THREE SHIRES FESTIVAL

Silk-n-Threads are busy preparing for an exhibition at Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Cheshire during July. As part of the Three Shires Festival www.textilefestival.com we have a three week exhibition at the Mill 11th -25th July, 11-5pm.
On Saturday the 11th July we also have a stall at the TEXFEST event at the Heritage Centre, Macclesfield 10-4pm when there will be a variety of our wares for sale and demonstrations. We will be just one of several textile based groups displaying their expertise.

Christmas Competition

This year our Christmas Competition was to make a tree bauble using silk and in shades of pink. The basic shape was given in three sizes to achieve some common theme.
Members voted on their favourite and the 3 winners are shown holding their baubles. From left to right, Belinda (2nd), Margaret (1st) and Joy (3rd).
The winning exhibits are below, top left -1st, right-2nd and bottom 3rd.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MEMBERS AND OUR REGULAR VISITORS

Batik Painting Workshop with Barbara Meynell

On Saturday the 26th July Silk-n-Threads had a workshop led by Barbara Meynell the batik artist. Barbara travelled from the Wirral to spend the day with us. The theme was batik landscapes and scarves. We all arrived with our stretched silk on frames and watched Barbara dem the first stages - the sky.
Here is Barbara on the right looking over some of the finished works of art!Below is Muriel's sky drying before she waxed it. In the back ground is Annette's alternative yellow sky!!We built up the layers as we progressed down the silk, layering the wax as we went. There was a lot of discussion about the process of light to dark and many cries of dispair when someone realised that they had or hadn't covered a vital area with wax. What fun!!!



Annette's vivid seascape turned rightside down ready to iron out the wax.

Belinda and Pauline concentrating.Muriel's second attempt, this time a flora one - fushias.

More floralsPlay time with abstract and colours
And finally at 3.30pm tired but satisfied as we show off our almost finished pieces. some members are wearing their finished scarves.

BATIK WORKSHOP

This fine batik was the finished example completed by Denise on the Friday night batik workshop in April.

Denise Hopper led this workshop and these pics show the different stages that she took members through. Everybody worked on silk.



Members listening intently to Denise.Pauline and Denise at the end of the night.

Fabric Paper Play Afternoon

Monday group had a play afternoon in March.

We came equipped with resources to make some fabric paper. Margaret Steeden led and after a short dem we all set off playing.
Joy and Muriel preparing the first stage, applying the collage pieces to the cotton fabric with diluted pva glue. Rita is at the same stage below
The following three pics show the final stage after tissue paper has been washed with a dilute colour.


There was a range of effects and now all that remains is for decisions to be made about what to do with the finished fabric. Most members seem to favour covering books. Watch this space for finished results.

Hanging at Tatton Park

A busy morning on the 11th March 2008! Members were hanging paintings and Rita was arranging the two cabinets. Choosing Joy to clean the paintings was perhaps not the cleverest thing as she is the shortest member!


There is a wide range of items in the cabinets, this photo shows scarves, a mask, a tie, jewellery and silk box. The mask is a genuine Venetian blank bought at this years festival. All items are for sale and effectively show the skills of our members.

Works on show are both traditional and contemporary and utilise both silk paint and textiles.

Beryl's use of porcelain and glass on silk is such an unusual combination and is represntative of the talents of members.

Denise's interpretation of a Vegetable Patch is certainly the querky aspect of the exhibition.

At the end of the day we were very satisfied with the overall presentation and standard of work on display. If you are a memeber of the Natuional Trust do combine a visit to Tatton with an enjoyable viewing of our exhibiton in the Mansion House.

Exhibition is from the 15th March to the 1st June 2008, usual admission prices apply.

Visit Tatton Park's website for further details.

February Workshop

February's workshop found members creating fabric boxes and stamping on fabric. Beryl Wood our chair has a wealth of experience in card making and related crafts so she was the ideal person to demonstrate to members.

Members made three different dimensions of boxes and decorated them in a variety of ways.

The cards at the back of this image were all stamps on silk backgrounds, an ideal way to use up all that silk from painting that didn't work!!!!!!!!!