Sept 18th AGM 2014

Before the meeting began we took a few moments to think about two of our members who had died over the summer.

This was a busy meeting
The first part of it was the annual AGM when our new Chairman, Hilary Small, took over.
After the official business the monthly meeting began with a number of items on the agenda.
The members work table looked particularly good today with many things which members have been busy with over the break

The picture of Joyce Bargh's wonderful Japanese embroidery ( she said she has been doing this on and off for quite a while) is not as good as it good have been due to light reflection.

Anne Whaley's button brooches were inspired by the last edition of Stitch magazine.

Also on display at the meeting was a large display of doodle pictures which people had been working on since the workshop.

It was amazing to see the different colour combinations, textures and interpretations which appeared

Barbara Bauckham has taken them all away and will decide how she is going to assemble them.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Thirty poppy brooch kits were sold to members at a £1 each. ( This money will go to the British Legion)

Members soon got busy starting to make their brooch.

Perhaps we will see people wearing them at the October and November meetings?

June meeting 19th June 2014

June 19th

Two workshops
Introduction to crotchet taken  by Jillian Holden
Non fattening chocolates, taken by Meg Starkey

I failed to take a camera or phone to this meeting which was a bit of a hectic one.

Many people were eager to learn to crotchet
I think it is a very difficult skill to teach, I had to sit with a book and learn by trial and error so I really admire Jillian's skills in passing on her knowledge
Maybe there will be examples of members work that can be included in the blog at a later date

This is a picture of some non fattening chocolates that I took along for inspiration

Cream Tea June 7th 2014

This year we held the cream tea at the new St Andrew's church
It was amazing how easily we were able to adapt to the new building.

 The entrance and some of the main hall providing sitting area for those having their teas with room in the entrance hall for raffle tickets and entrance tickets to be sold.

Inside the main hall stalls were set up to sell bric a brac and tables for members to work at to show visitors some of the things that have been worked on at the guild meetings.

There was also a smaller hall for an exhibition of members' work which had an enormous variety of the wonderful work done by our members.

The event was very well supported by the members of the congregation and we need to give huge thanks to Beryl Sampson and her husband, Neil, for all their practical help

April and May meetings

April and May meetings

April 17th Introduction to Doodle embroideries

This session was led by Barbara Bauckham 
We had been asked to choose from one of several options for a doodle embroidery and today we got our square, with doodle drawn on and a chance to do some planning for our embroidery.

Much more interesting for this blog will be the results of members'  efforts which are due to appear at the first meeting of the new year, in September. Watch this space
Barbara will take the completed 'doodles and assemble them into a hanging

15th May

Mad hats ad beautiful things.
 Heather Wilson

Those who are regular visitors to Hebden Bridge may well be familiar with Heather's work as many of her hats and other artefacts are displayed in the Art centre there.

Heather entertained us with tales of her trips to India and explained how they had provided inspiration for many of her pieces, either in colour or form.

Heather is probably better known for her mad hats and we were also able to few some of them

This is a stunning example

We were also honoured to have a visit from the mayoress who came to view our branch banner which was inspired by photographs taken at Rochdale town hall.

Here you see the mayoress, Monica Rush, standing near the banner with Jean Goodchild who not only took the pictures that inspired the banner but undertook the assembly and faithfully brings the banner to each meeting and function.

The mayoress was not simply a 'polite' visitor but was very enthusiastic in her enquiries about everything to do with the guild and chatted enthusiastically to many members, particularly those who had contributed to the banner.

 What a pleasure to have such a friendly visit

It would be great if she joined us!

The Big Day!!!!!!!!!!!

North West Regional day April 27th 2014

A year of preparation and many meetings, visits and much planning came to fruition at the Norton Grange hotel.

We were pleased to greet fellow members of the guild from our branch and other branches in the North West.

After morning coffee  and the business of the day including Roll call ( special mention of the journey undertaken by two members from the Isle of Man) the first speaker, Gillian Lonergan from the Co-operative trust imparted her knowledge about the banners made for the Co-op guilds.

We learned so much from Gillian whose in depth knowledge is impressive and it was particularly good for her when one of our visitors pointed out that her mother had been involved in the stitching of one of the banners.

A delicious buffet lunch, a visit the traders, examine the wonderful entries in the Embroidery competitions and buy raffle tickets were all accomplished over the two hour break and then it was time for Anne Brooke an up and very coming textile artist from Brighouse, who crossed the border and came to talk to us about her personal journey in textiles.

She is an accomplished artist and a really entertaining speaker.

You can see some examples of Anne's very unusual work her and also she is presenting an award to a young embroiderer.

Barbara Jepson did a workshop with the young Embroiderers.They produced some wonderful felted pictures as you can see

It was a pleasure to see how everything came to gather on the day and we received many cards, emails and good wishes on the success of the day.

I am very proud of the committee who worked so hard to organise the day and all the branch members for their wonderful support

Branch Meeting Thursday 20th March 2014

Take inspiration

Nicola Hulme

We were retreated to a lovely talk and chance to view  Nicola's work

She took us through her journey and provided wonderful samples of her work to view

March 13th 2014

These ladies are relaxing after the branch annual lunch at the Church Inn at Birtle. This annual event started off as a Christmas lunch but,for various reasons, is now held in March.
It is a really nice opportunity for a get together with knives and forks instead of needles in hand.
Thanks to Joyce Sankey for organising it for us.