Lovely Things - Highlights from the 2019 Exhibition

Here are a few more snaps from the Lytham St Annes Branch of the Embroiderers Guild Bi-Annual Exhibition. 

I am not sure if this post has a 'theme' but all are Unique and the Stitchers Own Design and Free Style - my kinda stuff! (if you can come up with a better title, just let me know!)

This is Rosie the Elephant, below, in Sumptuous Purples.

 A Klimt Inspired Wall Hanging, above, was made using the students own stamps to make prints on velvet using metallic paint. The class called Klimt Reworked in Stitch and Textiles was led by Wendy Cotterill during the 2019 North West Regional Summer School.
Below, is a wonderful quilty mixed media scene called Under the Sea. 

This Crazy Patchwork really sparkles in silky blue fabrics with a pop of purple. It was made on a Workshop led by the lovely Linda of Creative Threads in Garstang.

A wonderful Book Cover using snippets of sheer fabrics and threads that are free  machined over, looks cheerful in its blue and gold colourway; above.

Below, a Mosaic of scrunched coloured papers sewn together makes a Unique Pouch for keeping important scraps or cuttings from magazines.

Below, pretty sheers and voile have been free machined to embellish before florist wire was machined on the edges of Butterfly shapes to make this 3D piece called Flying By.

I hope that these items have inspired you to let you imagination run free to make your own Lovely Things? 
Thank you to everyone for allowing photos of your creations to show on our Blog.

Trees and Tie Dye - More Highlights from our 2019 Exhibition

Here are some pieces that were taught in workshops by our very own Sue Bennet - our talented longtime member and teacher of exciting new techniques and Free Machine Embroidery.

These first few were taught in a Woodland Scene Workshop at another branch a while back.

 Not having taken this particular workshop, I am not quite sure of the techniques but think that the trees are mostly made of Woollen/Yarn threads couched over the hessian threads that remained after removing most of the horizontal threads.

Using various colours of yarn makes the scenes look totally different according to which season you want to create.

Flowers add another dimension to the woodland scene.

I could not resist taking these snaps of a page by the Parbold Branch in our North West Regional Travelling Book. Click onto the highlight to read the previous post and also one here. 

How cheerful and succulent do these Fabric Pears look?

Above, a close up of pears and below, notice the cute bee.

Up next are some completed Tie Dye pieces from our recent Tie Dye Workshops with Sue Bennet. Read the posts here, here and here.


Here is a Sweet Heart embroidery using the tie dye as a background.

A pretty Blue Flower made by a piece of dyed lace on the Bulls Eye tie dye design.

Another Bulls Eye tie dye design called Purple Madness, below.

One clever member made her Tie Dye pieces up into this fantastic bag, below.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to today's Post. 

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.