Two workshops going on......

Alongside Christine's Row-by-Row workshop this week, a further six group members were taught the basics of Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Elle Smith in a separate workshop
Elle has just become the sole distributor in Spain  for Di van Niekerk silk ribbon products, from the absolutely gorgeous hand painted silk ribbons, to the pre-printed panels ready to be embellished and stitched.  So we were really lucky to see these products in all their glorious colour, up close and personal as Elle brought them with her to the workshop.

Just a small selection of the Di van Niekerk silk ribbons

Elle began her workshop by providing us with a kit which included absolutely everything we needed to make a sampler picture, including a pre printed panel of fuschias.  Also included was a cheap stretched artist canvas which Elle showed us how to adapt by cutting out the middle of the canvas,  (hence the need for cheap, in case you wondered!) on to which we then pinned and stretched our backing fabric and panel ready for stitching. 

Me, Yvonne and Vanessa with our adapted frames,

Sue and Jan

Vanessa, Jacqueline and Elle

We then began by wrapping wire with some of the provided silk ribbon to make a flower stem, which was then couched down to the panel.  By lunchtime we had worked  other stems in chain stitch, wrapped these in ribbon, and worked the leaves and were ready to attach and make 3D flower buds when we re-started.

Elle explaining to Jacqueline how to make the buds, with Vanessa left.

To see some of Elle's silk ribbon work, head over to her gallery pages HERE 

The girls taking part in the Row-by-Row workshop with Christine, have moved on to the next row of their projects and have been sewing long strips together ready to be crosscut at an angle then rejoined to make a striking pattern.

Christine having a pre class chat about the next stage that participants will be working on

Jill cross-cutting her strips

Cath and Chris

Cath's top row completed

Elsewhere in the hall, Kath showed us her completed seasonal wall hangings, then laid out her latest quilt project and bought wadding ready for the next stage of sandwiching the top with the wadding and backing fabric, before tackling the quilting.

Yvonne too, showed us her seasonal wall hanging, made as a class sample for her Friday evening group in Nerja.

Before closing this week, I must thank Cath for taking some of these photos for me this week, as I was taking part in Elle's class and really needed to concentrate on what I was doing.  Many apologies to the other Group members who were at yesterday's meeting, for not getting around to seeing you or getting photos of what you were working on, but Cath too was taking part in a workshop so didn't have much spare time either.

I also want to mention our Viñuela Sew & Sews web site, which has a new video on the home page this week, showing a very clever way to join quilt-as-you-go blocks.  I know I will be using this technique in the future, and I am sure many of the quilters in our group will find this tutorial useful.  So grab a cuppa and watch HERE.  While you are over in the website, why not click on the image in the centre of the home page, to take a look at the project just completed by regular members of our sister group, Diversity.  I hope you will find the different pieces of work interesting, and enjoy reading about how they were made.  This group met yesterday to begin work on their next venture.  A project called "The Journey".  Their progress is available to read on their own blog, and can be accessed  HERE.

Thanks for dropping by, see you next time,

                                                                      Rachel

Almost-end-of-year Lunch........

Just a few of the girls met in the hall this week before going to meet other members in Bar Atila for our nearly-end-of-year lunch.
Linda, Ann and ChrisB worked  on their strips for the Row-by-Row project which started last week.

Elements of the top row on AnnC's project (above and below)

ChrisB's colour scheme (above)

Linda's top row elements (above)

Vanessa brought in the Xmas applique project she has been working on since last week, one hanging is finished and it's twin just needs beads adding to complete it.  Vanessa only began this project last week, so it's obvious she's been working at her usual brisk pace!

On the theme of Christmas, Kath is putting the last binding stitches on one of her two seasonal panels, and with Jan helping to do the same on the second panel this project will be finished in not time too.

Carole brought in her framed black-work sampler to show us, below.

Cath showed us a height chart she has made for her two grandsons Ethan and Rhys, and explained how long it took her to accurately mark out all the dividing lines for the height measurements on the calico fabric. Despite this, Cath says she enjoyed making it for the two boys, using up left over fabrics from a quilt she had made for them previously.  To see more of Cath's work, be sure to check out her gallery page on our group web site.

Trish, Gwen and Jenny are working on their current projects (above), and Margaret Sheila and Shirley are knitting (below).  Don't forget to check out our group web site every week for the latest updates on finished projects by members.  This week too, the focus is on Gwen's stitching corner.  To see Gwen at work follow this link  stitching corner .

You may wonder why in some photos each week, there are often fruit or vegetables sitting on the table in front of various people.  Well HelenH's husband has an allotment which appears to be extremely productive, and Helen very generously, often brings in boxes or bags full of surplus fresh produce to share amongst members of the group.  This week's surplus seems to have been aubergines.

Cath spent the morning knitting 

Vanessa, Carole and Eleanor above, and Gladys below

The morning seemed to pass very quickly and before we knew it we were on our way to meet other group members for lunch at Bar Atila.  We had intended meeting during the summer, but it was impossible to arrange a date when most members would be together, but eventually 33 of us were all available yesterday so it became our "almost-end-of -year lunch"!  As expected with this many ladies all together in a confined space, and the odd glass of wine flowing and good company, it was quite a noisy affair!  There was a slight disappointment for a few of those who chose the cheesecake for desert, it seems that not enough sugar had been added to some portions, and one thought that salt had been used instead of sugar by accident!  This one was replaced quickly when the problem was highlighted to the staff, but in general we all agreed that the food had been lovely, and the service good, so a fun time was had by all.

To see more about our group, please follow this link.  It's a huge web site with gallery pages full of completed projects for many members, past Group events and exhibitions, so grab a coffee and have a look.

Have a good week, 

                               Rachel

How many people does it take to put up a cupboard??

There was a lot of noise coming from the store area in the hall this week, where Jan, Elle and Eleanor spent a hilarious hour or so putting together our new library cupboard.  This means Jenny no longer has to carry four or five very heavy boxes of books and magazines down to the hall from home and in future the books will always be available for weekly lending instead of monthly as at present.

Jan and Eleanor translating the instructions!

Christine taught the first lesson in her Row-by-Row workshop, with eight members taking part one of whom was Louise beginning her first ever patchwork and quilting project.  The first two rows of the project can be seen on the wall behind Pam and Christine,

Once again we lost a few of tables to a local fiesta, but as always the girls are resourceful and don't allow these minor glitches to stop play.  A very high table top was put to use as an ironing station, and even the less tall participants managed on tip-toe!  

Louise pressing the bias binding stems, and below the first part of her project

Jill

Pam

Ann and Linda

Cath's work

Linda showed us this little teddy she has just made for her first grand child due in a few months time, 

and Sue above, has almost finished this little knitted chappie, they will both make lovely gifts.

More finished projects from Ann above, and Pam below

and Carole has finished another drunkard's path quilt, this one for her daughter-in-law

Sheila concentrates on her knitting, while Rozanne and Shirley discuss Shirley's latest knitting project

This meeting was Charlotte's last visit with us until the Spring when she hopes to stay for a few weeks longer.  Charlotte, seen above with Carol, has been working on a log cabin style quilt while she's been here, and has been making the log cabin blocks for the border by hand, with only three left to do to complete the final border for the quilt top.

Michele showed off her finished i-tablet case and this jointed dressed doll card which she received from a member of her Australian stitching circle.

Vanessa is making a start on her new applique project above, and Maureen and Sandy (seen below) sort out enough yarn to make two woven crochet rugs, for the raffle at our exhibition next year, from which all funds raised will be donated to our favourite local charity Anne-Axarquia.

Before I close this week, news comes from the UK to say that after Margaret's knee surgery, her rehab is going well, and Margaret hopes to be back with us in the new year.  We look forward to seeing you Margaret.

News too from Helen telling us that she has found a stitching group close by, where she will be spending Monday afternoons.  I'm sure you will enjoy having a needle and thread in your hands again Helen, we look forward to hearing about what projects you and your new friends will be working on.

Until next time, have a good week.

                                                    Rachel