Monday 24 September 2012

September Meeting : Colour

 Jan led the September discussion on colour, giving us a different viewpoint from the way we have worked in the past. She has attended various design courses and showed us some of the interesting material she has accumulated. Here she is, flanked by Nancy and Tricia. Note Jan's music embroidery in the background.
 Barbara and June discuss some of the books in our Guild library relating to colour.  Nancy watches and listens.
 Win, Beth and Noelene deep in conversation.
 New member Jen is making good progress and getting to know the rest of the group. Here she is with Betsy.
Tricia, Rose and Chris have a multitude of resources to work with.
Chris's show and tell was a table runner made with the three-shaft petit point technique and this photo shows both sides with the colours reversed on the back. Chris said it was faster to weave than she expected it would be. Well done Chris.

Monday 17 September 2012

Weaving Workshop






"Small Stuff" was the title of a weaving workshop held at Bobbin Cottage on Saturday 15 September.  Seven looms were warped up with narrow sample warps, all with the same yarn and sett. (An eighth loom from a previous project was brought along by Tricia for an optional extra.) With hindsight, it may have been easier weaving and better for the participants done on a larger scale but the lovely wool yarn was donated and it seemed like a great opportunity to challenge people with 20 epi.  The jumping off point was a number of different small drafts used by Rose for a collection of scarves.
Here is Rose, armed and dangerous!
And here are 'the troops' working on a round robin system, trying out the samples.
Betsy gets to grips with mock leno.
June is enjoying a refresher of patterns she knows well.
Tricia (in her lovely hand knitted jersey) is ready for action.
Jen is our newest weaver but she managed to get around all seven looms to weave samples.
Win has completed the seven samples and is now catching up on the three shaft petit point technique we studied while she was away (swanning around in Italy no less.)

Not in the photos but also present were Beth, Barbara, Noelene and Chris.   Thanks to Chris for these photos.






Wednesday 5 September 2012

Congratulations!

National Adult Learners' Week was launched in Blenheim on Monday evening. Our very own Jen Smith was presented with an award for "Outstanding Adult Learner," and her tutor June McKenzie was awarded "Exceptional Adult Learning Provider." Congratulations to these two and to all who are prepared to teach or learn new skills.

Thanks to those who made an effort to join with the rest of the Guild to put up an impressive display at the Stadium on Tuesday as part of the Adult Learners' Week. It takes quite an effort, and quite a bit of weaving time, to do these community activities but it is important that we wave our creative flag and make ourselves known.

More Show and Tell

These items made it to the August meeting only as photographs as Rose was away.  The four scarves in the first photo are made from a beautiful fibre blend; 55% silk and 45% cashmere.

























This is a very lightweight throw in thick brushed wool and a  very fine synthetic yarn.
Chris has added further colour variations to her collection of blankets.  Some lucky children will receive these and probably keep them as favourites for many years.