January 20th In the hoop - Stephanie Redfern

Stephanie taught a workshop yesterday, using an embroidery hoop as the 'frame' for our work .

She initially showed us examples of her work

 

She then showed us how she uses a simple image and develops it 

We then set to and created our own pieces. Some of us got further than others!

 

 January 6th Narrative Textiles - Vivienne Beaumont

The first lecture of 2024 was a fascinating talk by Vivienne Beaumont

After doing her City and Guilds at Westhope College she went on to teach art , textiles and ceramics.

Vivienne then started an MA before lockdown. She needed to find a narrative for her work by using 50 words, 50 images and studying 4 artists

Her backgrounds start with acrylic mono prints. ink on top and then machine stitching, Texture is acheived with using the tailor tacking foot on her machine. She also uses abaca fibre  to create texture

She has an old Irish sewing machine which she has permanently set up with gold thread. as she likes harvest colours the gold enhances it. She has also used twigs and thorns.

As you can see she doesn't always stick to the inside of a frame or to a regular rectangular shape

Vivienne won a competition with ACE arts and the prize was to hold a solo exhibition, which she held last year entitled Seeds, flower and flowing hair

Thank you for a fascinating talk Vivienne

 Member's Christmas workshop 2nd December

Almost 30 of our members gathered together on December 2nd to have our Annual Christmas workshop and party.

Each member made a decoration of their choice and then swapped their decoration with another member at the end of the day.

We also had a bring and share lunch - magnificent as usual!!

The day was lovely although the weather cut short the day

Here are the decorations before our members took them away