We welcomed three new members this month - Sue, Sarah & Laura - having agreed to 'up' our maximum membership to 30. Undaunted, these ladies also brought something to show 'n tell this month. As you will see, everyone has been very busy.
Firstly, there were a few quilts both finished and work-in-progress.
Some are made from panels, others pieced, one has a raggy finish and another includes holiday photos printed onto fabric.
Next there were bags, purses, soft storage boxes and crochet hook rolls.
Plus, a whole host of other small projects including sundresses, a rabbit, crocheted blanket, bunting, mug rug, scotty dog, clothes hangers, felt flowers, English Paper Piecing (from the last workshop) and a non-slip mat to stop your sewing machine pedal from moving across the floor. Quite a few of us will now be making the latter!
Everyone picked from a short list a gift they'd like to receive from Secret Santa this year so the next thing is to sort out who makes what for whom.
As well as making all these projects, Heather and Shirley had been to a Lynda Monk workshop with the Embroiderer's Guild, Pam and Sarah had been to free machine embroidery workshops in Chelmsford at Make Do & Mend and Maria had been to a Japanese bookbinding workshop with Helen Howes. And, a few of us took a table at the Quilters Guild's Craft Stash Sale in Shotgate.
Next month's meeting will be a mini tutorial on gold work.
Last year, the ladies came up with a list of techniques they wanted to either learn or refresh. These were taken and grouped, and then formed the basis of the three cushions workshops planned for this year. On Saturday, we held the first of these workshops.
This first workshop covered English Paper Piecing (EPP), making your own bias piping and pillow case backs. Whilst no-one completed their project during the day, good progress was made (EPP is stitched by hand so it takes longer) as can be seen in the photo.
This month's Wednesday meeting is planned as a show-and-tell. Hopefully, we'll see some of the finished cushions, plus lots of other 'makes' as several of the ladiess have been to workshops elsewhere since last month.
We're also looking forward to welcoming three new members on Wednesday.
