - click the link for an explanation and knitting pattern. Ann mentioned  no baby pink, blue or white as they might never be washed. If you feel you can help out bring your completed garments to Ann at any meeting sometime soon...
Here are the original knitting patterns which are circulated worldwide:
Jumper/Vest:

• 8 Ply Yarn (double knitting)
• 5mm needles (tight knitters) or 4.5mm needles (loose knitters)
• Cast on 44 stitches
• Work 18 Rows in K2, P2 rib
• Work 30 Rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl)
• Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and at the same time change to K2, P2 (for sleeve)
• Rib 22 more rows.
• Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, rib 21
• Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, rib 21
• Work 22 rows in K2, P2 rib
• Cast off 12 stiches at beginning of next 2 rows
• Work 30 rows stocking stitch
• Work 18 rows, K2, P2 rib
• Cast off

 

 

Beanie:

• 8 Ply Yarn (double knitting)
• 5mm needles (tight knitters) or 4.5mm needles (loose knitters)
• Cast on 64 stitches
• Work 14 rows in (K 1, P 1) rib.
• Knit 24 rows, or work until 11 cm from cast-edge
• Shape Crown as follows:
  Row 1 : K 6 K 2 tog; repeat to end of row (56stitches)
  Row 2 : Knit.
  Row 3 : K 5, K 2 tog; repeat to end of row. (48 stitches).
  Row 4 : Knit
  Row 5 : K 4, K 2 tog; repeat to end of row (40 stitches)
  Row 6 : Knit
• Continue decreasing in this manner until (K 1, K 2, tog) has been completed and 16 stitches remain
• Knit 1 Row
• Break yarn and thread through remaining 16 stitches

Gwyneth e-mailed: 'I am delighted with the jar of buttons I won on Thursday evening – please thank whoever put it together.'

January fund raising success

Thank you all very much for your support at the January meeting , and thanks too, to the generosity of Carole's daughter and Carole's hardwork.  We took, across competitions, t-shirt and other sales £129.40 - and it was an enjoyable evening.
So, well done to everyone and huge thanks.

Also:

Carole Hodges has the metal ruler left behind at the postcard evening – a very nice non slip metal ruler with cork backing – Carole will bring to the Feb meeting.

We have two spaces left on Alysn's workshop in April and this information will now be advertised to other guilds so if you want to go let Carole know asap: chodges@citaservices.co.uk

Other news:

Friends are trying to raise money for a charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) by holding a fair at their old school, Woodlands in Allestree. It will be on Saturday, April 14.

If you know anyone who makes jewellery, teddies, toys, cakes, cards, bags, hats – whatever – please ask them to contact lynwendavison@hotmail.co.uk 

The small fee for having a stall will go direct to CRY as the school is letting them have the hall for free.

Thank you. Lynwen