We have logged all HCE’s books using a specialist piece of book cataloguing software called Book Connect by Collectorz.  It works by uploading all the data about a book from the ISBN number obtained by scanning the book’s bar code using a dedicated App called CLZ Barry.

The link to the Read Only version is available through the Members’ Page.  Do have a look at the site and explore the Library.  You can organise the display by list, book cover etc. You can also search in a variety of ways – author, title and, of particular use for us, on technique.

The Library includes details of Sarah’s and Teresa’s embroidery and sewing books which are also available for borrowing.

More information on the software and its capabilities can be found at https://www.collectorz.com/book/book-connect

Borrowing a book

If you would like to borrow any of the books listed, send an email to Sarah.  In normal times, Sarah will bring the book to the next meeting for you but at the moment it’s our own version of ‘Click and Collect’.

Adding your books to the Library 

If you have books that you are willing to loan out to HCE members, let Sarah know and she will set you up a separate page.  You will then need to get the ISBN numbers to Sarah. The easiest way to do this is by using the free CLZ Barry Wireless Barcode Scanner available from your App Store.  From there you can email the scanned numbers to Sarah. 

If the book is old – pre bar code – you will need to provide the ISBN number manually.

If you have a lot of books, it may be easier to upload them directly into our Library.  Have a word with Sarah if that’s the case.

As Sarah has been leading us through exploring one stitch at a time she has been acquiring more books about modern embroidery.

At our last meeting she mentioned Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery by Sharon Boggon and Modern Hand Stitching by Ruth Chandler.

Both are clear bright reference books about a series of stitches, how to work them and then combine them for a modern interpretation.

Whilst these are her own books she will be placing them on the group library app and they may be borrowed by members of this group.

Anna also told us about The Fabric of Civilisation – how textiles made the world by Virginia Postrel . A surprising history of the world covering trade, politics, dyes, agriculture & microbiology.

All are available from good book shops or online sources.

One of the benefits of seeing members work as photographs is the ability to see the detail. Here we can take a close look at The Grape Picker by Teresa.

Teresa has kindly supplied an explanation of the many techniques involved.

The head and body were stump work – stuffed and moulded shapes.

The cotton on the face was dyed in cold tea and the hair embroidered in various shades of brown stranded cotton.

The cap was made from felt.

The hands were florists wire covered in flesh toned stranded cotton.

The Clothes were needle lace and this is them under construction.

The basket was woven with gimp.

But all of this was constructed on a background of calico. Here seen badly stretched but it shows the underlying structure of the background before the edging was applied.

The background was calico covered in:

Blue organza for the sky – overseen with seeding when the organza had split!

The landscape and border was made from silk rods. The autumn coloured silk rods were split apart, soaked in lukewarm water then ironed flat.  They still retained some gum when cut out and ironed onto the background but some decorative herringbone held the pieces in place.

My thanks to Teresa for sharing this content and images.

© 2021 All content contained within this website is copyright

Our November 2019 meeting was something a little different. Local craftswoman Cathy Powling came to tutor us in making these charming cards. Cathy brought along many examples of her cards and showed the range of her imagination for many occasions.

• 

• 

• 

Cathy’s preferred medium is paper, so she shared the techniques involved whilst our discussions contemplated the possibilities using fabric, Lutrador, Pelmet Vilene or similar products to make the base. We also thought that fabric might be used for pattern, and other stitching & media ideas could be used for the pop-up elements.

• 

• 

With Christmas just a few weeks away it was the starting point for most of our cards and featured above are just some of our efforts. It was a productive afternoon as we enjoyed ourselves, learnt a new technique and went home with a finished product, but knowing how to do it better next time.

Stitchfest at Ardingly saw the launch of our Crystal Swan as she glided across our table accompanied by Young Embroiderers’ & members work.

She caused a great deal of interest and much praise, especially when Teresa explained the detailed construction process.

Our Alphabet Tiles continue to draw interest and clearly had given inspiration to other Guilds.

The show cases were a varied delight. It was a great opportunity to talk to fellow stitchers and share stories of creativity. I came away gaining ideas for future projects but had also shared my knowledge to encourage others.

• 

• 

Many ladies were heard to say ” I’m not going to buy any more,” but we did.

Our thanks must go to the organisers who I hope had time to enjoy the exhibition as it was a long day – but a positive and encouraging event.

The latest project from the Young Embroiderer’s has been to make a needle-case and pinwheel using decoration created with fabric transfer paints. The addition of simple stitches has added depth & interest.  A fun project with a simple idea led to many variations so that each member has expressed her personality. Some were completed this week and each member was given a set of needles & pins to get them started. We wait to see the more complex designs next meeting.

Last term our Young Embroiderers got creative and working to their individual abilities made shoulder bags from denim jeans. Besides recycling this covered many facets of design and selection; the techniques  included creating their unique applique motifs, applying & hand stitching their design,  machine stitching their bag and liner to create this draw string bag. These two bags illustrated drew from the night sky for their inspiration.

Our November meeting was an enjoyable afternoon with Anne Hellyer explaining how her city-scape art techniques have evolved.

     Anne was generous with her knowledge and imparted various ideas that we could explore. Several ladies purchased the assembled packs of painted fabric and we wait to see their efforts.

We look forward to meeting Anne again later in the year when she will be leading our Autumn workshop day on 17 November 2018.