A Zooming Christmas Get Together- December 2020-Month 9

Excitement started to grow as we waited for other members to be allowed into the meeting room by Kath. R for our very first Zoom meeting. Yes, it has taken us time to get a grip of the technology but hopefully this is a new start for Preston Embroiderers’ Guild for the immediate future.

Once in the room it was so lovely to see members who had also got to grips with Zoom to join us. Unfortunately a few technical hitches meant Barbara couldn’t get through and Irene couldn’t be seen by everyone else but she could see us and joined in the conversations regardless. There were lots of cheery hellos and how are you before Kath. H (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Rosie kept us entertained with a change of Christmas head gear every few minutes.

Then Rosie began her Christmas quiz which certainly taxed the brain. Carolynne tested our knowledge with her ordering game and Ann took us around the world with her Christmas decorations quiz.
Then we showed off our Christmas projects some of which are shown below.

After that Ann explained the forthcoming programme for 2021- it is on the website but she will be sending out a programme to everyone once May has been finalised. The programme starts with a stitch and chat where a monthly task will be set, then a variety of talks and an on-line workshop.
June and July have been kept quite open with National Celebration of Stitch day and the Strawberry Tea still in place. These will probably be virtual events but that will be decided later.
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After a final toast for a Happy Christmas and a reminder to keep safe; the meeting came to a close.
It was a lovely to get together and we hope more members will be able to join us in January 2021.

Members have been busy making items for Christmas Gifts and decorations and here are some of their projects:

Kath R. set about making a Christmas bag, initially for the competition, which was subsequently deferred to next year. She had great fun using machine embroidery on sheer fabrics. She then added some handmade beads and tassels to enhance the overall effect.

She has also crocheted a little toy dog. Who would not love this little chap?
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Pam has been shielding since March but her embroidery has kept her busy and here are two of her Christmas projects.
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The two Gnomes were a request from her Granddaughter. Pam said, “I had to make my own pattern. I had a nosey on Pinterest and then used felt and other materials from my stash. The bases are filled with rice. They now sit in her first home she has just bought.  It was such a change from the usual request, curtain making!”

“The tree base is a Victorian spinning cone, which I lightly sanded and waxed. The top part (the tree) I painted and hand embroidered on silk noil. Then lightly padded it, before attaching it to the cone.

​Edwina sent in pictures of her Christmas Tree and snowflake design. She explained, "The tree is made by machine sewing triangles of Christmas fabric together and then folding and stitching together with over stitch. I made this at a workshop at Cheshire Needlecraft, Goostrey a few years ago."

"The snowflake is made out of two pieces of plastic canvas over sewn with lurex crochet cotton. The decorations sparkle beautifully on a tree.  I first saw these decorations on my Aunties Christmas tree on Vancouver Island, Canada."

Ann R. decided to take up her serviette ring challenge and one afternoon having just finished another project and tidied her workroom, made some simple felt design motifs with machine embroidery and then added beads. Having covered the card rings with a nice bright green ribbon she used a glue gun to apply the motifs to the rings.

​Carolynne sent this piece in:
“I attended a live zoom workshop arranged with 'Beyond Knitting & Stitching Workshops' with Pat Archibald as the tutor on a Friday night, where we made a poinsettia appliqué.  As the workshop was between 5pm and 6.30pm I had to work quickly to keep up, so I think I will make this again, where I can give it more attention.  But for a first attempt it gives a pleasing result, I just have to add the beading around the edge later on.
 
We had advance notice of the requirements, so that we could have everything ready and started off with adding some 'heat activated' glue powder and gold foil on the background fabric, then adding the appliquéd pieces using Bondaweb.  The gold on the petals of the flower was created by using a foil adhesive glue, which when dried remains a little tacky and you can rub foil over the top to give it colour.  The edges were zig-zagged with three rounds of colours (red, green and silver), and then the beads were added at the end.

I certainly think whilst we can't get to meetings, doing a workshop this way provided a bit of normality, and being able to ask questions if you were stuck, really helped.  A recording of the meeting is emailed out to you afterwards, so that for a time, it is available for you to re-visit and complete your project.
There is an up and coming workshop with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn on straight stitching and other workshops that you can book on demand for around £20 to £25 if anyone is interested. 
The link to have a look at is here: 
https://beyondknittingandstitching.seetickets.com/upperstreet/workshops/beyond-k-s-demand?src=knsenews251120

Carolynne has also made a Christmas Wreath using scraps of fabric, lots of beads, sequins and bells.  There are green and red leaves in between the hearts and bows and small flowers at the tops of the hearts.  Over the years she has made several for family members, and they are always happily received.  Apart from machine stitching the hearts together before they are stuffed with toy filling, the rest involves hand sewing which she finds very relaxing.

​​Irene used Christmas fabric from her stash to make cushions to sell at the church fair and she made an Advent Calendar for her Grandchildren. She said, “The material seemed to lend itself to little pockets. I put bars of chocolate in each one. I posted them through my daughter’s letterbox each week, so the children didn’t miss out.”

Kath H has had some success in the Search Press Craft competition. She won a  £50 gift voucher with the knitted space men. She also  knitted this scarf as a present for her sister.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed. I hope everyone enjoyed their first Zoom meeting with the branch. Remember the programme will be sent out in a few days, but look on the front page of the website if you want to know more.
In the meanwhile have an enjoyable Christmas and look forward to 2021 – It can only get better.
Keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
A.R.