On Friday 5th September the hall was set up by the committee members and we waited with anticipation wondering how many people would turn up for Sue Rangeley’s presentation ‘Inspired’. We need not have worried as more chairs had to be put out and in the end forty five ladies attended.
After Sandie and Dee welcomed everyone, and our speaker Sue, the presentation began.
Sue explained she had always had a fascination for vintage clothes and antique embroideries and her love of stitch as an art form helped her to develop her ideas. She collects pictures and photographs along with fabrics, trimmings, threads and sketches to create mood boards in the colour of her anticipated pieces.
After Sandie and Dee welcomed everyone, and our speaker Sue, the presentation began.
Sue explained she had always had a fascination for vintage clothes and antique embroideries and her love of stitch as an art form helped her to develop her ideas. She collects pictures and photographs along with fabrics, trimmings, threads and sketches to create mood boards in the colour of her anticipated pieces.
She then researches in detail costume design, fabrics and embroidery techniques which help to inspire her designs further. Her love of museums and galleries as sources of inspiration both help with ideas in colour (as in her Clarice Cliff board) and in design. She has developed many techniques using a range of hot and cold water soluble fabrics stitched by free machine embroidery to produce lace effects. She uses rouleaux as outlines for flowers as well as threads and edging, use of Angelina, wired edgings, manipulation of fabrics by ruching. Her techniques used were endless and the ladies who were booked into her workshop the next day couldn’t wait to have a go.
After the raffle (thanks to the committee for their donations) tea, coffee and biscuits were served and time was spent admiring the display of Sue’s work.
After the raffle (thanks to the committee for their donations) tea, coffee and biscuits were served and time was spent admiring the display of Sue’s work.
Saturday brought many guild members into the hall to renew membership as well as admire Sue’s display and set up for the day school.
Eighteen of us with sewing machines at the ready listened as Sue talked through possible ideas and techniques we could try out during the day. Applying sheer fabric with a simple straight machine stitch and then overlaying with a doodle stitch would add an extra depth to the design and hold the lace together.
Eagerly we gathered our ‘inspiration’ from photos, pictures, real flowers and colours of materials and threads that we had brought with us and our journey began.
Eighteen of us with sewing machines at the ready listened as Sue talked through possible ideas and techniques we could try out during the day. Applying sheer fabric with a simple straight machine stitch and then overlaying with a doodle stitch would add an extra depth to the design and hold the lace together.
Eagerly we gathered our ‘inspiration’ from photos, pictures, real flowers and colours of materials and threads that we had brought with us and our journey began.
The hall hummed with the sound of the machines as we began to free machine embroider. There was great concentration from everyone.
Some people used embroidery hoops and others just manoeuvred the fabric by holding it tight.
After lunch Sue demonstrated how to make wired edges and then manipulate the fabric, also how to make rouleaux and stitch cords using wire. All these techniques and more are explained in detail in her book ‘Embroidered Originals’ which some members purchased.
The Chairs’ Challenge
At 3:00pm Jack Morton and his family came to visit and present the winner of the Chairs’ Challenge with a sampler of Wessex Stitchery which Kath had made. Jack’s son expressed the delight of the family that the Guild had agreed to award the sampler annually as it showed the love, friendship and appreciation of Kath’s work and that her memory would continue within the Guild.
At lunch time it had been Sue’s task to judge the ‘corsages which were the theme of this year’s Chairs’ Challenge’. As we awaited the announcement of the winner Sue explained her choice and said it had been very difficult. Several techniques had been used from felting to machine embroidery, needle lace and appliqué.
At 3:00pm Jack Morton and his family came to visit and present the winner of the Chairs’ Challenge with a sampler of Wessex Stitchery which Kath had made. Jack’s son expressed the delight of the family that the Guild had agreed to award the sampler annually as it showed the love, friendship and appreciation of Kath’s work and that her memory would continue within the Guild.
At lunch time it had been Sue’s task to judge the ‘corsages which were the theme of this year’s Chairs’ Challenge’. As we awaited the announcement of the winner Sue explained her choice and said it had been very difficult. Several techniques had been used from felting to machine embroidery, needle lace and appliqué.
She had chosen a corsage which was quite different from all the others. She held up the corsage and Helen Forshaw stepped forward to receive the lovely sampler from Jack. Well done Helen.
Finally Sue discussed samples of our work and although one or two members had had to leave early there were a range of ideas which could be used in further projects.
The back room ladies were busy throughout the day, as usual, with some new members sharing their work.
Notices
Don’t forget to tell friends, colleagues and family to visit Barton Grange between Tuesday 16th September and Monday 22nd September (10:00am-4:00pm) for our exhibition ‘Follow the Thread’.
Don’t forget to tell friends, colleagues and family to visit Barton Grange between Tuesday 16th September and Monday 22nd September (10:00am-4:00pm) for our exhibition ‘Follow the Thread’.
RSS Feed
