Friday 22 March 2013

HHCG Easter break.

*We are now on our Easter break so no Harmony Hill Craft Group for the next two Thursdays.
  Back on Thursday 11th April.
We have been asked to knit a 'mossy strip'  6"wide x 18" for the group display at the exhibition. If you have any suitable wool, fabrics etc that we can pool together and use please bring it in.*

The new Seasons Programme 'Engage' is out and we have been given a nice full page spread to advertise our exhibition. There's a close up of Pamela's work in the photo - doesn't it look good?
I'm looking forward to the Feltmakers North exhibition too as one of our members, Ann, will have some of her work on show.



Brrrr! It's cold and snowy in Lisburn today.
These Easter bunnies are freezing....



.......but Florence's knitted penguin is loving the snow!

This is Sylvia's beautiful bird. He just needs the beak stitched on.
His feather's come from a fascinator that belonged to Sylvia's mother!


I'm making these Easter Baskets.
I picked up the pattern in the children's room at the Arts Centre.


Have a nice Easter everyone.

Thursday 14 March 2013

The Big Shot.

Sorry Duster Bird, you weren't the big shot around here today!



No, it was Margaret G's  'Big Shot' that was the centre of attention.
A manual  Die - Cutting and Embossing machine.


It worked like a mangle. You made up a 'sandwich' with a perspex cutting mat, die, card and another cutting mat - then passed it through the Big Shot.


We cut shapes and embellishments for cards...




...  and you can also do embossing with the Big Shot...


... and cut fancy frames.


 It's quite addictive and you can get in a bit of a mess once you get started!

 In the right hand corner of the photo {above} you can just see a Multi purpose platform. I think it's to add a bit more thickness to assist with the die cutting.

We are making butterflies, bees and birds for our group project this year so there were a lot of butterflies on show.


Maureen and Angela also brought in their die cutting machines. I think they were 'Spellbinders'.
This was a useful magnetic holder for keeping the dies secure.


There were beautiful butterflies made from copper sheet treated with alcohol inks.
 There was a butterfly cut from a can.






These are Maureen's brooches.



The machines will also cut lighter weight fabrics and I think Maureen cut the felt to make these cute little birds.


There's always a lot of prep required for these demos so thanks to Margaret G., Maureen and Angela for entertaining us. We had a great morning trying out the machines.
Now who's off to buy a 'Big Shot?'

Saturday 9 March 2013

Our library.

* Next Thursday, 14th March, Margaret G. will be doing a demo with the 'Big Shot.'
She hopes to have 3 'Big Shots' with her. Not to be missed!
Bring along any card, fancy papers or thin materials suitable for cutting into shapes.
Mavis has requested that we bring in our birds, bees or butterflies next Thursday to assess what will be        needed to display them at the exhibition*.
                                       
                                                ************************

There was something going on up at 'Library Corner' today. Margaret was busy with books. Usually she's busy beading or stitching.
We have an extensive range of books to keep track of and Margaret has been running our library with great efficiency for quite a few years!


Most of our books are old as they've been collected over many years, but they all remain very useful.
Stitches and methods haven't changed that much and sometimes the older books are the best.


We keep knitting patterns, embroidery transfers and stencils too.
What we really could do with is more cupboard space to store them all.
It's always the same complaint from those of us who do craft.....however much storage space we have - well we always need more!


Margaret was working her way through a pile of books putting the official Harmony Hill stamp on them.
As well as books we also have a selection of magazines and our group subscribes to the Stitch and Workbox magazine.

More recently a 'Networking' file was introduced for our members to use. It contains websites, blogs, names and addresses of suppliers, tutors, workshops etc. It has become a useful addition to the library.



*****
When we come to the Arts Centre on a Thursday we get the added bonus of seeing all the exhibitions that are on. 
'Connections - Landscape, Power and Emotion' had just opened the night before, 6th March.
 I  had a look around with Judy, we hadn't heard of Sybil Moses but just looking at the paintings we both thought the artist must have a textile background as there were, what looked like, pieces of muslin, card, tissue paper and stitch incorporated in her work.


We thought the works of Sybil and Paul, although very different, complimented each other well.

Have a look at Sybil Moses web page.



Almost forgot..... Patsy's Duster bird finally got it's tail!!

Friday 1 March 2013

Member's Stories.

Three of our member's took a trip down memory lane yesterday and gave a short chat about how they first became interested in sewing and craft and, as a consequence, became members of Harmony Hill.
I think most of us started sewing as children, either learning through our mothers or other family members - and progressed to studying Domestic Science in school.
Those of us who liked craft just kept on going and found our niche.

Patsy was the first up to speak.  I didn't know that it was Janet that introduced Patsy to the group and the Embroidery Guild - I always thought it was the other way round. You learn something new every day.

The Duster bird was keeping an eye on Patsy and looking slightly embarrassed.

"When's Patsy going to stop talking and finish my tail!"

*
Yvonne was next up and began by telling us she didn't come from here!
In fact, she comes from Wales. Below is a village scene Yvonne has been working on. I think this whole piece is stitched in needle weaving and you can see the threads being laid down at the top of the hoop. Yvonne was an art teacher until retirement but she's still keeping her hand in. 
If you look here you can see what she's been up to just lately.

The village of 'Abertysswg' where Yvonne used to live.

*
Last, but not least, it was the turn of Margaret G.
When Margaret's not at Harmony Hill she's attending Crafters Anonymous and her 'claim to fame' is, that at the age of 12, she made a pair of satin French knickers and a camisole top!
What she really excels at is knitting and she's also pretty good at handling the money.

The wool, with added pom-poms, makes a child's hat.

*
Maureen brought her photo album in.  I'm not sure when this photo was taken. Most of these ladies are past members.... but can you spot Judy and Anna who are still faithful members?!



It's good to look back and also to be reminded of how lucky we are to be members of the HHCG.