Fun Stitchery - More Highlights from the 2019 Exhibition

Here is another post of lovely stitched items on display at the
 2019 Bi-Annual Exhibition of the Lytham St Annes Branch of the Embroiderers Guild. Enjoy!

 This is Mediterranean Mog - a colourful Cat that comes in a Kit from Dizzy & Creative.

Below; another colourful creation, this wonderful Bird from a Kit by Rico Designs (sorry I could not find the link to the bird kit itself but they do have plenty of Embroidery Kits and many other craft items. Check them out).

This large piece is made up of several fascinating Desert Scenes that are in a book by Debbie Kelley called Thorns and Roses - Rose and Cactus Designs for Brazilian Dimensional  Embroidery.

Above and below - a sweet Sewing Kit House by Tilda ( aka Tone Finnanger; the founder and designer of the internationally recognised Tilda brand) is found in her book Tilda's Toy Box.

 This is The Parliament, a fun canvas work cushion and is the stitchers own design. 

Another lovely Canvas Work Cushion, below. Canvas work is any stitching or applied work on a canvas background and has been practised since the 16th Century. It is confusing as the main stitch; Tent Stitch which is also called Needlepoint and canvas work is also known commercially as Tapestry as it looks like a stitched version of a woven tapestry.

In the 19th Century when Berlin Woolwork was popular, canvas work was used to make slippers, smoking caps and upholstery with wool being the main thread used but today any thread is used to make textured and raised stitches. 
Hmm; interesting! I had always wondered how Beth ( the youngest sister in the book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott) made slippers. I would hazard a guess that they were canvas work!

There are many versions of this fun Little Girl (and boys!) Knitting, most are wearing glasses but the designs seem to be Anacardia Dolls by Ana Carolina. Find her on Instagram to see more.

Well, that is all for now - with more to follow! Thank you to everyone who stitched items for the exhibition and allowed them to be photographed to appear on our Blog.

Silk and Sparkles - Highlights from the 2019 Exhibition

I thought that these next items would be nice grouped together as they all have a luxurious feel to them and more than a hint of sparkle.

Here are some beautiful Millefiori Button Brooches. Mille meaning 'thousand' and Fiori meaning 'flowers'; that were made on this year's North West Regional Summer School taught by Jenny Adin-Christie who trained at The Royal School of Needlework.

This is called Daisy Brooch, above; and below; a Rose Brooch, both are really exquisite.

This is the same Rose design but has just been called Millefiori Button Brooch, which does not detract from its loveliness.

Below, not sure if this design had a name but it is rather pretty and reminds me of a Sparkly Spinning Jenny ( of the tree variety not the machine of the same name).

This Pentagon Casket is Machine Embroidered and made in a class taught by Sandra Kedzlie; a member of the Parbold Branch of the Embroiderers Guild.

I hope that like myself, you all enjoyed looking at the photos of the pretty, sparkly embroideries. I cannot imagine the work that must have gone into making the intricate Millefiori Button Brooches. They would certainly add a wonderful touch of glamour to the plainest of dresses! If you would like to make one for yourself then click on Jenny's website here. There are a few designs and even a lovely Heart Shaped Brooch with a Rose in the centre - so pretty!

Thank you to everyone who exhibited and allowed their lovely work to be photographed for our Blog.

A Lovely Lampshade and Machine Embroidery - More Highlights from our 2019 Exhibition

These next photos from the 2019 Exhibition of the Lytham

 St Annes Branch of the Embroiderers Guild have a Bird theme to them.

Here is a lovely lampshade that features free machined applique birds designed by Andrea Walpole of Raggedy Ruff Designs. She has some really gorgeous stuff on her site - so go take a look!

Yes, that is an umbrella behind the lampshade! Unfortunately, it was all I had available to block out all the other exhibits and glare from the overhead lighting; so saving myself quite a bit of photo editing. 
A big thank you to the umbrella owner who kindly lent it to me. Hoping to try out a fabric lined box in future... Oh the joys of amateur-ish photography!
Any tips would be really helpful...

This view, above is further around the lampshade. Love how the Birds are not just 'floating' on the shade but are on a pretty patchwork and appliqued design.
Below, no bird on this bit - except for part of the Black Bird's tail :-) but gorgeous all the same.

And here is the pretty Black Bird himself. Not sure what the other bird is - a Thrush?

This beautiful machine embroidered hand bag, below; has been named Be a Peacock in a World of Ducks... which is a great name as it is only called Peacock Handbag on the site. The design is by Sweet Pea.

The Peacock Feathers have been Machine Embroidered this time as opposed to Free Machined (stitches controlled by the stitcher, not the machine) on the Lampshade.

The lampshade and bag where made by the same clever stitcher who  is also a great source of advice on Embroidery Machines and Sewing machines in general. Go and see her at Bizzie Fingers in St Annes. They have a new shop now which is much larger and filled with all manner of lovely fabrics and sewing/haberdashery items and yarn. I doubt if you will be able to leave without buying some lovely goodies :-)

Fun Felted Creations - Highlights from the 2019 Exhibition

Here are more pictures from the recent Exhibition of work by the Lytham St Annes Branch of the Embroiderers Guild.

These all have a 'felty theme'.

This Happy Hare was made from a kit by Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts. Check them out on the link above, they have a Blog as well as a Shop and few felting videos on You Tube that show how to felt the ears etc

Meet Luna Lapin - the lovely Rabbit that you can make and dress following the patterns in the book Making Luna Lapin by Sarah Peel.

This striking Monochromatic Felt Abstract piece was made during a North West Regional Summer School taught by Valerie Wartelle.

Above, this colourful felted piece was made by the same person as the Abstract and is called Under the Sea. It is the makers own design.

Here is a charming children's book made from felt. 

It tells the story of the Weather Hut that magically changes the weather for you should you need more wind so that you can fly a kite on the beach. 

Or maybe you fancy watching a Natural Lightening Show or even building a sandy Snowman.

The Story that comes with the book was called We Live by the Sea and it has a very sweet ending.
Thank you to everyone who put their felted creations into our Exhibition.
Look out for more Exhibition Posts coming soon.