As I'm rather late writing this blog, I'll start with next Tuesdy's meeting, and then outline what has been happening since the last one!

Tuesday 3rd May will be mini-workshops, but those who just wish to bring their own stitching and socialise, that's fine - we look forward to seeing you.

We have a beading update with Margaret, for those who have not done beading with her previously, to make earrings and/or pendant. There will be a small charge for materials.

Jean will be doing 'backgrounds for stitch', and will bring all that is needed, but again, there may be a small charge.

Annette and Sue will making stitched books, and although there will be some fabric and pelmet vilene available, and a variety of threads also, you may prefer to bring your own. 

Here is a list of requirements:

firm pelmet vilene X 1 metre  
pretty cord or ribbon X 2 metres for holding in pages and wrapping around the book
even-weave fabric, fat or long quarter
strong sewing thread to match fabric
tacking thread
sharp needles of different sizes
ruler and pencil
Frixion pen
small piece of embroidery to sew onto front cover - this is optional, or could be done later.
Eyelets (Annette will provide)
Calico, 1/2 metre or 2 fat or long quarters
sharp material scissors
Pritt stick

Annette also has some recycled material for a slightly different book, if that is what you would like.
Don't panic if some of these things are not available to you, as some can be shared, or taken out of 'stash'. The Range is not far away, if we run out!

You will have seen the photos on the blog, thanks to Marian and Sue, of the 'tree' in the Melton Carnegie museum - it's looking good, and I hope more of you will have seen the exhibition there.
Plans for exhibiting at Belton are under way, and the Boston ladies will have 17 pieces to put on display, so I hope Layers of Stitch will have one or two more besides our group piece.

You will hopefully have seen the revised programme on the blog, again many thanks to Sue Cork for this, and I can now confirm that Project Linus will be coming to talk to us in January 2017

The proposed speaker for the June meeting has moved to Hampshire, and is unable to come; she has given us some ideas about someone to fill her place, but we are awaiting a response.

Jenny, our lovely Treasurer, was to have a knee replacement last week - I hope this went ahead, and we wish her all the very best. News of that on Tuesday.

Looking forward to seeing you all after the Bank Holiday.
Kate.

Capability Brown - Stately Gardens

As you may know "Mr C.B.'s Garden Tree" our joint project is now on display at the 'Landscapes and Gardens' exhibition in the Melton Mowbray Carnegie Museum.

Many thanks go to Kate Pike and Marion Jackson, who put in so much work, finishing our leaf triangles and setting it up. Marion has supplied a few photos which can be seen in the Blog along with many of the finished Triangles.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 5th April 2016, when we are looking forward to a talk from Mary Sleigh on 'Jewels of India'; Mary is widely travelled, and this promises to be one of her little gems.

Please come prepared for more stitches in the afternoon, and Annette will give some more ideas about her stitched books.

Regional Day will soon be here, and those of you who did the 'Kickstart' workshops last Autumn are now hopefully putting together your entries for this programme, which will be shown later in the summer.
We have Raffle Tickets to sell for Regional Day. 
Vicki will need to have names (and money!) if you wish to go on the coach she is organising from the Stamford and Rutland branch, as last year.
Plus, there is another request for using embroidery frames, which Vicki asked about on the blog at the end of March. Lots to think about.

The completed pieces for the Capability Brown 'Tree' are looking magnificent, and the 'Landscapes and Gardens' exhibition in the Melton Mowbray Carnegie Museum where the tree will be displayed will be going up on Tuesday whilst we are in our meeting; I'm so grateful to all of you who embroidered triangles  for this - some managed more than one; they are all so very good, and it makes an interesting group project.
I hope, too, that some of you will consider further pieces - perhaps based on the ideas you had for your triangles? - which we can display later in the summer at Belton and later in the year at Grantham Museum.

We still have not finalised further future workshops, but hope to do so in our committee meeting later; looking ahead, we do have a speaker for the 2017 AGM, which will be confirmed shortly.

I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday.
Kate.