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January 2021 – Month 10 in Lockdown – A fresh start to 2021 with Stitch and Chat via Zoom.

6/1/2021

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​As the snowflakes fell outside there was a positive note to our first Zoom meeting of the New Year. When Kath. R (our host) let us in to the meeting we were met with many Happy New Years and ‘how are you?’ It was good to see some other members had decided to join us.
Kath H. chair, welcomed everyone and then a few simple rules for using zoom were suggested. When someone is talking please mute your microphone, similarly if someone comes to the door or in to the room. If you want to ask a question of the speaker wave your hand and then Kath’s or Ann will pick you out. Obviously when we come to the stitch and chat session we will be able to unmute ourselves.
The session began with an explanation of the 2021 Monthly Challenge, which this month was a piece based around the month of January. Ann showed her book and how she had started her idea with words and phrases that sum up January to her. She had coloured her two pages and suggested a way of attaching the ‘post card’ to the book. Edwina showed her piece, which she had already started based on a photograph of a winter scene. She explained the techniques she was going to use as well.

Ann explained that next month we have a speaker from Northumberland- Joanna O’Neill who is a textile artist, author and quilting judge. Her talk entitled ’Bite sized’ is about working with small art quilts and embroidery on a friendly scale. 

When all the information was finished members were asked to show and tell about the projects they were working on. 
These included Liz’s knitted animal finger puppets for her great nephew, Gold work samples by Barbara, Ann has stitched two Crewel work designs inspired by the designer William Morris and the photographs she has taken of flowers during lockdown. Sandie showed her textile books for collections of photographs; Janet a busy board and Stephanie showed pretty little wedding clothes for children’s toys for her daughter. Kay is hoping to make a stitch book as her monthly challenge and showed us her ‘Slate Frame’ that she was in the process of preparing. Carolynne has been busy making a table runner for her Lithuanian relative and Irene has been stitching a piece entitled ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, which she adapted from a piece in Stitch magazine by Susan Elliot (October 2012). She changed the hat and butterfly using up lots of beads from her stash. She has also completed another piece called ‘Moth Snowstorm’. Again she adapted the piece from a project by Rebecca Mackey (Stitch Magazine September 2018). Irene said, “My moths look more like butterflies because I have used lots of bright colours.”
Edwina has been busy on her Book of Books made a couple of months ago from an old Filofax.  The outer cover is made of calico layered up with used wet wipes from the Linda Monks Summer School; then bonda webbed layers of other fabrics. It is handstitched and beaded.  The baubles are mini Temari balls - felted balls covered in woven Perlé which were made at mini workshop at Manchester EG.
 ‘It might become an entry for the competition with a very loose connection of Inspired by Authors.  It is a record of books I have read recently to remind me of the authors I enjoyed or didn't'.
By Kath R.
By Mel.C
Three members (Kath R, Mel and Kath H) had been on the online zoom course led by Zara Day and each piece was so different using stitches to make varied textures.
Mel had also been busy learning how to make paper flowers and had made a piece using recycled papers with the Chelford branch.

Stitch and chat was a very friendly and pleasant time. We discussed the virus, vaccines and lockdown restrictions (obviously) but it wasn’t long before the topics moved on to the Celebrity Sewing Bee, the Portrait Painter competition and what we thought of the winner’s work and the fact that Pottery Throw Down was returning to the screen. We talked about family and friends, walks we have done, snow and the West Preston Distributor Road. I am sure we talked about so much more- oh yes how to get discounts when ordering materials and kits (Thanks for the hints Carolynne).
It was 4 o’clock before we knew it, and time to leave the meeting. A wave goodbye and the meeting closed. It was a lovely afternoon. A real boost to start 2021. Next month with a speaker, we hope more will join us and step into a different Embroiderers’ Guild meeting (for the immediate future anyway).
A.R.
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A Zooming  Christmas Get Together- December 2020-Month 9

13/12/2020

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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.
​
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:
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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.

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​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."
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"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."
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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.

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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

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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.

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November Blog - Month 8 - Staying Together Apart!

8/11/2020

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Last January I noticed a few of our members all sewing the same thing, they were little felt rabbits with long legs and cute clothes.  A few years earlier a craze had begun to sew something called 'Luna Lapin and Friends'.  An online community has grown together with classes and sew-a-longs and I have since discovered some of our members haven't been able to stop. 

Beware, if you start to make one, you find yourself wanting to make another, and another, you can't stop! 

​This month, I spoke with four of our members who each have their own story on their path to making these loveable rabbits.
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Pam W made the lovely Luna Lapin above sitting on the bicycle and this is what she has to say........

On a visit to a Kirby Lonsdale I noticed a lovely shop selling sewing items.  How could I resist, I had to go in for a nosy.  The owner Sarah was very excited to tell me about her new project and book being published 'Luna Lapin an adorable rabbit.'  Of course I ordered it straight away.

On the books arrival I started straight away making rabbits, clothes, chairs, bags etc.  I was well and truly obsessed with Luna!  Then a second book was published!  Luna Lapin's friends, another delight.  So far I have made two monkey's out of this book, and have used a lot of the items in the book on Luna as well.  
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​My latest Luna's are in white, not dressed yet.....

Luna and friends have 'multiplied' many times around the world.  Sarah has given so much pleasure to us all.  Her lovely shop in Kendal, is full of lovely goodies, well worth a visit when we are able.  The Kirby Lonsdale and Skipton shops are now closed.

​Pamela W.

Our next member Kath H, has definitely been very busy with Luna Lapin....... ​

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Here are some more of Kath's little felted friends.....

Dee E. has had some adventures of her own as she explains below:

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I was first prompted to make Luna after seeing the beautiful rabbits being made by Kath H and Pamela W.  The fabrics they used and their attention to detail was so inspiring! 

I made Luna first of all for my granddaughter’s fourth birthday. My enthusiasm for the project grew and my husband Sam kindly made the wardrobe pictured in the book, the coat hangers came from the shop in Kirby Lonsdale. I made the armchair from the book’s pattern. Luna had several outfits and Harlowe loved changing her clothes.


Over time Luna’s felt arms became rather worn so I had to make a new pair.

A year later, a puppy called Nellie joined the family. Nellie grew to love Luna too. This resulted in Luna needing a ‘skin’ graft on one cheek.
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One day, several weeks later when Harlowe was at school, Nellie played with Luna too roughly and Luna mark two was born!
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​This is the version of Luna that I made when my great neice was born.  An accessory for her room, it matched her blanket.  A happy coincidence!

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This is Luna Mark 2 made for my granddaughter!

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This time I found some heavier grey fabric and cut Luna out with a seam allowance so that I could sew by machine.  She needed to be a more resilient rabbit than her predecessor! 

She doesn't have the look of the felt version, but she's a snappy dresser and is still in one piece!

​Dee E.


Here's a final image of our new found friend Luna Lapin from Zena C

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Name: Bunny

Barbara S, has been crocheting a lovely scarf

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Kath R has been busy making machine embroidered flowers sewn on dissolvable fabric.

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Kath H has also been busy doing some knitting:

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For Christmas we thought it would be nice to put something on our site for a Christmas Project.  You can find the instructions under the Notices Section, on how to make a Christmas Serviette Ring, kindly provided by Ann R.  (You can also download the pdf below).



christmas_serviette_rings__1_.pdf
File Size: 697 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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​Ann has also given an update on the Savick Library Bunting which can be found under our 'other news' tab.  The bunting is now completed and you can see images and an interesting write up of the events leading up to the final completion of this group project.  Well done to everyone who took part!

Carolynne P.

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