Apologies! It has just occurred to me that there was no report for the Angie Hughes workshop in January.
Angie was as professional as ever. Her Zoom workshop ran smoothly, using a combination of live, and pre-recorded videos to demonstrate her process.
Throughout the day we used found items to imprint textures into heat formable blue blocks to create our own individual and 'one-of-a-kind' print blocks.
We used the blocks to print and overprint with acrylic paints, and experimenting with foils and masks to create a collection of unique fabrics to use in future textile projects.

In January, Maria Wigley joined us on Zoom for a live talk about her textile practice, her techniques and influences. We were able to get a glimpse of her lovely home studio, and a quick video demonstration of her working processes using watercolour paints and machine stitched asemic text.

My Experiences in Exhibiting
 
20 or more years ago Daphne Gick, (whom some of you will remember) and I signed up for the new Embroiderers’ Development Scheme – designed to help members who had taken C&G or similar and wanted to move on.
 
This involved getting together within a group periodically for discussions and guidance. We were with Sarah Burgess, who emphasised the need for us to “get out there” and promote/raise the profile of, embroidery/textiles to a wider audience and alongside other art forms. It’s always fascinating when we have our Stitchers’ exhibitions, to chat to people and discover how so many of the public value the opportunity to see what all our members can produce.
 
We discussed preparing a CV, and an artist statement initially. Then we discussed planning towards being able to give a talk, run a workshop and organise an exhibition.  

I gave talks to some of the EG branches. At the time only slides were available to show work, but every talk I attended seemed to involve some calamity – the branch did not have compatible equipment, or the slides were in a carousel and not a ‘box’, or while they were being sorted they all dropped on the floor ! So I decided to keep my talk short, hold up larger pieces, then allow time for the members to come and have a look at the exhibits and discuss. My daughter has now prepared a Powerpoint presentation which can be shown from her laptop, so I have used that more recently.
 
Workshops are welcomed at most branches, so lovely to have an eager group of ladies all wanting to get good results – that was the main difference from teaching teenagers! and such a rewarding experience. Some of you came to my Or Nue workshop.
 
Daphne and I had not until then exhibited very much anywhere other than with the EG, so we decided to approach Middleton Hall. They had a lovely beamed ceiling gallery, but were only open at weekends, so visitors were limited. We had a rota of planned workshops too. However, it did give us valuable experience in recognising how much planning and forethought needed to go into preparing for an event on our own, advertising it etc.and we enjoyed chatting to the visitors. Daphne had even managed to get an article about us published in the local freely circulated  magazine called Select.
 
I found it beneficial to join the local Art societies – Sutton and Lichfield. These offer the opportunity to exhibit twice a year and offer talks/demonstrations on painting and related subjects. We all need to use these skills when preparing pieces of work and I have found the demonstrations really helpful. The Societies often arrange visits to museums and exhibitions in London and elsewhere too. There aren’t enough stitchers in either of these groups!!  and more would be most welcome.
 
Exhibiting anywhere often brings unexpected benefits – such as being asked to join another exhibiting group. This has happened to me several times – in particular being approached by members to join the Birmingham Art Circle, and RBSA. Following on from the latter, a member asked me to be joint exhibitor with another member in Bewdley in 2018 – showing some of my canal pictures and a new range of water reflections. Then, locally, there has been the Sutton Art Trail – which should have taken place again in June this year. This involves about 30 artists exhibiting in around 10 different venues for a Sat/Sun in June. Hopefully this will go ahead in 2021.

​Most members will be aware of Tangent Textiles, some members of whom also belong to Stitchers. Membership is limited to 8 and we aim not only to plan exhibitions, but also to regularly  show work in progress and offer this for critical appraisal.
 
I think we all benefit and are encouraged from seeing the work of artists in other art forms – and in trying out ideas. So the sketch books we had at the beginning of the lockdown have been very helpful. I have to say I would not have thought of choosing some of the subjects, but having the time, I had a go and have found I could easily go off in another direction!
 
Margaret Fairhead

​2020 is the year when my diary had more Tippex than ink. All the group meeting and courses cancelled, what to do with myself?

I initially collected all my UFOs and WIPs and got going on them. Pieces got finished, mounted, framed.
​
I also took the plunge into purchasing a Judit Pócs video tutorial to make a hat. Not just any old hat, something of a statement hat.

This turned out to be an excellent idea as I could do as much or as little as I was able every day. In all it took me about two weeks to complete, and is felted with the inclusions of sequin material for the decoration.
​
It was an advanced level of work but being able to access the videos when I wanted/needed and to be able to stop/start and rewind made taking on this huge project attainable.

​Since then Zoom workshops have been done with great success, but I am still looking forward to doing workshops in a room with others.

At our December meeting we welcomed Steffi Stern from The Makerss. Steffi presented a mini workshop via Zoom, and participants made a cute little needle-felted Christmas gnome, from Nordic folklore, called a Tomte.
The meeting was very quiet as we all sat industriously stabbing away at our felt. A few fingers were pricked along the way, but a good time was had by all, and at the end of the evening there were 26 mischievous little Tomtes, complete with curly beards and pointy red hats!

Jessica Grady joined us on Thursday 5th November to talk to us about her work, and the fascinating journey she had taken to evolve  into the renowned textile artist that she is today, exhibiting across the world.
We were therefore very excited to be joining her the following Saturday for our first ever Zoom workshop.
What a huge success! 
We all had such a lovely time learning how to recycle everyday items and waste, into beautiful embellishments that were arranged and stitched to create beautiful floral explosions of colour.

Jessica has a website where you can purchase online pdf workbooks and kits, you can also keep in touch with exhibitions and events that she is taking part in. Jessica also offers Zoom workshops and has an online shop where you can buy her work.
www.jessicagrady.co.uk

MACHINE STITCHING WITH METALLIC THREADS

RULE NO. 1- ALWAYS USE A TOPSTITCH NEEDLE

USE a Topstitch 80/12 needle for fine metal threads and
Topstitch 90/14 or 100/16 for thicker threads.

Metallic thread is a decorative thread and so needs to be seen on the surface of the fabric. It is more fragile than normal sewing threads and so needs to be used with care.

Always use a Topstitch needle – a Topstitch needle has a much larger eye than a Universal needle and so is kinder to the thread as it goes through the larger ‘space’.

Loosen the top thread tension a little and use a fine (cotton or polyester) thread in the bobbin (No. 50 or 60). Thicker threads (e.g. YLI Candlelight) should be wound onto the
bobbin by hand.

With a thicker thread in the bobbin, stitch from the back of fabric/quilt and loosen the top thread tension.

Stitching with metal thread on soluble fabrics – you will need metal thread in the bobbin as well and the bobbin tension should also be loosened a little.

Don't stitch too quickly - treat it gently!

If the thread wants to coil and knot itself put a few of Pauline’s Patent Threadholders at strategic places on your machine and thread the metallic thread through them to help straighten it. (Blutak & very small picture ring)

Pauline Barnes
www.paulinebarnesquilts.co.uk
2020

Whilst the pandemic continues to force us into isolation, our monthly meetings will continue via Zoom.
At our last meeting we had over 30 members join us to welcome Linda Miller who gave us a lovely talk about her working practice, and presented an inspirational slideshow of her work.

If any members would like to join in with our Zoom meetings, but feel unable or uncomfortable in doing so, please email: info@suttoncoldfieldcreativestitchers.co.uk and a committee member will give you a ring to see if we can help smooth through the process and help you to get on board.

You can now vote for your favourite entry for the Chairman's Challenge.
Go to Chairman's Challenge page, put the member's name in the box and click 'submit'

Once they are installed on your device, Facebook and Instagram are quite easy to use and to upload images to.Facebook instructions can be found here: 
https://www.facebook.com/help/118731871603814
Instructions for uploading to Instagram can be found here:
https://help.instagram.com/442418472487929

Its important that you get a good quality photograph of your work. Excellent tips for photography with a smart phone can be found here:
​https://cathyjackcoupland.com/a-checklist-for-photographing-your-own-textile-art/