Opening of exhibition at Tennants Auction House, Leyburn 18 November 2025
The Language of Flowers
The afternoon started with coffee/tea and biscuits for members Carolyn opened the exhibition and Sam Findlay the librarian and her assistant from RHS Harlow Carr attended, it is the first time they have seen all the embroideries together as they do not have the space in the library at RHS Harlow Carr to display them all together. Sam Findlay gave a talk on the history of our collaboration with RHS Harlow Carr, followed by all attendees viewing the embroideries. The exhibition is open until 18th December 2025 for all visitors to Tennants to view, there will be two stitch days for visitors to try their hand at embroidery on 24 November and 9 December, which are free to attend.
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Meeting 20 November 2025
Unfortunately our November speaker cancelled owing to the bad weather. A few hardy souls made it to Harmby and enjoyed their day.
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Meeting 16 October 2025
After a morning spent stitching, our speaker was Pippa Foulds with her talk Don’t Forget the Plain Ones. Pippa is a RSN tutor, she is also involved with the Durham Cathedral Broderers work. Pippa has studied the origins of the pocket, worn by women of the 18th and 19th centuries these pockets were worn under outer garments to hold the woman’s possessions in a time when women had few rights to personal belongings. Museums have many examples of highly decorated pockets but few belonging to lower class women who would wear pockets made from practical often recycled material with little or no embellishments.
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Visit to Durham Cathedral
25 September 2025
What a lovely day we had at Durham Cathedral, we split into 3 groups, each group visiting different parts of the Cathedral led by Ann, Ione and Melitta. I was in Ione’s group for the first part of our visit, Ione took us up to the Broderers workshop where the broderers embroidered beautiful Items and vestments also many of the archived embroideries all were amazing and many items which are being conserved by the broderers, we felt very privileged to be invited into the workshop.
Later we were escorted by Melita or Ann viewing many parts of the Cathedral, too many to mention including embroidered alter cloths in the small chapels, all telling a story. The choir stalls kneelers are being conserved by the broderers, an ongoing task.
During our visit to the museum we were able to view copes dating back to the 15th century which are not generally on view.
After viewing the library we went through an air lock into an air controlled room where we viewed the Magna Carta which is on view for a limited time at the Cathedral.
At lunchtime we all assembled in the Prior’s Hall to be treated to a light lunch before continuing our visit.
As we concluded our visit of course we could not miss the cloisters setting for many scenes in the Harry Potter films.
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Meeting 18 September 2025
As usual we spent the morning stitching, after lunch our speaker was Helen Barnes with her talk Vietnamese Textiles. Helen has travelled widely in the area and showed us examples of the diverse Vietnamese textiles both embroidered and woven she has collected. The people she met were very friendly and willing to show off their clothes and textiles. In the photo Helen is showing a skirt which is one of her favourite pieces.
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Meeting 21 August 2025
What a lovely day we had, we started the day stitching in the morning. Today we celebrated the 250th Anniversary of Jane Austin’s birth with members bringing in their Jane Austin tribute pieces, by lunchtime we had a wonderful display.
After lunch we viewed travelling books, including the Chinese whispers books which we tried for the first time this year, work carried out during the year at internal and external workshops and any other work completed during the year.
Last but not least the tablecloth which most members had a hand in embroidering.
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Nicola Jarvis workshop 18 July 2025
Following Nicola’s talk on Thursday a number of members attended a workshop with Nicola, stitching one of three pictures from her book Life in Seasons book 1. The images were printed onto fabric, leaving us to stitch in the details. When finished they should look like this:
Many thanks to Yvonne for organising the workshop and to Andrea for the lovely biscuits and cake.
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Meeting 17 July 2025
A morning spent stitching, after our packed lunch we enjoyed strawberries and cream. After lunch was the AGM. Following the AGM Yvonne who is retiring from the steering group was presented with two books of pieces stitched for her by members with kind words thanking her for all her hard work compiling full and varied programmes.
Nicola Jarvis gave an inspirational talk, Nicola told us of how walks with her dog Quince inspired her to create stitched artworks, compiled into two books, book one Life in seasons winter and spring with volume two summer and autumn due to be published next year.
RHS Wentworth July 2025
Some of our ladies visited RHS Wentworth for their flower show, whilst there they visited the exhibition where nine of our flower embroideries stitched for RHS Harlow Carr were on display, alongside the original artworks.
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Meeting 15 May 2025
Our speaker today was Karina Wiles with her talk “More than just a rug” Karina was accompanied by Chris Ellison, both are members of EBOR Ruggers based in York. Karina studied at both Scarborough Tech and Wolverhampton Tech. The EBOR Ruggers have turned the rug on the floor into an artform. Karina’s rugs are inspired by nature using recycled and upcycled materials unlike traditional rugs she uses many lightweight fabrics to produce detailed pictures. The first photo is of Karina’s first attempt at rug making
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Meeting 17 April 2025
Our speaker today was Lesley Wood with her talk “From Paint to Thread”. Lesley is a textile and mixed media artist living in Durham. She completed a fine art degree at Loughborough college and taught art for many years, on her retirement became a full time textile and mixed media artist winning many awards for her thought provoking pieces using paint, textiles and embroidery.
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Meeting 20 March 2025
Our speaker today was Serena Partridge with her talk Charlotte Great and Small. Serena’s love of miniature art began as a child in North Devon. Inspired by items in a local junk shop she made miniature suitcases. Whilst at college she developed an interest in historical costume and textiles making miniature gloves and shoes, her work is truly amazing, so tiny, she also made glass cases to exhibit her works.
Serena now lives in Malton and has been artist in residence at the Pump Rooms Harrogate. Inspired by Charlotte Bronte, her miniature hats, gloves and shoes have been exhibited in the Bronte Parsonage celebrating Charlotte’s bicentenary year. As artist in residence at Selby Abbey Serena has installed tiny embroideries of swans in many little holes to be found in the abbey’s stonework.
Unfortunately my photos of Serena’s miniatures did not come out very well but more can be seen on her Instagram page.
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Meeting 20 February 2025
Our speaker today was Donna Cheshire with her talk The Lay of The Land. Donna loves to walk and spoke of how her inspiration comes from places she has visited, her favourite topics are sea views. Donna also spoke of her influences which come from the old masters: Constable, Cezanne, Monet and other more modern artists such as Joan Eardley. Donna works in both paint and textiles, hand dying recycled material.
Donna won the 2016 Gold Award Winner Craft & Design Selected Maker – Textiles & Needlecrafts.
For more information on Donna go to her Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/stitchdonna/
Today also saw the launch of our challenge which will be displayed at our AGM in August. .The subject will be Jane Austin as it is the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth. Carol invited members to interpret the subject as they wish.
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Christmas Activity Day 12 December 2024
Our day started with mince pies and alcohol free mulled wine, a lovely start to the day.
Our activity for the day was to make Mini Christmas Crackers our thanks to Ione and Ann who did all the hard work assembling the kits and to those who helped and advised members. Our own packed lunches were followed by lovely treats provided by the committee. The mini cracker decorations were many and varied.
The Christmas card lucky dip was again very successful, all the cards were put on display then all the cards were put in a bag and everyone who made a card was invited to pick a card with any left over cards being sent to members who could not get to the meeting.
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Stitch Day 7 November 2024
Whilst many members stitched in the main hall a group of us made beadwork bracelets with our tutor for the day June who gave her time to teach us. The room was very quiet as we all concentrated on producing beautiful bracelets, many thanks to June.
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Liz Almond Workshop 26 October 2024
Liz Almond’s course today was up to her usual very high standard! She gave us so so much!
And shared so much more..
We were learning until 3.45 – she never stopped! Working one to one with anyone struggling as well as group demos. Alison F
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Meeting 17 October 2024
Our speaker today was Liz Almond with her talk Whitework for Today. It is not the first time Liz has visited and again gave a truly inspirational talk this time about whitework. Liz gave us many tips: we must not limit our use of whitework, a touch of embroidery on shop bought clothes makes them individual, an example was a white denim waistcoat Liz embroidered with variegated thread. If our eyes struggle with white on white try white on cream or vice versa, do not limit what fabrics you use M&S poly cotton sheets work very well. Liz often uses crochet cotton in various colours including variegated.
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RHS Harlow Carr 6 October 2024
I visited RHS Harlow Carr with family to view the Language of Flowers exhibition of our group’s embroideries, they look stunning. I also relived a memory by visiting the recently reopened Harrogate Arms, I had my wedding reception in the cellar there way back in the early seventies. Jackie
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Heather Lewis Workshop 21 September 2024
A very enjoyable workshop stitching a new kit with Heather (A Partridge in a Pear Tree) There was lots of quiet concentration in the hall as we learned quite a few new stitches. Many thanks to Andrea for her lovely homemade cake and biscuits.
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Meeting 19 September 2024
The meeting was very well attended. Over half of the membership was there.
There was a display of our work celebrating the 25th anniversary of the group, originally as the Richmond & Leyburn Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild and latterly the Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers. The display also included more of the RHS Harlow Carr embroideries.
Our speaker today was Barry Mead with his talk – There’s More To A Needle Than Meets The Eye. Barry is an archaeologist and was curator of the Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch. He moved from there to be a curator at a mining museum ( I think Woodhorn but forgot to note that sorry) He now lives in the North East and continues his achaeological explorations.
Redditch was home to factories and mills that produced the World’s supply of needles – sewing, surgical. hat pins and many more. At one time producing 70 million needles a week. sadly, that is no longer the case and today most needles are manufactured outside of the UK.
Barry told of the history of needle making dating back to the 17th century. His talk was lively and so informative. He explained the steps involved in the making of needles showing how complex the process was but also dangerous for the workers.
Many of the names familiar to stitchers began life in Redditch – John James and Millward’s for example. Needle cases and needle related items are now very collectible pieces.
The steps involved cutting and straightening the wire, pointing, stamping and eyeing, hardening and tempering, scouring, washing and barrelling, fanning and then quality control before being packaged. There were certainly no health and safety regulations. Accidents often happened particularly in pointing stages with sadly gruesome injuries to workers. The workers in the pointing shed also risked lung damage but refused to have extractor fans fearing their wages would be cut. They received the best wages at up to a guinea (£1.05) a day in 1851
Barry was passionate about the subject and gave us a new appreciation of the history behind needles we use everyday. A visit to the museum sounds a must. Mary
Mary
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25th Anniversary Tea Tennants Versailles Room 5th September 2024
What a lovely afternoon we spent at Tennants celebrating our 25th Anniversary. Lots of our work produced over the years was on display around the room, new members could see our legacy and older members could reminisce. Between eating an excellent afternoon tea, past chairpersons told us of their times in the “top” job. Many thanks to Carolyn and the team who made the afternoon such a success.
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Meeting 15 August 2024
As we did not have a speaker Linda Crooks led an inspiring workshop making thimble pods, a very enjoyable day, the thimble pods will make excellent gift boxes. Thank you Linda
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Meeting 1 August 2024
Today was the first of a two part workshop on crewelwork with Elaine, Ann and Ione. We practiced various stitches with a view to designing our own project or for those of us not too confident in our ability, ie me, we can copy a design from a book or take inspiration from the fabulous creations stitched by Ann, Elaine and Ione. I am looking forward to part two. Ione was also busy supervising the stitching of the tablecloth.
Jackie
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AGM 18 July 2024
The morning was spent stitching then it was time for the AGM which was concluded quite quickly.
After the AGM we spent time looking at samples of work done during the year from workshops etc and travelling books including work on the tablecloth.
Also on display were the completed flower embroideries (including a few which were almost finished) before they were transported to RHS Harlow Carr, it is hoped that all the unfinished embroideries will be ready to take to RHS Harlow Carr in September.
A very enjoyable day was concluded with a very light hearted (so we were told) quiz which certainly exercised the brain cells but I am sure was enjoyed by all.
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Workshop 29/30 June 2024
Tracy Franklin- contemporary goldwork
We were pleased to welcome Tracy Franklin back to Harmby for a two day contemporary goldwork workshop.
Tracy challenged us with a variety of techniques using traditional goldwork materials. You could tell that everyone was concentrating because the hall was very quiet. We tried s-ing, French knots (very tricky), knotting, weaving and couching amongst other techniques. Many of us had not done any goldwork previously but it was clear that Tracy had enthused us and some will be exploring the technique further.
Thank you to Andrea for her delicious home baked cake and biscuits which we enjoyed very much.
We then had a lovely meal on Saturday evening at the Sandpiper in Leyburn.
What more could you ask for, an excellent workshop, cake and a meal at a very good restaurant.
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Thursday 27 June 2024
Visit to Howick Hall and Gardens
What a lovely day we had visiting Howick Hall, the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey to view the wonderful Church kneelers in St Michael and All Angels Church. We arrived to have tea, some had Earl Grey and others breakfast tea, and delicious homemade biscuits. After lunch we walked up to the church to view the fantastic kneelers and hear about the project: Avril Meakin – the heart and mind of the project – recruited local artists to provide images for new kneelers. These were transferred to canvas by Melita Butterell of the Durham Broderers Group and the Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers. The kneelers were stitched by local people and people from far and wide including members of the Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers, there are over 80 kneelers, each one a work of art. After viewing the church and keelers we were treated to a tour of the gardens and the rooms in the hall which are open to the public. Below is a link to the church kneeler project:
Howick – St Michael and all Angels | Parish Kneelers
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Meeting 20 June 2024
Our speaker today was by Lynne Hardy with her talk Under Canvas. Lyne started her career as a bio medical research scientist, she then became a freelance editor and writer.
Lynne’s talk delved into the history of canvas work from the hangings at Oxburgh Hall to the Bargello chairs in the Bargello Palace Italy, where the term we use for bargello work comes from. Lynne drew our attention to a number tapestries and canvas works etc including the canvas work panels at Wallington Gardens, Northumberland and the needlework collection at Parham House & Gardens, Pulborough. Lynne also passed around various pieces of her canvas work including her first piece as a child for us to view.
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Workshop 15 June 2024
Anne Brooke – Mono Printed Garden
We were pleased to have Anne Brooke (Hannemade by Anne) at Harmby for a workshop on mono screen printed gardens. We practiced the technique on paper first then moved on to printing on fabric. In the afternoon you could choose whether to carry on printing or to start stitching on one of the pieces that had been printed earlier.
Everyone had a lovely if messy time. Anne is an excellent tutor and extremely well organised.
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Meeting 18 April 2024
Our speaker today was by Alison Larkin with her talk Jane Austin Embroidery and The Lady Magazine. Alison was dressed as a lady from Jane Austin’s time, she told us of her journey researching the fashions of the time, focusing on waistcoats, Captain Cook’s in particular. A research project which as well as reading many books and visiting museums led her to visit Australia and many other place.
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Workshop 4 April 2024
Elaine and Ann
Crewelwork
Another excellent workshop with Elaine and Ann, part two will be on 9 May. I am unable to attend part two so I cannot wait for Elaine and Ann to repeat the workshop at a later date.
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Workshop 23 March 2024
Opus Anglicanum Underside Couching Technique Tutor Tanya Bentham
Tanya’s second Opus Anglicanum workshop, a very enjoyable but intense workshop, the room was very quiet as concentration levels were very high as we attempted to master the technique which I think most of us did.
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Meeting 15 February 2024
Our talk today was by Rebecca Atkinson and Jane Sammells. Rebecca dressed Jane in a wool merchant’s wife’s dress, the lady would have needed a servant to help her dress, on this occasion Rebecca acted as the servant. Starting with the first of three petticoats the layers were built up to the finished dress which must have been quite uncomfortable as most of the pieces were held together with vicious looking pins. The material would have come from the linen mills of Askrigg and the woollen mills of Richmond. Jane did most of the research using many books including “Swaledale Wills and Inventories 1522 – 1600” and “The Tudor Tailor” whilst Rebecca a very talented seamstress stitched the clothing.
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Stitch Day 7 March 2024
Many people are starting work on their RHS Harlow Carr project. Some ladies added more stitches to the table cloth project
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Workshop 17 February 2024
Drawn Thread Work Pin Cushion –
Tutor Beryl Frank
A very enjoyable workshop with Beryl Frank, somehow a quieter than usual workshop, lots of intense concentration as we pulled thread then picked up the scissors with dread, fortunately Beryl showed those of us who snipped in the wrong place how to weave in another thread. Once again Andrea supplied us with luscious cakes and biscuits, many thanks to her, also many thanks to Yvonne for arranging the workshop.
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Meeting 15 February 2024
Our February speaker was Joan Murray who talked about her career in textiles but particularly constructed textiles. Joan gave up a career in banking to study textiles, fashion and art. After working many years in London she moved to Skipton where she developed a fashion course for Skipton College and taught for many years. Joan specialises in weaving and machine knitted textiles. Although retired, Joan continues to draw, exhibit (she has an exhibition scheduled 2024 on Holy Island), and work on private commissions.
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Meeting 18 January 2024
Led by Yvonne and Ione we set to work to explore two stitches: Kamal Kadai and reverse stem stitch. Many thanks to Yvonne, Ione and all the others who tested the stitches and helped arrange the day.
Carolyn launched the latest project for RHS Harlow Carr ‘The Language of Flowers’ which will also be the members challenge to be displayed at the AGM later in the year before being transported to RHS Harlow Carr, many thanks to Carolyn for all her hard work collating the prints.
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Stitch Day 4 January 2024
Our first meeting of the New Year, today we began a group project, a pre-printed table cloth to embroider given to the group. We aim to complete the embroidery in time for the celebration tea in September with all the members putting in at least a few stitches, yours truly only managed one petal this morning but I aim to stitch more in the weeks to come. Many thanks to Ione and helpers for sorting out the colours and instructions which are in German, not an easy task, Ione was on hand all day to supervise and advise.
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14 December 2023 Christmas activity
A lovely day spent stitching our Christmas Projects, a gift bag decorated with a Christmas tree embellished with our own designs. Our packed lunches were supplemented with Shloer and treats provided by the committee.
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Meeting 16 November 2023
After stitching in the morning Ione repeated the talk she gave to the ANSG afternoon on 28 October 2023 to show our many new members the type of things we do as a group. Ione’s talk featured the stumpwork toadstools workshops given by Elaine and Ann and how members had developed the theme to produce their own pieces. Of course there are many other members who give up their time to give workshops to the group and we thank them all.
Our speaker for the afternoon was Jane Riley with her talk entitled Tapestry and Ceramics. Jane wanted to be an artist when she started university in Edinburgh but quickly became hooked on tapestry. After a career gap Jane came back to tapestry and ceramics taking inspiration from her love of the natural world around her, her knowledge of the many varieties of seaweed is amazing, many of her pieces are based on the way seaweed ebbs and flows in the sea. Her first solo exhibition was Intertidal at Saltburn Studios followed by Costal Matters at Kirkleatham Museum, her work has also been exhibited around the world. Watch out for her future exhibitions including Flight: weaving a home for butterflies and moths at Preston Park Museum. Jane has a workshop in Darlington, The Weaving Rooms where she works alongside artist Becky Sunter where she teaches weaving, spinning and tapestry more information about Jane can be found on her website Rookwood and Hoot Home .
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Stitch Day 2 November 2023
Despite the weather quite a number of people made it to the stitch day during which Lorna lead a workshop on Kumihimo braiding, an ancient Japanese technique. We used our disks to produce some very attractive braids most of us managed to produce a keyring by the end of the day. Many thanks to Lorna for giving her time to teach us.
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Workshop with Heather Lewis
Hearts and flowers band sampler
21 October 2023
Another very enjoyable workshop with Heather who is always a very patient tutor, challenging us to learn stitches we have not used before. Lots of concentration and laughter with lovely biscuits and cakes provided by Andrea, many thanks to her.
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Meeting 17 August 2023
We did not have a speaker at this meeting but two very enjoyable workshops given by Sue Hanson and Yvonne Wilman. Both workshops were duplicated in the morning and afternoon to enable ladies to attend both if they wished. Yvonne’s workshop was Stencils, masks & Markal paint sticks and Sue’s was Silk paper making, both were very well attended and very productive.
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Workshop with CarolAnn Allan Eco Printing
5 August 2023
Our workshop on 5th August was eco printing with CarolAnn Allan. CarolAnn explained about the fabrics, paper, and mordants that she uses before we laid out our leaves on fabric. These were rolled, tied in a bundle and steamed.
Everyone waited in anticipation while we waited for the bundles to cool and we could open them. There were a lot of ooh’s and aah’s as the prints were revealed. No two the same, never to be repeated exactly the same.
At the end of the workshop everyone had at least two pieces of fabric and a pile of papers which can be used in future projects.
CarolAnn was a knowledgeable and helpful tutor. We all agreed that it was a successful workshop.
Yvonne
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AGM 20 July 2023
During the morning members stitched and viewed the members challenge. After lunch the was AGM after which members listened to the speaker Melanie Kyles.
The speaker for July was Melanie Kyles who told us about Otomi embroidery. This is a traditional craft practiced by the Indigenous Otomi people of Mexico. The embroidery is very colourful and features images of birds, animals, reptiles, and flowers. Melanie explained how globalisation can lead to the exploitation of traditional crafts people and their work for financial gain. Following the talk there was a lively discussion by members.
There were 25 entries for the members challenge which was an embroidered letter. There was a lovely display of work carried out in a variety of techniques. Thank you to Carol for organising this.
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Workshops with Jenny Adin-Christie June 2023
The long awaited workshops which were booked before lockdown finally happened, Jenny’s two day workshops were held on 24th/25th and 27th/28th June. What a superb kits Jenny supplies with wonderful contents, a joy just to look at, her instructions are very clear giving many tips. I attended the first two day workshop and started my pheasant, under Jenny’s patient and inspirational tutorship. Most of the ladies were working on the puffin, pheasant or honesty and others on different pieces. Jenny made use of an overhead projector to show the various stages of the construction of the pieces we were working on giving us many tips to make our work even better, yet giving us all individual tuition making sure we fully understood the techniques used giving us many tips to make our work even better. We followed the Sunday workshop with a lovely meal at the Queen’s Head, Finghall.
Many thanks to Yvonne and Carolyn for organising the workshops and Denise who organising the meal.
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Meeting 15 June 2023
Our speaker today was Betty Barnett Brown with her talk Quilting, Drawing in textile and stitch. Betty Started her career in fine art but soon progressed to abstract using mainly acrylics, moving on to create material quilts, which are sewn by hand, many are of abstract design but including a piece made of tumbling blocks measuring 20 x 13 feet . In April 2018 Betty exhibited her collection of floating tent-like structures fabricated from coloured organza in Durham. A busy lady Betty also exhibited at Farfield Mill, Cumbria from May – June 2018 hanging seven large textile works and a number of small textile samples, paintings on paper and drawings. For more information see Bettys website: bettybarnetbrownartist.wordpress.com
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Meeting 18 May 2023
Our speaker today was Helen Barnes with her talk Vietnamese Textiles
Some of you will have attended Helen’s excellent workshop Costa Rican Icons. Helen is an artist working in textiles teaching and exhibiting her work for many years. Helen has travelled to many countries researching textiles including Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, India and Japan, showing us many of her acquisitions from her travels and explaining the techniques used. Helen has spent many hours researching North Country (Durham) Quilting and strippy quilts, reproducing many designs. For more details about Helen see her website: helenbarnestextiles.co.uk
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Thursday 4th May 2023
Yours truly was on holiday in Tenby so I missed what I am told was a lovely Coronation celebration with embroidered crowns on display and many lovely treats.
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Workshop 22 April 2023
Costa Rican Icons Tutor: Helen Barnes
A workshop I was not sure was for me but I thoroughly enjoyed the day producing a piece of work which was unusual for me. We welcomed five visitors, two from Snape Textiles and three from other groups in our region, I hope they enjoyed the day as much as I did. We had a lovely day with Helen with much concentration interspersed with chatter and laughter. Jackie
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Meeting 20 April 2023
Our speaker today was CarolAnn Allan with her talk Stitched Together. CarolAnn has been involved with many community projects and particularly the military wives/partners based in Army units in North Yorkshire . CarolAnn also told us of her own interests which focus on eco printing, indigo dyeing, shibori (Japanese tie dye) and slow stich.
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Meeting 16 March 2023
Our speaker today was Jessica Kinnersley with her talk My Journey in Textiles. Jessica is a textile artist and freelance arts practitioner working from a small studio in rural Northumberland, dividing her time between her own practice and working with organisations to make art accessible in the community. With a background in teaching art and textiles, commercial and embroidery design Jessica loves to work with vintage material and paper using them to create textile pieces and paper collages which are inspired by her local area.
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Thursday 16 February 2023
Our speaker today was Fran Brammer who lives and works in York specialising in freehand machine embroidery using additional mixed media to create unique pieces Fran told us of her journey to becoming a freelance embroiderer taking inspiration from the dales.
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Thursday 12 January 2023
Zoom talk with Alison Wake
A very enjoyable and informative talk by Alison who went into great detail on how she constructs her work using time laps photography to its best advantage. Her practice is described as thread painting. She is inspired by her local area in the Peak District and creates ‘fine art in stitch’
For more info go to cognissart.co.uk
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Thursday 15 December 2022
On a chilly day we met for the last time of 2022. Our Christmas project was to stitch and decorate doves, some examples below. Members of the committee made some lovely treats to have after our packed lunches accompanied by sparkling non alcoholic wine.
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Thursday 17 November 2022
Our speaker today was Jane Rollason with her talk entitled Hong Kong Stitches and Beyond. Jane told us of her introduction to patchwork when she went to Hong Kong to live. Jane has subsequently become a textile artist and tutor, judging patchworks nationally. Jane lives in the Yorkshire Dales and is inspired by our beautiful dales.
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Thursday 3 November
A very enjoyable workshop today – Surprise Packages with our tutor Sue Anderson. The morning session of the workshop was spent learning how to make the surprise packages by folding paper, the afternoon was spent putting this into practice with material and decorating them.
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Saturday 22 October 2022
Heather Lewis Little Garden Workshop
We spent a lovely day stitching Heather’s “Little Garden” I was especially pleased to learn ribbon embroidery. Many thanks to Heather for her excellent instruction as always, special thanks to Carolyn who was joint organiser with me, also many thanks to Andrea who once again made her lovely irresistible cakes and biscuits. Jackie
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Thursday 20 October 2022
A very busy day, we spent the morning stitching and viewing Jenny Adin Christie projects completed or in the process of by some of our members, they are amazing.
Our speaker today was Jill Hall with her talk The Inklemire Map
Jill told us of how she led a group of 30 people, some of whom had not held a needle in many years, to reproduce a 600 year old map of Inclesmoor or Inklemire in embroidery for the Humberside Museum. The centre of the map was stitched by a number of people with representations of villages featured around the outside, all the village embroideries were stitched by people who lived in or had close connections to them. Bayeux stitch was the main stitch used, a stitch very familiar to those of us who listened to Tanya Bentham’s talk or attended her workshop.
After Jill’s talk our latest group project was launched, watch this space for more details in the New Year….
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Saturday 1 October 2022
Tanya Bentham Bayeux Stitch workshop
What a fun day we had with Tanya there was much laughter amid the concentration, with leopards, dragons and rabbits to stitch in laid and couch work. Tanya is an inspiration with her unique look on Medieval Embroidery. Thanks to Yvonne and Carolyn for organising the workshop. Denise treated us to her yummy cakes and biscuits, many thanks to her.
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Thursday 1 September 2022
1st day of second stumpwork workshop
There was great expectation as some of us gathered to begin Anne and Elaine’s second stump work course.
We had done our homework and were ready to start. After very clear instruction from them we started our faltering steps into stump work.
The day was lovely not only did we learn and achieve a more than we thought we would, we had a lot of fun. They are both such encouragers as we began our new pieces. So thank you both.
So with our clear instructions for our next bit of preparation for the second part there will be less gardening being done!!
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Thursday 4 August 2022
2nd day of stumpwork workshop
Today was the second day of our stumpwork workshop with our tutors Elaine and Ann, who are so patient and generous of their time sharing their expertise with us, I am sure we all learnt many new techniques, I certainly did. There was a lovely atmosphere of concentration teamed with bouts of chatter and hilarity. I am sure the ladies who will attend the workshop in September will enjoy it as much as we did.
Many, many thanks to both Elaine and Ann.
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Tracy Franklin Contemporary Whitework Workshop
30/31 July 2022
What a wonderful two days we had, enjoying Tracy Franklin’s workshop Contemporary Whitework. We learnt lots of new techniques in whitework, many of which were “out of our comfort zone” as a number of ladies said but we succeeded. Hopefully when Tracy visits us next time we will have books of whitework samplers to show her. Many thanks to Tracy for her patient instruction, special thanks to Carolyn for organising the workshop and the meal on Saturday which many of us attended and enjoyed, last but not least many thanks to Andrea for trying to make us all fat with her lovely cakes and biscuits.
Some examples of our work:
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AGM 21 July 2022
The morning was devoted to stitching and chatter.
The Denise opened the AGM during which a bouquet was presented to Sue V, as she stands down from the committee, in recognition of all her hard work over more years than she cares to remember of arranging exhibitions and competitions. The members showed their appreciation and we all wish her well.
Denise is standing down as chairman and was also presented with a bouquet and many ‘embroidered tags’ made by members of the group with individual messages on the back to wish her well in her “retirement” to fulfil her new Nana duties and to be able to stitch at meetings.
Our afternoon speaker was Beryl Frank with her talk Sew Colourful Beryl is well known to the group, running a number of courses over the years. A prolific stitcher Beryl showed us many items, demonstrating her skills in dressmaking, patchwork and embroidery telling us of her life and career. Born in a house on her family’s nursery and coming full circle to live in a family house on the site of the nursery which is now a housing estate.
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Thursday 16 June 2022
Our speaker today was Tanya Bentham with her talk entitled Medieval Embroidery. What an enjoyable talk, Tanya took us through her journey to medieval embroidery. Her embroideries cover periods from ancient Greek to the Tudor period but today’s talk mainly centered on the medieval period (whoever thought medieval embroidery was dull had another think coming!). Tanya is a prolific embroiderer and showed us many of her works which are very detailed adding a few modern references to some pieces, one piece which I particularly liked had hidden references to various rock bands, Kiss, Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull to name a few, how many can you spot in the illustration on the right? You can see more of her work on her website https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com . I cannot wait for her workshop later in the year.
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Thursday 2 June 2022
We stitched in the morning followed by our own savoury packed lunch followed by lovely scones and cakes provided by our members, many thanks to all those who contributed these, with a bubbly toast to the Queen and to celebrate our first year as an independent group, long may we continue.
We enjoyed an exhibition of work produced over the years as members of the Embroiderer’s Guild and more recent work as an independent group.
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Thursday 19 May 2022 Meeting
Our speaker in the afternoon was Elnaz Yazdani, an embroidery artist based in Leeds, starting her career in the fashion industry. Elnaz is dedicated to sharing her skills with others and has taught in primary schools, secondary schools, higher education and embroiderers guild scholar. Elnaz uses unusual materials and upcycles various materials to embellish her work. For more information go to her website www.elnazyazdani.com
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Exhibition at Tennants of Leyburn
27th April – 15th May 2022
Scroll down for photos from launch day
This Spring, the Creative Stitchers invite you to Rethink the Sampler, a genre of embroidery deeply rooted in history that has undergone many revivals and is still being reinterpreted today. The stitchers will explore both traditional and contemporary samplers with a wide variety of intricate pieces. The exhibition will also include a display of antique samplers, which have been loaned from private collections or are awaiting sale at Tennants Auctioneers.
Samplers were originally produced as a practical way for girls to practice the needlework skills they would need in their role running the home. Over the years they evolved into intricate, decorative pieces often far exceeding their practical origins, and eventually became the much-loved cross-stitch sampler still made today.
The exhibition is free to enter
STITCH DAYS
Saturday 30th April – 10am to 3pm
6th May – 10am to 3pm
On Saturday 30th April and Friday 6th May, members of the Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers will be holding Stitch Days at Tennants. They will be sitting and stitching in the exhibition, to talk to visitors about their work. They will also have materials available for you to try your hand at embroidery.
The Stitch Days are free to attend, and no pre-booking is needed.
TENNANTS OPENING HOURS
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm
Weekends 9am – 5pm
Link to Tennants website: https://tennantsgardenrooms.com/
LAUNCH DAY
What a lovely afternoon we spent at the launch of our exhibition at Tennants, enjoying viewing our work with tea and biscuits too. Below are some photos, the copyright for these pieces are held by our members who created them so please do not reproduce them without permission. To see the rest you will have to go to the exhibition!
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Saturday 26 March 2022
Manipulated Fabric Heart Workshop – tutor Kate Slaughter
What a lovely day we had on Saturday, with our tutor Kate, using some techniques most of us have not tried on an embroidery before, the effects were very interesting and varied. There was much chatter between the periods of intense concentration. Many thanks to Yvonne for booking Kate’s workshop and to Carolyn for organising the day.
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Thursday 17 March 2022 Meeting
A morning spent stitching or attending Ann and Elaine’s workshop where they demonstrated how to mount our work, many thanks to Ann and Elaine.
Our afternoon speaker was Sarah Jackson a textile artist based in York who gave us a fascinating talk on folk art. Her shop is called Winifred Taylor, a tribute to her grandmother who taught her to sew. Sarah has tried many crafts including stone carving and leaded glass but always returns to her love of stitch. Her work is greatly influenced by her time living in Russia where folk art dates back to the 10th century. British folk art dates back to the 15th century. For those interested Compton Verney in Warwickshire have a vast collection of British folk art.
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Thursday 17 February 2022 Meeting
The morning was devoted to stitching, many people adding to their sample pieces for the Tennants exhibition.
Our afternoon speaker was Wyn Ingham who gave a very amusing talk entitled Casalguidi, including many family anecdotes, Wyn told us of her very talented families embroidery projects and circulated many pieces for us to examine which led her to her career in embroidery.
26 January 2022 – Zoom Talk
Nikki Parmenter, a mixed media artist gave us a well attended Zoom talk about her work, incorporating drawing with hand and machine stitching, plastic entrapment and use of many different materials including funky foam, Nikki very generously explained her techniques. A thoroughly enjoyable evening giving us many tips and hints, thank you Nikki’
Sue V’s Cloth Book Workshops
The 20th January 2022 meeting saw the first of Sue’s workshops where we learned how to make fabric books which we decorated in our own styles, A very enjoyable day with periods of quiet with much concentration interrupted by much chatter and laughter. A very enjoyable day many thanks to Sue
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RHS Harlow Carr Learning Centre.
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Thursday 18 November 2021
At our regular meeting at Harmby some of us enjoyed a lovely workshop Marvellous Metals with Linda Crooks. In the evening we enjoyed a Zoom talk by Zara Day who is a Bespoke embroidery specialist, designing and making luxury embroidery products. Zara also delivers workshops in person and on line, she told us of her progress through teaching to her present situation.
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The Association of Northern Stitch Groups (ANSG)
The Association of Northern Stitch Groups (ANSG) is an information and communications hub for independent stitch groups in our area. This new group (formerly the Embroiderers Guild North East Regional Committee) is a co-ordinating group and will be called the Association of Northern Stitch Groups (ANSG). They are not operating as a charity or trading organisation.
Initially, the ANSG will affiliate with all the new Independent Stitch Groups (ISGs) (ex-Embroiderers’ Guild branches) but may invite other related stitch and textile groups to join the association in the future.
The ANSG will develop in stages, depending upon the needs and support of the ISGs in the area, and funding.
The initial objectives of the ANSG are: To foster the art of embroidery and related crafts in the North East by:
The provision of a communications hub for the regional ISGs, offering advice and information provided by other regional ISGs and relevant groups.
Facilitating meetings of ISG officers and members to assist in the formation and development of ISGs. (Formerly Branch Officer Days)
Assisting ISGs in collaborative ventures, such as shared workshops/courses, exhibitions and fairs.
As the ANSG grows, so will their web site. they intend to report back on the website after every meeting. Other pages will include all the ISG names, locations and contact details. they will also be publishing their calendars of events and workshops.
Competitions will be announced here and photos of work will be added to a Gallery page.
The ANSG website is https://www.associationofnorthernstitchgroups.com/
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Thursday 21st October
Our first face to face speaker for 18 months! At our meeting on 21st October Deb Cooper a textile artist told us about the development of her business as a textile artist. She admitted that a few months before a pandemic was not the best time to strike out on one’s own, but gradually she hopes to regain the lost ground. Deb shared some of the work she had produced in lockdown with us and brought some beautiful examples to view and to buy. It was great to have something like a ‘normal’ meeting again!
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Friday 8th October 2021
Quite a few of us had a lovely visit to the Cone Exchange in Harrogate, topping up our stashes and adding those items we did not know we needed until we saw them! Many thanks to Alison for arranging the visit and to Sarah who helped us find what we were looking for and taking our money. The Cone Exchange is a charity committed to recycling, for more details on what the Cone Exchange is go to their website https://www.coneexchange.org/
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Finally back together – The 5th of August was a very exciting (and nerve-wracking) day as 15 members assembled to trial a face-to-face meeting at Harmby Village Hall. Apart from the lack of noise – our voices did echo a bit – it was just a normal Stitch Day, but it let us know that we could successfully gather with the correct precautions taken. On 19th August the number attending had almost doubled, and we were delighted to be joined by two guests, who have since become the latest members of Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers. We warmly welcome Pauline and Barbara, and hope they find as much pleasure in our group as we all do. You will be pleased to know that we currently have 66 members enrolled.
As though it wasn’t enough to be with our friends again (and the noise level was definitely back up to almost normal volume!) Sue Vardy very kindly gave a talk about how she makes her fabric books. In spite of only expecting literally a handful of people to be interested, Sue had to give the talk twice as almost everyone wanted to hear her, and we needed to keep the numbers in the side room to a safe level. Many of you will remember the beautiful fabric book that earned Sue a prize at the last Regional Day, so it was not surprising what a hit her presentations were. Sue has agreed to repeat this in future for members who were not able to attend in August. Denise
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Weardale Methodists’ project
Penny has been busy: “This is what I have been working on this week. It is my panel for the Weardale Methodists’ project. Left hand side where I started at 0830 on Monday 26 April 2021, 26 hours logged unpicking and re-stitching later spot the difference. Good job I like French Knots! Just the lettering and pointy corner bits to do now.”
Follow the link below to the project.
https://www.facebook.com/methodisttapestrycollection
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Branch Project
Our latest project is based on a challenge set by textile artist Anne Brooke, Sue V is coordinating the project for our branch. The idea is to create a series of mini stitched pieces, one a week for 52 weeks, which will be attached to a luggage label or similar with the date and a memory of that week written on the reverse of the label.
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Work completed by our members during these unprecedented times
From Jane H – This postcard was inspired by Sandro Botticelli The Birth of Venus. I treated calico with gesso to create a canvas type finish. The image was digitally prepared on the computer using Photoshop following a project set out in an old Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. The image was Inkjet printed on the calico and hand stitched/embellished with machine stitched edging. A great little project to build up some digital altered imaging skills.
Second piece from Jane H – This postcard was a stencil on the geli plate using fabric paint and then printed onto cotton. I free machine stitched transparent paper on to give the look and feel of honesty and then hand stitched the background and machine edged.
Third piece from Jane H – This postcard was a wooden stamp I bought from last year’s Knit and Stitch, free machine embroidered and machine edged. The background is eco printed cotton.
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From Andrea P – Andrea stitched this lovely piece for Jackie’s travelling book.
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From Jackie B – A birthday card stitched for my daughter who loves unicorns.
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The following four are images of pieces stitched for our travelling books project.
Yvonne’s collage is inspired by the work of textile artist Anne Kelly who uses vintage fabrics to tell a story. Yvonne has used fabric gifted by a friend, fabrics she has dyed and printed and lace in her finished piece.
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Just to prove that you can find inspiration wherever you look, Shirley’s Jacobean floral wallpaper gave her the idea for this motif worked in glossy threads and beads!
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Melita’s piece depicts the rock strata in silk with a vein of lead running up through them in silver threads. If you can zoom in on the image on your computer you will see fossils and the mining equipment depicted too.
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Jackie says that Pansies are one of her favourite flowers as they add colour to the garden all year round Denise loves their other name of ‘Heartsease’ too.
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From Ann M – Summer Embroidery – Ann has been busy making scrubs as well as stitching, this is the square Ann stitched for the Yorkshire Scrubs quilt.
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From Judith A – This handsome chap is ‘Corvid’, a beautiful 3D piece by Judith A, made following a workshop led by Ann Wood. His friend is what I think a sparrow imagines he looks like! The outline of the design by Nicola Jarvis was printed on heavy cotton fabric. She told us to just do whatever we wanted with it, so I did.
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From Sally B – The Great Tit Sally stitched for a friend after being inspired by the nesting ones by her bird table.
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From Chris F – Chris has been very busy whilst in Devon, the Yorkshire rose is a variation on Elaine’s design, the landscape was from a felting workshop at Harmby. Her 3 year old grandson wanted to sew too, a cross means there is treasure below.
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From Sheena G – Sheena has been busy with her flock.
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From Sue I – Sue stitched this from drawings which she had done in her garden as a woodpecker visits her feeder often.
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From Sue A – Here is a little study of a blue tit I have done as a sample for a larger piece.
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From Yvonne W – I have completed a small hanging started on a workshop with Anne Brooke called Print, Collage and Stitch. I am continuing with my Sew4theSoul challenge I shared earlier. My piece is now 25 inches long. I have learnt pistil stitch and colonial knots. The piece includes Suffolk puffs and patchwork hexagons, applied lace, buttons and beads.
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From Shirley W – I am working through my stash of kits and sewing items – I have made two Christmas quilted Advent Calendars, one Japanese quilted wall hanging, a patchwork Christmas play mat. (Using up bits from a Christmas Jelly Roll). I have also made some beaded pens. I go out for an hour’s walk every day, (anything to keep my fingers out of biscuit barrel), although I am doing more baking, which seems to be defeating the object. I have been sorting out my craft room and given up my paper crafting hobby, so made up a number of kits and donated them to the village, so someone could take up a new hobby or use it for home learning with their children so they could make posters, projects, scrapbooking, make a journal of the things they have been doing during these difficult times, anything really, then when this is all over put them on display, so that they create a not only a family history but also a village history. I have a number of embroidery books and whilst having a right good sort out I came across a book on candle wicking, so I think I might have a go over the next few weeks. Have you ever done any; if so have you any tips?
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From Jackie B – Week 3 of the TextileArtist.org community stitch challenge from Emily Tull.
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From Sue A – I started the Sew4thesoul challenge about a week ago and am finding it totally addictive.
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From Jackie B – Week 1 of the TextileArtist.org community stitch challenge from Sue Stone, the message goes out to all those who support us in these troubled times.
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From Sue V – I made this to hang in the window. Just thought I’d share as others may like to do similar.
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From Penny W – I have attached a photo of the piece of work I finished last week. Some RLN members have seen me stitching small parts of it and asked to see it when finished. The work is “The Owl & Pussycat” it was designed by Jenny Adin-Christie, and one of the kits provided by Jenny for stitching at the Region’s Durham Spring School 2019. Yes it has taken me almost a year to complete! It includes many different techniques for raised embroidery, and some at a very small scale. I remember Jenny saying in our first session “the needle-lace pea floats on the side of the boat must be the size of the finest petit-pois, no marrow-fats on this boat”. When stitching the pussy cat there were hoots of laughter when we looked at the size of the template for the needle-lace pussycat head and the leg… There has been much joy in stitching this piece as well as learning new techniques and working with new threads. Plus a bit of cursing at silk gimps when the end wanted to unravel… My final task is to take a deep breath and mount the piece for it’s frame, which was also supplied by Jenny and her fabulous team.
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Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers 