Christmas Competition.

With all the lovely hot weather I don't suppose anyone is thinking about Christmas!
However, at the recent summer committee meeting it was decided there would be a change to the subject for the Christmas Competition ( 'Deck The Halls' ).
We will be enlightened on the change, and given a new subject, when we return in September.
So, for all you members who are busy working on your Christmas project - stop now!!

Summer Break.

Yesterday was our last day at Harmony Hill before the Summer Break begins.
Already we are thinking about September as we move in to our 30th year and a Pearl Anniversary.
With that in mind our theme for the Annual Exhibition 2014 is,  'The World Is Your Oyster.'
The subject for the Christmas competition, 'Deck The Halls', was also chosen and is to be a decoration no bigger than a shoe box!

Although some of us are already on a break, some of us just keep on crafting.

                                                           There was silk painting.

Majella

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                                                                  Knitting silk/ mohair.

Audrey

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Construction and Bling.

Janet

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Knitting cables.

Pamela

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Knitting socks.

Mavis

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                                                                       Knitting Aran.

Maureen

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Laura brought in meringues with cream and fresh fruit. No time for photos as they were all gobbled up!


Some members of our group also belong to the NIEG held monthly at The Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra.
On Saturday 18th May Maggie Grey  (now don't get that confused with our own Maggie Gray!)  held a Talk- 'Surface and Stitch' and a Workshop - 'Dissolvable Delights'. The ladies that attended were impressed and came in the following Thursday 'buzzing' about it.

 Maggie Grey blogs about  her visit to NI here.

Harmony Hill Craft Group will be back on Thursday 5th September, 2013.

HHCG AGM 2013.

Whoever had the bright idea of having a Pot Luck Lunch after the AGM every year was onto a winner!
I think I'd be right in saying that the prospect of a delicious lunch ensures a good attendance.

It was a lovely sunny day, the summer clothes were out, and for some of us the heat was all too much!

The Cup was shining. The meeting commenced.

Apologies, Minutes, Matters Arising, Secretary's Report, Treasurer's Report, Librarian's Report.
Retiring Chairperson's Remarks, Any Other Business, Election of 2013/2014 Office Bearer's.

When is it time for the food?

Election of Committee, the new Chairperson's Remarks.
Talk of 'themes' for next year's exhibition, stewarding the exhibition, attendance, thanks to all who help throughout the year, the Christmas competition, the Outing.

But when is it time for the food?!  Not to mention Myrtle had a boat to catch.

Presentation of a cheque for £500 to Fibromyalgia Support NI.

Presentation of the 'Visitors' Choice' Cup to Mary Conn for her Fabric Book, 'If I Were A Butterfly'.
(Apologies to Mavis for a fuzzy photo - I had a fingerprint on the lens).

You can view Mary's book here.

Mary and Mavis

                                Now it  must be time for the food!   The table was groaning.

A well behaved queue formed.

There were some very colourful savoury dishes.

                                                   Followed by .... Delicious Desserts!

                                  Next Thursday 13th June is our last meeting before the Summer Break.

Knitting for charity.

* Just a reminder that next Thursday morning, 6th June, we have our AGM followed by Pot Luck Lunch.

As a group we raise money for a different charity every year - this time we chose Fibromyalgia Support NI - and at the AGM next week we'll hear how much money we have raised from our various activities throughout the year.

Two of our ladies have also been knitting for their chosen charities. These teddies were on show at our recent exhibition and now they're off on a flight all the way to Malawi.

Maureen's knitted teddies.

Yesterday there was a variety of knitted dolls on the table to raise money for 'Save The Children'.

Laura's knitted dolls.

There's an exhibition of textile work from Lecora opening tomorrow at the City Hall.

Flights Of Fancy. Members 21-30.

'Marseillan Memories'. Shells with embroidery stitches, chiffon and taffeta on lush linen fabric by Sylvia Mc.

'Rossnowlagh Treasures'. Plastic canvas,wools, shells and driftwood by Bernadette Mc.

'Work Box'. Hand embroidery by Myrtle Mc.

'Teddy Family'. Knitting by Maureen N.

'Spotty Dotty Scarves'. Acrylic, embellished with mixed fibre circles by Dorothy S.

'Scary Mary'. Dressed Doll by Norma S.

'Reflection'. Free Style embroidery by Margaret S.

'To Fly or Not To Fly'. Bobbin lace by Mavis T.

'Sea Breezes'. Machine embroidery by Yvonne W.

Just 3 more Thursdays left before our Summer Break.

Thursday May 30th,  Thursday June 6th: AGM +Pot Luck Lunch, Thursday 13th June: last meeting.

Flights Of Fancy, Members 11-20.

'Anemone'. Up-cycled furniture with hand and machine embroidery insert by Margaret G.

'Chaffinches'. Cross-stitch by Helen H.

'Boxed Antique Plate'. Torchon lace using linen thread by Vivienne J.

'Three Shoes'. Hand embroidery and beading by Jennifer L.

'Garden Angel'. Stitch and beading on velvet background by Janet K.

'Patchwork Quilt'. Machine stitch and hand-quilting by Anna Mac.

 'Cushions'. Hand painted by Laura Mc.

'Trinket Box'. Beading by Angela Mc.

'Flotsam'. Mixed textiles with hand embroidery by Ann Mc.

'Sailing By'. Hand embroidery, painted background by Carolyn Mac.

Flights Of Fancy, Members 1-10.

Well it would take forever for me to show photos of every item in this exhibition!  I'm just going to pick out one piece from each of our members.

So working in alphabetical order I'm showing my favourites from our first 10 members.

 'Butterfly'.  A little hand-embroidery by Pat A.

'Hedgehogs and flowers'. A hand-embroidery by Florence B.

A striking 'Space Odyssey' - hand stitch and beading on dyed and devoreed satin by Patsy B.

                                               'Three For A Girl'. Silk Painting by Judy C.

'Reflection'.  A 3D machine embroidered blue tit by Mary C.

'Dizzy Dora'. A doll, hand-embroidery and patchwork by Elizabeth C.

                                     'Talk, Talk'. An oil painting of parrots by Rosemary D.



                                       'Two Love Birds'. Needle felting by Pamela D.

'The Industrial Era'. Re-cycled Coke cans, alcohol inks, on coffee stained linen by Sharon E.

'Upholstery Patchwork Bag'. Template technique by Audrey G.

 The exhibition closed today.