Tuesday 11 December 2012

Workshops


Over the last year we have had some shorter workshops that allowed members to produce some very interesting work. These brooches were produced using manmade fabrics cleverly cut and sewn together decorated with beads.
These tassels used up leftover wools and threads. They are wrapped around a double piece of card, cut and tied off. They can be finished off with beads and members were very happy with a quick activity.

Monday 27 August 2012

INDIGO DYEING and HAVE A GO DAY

 
In mid August we had an afternoon of dyeing! Sandy organised us the week before and we tied and folded and twisted fabric ready for the indigo dye bath.
 
 
 
Here Louise, Kath, Sandy and Chris are busy untying their fabric and leaving it on the clothes rack to dry.

a selection of drying scarves and fabric pieces.

Jean untying her linen that she made into a stunning jacket, see below
 
Jean's asymmerical jacket is topped stitched in white and looks stunning with her white linen trousers.


This square scarf was originally a failed russet attempt and has been revitalised by tying with string and dipping in the indigo vat.

This picture shows a variety of fabrics and tying techniques, the very dark strips are cotton lace.

This silk georgette scarf was folded and wrapped around a pole to create this stunning effect.

Three revitalised scarves the two outside ones have been clamped using square cutouts to create these patterns.
 
The programme for the coming year starting September includes a series of dyeing sessions where we will use a full range of dyes and techniques including, Procion, Disperse, Acid, space dyeing, ice dyeing and more indigo.
 
We are currently getting ready for our HAVE A GO Day on the 15th September when we are OPEN for the general public to visit us and try out some of the activities that we get upto on a MONDAY afternoon.
 
IF YOU LIVE NEAR TO MARPLE, STOCKPORT DO COME AND VISIT US AT ST MARTINS CHURCH HALL, SK6 5DT
 
BETWEEN 10am AND 4pm.
 
YOU CAN HAVE A GO AT silk card making, silk flowers, silk painting,
YOU WATCH microwave scarf making, using by products of the silk industry, silk painting
YOU CAN enjoy homemade cakes and a cuppa
YOU CAN VIEW our exhibition of all things silk
YOU CAN BUY silk products that members have created.
 
The last one we held two years ago was a great success and we gained many new members, most of whom are still with us!!!
 

Tuesday 12 June 2012

BRADBURY HOUSE EXHIBITION

We are in the throws of getting ready for our next exhibition which starts on Friday the 29th June 2012 with a preview evening. ALL WELCOME.


"A TOUCH OF SILK"
29th June - 27th July 2012
exhibition of silk paintings, silk scarves, silk jewellery.
All items for sale
BRADBURY HOUSE
10 MARKET STREET
GLOSSOP
DERBYSHIRE
SK13 8AR

NB
Because the building is shared it is important to check for opening times.
Either phone 01457 860007 or

Tuesday 3 April 2012

SILK PAPER and SILK RODS WORKSHOP

The latest workshop at Silk-n-Threads was lead by Margaret Steeden and involved members using silk hankies and silk rods. Both these are by products of the silk industry.
Silk hankies are produced from silk cocoons and Margaret showed us how, by soaking the cocoons and then pulling out the fibres to fit around a frame. Weavers then spin yarn from these hankies but we used then to make silk paper. We layered several thin hankies, sometimes trapping fibres and other elements eg dried leaves and seed heads. Using dilute PVA as an adhesive allowed us to produce a useable 'paper' that we then made handmade books and needle cases from. Margaret also uses these new fabrics as the basis for  Free Machine Embroidery.

This is the result when you use several different coloured hankies. This example has pieces of blue lace trapped inside it. They have attractive edges and we used these to effect as can be seen in the pictures of needlecases produced



The pink example has lace trapped inside the layers of paper, it was then embellished with hand stitching.

These are examples of members books and needle cases the top and bottom ones are silk paper and the two outside ones are from silk rods.


For some reason Blogger has uploaded these pictures upside down!!!


These are the hearts produced by separating silk rods and bondawebbing them to felt from which hearts were cut, decorated and stitched. The decoration ranged form lace, buttons, embroidery, ribbons and 3D butterflies. Some of the members utilised their card making skills.
These brooches are made from the leftover pieces of the silk rods and the silk paper

Sunday 11 March 2012

Bill Hague Gallery

Bill has the honoured position of being the only male member of Silk-n-Threads. He paints with Pebeo heat set silk paints and has a recogniseable style using black gutta to good effect.

 Bill also paints in many other mediums and particularly enjoys charcoal sketching.