JEAN O’NEIL’S MEMORIAL CHARITY DAY 2012

One of our younger guests - Jasmine Hextall

Janet and daughter Rachel hard at work

Sheena trying to hide!

Caught!

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On Saturday 28^th July our Annual Charity Day was held at St Andrews to great success.  We had a large turnout of members, family and friends who enjoyed making a felt biscornu or brought their own sewing, which was lovely to see.  We saw Japanese Folded Patchwork, Miniature Log Cabin Blocks and a Jubilee Tapestry Cushion which made the day very diverse and interesting, especially to the younger generation who also came on the day.

Many people should be thanked for helping on the day: Maureen Robinson who was our tea/coffee lady and also supplied a selection of lovely sandwiches, Marie Warburton from the Merseyside branch of the Guild who provided our raffle prizes (which included a cross-stitched biscornu which was stunning and won by me!), to everyone for bringing many sales items, cakes, pastries and scones which created a wonderful lunch enjoyed by all.

The donations flooded in with a total (increased at 10pm that night!) to £500 – an amazing amount!

Our charity this year will make really good use of our efforts to provide outings, books, arts and crafts to patients in Grianagh Court, which is a Mental Health Service facility who receive little funding.

Well done everyone and my grateful thanks for all your support.

Janet Williams

Queenie Festival

Once again the weather was kind over the weekend and we only had a couple of showers. 8000 people came over the weekend and our stand created a great deal of interest. (It was situated close to the tea, coffee and cake stall that is always extremely busy which helped). Our stand was very welcoming with some beautiful work on display to talk about. It looked both  attractive and colourful with all the 4 inch squares and photos of the postcards that Jane had produced, on our beautiful new display boards.  When it was all in place the helpers stood back to admire it and were aware of being very proud to be part of such a talented group. They were kept busy explaining how various pieces were worked and encouraging people to join. We are hoping to have a few new members from our endeavors. Many thanks to everyone who found the time to come and help. We could have done with a few more!

Maria, Janet explaining something to each other while Angela engages with the public

Sheila listening!

What a range of different techniques and interesting things to show off.

Our Laxey Wheel came in for a lot of admiration.

Stitching a Welcome to the Athletes of the World

The Embroiderer's Guild offered its 197 branches round the British Isles a challenge to embroider postcards towards an traveling exhibition which is taking place around Britain during the Olympic Games. Each branch was given a country that would be competing in the Games and our was Mauritius.  Over 2916 postcards were on display at the 2012 AGM in Southport. It was incredible to see them all hanging together. There was every technique and just too many to take in all at once. At present they are in Tyne and Ware until July 11th, Plymouth from 16th July - 29th, London Aug 2 - Sept 22nd, Bromsgrove Oct 8th - Nov 4th so if anyone is anywhere near any of these places go and see them.  You can not help but be impressed. This was our contribution.

Black and White Work - Sian Martin

Sian Martin showing us her "Eye" which was made by another group

Sian flew over from Gloucester in appalling weather to give us a very interesting talk entitled "Stitched Connections". Her interest in embroidery began when small, sitting under the table that her mother was working at and pushing the needle back up through the cloth. Her father was a graphic designer and helped her mother design the alter frontal for Bangor Cathedral which she embroidered. Her mother was a professional  embroideress. She remembered Constance Howard and bought a piece of material that she had been given by her and encouraged us all to take a bit.The workshop was inspirational. Sian spread her enthusiasm over everyone and encouraged us all to interpret a 4 inch square taken from a photograph in black and white.  We had no idea what the whole picture would be until the end of the afternoon when she put them all together and lo and behold! there was the Laxey Wheel! Helen Sargent, Sheila Dove and Sian carried on into the evening putting it all together so that it could be exhibited at the Queenie Festival. There is still work to be done but it caused a great deal of interest and is a very lively and vibrant piece of work. Well done, all who attended and our thanks to Helen, Sheila and Sian for getting it sewn together.

Sue Carine

Marian, Janet and Sheila

Sian Martin with the original print and some black and white samples

Sian hard at work displaying work on our new display boards

Maureen concentrating very hard!

Janet surrounded with bits

Sue and Jane hard at work

Marie pondering what to do next!

Gathered round to see what we have produced

Sian's original black and white print

Our semi finished piece. Isn't it fabulous!

Utter amazement that it has come together!