October 2019

Geri did a demo on making cording to be used to embellish projects. Various items around the house can be used to twist the threads such as a pencil, hand mixer, cordless screwdriver or variable speed drill. A cording tool is also available commercially.

Show and Share

Kim brought in an alphabet stitch sampler to see if we were interested in doing it as a guild project over several months. A Sunday in January is being investigated to kick off the project. Stitchers will have choice of fabric and thread colours.

Marion brought in a box of ornaments. They were printed on fabric and embellished by appliqué, beads, and embroidery. The hangers are metal wire.

She also stitched this piece she is using as a cover for a coil-bound notebook.

Marion also displayed a bookmark done in Ukrainian whitework.

 Geri displayed her framed Cinnamon Stars,

her wool appliqué sheep pincushion,

and a wee felt appliqué ornament.

Marion will be doing the program at our next meeting on November 20, 2019.

Library Display

July was our month to create a display for the showcase at the Central Branch of the Whitby Public Library. Jeanette sent out an all-call. Barb, Shelley, and Geri were able to meet her there and do the job.

Our banner consists of  squares that were stitched by various members depicting something about Whitby, Ontario, or Canada. Barb's framed piece is beneath it.

Top Shelf

Middle Shelf

Bottom Shelf

 Somewhat of an overhead shot.

Items will be on display until July 31.

It would be great if our display attracted new members.

Thanks, Jeanette, for organizing this.

June 2019

Traditionally, this last meeting of the season has us provide finger-food to snack on, displaying of our 'brown bag' project, determining of officers for the next year, show and share, and judging of our TATAs (Trillium Annual Themed Awards).

Jeanette's favourite colour is blue and luckily enough, got the right colour 'brown bag'.

This needle case has a wool exterior, beautiful stitching and charms,

and a dyed fabric interior.

Jen P fashioned a really neat stitching caddy from a beautiful batik fabric.

Tucked in the interior pockets are lots of useful tools. Her stitching embellishes the wool patches.

Jen B's favourite colour is yellow. She fashioned this needlebook with all of the items from her 'brown bag' including the needle threader on the ribbon. She also embroidered her initials.

Marilyn made a needlebook with many pages, also utilizing most of the 'brown bag' items.

For show and share Jeanette brought in an antique embroidery set passed down from a family member.

A knitted, felted bowl.

Lauren brought in her satin stitched colour block bear.

Bernie, who attended this year's EAC seminar in Victoria, displayed two of the projects from classes she took. This Hardanger piece includes blackwork designs. The threads won't be cut and wrapped until all of the stitching is done.

This schwalm piece will be a needlebook.

Jeanette also brought in several miniature pieces she has stitched and framed.

She also showed off a 'Sew Together Bag' made for her by a stitching friend, Yvonne.  Yvonne fussy cut the exterior fabric.

The interior features 4 zipped pockets and spaces between them with several different fabrics and colours. It's really handy for stowing all the tools one would need for a stitching retreat.

Marilyn brought in her winter sampler. Which was also the inspiration for her TATA submission.

Marilyn also displayed the typewriter tote bag she recently completed from a kit purchased at the Quilter's Cupboard in Uxbridge.

There were only three entries for the TATAs this year. The theme was 'smalls'.

Marilyn received the Original Design Award for her exploding box project.

Jeanette received the Chart/Adapted Award for her Hardanger Trio - a needle case, pin cushion and scissor fob.

Geri received the Technical Merit Award for the 'Just Bee' set - a pin cushion and needlekeep.

We selected the theme for next year - inspirational words or sayings.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, September 18.

Have a good summer, everyone!

May 2019

At our May meeting, fibre artist, Rosemary Oliver talked to us about her many pieces of artwork she describes as 'painting with fibre and thread'.

Rosemary is passionate about nature and the environment. In this piece, she embroidered all the flowering plants native to the Rouge Valley and arranged them like a garden - with the shorter plants in front and the taller ones in back.

She brought an array of wool needle-felted animals. She researches the features and colours very carefully.

This mixed media piece is inspired by a true story  from Rosemary's back yard about a cygnet (baby swan) that got its leg tangled in a fisherman's line. Wildlife rescue people were called and the cygnet was picked up, the fishing line removed, its injury treated, and it was rehabilitated. This scene shows when the baby swan was released back to its family. 

This is Rosemary's depiction of The Green Man. She created one for every season.

One of her owl needle-felted paintings simply mounted on a piece of wool fabric.

After visiting Newfoundland with her husband, Jonathan, Rosemary was inspired to create this mixed media piece of what could be a typical outport village.

Rosemary also researched all the butterflies that could be found in the Rouge Valley. She embroidered each one at actual size on squares of white fabric. Then she arranged them into this quilted display.

Inspired by a friend who raises monarch butterflies, Rosemary has begun doing so herself. This piece depicts the life cycle of the monarch.

This is one of her needle-felted floral pieces.

Rosemary is also a volunteer at Windreach Farm where she assists with the wool program (from 'sheep to shawl') and assists with animal care. She created these two small pictures which will be sold at the farm during the upcoming Superdogs program.

Rosemary's presentation was so informative and inspiring to us. She is skilled in so many areas which she has synthesized with her interests in the environment and preservation nature. We are so grateful she was able to take the time to come and speak to us.

For Show and Share, Marion brought in her comprehensive study of  embroidery techniques.

Jennifer showed off the Bionic Gear Bag she had just finished making earlier that day.

It has 4 zipper pockets and lots of room for sewing/quilting tools and equipment.

She also showed her much smaller Baby Bionic Gear bag which she uses for her embroidery tools. It has one zipper pocket.

Geri showed her BGB off as well.

Our June meeting is the year end wrap-up with the judging of our mystery 'baggie' project, the themed stitched pieces, and potluck finger food.

Members are reminded to bring their plates and cutlery.