National Celebration of Stitch 2017 and The Garden Party

Lytham St Annes Embroiderers Guild decided to hold The National Celebration of Stitch Day in the local libraries this year. However, at short notice St Annes Library had to be closed on Saturday so everyone convened at Ansdell Library.
Here are two of our members; Sue Bennet on the left, and our Chairman, Joan Lowe on the right. They are busy stitching Butterflies which was the theme for this year.

No WIPs am afraid as I could not attend but hope to share some completed butterflies in the future. Sue and Joan were joined by other members and the public during the morning session. All had a jolly time whilst raising awareness of our Branch Meetings and the Embroiderers Guild. Well done ladies :-) Read about our National Day of Stitch in 2016 here.
The Celebration of Stitch Day just so happened to coincide with our Garden Party which was favoured with glorious sunshine (unlike last year where it poured down and our party was held in a pretty conservatory. Read the post here). Here we are in the garden which our host had decorated with colourful bunting.

 It was hot! but tea and cakes helped us cope with the heat....

 A yummy strawberry meringue, above, and below, cakes the stitched variety. 

 Just had to snap the Cupcakes embroidered on the table cloth. How lovely.
We were not just munching though - we had some work to do in the form of a crossword, plus raffles, plenty of prizes and a two presentations.
Here are our members, Sue on the left, and Angie, on the right; who received the most Visitor Votes at our recent Exhibition. 

 Both received 9 votes each for an item of work (each had submitted several - they are busy stitchers!) See the Forest Fruits Box that Sue made using the Stumpwork technique here, and Angie's huge Autumn Spice Quilt; which she has since renamed 'Butterfly Paradise' as she says 'it seems much more apt' due to the profusion of butterflies on the fabric blocks and borders.

Lastly, a little more stitchy goodness was on display at the Garden Party with this lovely handkerchief, above. It was stitched for the North West Region Chairman's Challenge which was to stitch a handkerchief that would represent each particular Branch in the region. 
This windmill is a well known local landmark on Lytham Green.
Each kerchief will be joined with the others to make up a cloth that will cover the table at the NW Region AGMs. This was a great idea to make something that everyone could have a part in without the logistics of moving it from branch to branch.
Many thanks to our kind hostess for having us for tea and cakes. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.