 Living Threads Group NewsletterFebruary 2024  Living Threads Newsletter – FebruaryAlready into the second month of the year – how time flies! Slowly the days are getting longer, the snowdrops, primroses and hellebores are putting on a show and in my garden the Daphne and Winter box are starting to bloom and their amazing fragrance is filling the air. I actually like this time of the year, particularly going out on a brisk, bright day; but even the miserable days have their compensation – what better excuse to hunker down and sew.  I know our members are pretty busy with their exhibition pieces right now, as we move closer to the opening date Living Threads’ exhibition of Earth, Sea, Sky at the Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery on Friar Lane. We are really looking forward to welcoming you between the 19th and the 29th of March and sharing our love of creative textiles. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 4pm and entrance is FREE.Come along and bring a friend, or two, or more!It was so good to hear that The Museum of Making, at the Silk Mill in Derby has re-opened after being flooded in October last year. If you haven’t already visited it is a very good venue for a day out. Housed in the historic Silk Mill, part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, this contemporary museum space tells Derby’s 300-year-old history of making. The museum offers something for everyone, with exhibits, workshops, activities and events. There is a very good café and a shop with an interesting selection of books and materials The Silk Mill is widely regarded as the world’s first modern factory, built in the valley that changed the world. Industry brought prosperity to some and poverty and wage slavery to others, yet it shaped Derby as a city of making and creativity. An area of the museum that I particularly like is an interactive display where local craftspeople of today tell their stories. I think it’s pretty special that we have such a significant World Heritage Site right on our doorstep and we should celebrate it.One of our members, Sarah Cooke, will be holding Weaving workshops at the newly re-opened museum and will also be teaching during our Spring Workshop at Risley. (details below) Sarah has been weaving for about 15 years and is totally obsessed and constantly finding new things to learn and new techniques to experiment with. Sarah previously lived and worked in Bristol, organising arts and craft courses for the Adult Learning Service. Moving to Nottingham three years ago gave her the time and opportunity finally to concentrate on her own passion for weaving and to develop the use of re-cycled and ‘found’ materials into her work. Plastic packaging, fabric off-cuts old cables etc all find their way into her work, not only ‘saving the planet’ but, with Sarah’s magic touch, are transformed into things of beauty. Recent travels to Guatemala focused on researching traditional techniques which are now being incorporated into an ever-growing repertoire. Sarah’s passion for weaving also extends to her love of encouraging others, so check out her website – www.sarahcooke.co for opportunities to learn to weave. In the meantime, here are some dates where you can meet Sarah and share the passion: – Saturday, 10th February – Weaving with Waste at Shop Zero, Friar Lane, Nottingham – there’s still time to sign up! Saturday, 16th March Weaving with Waste at Created by Hand, Strelley Sunday, 21st April – Weave a Silk Purse at Shop Zero, Friar Lane Saturday, 13th April – Weaving with Waste at the Museum of Making, Derby Saturday, 13th July – Weave a silk Purse at the Museum of Making, Derby Contact the above venues directly for more information and to book As part of Living Threads Spring Workshops (see below) Tuesday 2nd April and Friday 5th April (a 2-day course) Introduction to Tapestry Weaving at Risley Village Hall,book directly with Sarah -Sarahcooke80@btinternet.com Also, look out for Sarah at Lady Bay Art Trail, 18-19 May and Open Studios Notts, 22-23rd June Sarah is also the genius behind sending this newsletter out every month Thanks a lot, Sarah! we all appreciate it.  Living Threads Spring WorkshopsTuesday April 2nd, Wednesday 3rd, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th April All classes will be a full day, 10am – 4pm and will take place at Risley Village Hall, DE72 3SS. Tuition fee is £50.00. There will be an additional cost for materials. There will be two different classes each day. These are currently in the planning stages but here’s a taste of what’s on offer -: Wednesday April 3rd – Mixed Media Seascapes with Stitch with Jane Marrows. Book directly with Jane on janemarrows@hotmail.com Friday April 5th– Patchwork Roses with Gillian Choo- learn how to make two Rennie Mackintosh inspired Rose blocks , one from a pattern and one from fabric scraps, together with an accompanying leaf block and a Twirled Rose block, which can be used in a quilt or made into a brooch. Thisclass requires students to be able to do a basic straight stitch on a standard sewing machine. Book directly with gillchoo@hotmail.com Saturday April 6th – Ladybird and Dragonfly in Stumpwork with Tony Toon .Book with Jane marrows on janemarrows@hotmail.com. I will be including full descriptions of all courses on offer and booking details in the March newsletter and information will also be on the website – https://www.livingthreadstextileartists.coThere’s still time to catch…. Gathering Threads are currently holding their exhibition ‘Walls and Gardens’ at Beeston Library until 14th February.This month, I am Reading – Barbra Streisand’s autobiography ‘Call me Barbra’ Knitting – a birthday cardigan requested by my daughter Making – lots of Marmalade Re-upholstering – an Ercol chair, also for my daughter! And finally, our newsletter has lots of subscribers (thank you very much for your support!) and I would really love to hear about what you and your local group are doing and of exhibitions you are planning. Please contact me on maggie-ready@virginmedia.com and put Newsletter in the subject box So, without a minute to spare, I’m going to sign off on this newsletter, and wish you all a happy and creative month ahead, Maggie . 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