June 2021 - Month 15 - Coming out of Lockdown- Felt Activity and Stitch and Chat.

​Once again it was so good to see many of our members and some faces we hadn’t seen for quite a while. Kath (Chair) welcomed everyone and then Ann explained the felt activity- A needle case in the shape of a Victorian child, a heart which could be used for a lavender bag and a bird pincushion. 
The idea was to interpret the designs in any way and lists of requirements were sent out previously. Some members had brought their own work along and from gold work, banners and cross stitch motifs and appliqué we soon got well into stitching. 

It was lovely to stitch and chat and we covered many topics rather like the neighbours visited every week on the ‘ONE Show’.
Liz explained how she stitches her cross stitch motifs onto ‘T shirts’ for her great nephew using a special canvas, which is removed once the motif has been finished. Something many of us felt we would like to try.

The monthly challenge had a great variety of ideas as usual. This month we were asked to use shades of one colour. Watch the slideshow below to see the range of work.

Here is what each member said about their work:-

May is created in pink. The background is stitched in seed stitch. The ‘M’ outline is split stitch and Jacobean couching on the inside. The ‘a’ outline is in stem stitch with French knots on the inside and the ’y’ outline is backstitch with cross stitch inside. The whole piece is edged in running stitch. Mel

I used the colour purple as required and on the other page I have machine embroidered a picture to match my rhyme. Irene.

I used bonded appliqué of fabric and silk paper.  The tatting is from a card made by my friend Val. Edwina

I am attaching my May work which I have called May flowers. I have decided to continue using the 6 inch embroidery hoop, so that once I have finished they should all be of a similar size and scale. In this small work I have used stem stitch, rope stitch, satin stitch, lazy daisy stitch and a leaf stitch I'm not sure of the name of! Margaret

I was inspired by the beautiful Cherry blossom in all shades of pink. I wonder why once the blossom comes out the wind and the rain begins causing the blossom to fall. I have named it ‘Cherry Blossom Confetti’ and used a range of stitches to stitch the petals. Ann R

I had had a thought about doing my daughter and grandkids hand print for a while, when pondering what to do with one colour the penny dropped, so I put the two together. So that was the inspiration for my piece this month. Barbara

I have stitched a piece of canvas work in shades of pink. Sandie
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I went back to the technique I love to do, ‘needle weaving’ and produced this poppy in a variety of pink threads. Kath R.

Other projects seem a little thin on the ground this month. Perhaps we are all starting to feel a little jaded and can’t wait to meet up once again in real life but here are some of the pieces that have been sent in.
The hen brooch I made for my friend whose hen died recently. Irene
I stitched a birthday card for my sister's 70th. The idea was taken from the poem by Jenny Joseph, 'When I am old I will wear purple'. I included a picture of as many of the lines as I could.

Kath R. has been crocheting bunnies and Mel has stitched five more tags.

Next month Mel C is showing us how to make paper flowers from A4 paper and old books. We also hope to enjoy a strawberry tea on Zoom, of course, and please stitch a strawberry item to show. The monthly challenge is a piece using mixed media. Lots to inspire you we hope. In the meantime keep safe and keep stitching.
Ann R.