Saturday 8th February, 'Black Magic' Workshop with Ineke Berlyn

A welcome return by Ineke , this time for a lovely experimental workshop.

We start with printing with discharge paste and thermofax screens to take the colour out of black fabric, then continue printing with silver, gold and bronze metallic paints to create a unique rich fabric. We then continue to make it into a small bag or cushion by quilting by machine with metallic threads and adding beads and sequins.

Thermofax screens are available from Ineke's website

Friday 7th February talk: 'A needle for every project - John James for every needle'

Karen Parry, Sales & Marketing Manager of Entaco Limited* will talk to us about the history of John James’ hand sewing and machine needles, and will explain how to select the right needle for the right job.   She will have information packs available.

You may recall that every branch member received a pack of John James’ needles as a Christmas gift in December 2011.

*John James has been making needles since 1840, and is a trading name of Entaco.

Entaco Limited is a privately-owned British company based in Redditch, Worcestershire, an area acknowledged to be the 'Needle Capital of the World'.

Members' Day - Name brooch session

We had a lot of fun, caught up on all the gossip and enjoyed an excellent lunch!  What more could we ask from the first Members' Day of the year?

As the photos below show, we were also pretty productive in making our new name brooches, which will serve us for many meetings and events to come.  There were loads of variations on the theme with a variety of techniques used.  Some members really got the bug and were going home to make some more, so they can change their badge according to their outfit!

(No, we don't have that many Janets in the branch, but Janet Rose, who puts together our programmes, kindly spent some time before the meeting producing some samples as inspiration.)

Some are shown in progress ….

Members' Day, Saturday 11th January

We will be starting our sparkling new 2014 programme with a very practical session:

We will be making our own embroidered name brooches to use at our monthly sessions, and especially at our forthcoming exhibition and Regional Day events in 2015. How much nicer it will be to wear a personally designed brooch that advertises our art and craft!

Also:

Bring-and-share lunch

Sales table

Bring-and-buy table

Those members who are unable to come to this session are welcome to produce their own brooch at home with the help of the suggestions and requirements list that was distributed to all members at the end of last year, or if you are really not able to make your own and would like another member to design and make one for you, please contact Jenny Archer, Dayschools Secretary, by Friday 10 January and we will do our best to make them.  (You will of course have to accept the colours and design chosen for you - plus a donation to our exhibition fund.)

Please remember to wear your name brooch at future meetings and events.