Thursday 17 April 2014

Two Groups meeting........

Today saw our two groups meeting in the same hall.  Diversity members, who are also VSS members, met in a corner of the room to discuss where they are heading with this year's project "the journey".  Both groups meeting on the same day is not ideal as space is at a premium, and Diversity members often need more space for paints and other wet media.  It's a recipe for disaster trying to work with these processes when there are lots of people moving about, no one wants to spoil anyone else's work with splashes of dye or paint!  So it's with much relief that the Diversity girls will be able to resume their meetings on Wednesday's from next month, now that the room is no longer needed by Town Hall staff on that day.   Below you can see Jenny, Cath and Carol with samples of Gwen's work left,  Jenny's center,  and Cath's designs laying on the table.


We discussed further designs needed for the Group Charity Raffle Quilt which Helen Bush (seen below) is drawing for us.  All the applique blocks have been returned completed now, embroidered and quilted.  Helen will be working on some quilting stencil designs for the corner blocks and setting triangles which surround four on-point applique blocks making up the centre of the quilt.  Rozanne has volunteered, (or was she coerced?) to do the hand quilting on these blocks, and yesterday a trip was made to our local fabric shop in Torre del Mar, with the completed applique blocks, where after much trial and error and patience from the sales lady, a pretty fresh looking fabric has been chosen for the sashing and binding to complete the quilt.



Two more of the butterfly blocks for the raffle quilt
Don't forget to pop over to our website to see more blocks and follow progress as it's made on this quilt.

Marilyn spent the morning this week showing Jacqueline how to bobbin lace.  Although I didn't get round to asking Jacqueline, it looks as though this wasn't entirely the first time she's tried this technique as she was well set up with her own pillow and wound bobbins, already producing lace.  Sorry Jacqueline I will chat with you next week.

Jacqueline left with tutor Marilyn standing


Vanessa who very recently moved into her new home, was table deep in fresh white net curtains, while the knitting circle, as always seem to be sharing a joke or two.

From left to right, Sandy, Eleanor, Shirley and Sue

Chris is just finishing off this gorgeous dress for her granddaughter

Pam was having fun(!) working out the layout for her latest scrappy quilt project, while Christine is thinking ahead to Christmas using up her scrap fabrics.


Tricia and Penny

Trish is getting on with her Japanese themed project, and has now added a border of contrasting gold fabric to the central panel.  Unfortunately I didn't photograph this well, so hopefully I'll see it again next week.  

Penny's geese

Penny was making strange looking white stuffed things, which when I asked, turned out to be white geese.  Of course once that was pointed out I could see the resemblance, and as I was seeing Penny again yesterday I challenged her to show me a finished one.  I'm ashamed to say that I then forgot to photograph it!  Sorry Penny, hopefully she will bring them in again next week to show us the completed gaggle. 


Sharon showed us some striking fabrics she had ice-dyed with Jill over the weekend, along with a
 t-shirt dyed in the same way.  Above are Sharon and Jill holding up the dyed t-shirt, with another amazing fabric below.  


 This is such a satisfying method of dyeing for those of us who have tried it before, that showing us these fabrics prompted almost all of us immediately to say "I'll have to go home and do some now!"


Sharon who visits her friend Jill here several times a year for two or three weeks during school holidays and comes along to Sew&Sews meetings when she's here, has endless energy it seems to me.  This is the third project I have seen her working on in the short time she's been here this time!  Sharon is seen here with a seasonal table runner she has almost completed.


Above, Jan is concentrating really hard threading a needle to continue hemming the binding to finish off her latest patchwork and machine-embroidered quilt, and below is the completed woven crochet blanket made by Maureen and donated as a raffle prize for the exhibition later this year.   These lap sized blankets have proved very popular with Spanish visitors to the show in previous years, so we hope to raise even more money for our adopted causes at this coming autumn exhibition, and there are one or two more being made and donated using surplus yarns donated by past members of the group.


That's another week gone by, thanks for reading and  I look forward to seeing you next time, Rachel







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