GARDEN PARTY

On June the 9th we had a very enjoyable afternoon at our first Silk-n-Threads garden party.

The sun eventually decided to shine after a drizzly morning  and after strawberries and cake we poised for this group photograph. As you can see everybody dressed up in their finery and even some hats made an appearance.

The committee provided homemade cakes and David, Margaret's husband, was the waiter for the afternoon.

Margaret's garden provided the perfect back drop for the day and many orders for plant cuttings were made.

It was a delightful change to the usual painting afternoons we have on a Monday and will hopefully become a regular event on our annual programme.

Christmas 2013

 

THE DECORATED TREE

 

 

 This years theme was a basket with any colour plus silver and as usual there was a huge range of different interpretations on the tree.

 

The winner was Gwen(centre) with her all silver basket. Second Belinda (left) and third Margaret (right)

SILK PAPER and SILK RODS WORKSHOP

The latest workshop at Silk-n-Threads was lead by Margaret Steeden and involved members using silk hankies and silk rods. Both these are by products of the silk industry.
Silk hankies are produced from silk cocoons and Margaret showed us how, by soaking the cocoons and then pulling out the fibres to fit around a frame. Weavers then spin yarn from these hankies but we used then to make silk paper. We layered several thin hankies, sometimes trapping fibres and other elements eg dried leaves and seed heads. Using dilute PVA as an adhesive allowed us to produce a useable 'paper' that we then made handmade books and needle cases from. Margaret also uses these new fabrics as the basis for  Free Machine Embroidery.

This is the result when you use several different coloured hankies. This example has pieces of blue lace trapped inside it. They have attractive edges and we used these to effect as can be seen in the pictures of needlecases produced

The pink example has lace trapped inside the layers of paper, it was then embellished with hand stitching.

These are examples of members books and needle cases the top and bottom ones are silk paper and the two outside ones are from silk rods.

For some reason Blogger has uploaded these pictures upside down!!!

These are the hearts produced by separating silk rods and bondawebbing them to felt from which hearts were cut, decorated and stitched. The decoration ranged form lace, buttons, embroidery, ribbons and 3D butterflies. Some of the members utilised their card making skills.

These brooches are made from the leftover pieces of the silk rods and the silk paper

Christmas Party 2011

On Friday the 25th November 2011 20 members of Silk-n-Threads arrived at St Martins school hall to enjoy an evening of festive merriment. We had a Secret Santa, our usual Christmas Tree decoration competition and a shared table supper. Thanks to Anne Worsnup who is in hospital at the moment for her organising of the event as regards catering and decoration. Get well soon Annne. Thanks also to Beryl Wood for stepping in at the last minute to cover for Anne as well as all the behind the scenes work that she does.

As usual we had a great time and it was a early start to the festive season for us all.
The tree decorations this year were based around silk cocoons that members painted and then decorated. What an array of creative ideas considering that everybody was very concerned that they couldn't DO anything with white cocoons. All in all a very inventive collection of decorations.

Third prize went to, on the left, Muriel Draper. Second prize to, on the right, Annette Anderson (this years Chair) and first place to Margaret Steeden centre.

For some reason blogger has uploaded this image sidewards, I've tried several times to no avail. The places were as follows, top was third, middle was second and bottom was first.

Can all at Silk-n-Threads wish all those who visit our blog a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

First meeting next year is the 9th January 2012.

SILK STRIPS WORKSHOP RESULTS

Beryl Wood's clutch bag is delightful. She constructed the 'new' fabric out of silk strips which she then dyed before making the bag.

This is the table showing the completed range of finished books and art wraps produced by members. All were made from strips of fabric, mainly silk and then the 'new' fabric was used to make mostly book covers. Some members made their own books from scratch others covered commercially bought books.

Bottom left is Gail's wrap for her art equipment. Her 'new' fabric was made from cotton strips before the wrap was made.

The fabric on which some of the books are displayed was spray dyed and stencilled, Muriel again showing a pleasing choice of colours.

September /October Workshops

These silk collages will be the topic of workshops to be held over 4 Mondays in September/ October 2010. Margaret Steeden will lead the sessions and the aim is to discover how to use up leftover white silk creatively

The new format of meetings will begin after the AGM on the 24th September at St Martins promptly at 8pm, when there will be the usual excellent supper organised by Anne. Apologises to Rita please. We will no longer have Friday night meetings, instead there will be a regular series of workshops on monday afternoons led by members.