Another Saturday and another Embroiderers’ Guild meeting - how time flies from one meeting to the next. This one was the last before the Summer break.
Hilary introduced us to the delights of ‘Fibre Fusion’ with an introductory talk about silk and its origins from China over 5000 years ago, when the story was told that the Empress was sat drinking her tea under the shade of a mulberry tree when a silk cocoon fell into her cup. The warm tea softened the gum and fine silk threads unraveled as she removed the cocoon. Thus silk was discovered as a fibre and consequently made into fabrics.
We passed around samples of cocoons, noils, throwsters, tussah, cocoon strippings and carrier rods. Basically the products of the silk spinning industry - some were beautiful smooth and glossy threads, others rather like cotton wool and some still stiff from the natural gum.
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Then to work, playing with the fibres to see how they worked. With a plastic sheet on our table and a layer of tulle we gently pulled away the natural coloured fibres to form a layer. Note: gently, too firmly and the delicate fibres proved how strong silk can be!
 Once this was done we folded the tulle over the silk and brushed silk paper medium into it. Turning over the tulle we continued to brush medium into the fibres. |   |
Next we removed the tulle and the fibres were put onto a board covered in foil and a little amount of Vaseline (the release medium). At this stage the ‘new’ material could be manipulated into all sorts of shapes to give texture to it and then using a heat gun or hairdryer it was dried ready for use.
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Hilary showed us some of her work, including a stunning hanging which when held in the light revealed the intricacies of the different types of silk we were using.
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After lunch we launched into coloured work having chosen our samples. We added flat seeds, leaves, coloured tissue, threads and motifs from serviettes, which were held firmly with more silk before brushing with the medium.
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The finished pieces were so different and hopefully many will be used for the exhibition work next September - 'Follow the Thread'.
Thanks to Hilary for another exciting and enjoyable day school. She certainly inspired me to have a go at another new technique. Watch this space!
Ann Reading
As well as the Dayschool, Margaret's 'Chairman's Challenge' was to design a luggage label. Here are the entries -
Thanks to Hilary for another exciting and enjoyable day school. She certainly inspired me to have a go at another new technique. Watch this space!
Ann Reading
As well as the Dayschool, Margaret's 'Chairman's Challenge' was to design a luggage label. Here are the entries -
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After a great deal of deliberation - they didn't make it easy for me! - a choice was made
The winner was
The winner was
 This multi-layered tag with a tropical paradise and stamps taken from a passport |  Made by our Secretary, Dee, seen here adding to her many talents! |
So, as they say in the movies "That's all folks!" - at least for another year. It has been a year when we have moved forward a great deal as a Branch. We have gained some brilliant new members, added to our keen and enthusiastic committee , done some interesting and exciting work and gained a website. Next year promises to be even more exciting with our exhibition at Barton Grange in September, 2014. So ... "Follow the Thread". See you there!
We extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining us to come along to our next meeting on 7th September, 2014, and have a look at what we do. You will be made welcome, whatever your 'skill level'. You don't need to become a member straight away - but we think you'll want to!
We extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining us to come along to our next meeting on 7th September, 2014, and have a look at what we do. You will be made welcome, whatever your 'skill level'. You don't need to become a member straight away - but we think you'll want to!
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