Rosa in action at the Harrow classes

The third and final video clip made by Monica Alcazar of the embroidery sessions in Harrow (we've just finished - they were funded by Faiths in Action). This shows Rosa Martyn, of the Royal School of Needlework, in action and talking about her passion for the work. She talks very persuasively of the power that needlework - and stitching - has to bring people together.

A film of the Valentine's Day party

Words failed me when I tried to write about the Valentine's Day party at the Marlborough Hill Centre, Harrow, during our latest embroidery sessions (funded by Faiths in Action.). Monica Alcazar's video clip conveys so much more.  We realised - thanks to Monica - how much film could add to our projects...

First of three films at Marlborough Hill

Monica Alcazar came to a couple of the embroidery sessions at Marlborough Hill, Harrow, and has put together three wonderful video clips.
Can be viewed on YouTube.  This is the first: the other two to follow later in the week.

Reviewing the Harrow course... and work created

Katrina Williams and Katherine Eves are here today in Shepherds Bush. We're reviewing this spring's course in Harrow. It's gone well  - some really good work created. Fabulous colours.

Photos from the final embroidery session

Katherine's camera ran out of battery rather quickly! But she managed to capture a group picture at our last embroidery session in Harrow.  The weeks have flown by!
We've asked for people's exhibition pieces to be ready for pick up on 31st March.

International Women's Day

No class in Harrow today as it's International Women's Day. Everything resumes, as normal, next week for the final session...

Filming, Valentine's Day and a birthday

A riotous time today at the Harrow embroidery class. Rosa Martyn from the Royal School of Needlework comes along to teach the goldwork pack.... Tomorrow (Friday) is Bharti's birthday (Bharti helps to run the group.) And there is a long-planned Valentine's Day party. Flowers and red roses have been bought. In the event, everyone decides to stick to the sewing. There will be other times to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Thankfully Monica Alcazar has come along to film the proceedings for posterity. More on YouTube in due course....

The day starts well with Bharti handing around nuts....

She gives me a coconut as a present as she says she has missed me (the first time that I have been able to come for a while)

We're lucky to have Rosa Martyn from the Royal School of Needlework to teach. She arrives in a wonderful black jacket embellished with sequin applique

Starting on the goldwork packs

Breaking for lunch

Pasta a favourite with this group

Bharti with Ruby, the cook

Mina has brought her wedding sari for me to try on. Bharti - birthday girl - poses with me. This sari has a separate fitted skirt. Much easier to wear. Bought by Mina in Gujarat more years ago than she cares to remember. Valentine's Day party flowers ....

A group photo

 

The cake - with two hearts. One, Bharti says, for herself and the other for her husband. It is eggless.

   

Singing Happy Birthday

Embroidery and a birthday party....

Photos from our latest embroidery workshop in Harrow. Am so sorry not to be able to make these classes myself - but Katherine Eves, who is leading them with Katrina Williams, is keeping me up to date with photos and info.
So many people brought in their embroidery - the photos speak for themselves.... And birthday celebrations, too... a great day by the look of it. I think I glimpse our long-standing and hugely supportive Wendy Benn -recently back from Japan  - in one of the shots!  Katherine reports...

"Everyone's sewing is coming on nicely ...The lady in the jumper is Kiran. I thought we made a good pair.

The lady who made the placemats is called Mosea. She painted them as pictures first and then made them into placemats. The designs are all her own.

It was Sweet's birthday. And she sang You're my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey.... which was lovely! I reminded them to bring something in next week. And the lovely lady who looks after them all said she would remind them. I hope they are going to wear their saris!"

(Am very sorry that I missed the singing!)

Goldwork

Birthday celebrations. Wendy Benn - far left

The fish motif, completed. Interesting how everyone adds a personal touch

Kiran and Katherine

And a close-up of Kiran's jumper

Book your place before it's too late....

Just a few places left for our sewing circles this spring in Harrow.

These will be informal, two-hour sessions, followed by lunch (similarly informal but potentially fabulous - there are some good cooks in the Centre, I know from my first visit!).

We'll be studying four embroidery packs, developed with the Royal School of Needlework (RSN), looking at Islamic and western traditions of patterns and techniques. There will be a chance to bring in your own embroidery, discuss and show the group. Please do email me if you would like to know more, volunteer or book a place. 
Thursdays, 11am to 1pm starting 20 January 2011.

The sewing circles will run weekly, with the exception of 12 March (International Women's Day) for eight weeks.These classes will be free, thanks to our funding from Faiths in Action, through Community and Local Government.

Venue: Marlborough Hill Centre, 76 Malborough Hill, Harrow HA1 1TY

STITCH embroidery classes in Harrow in the New Year

We have dates for an eight-week embroidery course in Harrow in the spring in partnership with the Asian Women's Resource Centre. Once again, we'll be studying embroidery packs, developed with the Royal School of Needlework (RSN), looking at Islamic and western traditions of patterns and techniques. Please do email me if you would like to know more, volunteer or book a place. Sessions on embroidery techniques will be led by the RSN. Here are the details:
Thursdays, 11am to 1pm starting 20 January 2011. A lunch club will follow for a nominal charge.

The classes will then run weekly, with the exception of 12 March (International Women's Day) for eight weeks.These classes will be free, thanks to our funding from Faiths in Action, through Community and Local Government.

Venue: Marlborough Hill Centre, 76 Malborough Hill, Harrow HA1 1TY