Saturday 6 September 2014

New Season.

The summer break is almost at an end and just a reminder that our new season begins, a week later than usual, this Thursday 11th September, 10.30am.


Friday 6 June 2014

'The World Is Your Oyster' Exhibition and HHCG AGM.

Trying to take successful photos of an exhibition like ours is impossible.
Too many reflections, 121 entries. You couldn't favour one piece over another as they are all so different in style and technique.
I noticed that the members of the public who came to view were struggling  to choose a favourite to vote for.
"It's all so good," they say.  "We don't want to choose."
Going by the signatures in the book  (254)  our visitor numbers are down this year.
However, sometimes it's hard to catch the visitors as they disappear out of the door without signing our book.
Someone has suggested taking a tally and I think that's a good idea for our future exhibitions.



Personally, I thought this was one of our better exhibitions. 
It was more on theme than usual and the colours flowed. 
There seemed to be just the right amount of framed pictures this time, making it easier for the 'hanging team' to place them at a better height for viewing.
Our visitors paid us great compliments on the diverse range of crafts. 

For this years group project, 'Under The Water,' we worked with artist Anushiya Sundaralingam and made some pieces of felt.



Judy Cinnamond's Mermaid

Yesterday it was our AGM and pot luck lunch. As usual there were some lively discussions interspersed with the business side of things!
Jennifer Lindsay was the deserved winner of the Visitors' Choice Cup this year with 'Jenni Choo' - a lace and bead embroidered high heeled shoe.
It was displayed in the glass cabinet on the top shelf.



 The job of flower arranging for this years exhibition was passed to Bernadette, from Anna who is one of our founder members.
It was our Pearl Anniversary and I'm not sure if Anna has been arranging the flowers for all of those thirty years. If so, it's quite an achievement.


                  A cheque of £540 was presented to our chosen charity - Children's Kidney Fund NI.

Our ladies are also creative in the kitchen and our meeting was followed by a delicious pot luck lunch.


We have our last meeting next Thursday 12th June before the Summer Break.






Monday 12 May 2014

Harmony Hill Craft Group Annual Exhibition.

The Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, is the venue for our Annual Craft Exhibition opening tomorrow at 10am.
This year the theme is 'The World Is Your Oyster'  along with our group project 'Under The Water.'
The exhibition runs from Tuesday 13th May until Saturday 24th May.

Click here for the Arts Centre information on opening times.

Today some of our members were setting up the exhibition.
It takes a while, and items get moved around the room a number of times to find the best position, under the expert guidance of our Exhibition Curator, Judy.

Eventually it all comes together.


Why not come and see the variety of crafts on show?

Friday 28 February 2014

Tapestry.

There's a lovely tapestry on show in the Island Arts Centre at the moment.
Last year, one of our members, Carolyn, became involved with a project with ArtsEkta and Arts for All

Here's a little explanation about it from the ArtsEkta website :

In February 2013 a remarkable group of women were brought together by two Belfast based arts organisations -ArtsEkta and Arts for All to take part in a project which would create a ‘narrative on cloth’ honouring and celebrating the history of the port and docks of Belfast, the communities surrounding them and the role of women in this important history.


Yesterday Carolyn chatted to us about the tapestry and gave us an insight in to how it was made....
you can view photos and read all about the launch of the tapestry here.

I don't know how long it will be on show at the Island Arts Centre but it's worth coming to see.

ArtsEkta and Arts for All are now looking for interested participants for a follow on project beginning in March, you can find more information here.


There's also an interview on the radio where you can hear Carolyn's thoughts on the project.  It's  about 2.19 minutes in.

Friday 14 February 2014

The day of the 'Valentine's Tea Party'.

Before I start talking about cake, don't forget The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our screens next Tuesday 18th Feb, BBC 2, 8.00pm.
It's great to see a programme about sewing and also how popular it has become.

Now, on to the cakes. There was hardly any room on the table.







                                                          Tired looking at cakes yet?!


Thanks to the Harmony Hill ladies it was a very successful morning.
Our Valentine's Tea Party raised £112. 50 for the
Children's Kidney Fund for NI.

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Myrtle, Judy, and Elizabeth took part in 'Members Stories' and chatted about how they became interested in sewing. Most of us learnt from our mother's and were stitching from an early age.

Elizabeth told us about her young grand-daughter, Darcy, age 9, who has picked up the sewing bug.
She has a little Janome sewing machine and this is some of her work below.


I loved the little stuffed owl, right, and she's made an 'owl fabric' bag to carry him in.

I think Darcy might be on 'The Great British Sewing Bee' one day!

Monday 10 February 2014

Valentine's Tea Party.



                       This is how the river looked last Thursday around the Island Arts Centre.

Just the right conditions for a mermaid.... this was felted a few weeks ago.


Now she's being embellished.


Some members of our group are working on these felted pieces for the exhibition in May.

**

And we all wondered what this was going to be,  quite a while ago now.



Of course, it's a teapot! 





That reminds me, we have a Valentine's Tea Party this Thursday morning (13th) to raise some funds for
our chosen charity this year  -  the Children's Kidney Fund NI.
So let's get baking, ladies.......Cakes and Tray Bakes would be much appreciated.


Friday 10 January 2014

Harmony Hill Craft Group. Annual Exhibition.

The Island Arts Centre brochure 'Engage' is now out. Adult courses and workshops are available to book.
This time the brochure covers two terms and our annual exhibition is featured on page 25.
It's not until May but it comes sooner than you think!

 Whats On | Harmony Hill Craft Exhibition ‘The World is your Oyster’ | ISLAND Arts Centre, Lisburn