CATCH UP AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

Natalie talking to one of the visitors after her talk to us about her work as a Historical Costume maker at the November meeting..

Examples of her work were very eagerly inspected. 

In the afternoon we had a printing workshop and the photographs below are some of the results.

Printing with discharge paste on to black fabric.

Printing with textile paints.

Discharge paste on to hand dyed fabric.

 

The following photographs are from today's Christmas Party meeting.   Ann Jones led a workshop on a quick Pineapple Block technique.

This photograph shows some of the Table Runners that were made for the Challenge competition.  The first one on the table made by Ann Jones was the winner and below are a couple of detail photographs.

This was our last meeting of 2012 and we had a lovely day together with mince pies and sausage rolls, and we look forward to our first meeting of the New Year.  This will be a 'sit and sew' day when we can work on our own projects and catch up with each other's holiday news.  In February we have an all day Talk and Workshop with Kate Dowty.  The subject is 'Playing with Paintsticks'.  If you would like to take part in this workshop please email or telephone 01305 786801 to reserve a place and a booking form will be sent to you.  Please be sure to include your contact address in your email or message.
Here's shing you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year and of course Happy Quilting.

CRAFT FAIR

On Saturday 1st December we will be at St. Andrews Church Rooms, Preston where they are holding a Craft Fair in aid of the Hospital League of Friends.  We will have items on display that have been made by some of our Members and there will be small items for sale.  This is an ideal opportunity to find out more about the Hardy Quilters and to see what we do.   This Craft Fair is for a very worthy cause so do please try to come along.  It is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

NOVEMBER MEETING

Our next meeting on Monday 19th November is going to be a full day.  In the morning we have a speaker Natalie Garbett -  Maker of Historical Costume and Uniforms.  Natalie is a freelance costume maker and will be bringing along examples of her work and will talk about her involvment in Napoleonic Re-enactment events at home and abroad. 

After a short lunch break we will spend the afternoon on a session of Printing on Fabric.
This will be a short taster session of printing on fabric with textile paints using printing blocks, thermofax screens and stencils .  There will also be a chance to try fabric discharging.
The workshop will commence at 1 p.m. and finish at 4 p.m. 

The list of requirements for students to bring with them is as follows:

You will need a selection of fabrics in one colour range  OR a larger mult-coloured dyed piece in a medium weight cotton plus some white and black as well.  We will print on these fabrics so be generous.

To print:
Rubber gloves, apron, plastic to cover table and an old sheet or two for a dropcloth.
Kitchen roll, a small tray (like a mushroom container or similar), small yoghurt pots and plastic spoons.  Sponge.
Hair dryer.  Face mask for use when discharging fabric.
Any printing blocks, stencils or thermofax screens that you may have plus any fabric paints that you may want to use.

Discharge printing paste will be supplied plus a range of textile printing paints.

There will be a £7.50 charge to everyone  towards the cost of  discharge chemicals and printing paints.

If you would like to come to the talk and then stay for the printing workshop please bring a light packed lunch.  Tea and coffee will be available.

OCTOBER MEETING

Hello and welcome to our October news and the start of a new Quilting year.  For our meeting on Monday 15th October we have a Speaker - Kate Pickard from North Dorset who will be talking to us about 'My Life in Quilts'. The meeting starts at its usual time of 10 a.m.  There will be refreshments and notices before the Speaker takes the Floor.

NEW QUILTING YEAR

Our new Quilting year kicks off on Monday 10th September 2012 at 10 a.m. (please note that  this meeting is on the second Monday of the month and not our usual third Monday).  This meeting is our Annual General Meeting which is open to all members and non-members.  Following the business there will be a talk by Ann Howie who has recently returned to the UK from New Zealand.  She makes amongst other things fabulous knitted bags and she will be bringing along examples of her work for us to see.  I am sure this will be a very interesting Talk from a lady who must have a wealth of unusual and interesting experiences to share with us.

Just an extra reminder that 2013 is our Exhibition year and we hope that as many people as possible will contribute some work for it.  The Challenge is 'HOLIDAY' so have a look through all your souvenirs and post cards to see what can inspire you.  It does not have to be a big bed quilt just anything with a Holiday inspiration - cushions - bags -  wall hangings - books.  Tap into your creative well and have fun revisiting your favourite holiday.

MAY WORKSHOP

The above photographs show the beautiful work of Tricia Warman who is coming to Hardy Quilters in May to give an all day workshop on CREATIVE KANTHA.  Kantha is a traditional form of stitching originating from India.

We are very pleased to be able to offer this workshop to Members and Non-Members.  If you would like to join in with this class please contact us as soon as possible.  I am sure you will not be disappointed. 

NEW YEAR WELL UNDER WAY

Well here we are well into March and I must apologise for not keeping up with the news.  The January workshop with Barbara Cheeseman was well attended and we had a very busy and productive day.  So busy that I forgot to take photographs!  Lots of lovely books were made and everyone was very happy with the day.  Last month we had a sit and sew day and a mini workshop for those who wanted to join in.  The photographs above are the results of their hard work.  I was teaching the workshop and so I just have 'after' pictures as I didn't take any during the course of the workshop.

Today we had a Speaker - Vera de Menezes - a charming lady who kept us entertained with her stories.  She came with her family to this country 40 years ago from Kenya, victims of Idi Amin's expulsion policy.  Each of her quilts, and she has made a lot, has a story behind it.

 Sorry about the photograph placings but I am having problems with Blogger tonight.

Next month's meeting is a Sit and Sew day with a mini workshop.  These days are very popular as unfinished or works in progress can be worked on or something new started. 

There are still places on May and June's workshops.  Please make contact if you would like to join one of the classes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Here are some  pictures from our Christmas meeting. 

As well as the usual novelties like a Raffle and a Quiz there was a mini workshop for members who wanted to take part in making a Christmas Stocking.

We had a very successful and enjoyable morning.  The next few photographs are of the Pennants some members made in response to the request from the Quilters Guild of the British Isles for 'Pennants for 2012'.  It is hoped to be able to give a Pennant to every person competing in the Olympic Games this year in London and of course the Sailing and Watersports here in Weymouth and Portland.

An Exhibition of these Pennants is going to be staged at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and will  be a spectacle to be sure.

We kick off the New Year with a Workshop with Barbara Cheeseman at our January meeting, when she will be instructing us on how to make these charming books.  They have an open spine and the page sections are stitched together over ribbon or tape.  We are all looking forward to this Workshop as it is something different and will stretch the imagination as to what to use for the covers .  These can be made of fabric, patchwork made with fabric or paper or a combination of both or painted papers, anything in fact that springs to mind.

This piece has been made by collageing different types of fabrics and threads and then trapping it all underneath a piece of sheer fabric.  This was made by one of our members and is destined to become a sketchbook cover.

Anyone wishing to take part in this workshop please email  or leave a comment as there is plenty of room. 

There is a new Programme for 2012 in the sidebar.

Looking forward to a New Year full of interesting things to do.