At the March meeting, Linda brought in her pieces from the February workshop, together with some further developments she'd done. Definitely an encouragement to look at how we can progress learning from from a simple session!
Here's another photo of a (nearly) completed piece from the February shadow applique workshop. In this instance, Russell has shown that you don't have to use only running or back stitch to outline the shapes - he's included beads, as well as whipped and laced running stitch. Couching would also be good for a well-defined outline.
2C + 2H = U ≠ 2C !
Not a real mathematical equation....... but it simply means that if you use Clarice Cliffe's work (2C) as inspiration and add in your hand and your head (2H) you end up with your own design (U) and not a copy of Clarice Cliff.
As the theme for the day was Shadow Applique we started the session with a small exercise using triangles of fabric, scraps of organza and threads to explore the interaction between different colours and stitches (running or backstitch).
Lots of brilliant, bold colour from a really hard-working and fun group.
Salford Art Gallery and Museum
Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU
Tuesday - Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 11.30am to 4.00pm
Beneath Our Feet (until Sunday, 5 May 2024)
An exhibition by the wonderful, local textile artist, Leah Higgins, inspired by local mills and collieries, and pottery from the Pilkington Tile and Pottery Company.
The museum has an excellent cafe with lunches, coffee and cakes.....
and who can resist a visit to Lark Hill Place, literally a trip down Memory Lane!
Our first 'meeting' of the year - and weren't we glad to be sitting in the warmth and comfort of our own homes without having to venture out into the South Manchester fog!
We started with an interesting talk from Helen Birmingham of The Stitchbook Collective/Untanged Threads. Helen's Sawdust Hearts project, based on WWI sawdust hearts, in 2018 involved an enormous number of participants with 1,568 hearts being completed and money donated to the charity, Combat Stress.
Helen stressed the importance of using stitch as a meditative practice; it's OK not to have an end in mind but to enjoy the calming effect of putting needle and thread to fabric. Just as important is the support that comes through working on projects with like-minded people and being kind to each other.
Through her HMB Stitchbooks project, Helen has developed a way of binding calico pockets into books. The pockets can be decorated with stitch but will also store small samples. As an added bonus the pockets are ethically produced in Pondicherry, India. There is a membership fee to join The Stitchbook Collective, with a members' magazine being published each month and the ability to purchase kits for the books.
Thank you, Helen, for a thought-provoking and inspiring talk.
www.thestitchbookcollective.com
After Helen's talk, Jean started us off on the felt, folded sewing case for which instructions had been sent out before Christmas. It was also possible to use fabric other than felt. An opportunity for some simple, mindful stitching to start off the New Year .......unless you chose to focus too much on the past of not being able to stitch in parallel lines and insufficiently in the moment of making the next stitch correctly!
Photos are of Jean's non-felt sample and Sue's back and front. More to come in a future post. Looking forward to the inside pages at a future meeting, Jean.
Do you remember the past December stitching at Megastitchers?
This isn't everything - some have found homes elsewhere and some, sadly/shamefully, are still to be completed.
Hope all stitchers have an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas. Perhaps a time to address the PHD and UFO piles!
⛄⛄⛄ 🎄🎄🎄 🎅🎅🎅 🎄🎄🎄⛄⛄⛄
With best wishes for the New Year
🔔🔔🔔 ✨✨✨ 🎆 ✨✨✨ 🔔🔔🔔
