May 2019- a.m. Stitch and Chat. p.m. Snorri the Viking- Talk with Ian Uzzel.

First the notices were given out:
Dee reminded us of the request that our branch has been asked to provide volunteers to steward at the combined regional day and north west region AGM on Saturday 28th September.  If you are willing to help out, please let Dee know.  The venue is The Crofters’ Hotel, Garstang.
 Contact is now only being published via e-mail.  If you are not receiving your copy it might be worth checking that it is not in your Spam: the sender is Pat Tempest.  If you have not had anything from Pat, please let Dee know, also making sure our branch has your correct e-mail address.  Dee will then send Pat a list of those who are missing out.  For anyone without access to e-mail a printed version of the current edition will be available on the notice boards for you to read at each of our monthly meetings.
 There was a vote for the theme of our 2021 exhibition.  After a neck and neck tie, there was a second vote and by a show of hands the theme selected was “Inspired by …”.  That is such a broad area, there must be something in there for everyone.
 Have you all got your entry for the Chairs’ Challenge for the Kath Morton trophy underway?  If not there’s still time: the theme is a case for your sunglasses.
 Tickets for the July strawberry tea will be on sale at the next meeting: price £5.

Brenda has been liaising with the family of our late member Florence, as they wish her stash to be made available to members in return for individual donations.  Only a small portion of it has so far been brought to the hall, but more will be available. No one can miss a bargain and once Sylvia, Barbara and Brenda had sorted through the bags we all enjoyed a rummage for those must have items!

After the business part of the meeting it was time for some needles to be threaded!
Members were undertaking a hugely varied range of projects this morning: confirmation of what an imaginative and talented group of embroiderers make up our branch.  It was especially lovely to welcome again two of our newest recruits, Kay and Margaret.
​Inspired variously by the natural world or travels overseas, to professionally designed kits, magazine projects, following the City and Guilds curriculum, using a printed pattern, completing a guild workshop item, or simply making it up as they went along, everyone was busy in the aptly named stitch and chat.  It was truly inspirational and exciting to see such an assortment of work: all of course well-fuelled by tea and biscuits.

Specifically these projects included:
-    tapestry weaving, finishing the woodland scenes begun in a recent workshop
-    calico beach pebbles
-    trying out various stitches as part of an experimental floral sampler
-    working on a piece inspired by the shapes and colours seen on a visit to Marrakech
-    bunting
-    City and Guilds Intermediate: freehand needle weaving
-    mixed media blue tit
-    crazy patchwork and appliqué
-    bookmarks on the theme of “Home” for National Celebration of Stitch day event at Savick library
-    hand sewing an applique quilt in a naive Scandinavian style
-    a Nicola Jarvis crewelwork kit from summer school
-    one or two were “mostly just talking”
-    knitting a baby dress
-    hand embroidering a pheasant
-    flower fairies with stump work 3D wings
-    embellishing a piece of patchwork with Kantha
-    stitching an autumnal spray
-    cross stitching a traditional sampler
After lunch Sandie introduce our speaker Ian Uzzel.  After setting out various artefacts Ian briefly left the room, re-appearing in re-created Viking costume as his alter ego Snori.  this was surely the most peaceable Viking invasion in history.

Snori had brought a replica loom and gave a most interesting talk, explaining the method of construction of various articles of clothing and footwear, weapons and domestic items. 
​The cost of the garb and fighting kit were astonishing: a man would have to have been quite wealthy if he was to be a properly kitted out Viking invader, and only the richest would have been able to afford the protection of an iron helmet, chain mail (hand forged, link by link) and a fighting sword.  They were also all tremendously heavy and would have made movement, let along running or riding, very hard work. 

The less well-off would have had only a leather hat, padded sheeps’ wool body armour and a knife which looked to modern eyes little more than a bread knife.
​Finally Ian dispelled the popular image of the Viking in a helmet decorated with horns.  Familiar from so many films, and seen annually on Blackpool’s Golden Mile, this is apparently entirely a modern and mythical invention, completely unsupported by any archaeological evidence, horns being used as a means of communication akin to a bugle, or as drinking vessels.

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Next month we are having a series of surgeries.See the requirements lists under the ‘Notices’ tab.
The meeting closed at around 3.40pm.
T G