Behind the Scenes!

Dashing around for venues and Cluck Cluck Sew

2012-03-02T02:38:00.000-08:00

Gosh - what a busy day yesterday!! Janet and I had a tour of the Lakes looking for a suitable venue for the June 2013 Quilters Retreats. 2 really fantastic places and one that really wasn't - I guess that's life!
We're all really excited about getting all the tutors together and arranging the venues - its like a sort of Quilters Christmas and Birthday all rolled into one...........

When looking at Janet's wonderful quilt projects in this months Making Magazine, I can across a really interesting blog called Cluck, Cluck Sew, so I've shared the address with you below. Some great ideas and tutorials in pretty colours for the springtime.

New Flickr photos up today

2012-02-23T04:20:00.001-08:00

Gosh - an interesting week here in the office. There are new photos of recent student's work just put up onto Flickr today - you can take a peek at http://www.flickr.com/photos/65416089@N05, but there are also a couple of preview for you to view below.

It's also been fairly hectic with all the planning for our 3 quilt retreats, held at venues up and down the UK throughout 2013, under the brand name Inspire. There will shortly be tutor names and dates confirmed and a website available for bookings - we're aiming to go live May/June time to take bookings for the first one. Look out for the mult-coloured logo!

2012-02-16T02:43:00.000-08:00

Layers

14th January - 28th April 2012

An interesting looking exhibition at The Quilters Guild Gallery in York. It's great to see innovative, modern quilting from ex-City & Guilds students.

The New Horizons Textile Group was formed in January1993 by former students at North Hertfordshire College. Members of the group at that time had completed the City & Guilds course in Patchwork and Quilting and were anxious to keep in touch with each other once the course was completed. Since then, other people have joined the group, making its stitching skills more diverse.

The exhibition entitled ‘Layers’, gives scope for wide interpretation of design, offering the Group’s members the opportunity to showcase their variety of styles and methods of working.
To find out more about the group, you can visit their website: http://www.newhorizonstextilegroup.com/

Kendal Tapestry

2012-02-07T05:16:00.000-08:00

David and I spent the weekend in Kendal and I had chance to have another look around the fascinating Quaker Meeting House and the Tapestry Exhibition. If you are in the area at any point, it's well worth a visit. Parking is difficult, so its probably best to use the multistory and walk across the road.

The tapestry tells of Quaker events and insights and is a celebration of the significant contribution these quiet, non-conformists have made to the modern world. Stories from the forefront of the industrial revolution, developments in science and medicine, astronomy, the abolition of slavery, social reform, and ecology are all revealed from within the stunning needlework.

Completed in 1996, the result is 77 panels of narrative ‘crewel’ type embroidery on specially woven wool cloth. With each panel measuring 25" (635mm) by 21" (533mm) it is testament to the passion and shared sense of community of an amazing group of Friends.

http://www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk/the-exhibition/about-the-tapestry/

Tennants Antique Needlework Sale

2012-01-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I've learned something new today - I had no idea that Tennants Auctioneers from Yorkshire conducted specialist needlework sales, or in fact that it was possible to bid online for lots.

There were some really attractive items, especially some of the antique needlework tools and samplers. Great for collectors, but also good for any City & Guilds diploma students studying the history of needlework.

You can download a catalogue or view the lots online - the sale is this Friday - by going to the link below.
Tennants Link

International Women's Day Competition

2012-01-19T02:46:00.000-08:00

Great to be back in the office after a few days off with sickness - that stomach flu certainly has a lot to answer for! Just in time to put up the new newsletter and also the new FB competition details. The newsletter is available for download from this LINK

“The female form” is a theme very close to our hearts as all of us here in the office are of the fairer sex and majority of our students are too! We wanted to acknowledge this in some way, so we have a Facebook competition running on this theme which will be open to entries from 19th January 2012 and will close to entries at midnight GMT on 8th March 2012.

There have been some amazing pieces of textile art produced featuring the female form in some way—think Alice Kettle from her site HERE or Rachael Howard's site HERE. Go to our FB site to upload a photo of any textile you have produced that features a woman (or bits of a woman!) at SST's Facebook Group HERE

There's a lovely book called Sew Pretty Homestyle as a prize for the winner.

Christmas Card Competition Winner

2012-01-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

I'm really pleased to say that Rosemary Ryan from the Facebook group has won the Christmas Card competition - many thanks to everyone who entered and also to Jeanette Ransom for judging it for us.

A photo of Rosemary's card is below and her 3 m of Christmas Fabric is winging its way to her.

Back with a Vengence - Workbox and me

2012-01-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

First day back in work after a LONG Christmas break - wonderful ! Honestly, though, it is nice to be back and doing something which has nothing whatsoever to do with eating, drinking or entertaining visitors. And boy do we have lots to do. Please bear with us whilst we sort it all out - there is a lot of feedback to get through.

Dropping into my in-box over the Christmas break was an email from Paul Mills to tell me that Workbox magazine has re-invented itself since his fathers very sad death last year and will be back in production around March. It's now overseen by Paul Veysey from River Media. I have to say that the new logo and front page look very enticing, so fingers crossed that an old favorite of mine will do very well on it's re-launch. Their site is at www.workboxmag.com

Festive Cheer

2011-12-15T04:11:00.000-08:00

We've just been finishing off all outstanding tasks here in the office today before our Christmas break. The last lot of feedback has just been emailed off and its starting to look like we may actually be up to date with everything! We're back on the 9th Jan, so a good long time for spending with friends and relatives (or in my case with the writing up for the results chapter of my thesis!!). Full details of our Opening Times are available on the news page of SST's Website

This week has gone by in a flurry of completing outstanding projects that have been promised to various magazine for next year. Unfortunately yesterday was less of a gentle pace and more break neck rush for the Stitch magazine project than it should have been because we had 'mislayed' the high res images of the various making stages. Consequently the project had to be re-made and photographed en route. What I can now say with confidence is that the whole item can be completed in just over 2.5 hours with no breaks for coffee and no standing back to admire one's handiwork! It will be available in Stitch magazine early next year - not sure as yet of the exact release date, but I'll let you know when I am. Below is a sneak preview of one of the 'Shopping Dollies'. there are also other projects from us coming out in Making magazine, The Quilter and Popular Patchwork as well as others.

Hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful Festive Season and a great 2012

Gail xxx

Whats On in 2012

2011-12-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

Marj and I have just put the finishing touches to the Whats On in 2012 download and it's now available from http://www.sofst.org/pdf/whatson2012.pdf as a pdf download. We do this for student information, of course, but also to keep us all on the straight and narrow here in the office. We work on the principle that if it's down in black and white somewhere we are commited to hit the deadlines. It becomes all too easy to delay getting a newsletter done or a competition details published, but if we have a list of what date everything has to be completed by we need to hit the date (or look at least a little silly!). Hopefully it works - at least it did last year!

Hopefully those of you who are on our database will have received an email from us over the last day or two detailing our Christmas Holiday dates, but for those of you who aren't yet listed on our mailing list the details are below:
SST Christmas Opening Times
We will be open as usual until Wednesday 14th December 2011 and reopen on Monday 9th January 2012. For students wishing to be certain of getting feedback before Christmas, please let us have any post or files before the 12th December.

Also new today are our most recent photos of student work sent in over the last few days. You can find this at http://www.flickr.com/photos/65416089@N05. A taster photo of one or two are below.

New Colouricious DVD's shortly available

2011-11-25T03:53:00.000-08:00

Jamie Malden from Colouricious has just emailed me to let us know that Colouricious will shortly have 2 new dvd's for sale. The one by Gina Ferrari is particularly interesting and Colouricious have also set up a short excerpt from it that you can view for free at THIS ADDRESS
If you'd like to know more about Gina on a day to day basis you can follow her blog at "Fan my Flame" - the address is http://www.ginaferrari.blogspot.com/.

It's been a COLD week!

2011-11-11T02:15:00.000-08:00

My apologies for the late posting - I've been full of cold all week and finally decided to take a few days off rather than spread it around the office. It's been a while since I had such a bad one - I've singlehandedly kept tissue manufacturers in business this week!

Anyhow, feeling much better now. I guess these things have their time. Not too much to post this week, though as I've been at home for most of it feeling sorry for myself.

However, there have been a couple of hundred more photos gone up onto our flickr account this week, for those of you who would like a peek the address is http://www.flickr.com/photos/65416089@N05 . Just as a taster, Jean B's machine embroidered hand is above.
Also, there is a new Christmas card competiton on our Facebook page which went live yesterday - details are below:
The theme for the FB competition is any textile technique Christmas /Festive Season Card that you have made to send to someone.
The winner will receive 3 yards of Christmas themed cotton fabrics in fat quarters to add to their stash for next year, so 12 different ones in all. Runner up will receive 1yard Christmas fabric in 4 different designs.
All you have to do to enter is photograph your card before you send it and upload a photo to SST's FB page on or before the 25th December 2011.
The winner will be chosen by Jeanette Ranson and announced on SST’s Facebook on 12th Jan 2012.

Making Magazine

2011-11-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months I've been really disappointed with the number of magazines which have been closed down or taken out of circulation - Workbox seems to be the latest casualty with Classic Stitches the one before that - a real shame as they were both really solid publications which had (certainly in the case of Workbox) been around for years. I guess it is a case of economic issues and also a movement towards more online advertising, but I'm still really sorry to see them go. RIP to both of them.

However on the brighter side some are now starting up and I wanted to let you know how much I liked the one that has just been sent to me. It's called MAKING and is from the same stable as Craftsman, but with a much more upbeat, modern twist. Maybe a little simplistic for very experienced needleworkers, but still a great source of ideas and suppliers. I loved their paper dress project - photo shown. You can find them HERE

New work in area

2011-10-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Now there's been a slight lull in the storm of the past few months full on activity with a new site and Level 2 courses, we're belatedly started working on getting our new galleries on Flickr and YouTube up to date and have started a 'Newest In' area where we showcase some of the work tutors have received in for feedback during the last month. Hopefully for those of you who visit the galleries often, it should be the go to area for the latest work.
You can visit it at http://www.flickr.com/photos/65416089@N05
We will also be adding to our YouTubes with a series of presentations for students so they are able to see examples of past student work in powerpoint format.
Janet has been busy with collage this week - a quick peek of some of the stages below:

Janet's samples - a few days late!

2011-10-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I did volunteer Janet's samples for inspection as well as my own - however she took it in good part and I now have images of others to share. We're still working on sampling for the next Level 2 courses, although lots of incoming student assessments have rather intervened this week - at least on my behalf.

Below are Janet's samples from recycled t-bags - impressive, huh?

Another sample!

2011-10-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Another sample has found its way out of the workshop - as usual, still only part finished, but using old jeans, UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel), tomato puree tubes, heat and print. It's still only half way there, but maybe you'll enjoy the look at something that still has some way to go?
This is the next set of sampling for our next 3 Level 2 courses, due out early 2012, although (not wishing to boast here...) they are progressing well, so anything is possible - even the prospect that we could be ahead of time for once!!!! Janet is due in on Monday with some more samples, so I'll post hers up then - I know tea dying has featured this week, cos she text me to tell me she was having a ball with it.......I wonder if she was being tongue in cheek?!

We're also trialling a new method of letting students know where they should be up to and when by sending text messages at strategic points throughout their modules. This cropped up time and time again during our recent large study - students like to have a timescale to work to and reminder of where they should be up to at any given time easily to hand. At the moment we're 'testing' this with our new Level 2 delivery and to that end an email has gone out to our database today with a 20% off code - 2WKNOV14 - which can be used when ordering to get the discount. It's available on Level 2 only and until the 28th of this month, so just a 2 week window.

Have a lovely weekend all - see you Monday or Tuesday with Janet's new samples.

2011-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a while - sorry folks!! Just a really hectic week after my return from holiday playing catch up. Lovely time in Jersey - when we booked it I was thinking 'shame about the autumn weather' but in fact it was glorious! On the last day it hit 29degrees - some sort of record for autumn breaks, surely! My tooth lasted out - although it's still sensitive, but at least I didn't have to take the antibiotics.

Janet and I have been working on samples for Level 2 courses this week - I'll post a couple of photos below as a quick preview. Mine is the blue curly number and hers is the brighter woven one. It's been a really nice change to be doing something hands on rather than being a desk jockey! You can probably tell they're under construction from the amount of pins holding everything together!!

Lace Exhibition at Birmingham and Dentistry

2011-09-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

I've had a relatively unpleasant day so far - when I got up I felt fine, but then the dentist phoned me at work and asked if I could take a last minute appointment in a half hours time. I'd been waiting to get a temporary filling in one of my teeth replaced, which had started to hurt, so I said yes pretty quickly. However an hour later I gather my tooth has cracked down the middle, so although he has done his best to repair, it's touch and go if it will hold or need root canal. Yuk - now feel very sorry for myself and drank my morning coffee through a straw! We're away for a few days, so I'm armed with antibiotics 'just incase'.

Cherilyn Ward dropped me a line this week to ask if SST could promote a Lace Exhibition in Birmingham. I have to admit that I sighed - bobbin lace has never been my thing - but this really is very different with some full room installations etc. Lace in the loosest sense of the word. Its called Lost in Lace and will show at the Gas Hall at BMAG from the 29 October 2011 to 19 February 2012. Admission Free. More info from http://www.bmag.org.uk/events?id=1415

Crafts Council Show this weekend

2011-09-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm ashamed to admit that a friend had to send me this from New Zealand - I simply hadn't realized that it had come around to the time of year for the Crafts Council Show again. Thank you, Elizabeth! Christmas really is just around the corner!!
I have been on a couple of occasions and it is well worth a visit - Elizabeth also really enjoyed her time there when she visited London. It's a great place for picking up some really unsual birthday/christmas presents.
For opening times and further details, go to the link below.

http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/home/

Guy Fawkes Night Competition on Facebook

2011-09-17T04:17:00.000-07:00

Goodness—it seems very early to be thinking about fireworks and gunpowder plots, but it’s only 7 or 8 weeks off now!

The theme for the FB competition is anything with a black background, or made in predominately black fabric. That took some thinking about!!

The winner will receive 3 brand new books with a total list price of £42.90: Beginners Guide to Machine Embroidery by Pam Watts, Right From the Start by Chris Frances/Barbara Chainey and Practical Textile Techniques by Ruth Sleigh-Johnson.

The winner will be chosen by Helen Black and announced on SST’s Facebook on Monday 14th November 2011. Link is

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=227331657280783

All you need to do is post a photo of your work onto the FB page to enter.
Photos of the books are below - I'd certainly enjoy them coming to live in my library!

New Taster course now available

2011-09-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

I promised in my last post that I would let you know when the new bag taster course was available from our site - it's gone live today and you can download it from the address below. It will help you embroidery and applique the front motif and also make up the bag afterwards. Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.sofst.org/index.php?ref=taster

New Taster Course coming shortly

2011-09-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

We've been working on a new taster course this week - there's a photo of the 'finished item' below. It should be put onto our site next week, once it's been checked for typos and 'deliberate mistakes'!

It's a bag for keeping your sewing or knitting things in - we're especially pleased with the double use of the embroidery hoop - for keeping the work taut and then doubling up as handles. I'll post the link when it's gone live - have a lovely weekend.

Something to do over the Bank Holiday?

2011-08-26T00:55:00.000-07:00

There are some great events on up and down the country this weekend - the one that appeals to me most is the Open Studios in West Wales. There are several artists which look really interesting, but I love the felt sculptures from Eve O'Neill - she's open by appointment 10am - 5pm by phoning 01559 370191. If you can't make the journey, why not try shopping online at http://www.needlefeltart.co.uk/. I just love the rabbits and so cheap they're a steal!
For further details of other artists also open over the weekend, go to http://cardiganopenstudios.co.uk/
Clothaholics will also be at Gawsworth Hall Craft Fair, nr Macclesfield on the 27th, 28th and 29th August with their authentic Japanese kimonos, cloth and textiles - further details from http://www.gawsworthhall.com/events.html
Have a lovely weekend whatever you're doing!

Open Day this Saturday

2011-08-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

There's been lots of activity at the centre, both today and yesterday, with attended students bringing in work for the Leisure class exhibitions. Last to set up this morning was Jeanette's classes with Dolls, Stumpwork and Patchwork.
It all looks very attractive - I have it on my list to take photos when it's all finished and I'll post some of them online.
If you're in the area over this weekend, do drop in - we have an Open Day on Sat 20th to coincide with the exhibition and whilst I won't be there myself, Beryl, Janet, Shena, Jeanette and Marj will all be around during the afternoon. It's 1pm until 4pm with coffee and cake on offer, as well as Janet working on the new Level 2 delivery samples during the afternoon. Full details on our site of how to find us at http://www.sofst.org/index.php?ref=findus

Phone calls and Visits

2011-08-12T02:16:00.000-07:00

A very busy week with hardly chance to draw breath - Marj is away at her niece's wedding this week, so we are 'managing'. It is also the week that data collection phone calls have to be made for those participating on the Research Study, which involves early mornings (for New Zealand) and turning back in evenings (for all those who work away from the home during the day) so our feet have hardly touched, hence the reprehensible delay in blogging this week!

David and I had a lovely long weekend with one of my graduating diploma distance students and her husband, over from New Zealand. During the time she has been studying with us I have visited NZ twice and they have been over here frequently too, as well as lots and lots of emails, so we have all become firm friends. We went to the Lakes for a visit - beautiful, but very 'damp'. A shame that it couldn't have put a better foot forward for our visitors, but I guess that's British weather for you. There was a little sunshine when we reached Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's farm, on Sunday - I think it had taken pity on us by then! I snapped this on a dry spell and the boats are from Bowness marina - mmm....design idea taking shape....

Josie Russell Textiles

2011-08-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

An article in one of the Sunday papers this week caught my eye - Josie Russell (the girl who's mother and sister were murdered in front of her and she herself was attacked with a hammer) has begun to exhibit landscape textiles made from recycled fabrics. She has a few for sale on her site, but exhibitions are also listed. She lives in Snowdonia, so uses the surrounding views for inspiration.

I love the fact that she's trying to leave behind the victim stereotype and do something creative and positive with her life - lots and lots of luck to her.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318057/Josie-Russell-exhibits-textile-images-beloved-Snowdonia.html

Chairs and Websites

2011-07-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

Chair Update - the chair is gone again. We're thinking of renaming it Scarlet Pimpernel. It spent 10 days waiting for it's arms and then, just when we thought the wait was over, the chap turned up today and brought a new base and arms for it. Only to discover that the base was the wrong one and therefore the arms can't be screwed into it properly. After a consultation process which wouldn't have been amiss at ACAS, the chair has gone back to be properly fitted with a base so that there are no more failed attempts at fitting in the office............I'm thinking of running a book on when the final completion date will be - any takers?!!

On a more positive note, Steve is still working away on the new website and it will be a completely different look to the brights on black that we've had for the last couple of years. We've gone for the more contemporary duck egg blues with textile highlights and a torn page ground. I'm sure some will love it and others won't be as keen, but at least it is a CHANGE, which is always interesting and shows that we like to keep up to date whenever possible. I've managed to sneak in a pic of one of the early rushes for you, although the text still needs updating etc. The full site should be up and working within the next month or so, once it's been fully tested and populated.

We're a little 'Armless at the moment

2011-07-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

We now have our new desk up and working and the Mac set up...........wowee!! Just one lingering issue - the chair for the desk has no arms. The chap that came to put them up yesterday afternoon couldn't make the arms fit the holes underneath the seat (think Ikea on speed!) so for the present we're armless but at least we do have somewhere to rest our laurels on........a pic of the newly filled office space is below.

Other news - I'm definitely, positively thinking about doing that sampling for the machine embroidery summer school in a couple of weeks time and have been painting backgrounds etc this morning. Other summer workshop days include a Woodland Fantasy Fairy Doll on the 17th August with Jeanette Ranson and Karen Quickfall's Ruskin Lace summer school on 27th and 28th July - oooh that's next week, isn't it! I think there are only a couple of places remaining anyhow, so if you're interested do drop the centre a line over the weekend. I spoke with Karen this morning and I know she's really looking forward to it. Have a lovely weekend, all........

New YouTube videos

2011-07-20T02:26:00.000-07:00

We've spent the last couple of days making up new YouTube videos for graduating distance students - we still have some ways to go, but you can view the ones already up there by clicking on the link below.

There is also a 'highlights' of the City & Guilds exhibition video available and a highlights of some of the quilts Beryl uses for her courses here at Eccles Farm - the Baltimore Panel summer school went off very well last week and everyone, including Beryl, seemed to really enjoy themselves. I'm sure those quilters amongst you will appreciate that one! I've got a machine embroidery and painted backgrounds coming up next month on the 10th here at Eccles Farm - hope that goes as well.

http://www.youtube.com/user/sstltd1?feature=mhee

STOP PRESS >>>>>>>>>>Desk Update - it's arriving this afternoon - yipee!!! Any excuse to play with the new Mac....... I still can't quite believe that of all the IT updates we've done over the last couple of weeks and the number of hard and software deliveries that has involved, it's been a new desk and chair that have held up the proceedings. Ah well - hopefully all sorted out soon.

Office Update, Steve's competition and Quilters Guild Exhibitions x 2

2011-07-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy old week, with removal men altering the office around to accommodate a new workstation desk and a dedicated mac for all of our graphics production. I snapped this early today and you can see that whilst the space is ready, the new desk has not yet arrived or been set up, so therefore the mac is still in its box - the best laid plans always go astray!

We're also around half way through the new website - with slight delay at the moment caused by Steve, our web designer, winning a Gibson guitar competition to photograph the acts at Sonisphere (used to be Knebworth) last weekend. Haven't spoken with him since, but I really hope all went well as he was so pleased to be doing what he enjoys best. If you like rock and want to catch some of his work you can find him at http://www.rockmusicphotographer.co.uk/

Now on to the textile stuff - 7th May - 29th August 2011 Celebrations and Made in Yorkshire 7th May - 29th August 2011 are the two latest exhibitions at the the Peasholme headquarters of the Quilters Guild if you're lucky enough to be in the York area. If not, you can view a substantial collection of their traditional and modern quilt collection online at MODERN or TRADITIONAL galleries. There is also a section on quilts made by guild members at MEMBERS
Further details of the current exhibitions described below, visit their website at QUILT MUSEUM http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/

Celebrations

7th May - 29th August 2011.
Wedding and christening gowns are just two of the celebratory items that will be included in the Quilt Museum’s main exhibition opening on Saturday 7 May.
In years past, quilts were often made to mark significant milestones in life such as birth, marriage and anniversaries. The same techniques used in these quilts, namely patchwork and quilting, were also used in costume
The Quilt Museum’s forthcoming exhibition, ‘Celebrations’, focuses on these happy events and comes at a time when Royal weddings are very much in the news.
Exhibits will include a corded silk grosgrain wedding dress and jacket made by a Dutch woman for her English niece in 1954 and a quilted wedding gown made by the well known North Country quilter Amy Emms for her daughter in 1957. The latter item is on loan from Mrs Olive Gregson and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, where it is on permanent display. Other items include a wedding quilt of printed cottons made in Cumbria in 1899; several cot quilts made for new born babies and a quilt made to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in 1887. Christening gowns on show will include a dress made in 1980 by Edna Davies in Tyne and Wear, and a more elaborate pink and white dress made by the prize-winning contemporary quilter Jacquie Harvey. It was inspired by the Ayrshire needlework used on christening gowns in the 19th century

Made in Yorkshire

7th May - 29th August 2011

The ‘Made in Yorkshire’ exhibition is the result of an invitation by the Quilt Museum to individual textile artists working in the area including; Philippa Naylor, Serena Partridge, Gillian Travis, Fiona Wilson, Christine Shaw, Alison Bramley, Dionne Swift, Sallie Temple, Christine Heath, Fiona Hirst, Carol Coleman, Caroline Dunn, Sandra Middletonand Karen Griffiths . The work on show will demonstrate a variety of skills including weaving, embroidery and quilting ranging in form from woven scarves to applied landscapes. One such landscape is the Pennine village of Ripponden where some of the former mills have been converted to luxury flats. Created by artist Gillian Travis, ‘Pennine Contrasts’ captures the spirit of the village both old and new.

Living Plant Picture

2011-07-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to spend a few days with friends in London and were walking through Trafalgar Square when I saw what I thought was a large photo, only to find when we got closer that it was actually a live plant picture.

I took some photos thinking that it may be really useful as a starting point to some design work. Great idea!

There's also a video of it, just outside the National Gallery.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_j_b/5794346131/

Blast from the Beading Past!

2011-07-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

This morning brought an unexpected visitor to the office - Gordon Halfpenny who used to run Halfpennys Embroidery shop and restaurant in Clitheroe Lancs with his late wife, Tessa, decided to call and drop off some flyers for his beading fair at the end of this month.
It was really strange to see him again after so long accompanied by his new wife. I and my fellow Diploma students used to love going into Halfpennys (not JUST for the chocolate tiffin!!) for embroidery supplies. Tessa was an excellent embroiderer herself and it was one of those lovely bits and pieces type shops that even if you couldn't see what you wanted Tessa would always be on hand to help and would usually have a bit of what you needed hidden away in a cupboard somewhere. Tessa and Gordon were always so kind with us and supported the students at Gawthorpe Hall when they had their annual exhibition.
Now, I'm not personally a beader, but I know how popular they have become recently and they are great for adding in to give a special something to the right item. If you'd like to pop along to Gordon's Beads Up North Fair the details are below:

Beads Up North

Louise Gardiner Exhibition

2011-06-30T01:15:00.000-07:00

Just wondered if any of you had been to see this Louise Gardiner show yet? Someone kindly pointed it out to me this week and suggested a visit in August, which I'm really looking forward to (don't get out much you see - all together now ahhhhhh...........). It's on for a long time, so you don't have to rush, but if you're in the cheshire area I'm sure it will be great. Just a word of warning - it's a National Trust property which is fine for those of us who are members but maybe not go good if you have to pay £8 per head to get in! Lou's site is below and so are Quarry Bank details
lou gardiners site
quarry bank mill

LOSING THE THREAD
will be held at Quarry Bank Mill, Styal.
on SATURDAY May 7th - September 12th 2011.

New Study, EV and Tennis

2011-06-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

As usual it's all happening at once here - the External Verifier visits on Friday, so we are still up to our necks in paperwork (there will also be cleaning and shopping for lunch nearer the time!), but as well it has fallen on this week to get all our new study participants started on their module 1 Patchwork and Quilting. I know their course materials have arrived because the inbox was full of return receipts this morning. I'm sure they'll have a wonderful time undertaking their study with Janet - she's a great tutor and a very nice person.

So, lots and lots to do and I was just looking forward to a weekend off when it's all completed - hopefully incorporating a lie down with a cold compress whilst watching Wimbledon and maybe even eating a few strawberries (is it physically possible to lie down with a cold compress AND watch tennis AND eat strawberries - still thinking about that one! Maybe cream would be a messy step too far?) when someone pointed out that we actually have an Open Day scheduled at the centre for Saturday afternoon (goodbye ladies finals...........) and my newly fed-exd blackberry (the last one met it's match on the stone floor here in the office last week) has just informed me that I'm meeting a friend for coffee on Sunday afternoon (goodbye mens finals...........) My tennis knowledge is going down, but my social life is clearly on the up!

Away again!

2011-06-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Oooh lubbly jubbly - another week away for me next week!! Off on Sunday morning to pastures new (at least for 6 days)

I'm trying to put a brave face on it, but it's such a busy time in the office (what with the EV's visit and stuff) that I really shouldn't be going anywhere, but David has time off work, so it's now non-negotiable, as he finds it very hard to reschedule leave dates.

We're off to the Lakes to do some walking (and some eating and shopping too, but those sound much less virtuous than the first!)

Weather forecast is pretty unpleasant - rain, then more rain followed by a shower or two. Typical British summer really.............

From Roses to Ruffles

2011-06-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've just found out about a local exhibition on at Salmesbury Hall, Lancashire. It's a textile exhibition by a group called Natural Progression and runs June-July 2011 - title is From Roses to Ruffles. You can contact the Hall directly for opening times and further details at their website at http://www.samlesburyhall.co.uk/index.shtml

We've sent out all of the new study email invitations to participate today and have been inundated with responses, which is great news for us, but may involve some enquirers being disappointed, which is a real shame - hopefully we can do something for them at a later date.

Morning Out!

2011-06-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely catch up this morning with Karen Quickfall, who tutors the distance stumpwork and attended Ruskin lace classes. Gorgeous weather, so we sat outside at our local coffee shop and had a muffin (naughty!!) and a chinwag.
Karen has confirmed that she'll be at the centre with her samples on one of our open days this year - July 1st 1-4pm to answer questions, meet people and do a little embroidery if she gets chance. If you're interested in doing any of our courses, then do come along and view the C&G exhibition which will still be up, get a cuppa and a bun and have a chat with Karen and the other tutors.
BTY - it would be lovely if you could bring some sunny weather with you when you come, so we could all de-camp outside for the drinks and enjoy the gorgeous countryside around Eccles Farm!!

Paperwork done

2011-05-31T01:12:00.000-07:00

Gosh, but we worked hard here in the office last week - lots and lots of paperwork to complete which has now been sent off to our external verifier in time for her summer EV visit. I'm sure people must think reading the above that we should be more organized AHEAD of the event, but it actually isn't quite that simple - we have a second week of May deadline for all work which is to be assessed ahead of the visit, but every year some are late/very late, which in turn makes us work much harder in a shorter time in order to meet the 6 week deadline we have for submitting student details to C&G. All done now (for another year anyhow!) and on with the usual business of assessing work which has come in to the office.
I can't remember if I posted on blogger that the new summer newsletter is now available for download? Anyhow it is and you can access the link here Hope you enjoy it - there's lots of new exhibition and events listings as well as articles on historical textiles.

Textile Outing Ideas for the Bank Holiday

2011-05-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like the bank holiday weather isn't going to be too good - at least up here in the freezing north-west!

How about a look around a textile exhibition if you're not already off somewhere else? I love the Quilters Guild Museum and Gallery at any time of year - it's located at St Anthony's Hall, on Peasholme Green (opposite the Black Swan pub) York YO1 7PW and is open Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 16.00 (April - Sept),Tuesday - Saturday 10.00-16.00 (Oct-Mar) (last admission 15.30)/

At the moment they have 2 exhibitions on:

7 May – 29 August 2011
Great Hall - Celebrations
Wedding and christening gowns are just two of the celebratory items that will be included in the Quilt Museum’s main exhibition opening on Saturday 7 May. In years past, quilts were often made to mark significant milestones in life such as birth, marriage and anniversaries. The same techniques used in these quilts, namely patchwork and quilting, were also used in costume
and
Bailey Gallery - Made in Yorkshire
This exhibition is the result of an invitation by the Quilt Museum to 14 textile artists working in the area including; Philippa Naylor, Serena Partridge, Gillian Travis, Fiona Wilson, Christine Shaw, Alison Bramley, Dionne Swift, Sallie Temple, Christine Heath, Fiona Wilson, Caroline Dunn, Carol Coleman, Sandra Middleton and Karen Griffiths . The work on show will demonstrate a variety of skills including weaving, embroidery and quilting ranging in form from woven scarves to applied landscapes.

You can look up further details on their site at http://www.quiltersguild.org.uk/index.php?page=1

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you all enjoy the break.

New Patchwork and Quilting L3 Research Study

2011-05-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

We'll shortly be embarking on a new research study - very similar to the one we ran at the back end of last year, but this time we'll be looking for patchwork and quilting students rather than embroidery.
Janet Gledhill will be tutoring this course for us and I'm guessing there will be lots of interest, because as usual, we'll be offering a discount on fees of 25% for module 1. Lots of potential students find this helpful, as it means they don't have such a big commitment when trying out the courses.
If you see this blog and want further info, do drop me a line and I'll send out further details to you to enable you to reserve your place ahead of the official email being sent to everyone.

Morro Bay Connections

2011-05-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

We were recently visiting California and dropped in at a place called Morro Bay for lunch, which is a small seaside town on the central coast, just off California Highway 1. It's famous for Morro Rock - see photo - which sits in the bay and is very impressive indeed when arriving at the bay for the first time - it seems much bigger than in the photo.

I don't know if any of you have read the Earlene Fowler mystery books about Benni Harper, but they are generally set in this part of the country (she has a new one just coming out called Spider Web) and tend to feature quilts and quilting. Most of the books are called after a quilt block. Benni is a folk museum curator and gets into all kinds of scrapes!! Anyhow, whilst there we stumbled across a lovely quilt and embroidery shop called The Cotton Ball, which also features in some of the Benni Harper mysteries. Rob Appell, who runs the store, is a very talented quilter and has appeared on TV and has several books out. I thought you might like to have a link to his Cotton Ball store and also to some of his amazing quilted pieces.

First Ever Competition on SST's Facebook site launched today

2011-05-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

This sewing girl is the first ever piece of embroidery I did - I was nine years old. What was your first ever textile piece - maybe something you did at school, with mum or gran? This is the time to dig it out and put it into our First Ever Competition - it can be anything you like. Uplift an image of your work to the photo wall on the SST Facebook group before midnight GMT on18th July and we’ll put all of the entries into a draw (we don't feel it's right to 'judge' someones first work) and the first one out of the bag will receive a co-ordinated set of DMC stranded cottons, a 23x26" piece of hand dyed fabric, 2 spools of metallic thread, a Bead Expert DVD and an 8" embroidery hoop. The next 2 will both receive a set of hand dyed fabrics in lilacs, greens and autumn shades(one 21"x14" and the other two 32"x14") along with 4 reels of sylco cotton and a reel of gold metallic thread (see photos). Winners will be announced on Facebook on 20th July 2011 - good luck to everyone!

26/04/2011 Make some Put 'em Ins

2011-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Traditional Quilters Guild's theme for the Festival of Quilts tombola in 2011 will be “put’em ins”. “Put ‘em ins” includes anything you can think of that something can be put into. They are inviting you to use your imagination and create individual items large or small, that fit this description. (suggestions so far include: bags of all kinds – for sewing and accessories, shopping, cosmetics, pegs, pencils etc.; containers for mobile phones, remote controls, sewing tidies, fabric photo frames, needle cases and pins cushions, holders for thimbles, tape measures, scissors, – or for ear-rings and necklaces, bowls, etuis). The only limit is your time and creativity!
If you're into quilting, why not raid your stash and tidy up those oddments – try finding something to do with that lovely fabric you fell for that doesn’t match anything else you own; see what your scrap bag holds and what you can do with it – and look into the pile of magazines that you kept for those delightful little projects and never made. They need them by the end of July.

Iit’s all for the Good Cause of the only specialist Quilt Museum in Europe – St. Anthony’s Hall, York.
Pieces can be sent to Angela Rodda, 22 Redding Drive, Amersham, Bucks, HP6 5PX or to Carolyn Hollands, 21 Ashleigh Road, Weston super Mare, North Somerset, BS23 2XG

19/04/2011 Quilt Art at 25

2011-04-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

5th February - 2nd May 2011, St Anthony's Hall, Peasholme Green,York, YO1 7PW

Quilt Art, an international group of 20 textile artists, celebrates its 25th anniversary with an exhibition that demonstrates its diversity of inspiration, artistic and technical skills. The exhibition will be held in the Great Hall of the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York from5 February to 2 May 2011.

Throughout its exhibition history, Quilt Art has sought to create a separate platform for artists whose work was non-traditional, experimental and sometimes challenging. Its success in promoting quiltmaking as an art form can be measured by the fact that individual members have won major awards and had their work purchased for national and international collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London; the Museum of Art & Design in New York; the International Quilt Study Center in Nebraska; and the Quilt Museum in York.

The group mounts major exhibitions every two to three years and publishes an accompanying book. Following its appearance at the Quilt Museum in York, ‘Quilt Art at 25’ will travel to various UK and European venues.

Mon:: Closed (Oct - Mar)
Tues–Sat:: 10am – 4pm (last admission 3.30pm)
Sun:: Closed

For those of you who don't know the background of Quilt Art - here it is:
Quilt Art was established in 1985 by The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles. The eight founder members were soon joined by others and today the group boasts a membership from the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Hungary and the United States. Quilt Art operated under the umbrella of The Quilters’ Guild for three years before leaving to become an independent and self supporting organization. It has maintained good relations with the Guild throughout. This exhibition marks its first appearance at the Guild’s Museum in York, which opened in 2008

12/04/2011 New Level 2 Course Launch Date

2011-04-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

The launch date for the first of our new Level 2 deliver courses is fast approaching and will formally appear on the 9/5/2011. It will be available for online order from that date and will be joined by another 4 by early autumn.

This first one will be based around machine embroidery and recycling and we’re presently trying to think up a really catchy title for it (at the moment its called un-named course which we think lacks a little poetry!)

If you have any bright ideas for what the title could be—it needs to be based around the words RECYCLING and MACHINE—then do drop us a line at the office or alternatively post to Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=130491393076