Next Meeting: Saturday 3 December

The next meeting of Preston Lacemakers will be held on Saturday, 3 December.  Cake, mince pies and nibbles will be provided.  It has been decided that members will bring their own lunches, as a number have specific dietary requirements that make it difficult to participate in a Jacob's Join.

If you would like to join in the secret Santa, remember to bring a wrapped gift, valued at about £5.  There will also be a raffle and more raffle prizes would be welcomed.

At 13:30, we shall be joined by Betsy the Housekeeper, who will give a lively and entertaining talk, in character, about her days as housekeeper at the big house.

We look forward to seeing you in December and wish you happy lacemaking until then. 

Next Meeting: Saturday 1 October Talk with photographs by Dianne Derbyshire: Lace Guild Exhibition Lace

Our next meeting takes place at New Longton Village Hall on Saturday 1 October 2022.  Dianne Derbyshire will give a talk, with photographs, on the exhibits to the Lace Guild Exhibitions.  The meeting commences at 12 noon and Dianne will start her talk at about 1.30.  Non-members are welcome to attend.  A small visitors fee is charged, which includes hot drinks and biscuits.

Next Meeting: Saturday, 4 December at 12 noon at New Longton Village Hall

Our next meeting will take place at New Longton Village Hall at 12 noon on 4 December 2021.  Betsy the Scullery Maid (Joanne Halliwell), will be joining us at 1.30 pm to describe her interesting and amusing life at the big house.  Andrea will also give her Dorset button workshop again.  Whilst Andrea will bring everything required, it would be helpful if those wishing to participate could bring basic sewing equipment, including crewel or tapestry needles, scissors and thread.  Embroidery thread is suggested.

Anyone attending is asked to bring their own lunch.  Hot drinks will be available as usual.  If you wish to participate in the secret Santa, remember to bring a wrapped gift to the value of £5.00.

It has been wonderful to be able to get together again and I look forward to seeing you all at the December meeting.

First meeting in new venue: 1 February 2020 Julie Kline, Chiropractor

Many thanks to Lisa Moore for an enjoyable and productive workshop on Needle Felting in December.  Everyone who participated completed an item to take home and we all had a great time.

Our next meeting takes place on Saturday, 1 February 2020 and we have a change of venue.  This will be our first meeting at Penwortham Priory Academy on Crow Hills Road, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0JE.  Whilst we normally meet at 10:00, we are asking people to arrive at 10:30 to give the committee a little time to get things arranged.  Our speaker will be Julie Kline, who is a chiropractor.  Her talk will commence at 11:00.  As usual, hot drinks and biscuits will be provided and members and any visitors are encouraged to bring their own lunch, though we are still in walking distance of shops if anyone needs to buy something.

Next Meeting: 2 Nov 2019 - Corsetry by Gillian Roberts

Many thanks to Tatting and design for bringing all their wonderful supplies.  Barbara also gave an excellent workshop of tatting, both shuttle and needle tatting, which members thoroughly enjoyed.

At our next meeting, Gillian Roberts, of Belladonna and Roses, will give a talk on Corsetry.  She will bring along demonstration items and corsets for members to try on.  The talk will start at 11:00.  Visitors are welcome for the talk and the remainder of the meeting.

Next Meeting: 6 July 2019 Jacqui Hyman of Textile Restoration Studio

It was great to see so many members at our last meeting when we all had the opportunity to make progress on our lace projects, view the beautiful items completed by others and catch up on everyone's news.

Our next meeting takes place on Saturday, 6 July when Jacqui Hyman of Textile Restoration Studio will give a talk titled 'Sticky Tape, Moths and Men'.  The talk will start at 11:00 and Jacqui has invited members to bring along any textiles for which they would like advice on conservation.  Members will also have the opportunity to purchase conservation items from Jacqui.

Next Meeting: 6 October 2018 Talk by Deborah Robinson on the Lace Guild's 'Lace' magazine

Many thanks to Pat Hoath and Barbara Brooks of Mainly Lace for bringing all their wonderful supplies and for an entertaining and interesting talk about their many and varied commissions.  We also enjoyed meeting and chatting to so many visitors.

Our next meeting takes place on 6 October 2018 when one of our members, Deborah Robinson, will give a talk about her time as editor of the Lace Guild's 'Lace' magazine.  Deborah will bring along copies of the magazine and we look forward to hearing about events 'behind the scenes'.

This is a change to the published programme as Gwynedd Roberts is no longer available for personal reasons.  Our thanks to Deborah for stepping into the breach.

October 2018 Meeting: Change of advertised speaker

Gwynedd Roberts was scheduled to speak at Preston Lacemakers meeting on Saturday, 6 October 2018.  Unfortunately, and with regret, she is now unable to attend for reasons beyond her control.   Thankfully, one of our members, Deborah Robinson has stepped into the breach and will give a talk about her time as editor of the Lace Guild's 'Lace' magazine.  We are very grateful to Deborah and look forward to a glance 'behind the scenes' of the Lace magazine.

Next Meeting: Mainly Lace Saturday 1 September 2018

Lovely to see so many members at the last meeting and to welcome a visitor.  All members should have received a Newsletter by email or post.  If you have not received one, please contact the secretary.

Our next meeting will be held on Saturday 1 September 2018 at 10:00.  Mainly Lace will be bringing supplies for sale and Barbara Brooks, of Mainly Lace, will be giving a talk about 'Commissions'.  The talk will take place about 11:00.  If you are interested in joining the group, listening to the talk and/or buying some lace supplies, do join us.  The cost is £3 for each visitor, which includes tea and coffee - it's helpful if you can bring your own cup.

PLEASE NOTE: CHANGE OF VENUE APRIL 2018 MEETING

Penwortham United Reformed Church has informed us, at short notice, that we are unable to use their premises on 7 April 2018 because essential electrical work is being carried out.  As our last meeting was disrupted due to snow, we were reluctant to cancel the meeting.  We have been able to book the Board Room from 10:00 to 15:00 at Penwortham Priory Academy, which is about 10 minutes walking distance from the Church.  The full address is:

Penwortham Priory Academy
Crow Hills Road
Penwortham
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 0JE

All members should have been informed, but if you have any questions, please email prestonlacemakers@yahoo.com or contact the secretary.

Next Meeting: Acorn Bobbins Saturday 7 April 2018

What terrible weather we had for our AGM last month!  Many members were unable to attend because of the bitter cold and the snow, but thankfully we were quorate so could proceed as planned.  The secretary has emailed all members with the minutes, so if any member is reading this and does not have a copy, please contact the secretary.

Our next meeting takes place on Saturday, 7 April 2018, when Acorn Bobbins will give a talk at 11:00 and will bring items for sale.

If anyone would like to visit, the cost for a visitor is now £3, including tea or coffee and a biscuit.

Next Meeting: Deborah Robinson's talk 'The Lace Magazine' on January 6th, 2018

I am told that you all had a great time at the Christmas party and that the food was as delicious and varied as ever.  This is the first Christmas Party I have missed in many years, thanks to a pre-Christmas bad cold!

Preston Lacemakers are very fortunate to have Deborah Robinson, the current editor of 'Lace' magazine, as a member.  Lace magazine is issued by The Lace Guild, whose website is https://www.laceguild.org/ and you will hopefully be able to find by clicking here.  Deborah has very kindly agreed to give a talk about her role as editor, which I am sure will be both enjoyable, interesting and enlightening.  Her talk will start at about 11:00 on Saturday, 6 January 2018.  Non-members, and anyone interested in joining us, are welcome to attend, on payment of the normal visitor charge.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy 2018.

Next Meeting: 1 July 2017 Members' work display and Sales Table

Many thanks to Pauline of Polly Jane Yarns, who gave an entertaining talk, interspersed with playing the accordion and ending with a sing song accompanied by the accordion. Pauline also bought some wonderful yarns and other knitting and crochet patterns and accessories for sale, so members were able to purchase some lovely items.  We were lucky that Pauline could join us, as she will only be visiting Pudsey and Haydock Park in the future.

Our next meeting takes place on the 1 July, where members can display pieces of their work.  We shall also have the sales table available, where members can sell and buy second hand lacemaking products.  As always, we shall be making lace, catching up with news and sharing lunch together.

Should anyone like to visit us, the cost is £1, which includes tea, coffee and biscuits.  Bring your own cup and, if you forget to bring lunch, you could buy something from a choice of local shops.

Next Meeting: 3 June 2017 Pauline Hardwick of Polly Jane Yarns

It was lovely to see such a good attendance at our meeting last Saturday.  Welcome to our new junior lacemaker and to our two new adult lacemakers.  It was great to meet you and see your beautiful work.

Our next meeting takes place on Saturday, 3 June, when Pauline Hardwick, of Polly Jane Yarns, will entertain us at 11:00.  We're keeping the content a surprise!  Pauline will also bring a selection of her yarns and other products for us to buy.  A number of you have shown the wonderful items you produced after buying yarns and patterns at Polly Jane Yarns' last visit.

If you are not a member and are thinking you might like to consider joining the group, you are most welcome to attend.  The price for visitors is £1.

Next Meeting: 6 May 2017 Display of Members' Work

Many thanks to Rubina Porter MBE, who gave us an amazing talk at the last meeting, all about her work with a children's and women's centre in Bangladesh. She brought lots of lovely items made at the centre for us to buy.  These included scarves, shoe bags, phone cases and cards.  These were so popular with the group that Rubina made £415 from the sales.  All the money goes to her work at the Sreepur Village in Bangladesh. 

Our next meeting will be on Saturday May 6th and will be a day for us to make lace and display our latest work.  If you wish to join us, this will be a good meeting to meet members, see their lace and chat.

Next year we shall be exhibiting our work at Haydock Lace Fair.  The theme will be 'Celebrations'.  Would members please let the committee know of any ideas for the exhibition and if they have any lace that can be included.

Next Meeting: 1 April 2017 Rubina Porter MBE 'Threading Dreams'

Thank you to members for squeezing into the only heated room in the building for our AGM last month.  Unfortunately the Church had heating problems and were only able to provide temporary heating in the small room.  We coped, however, and the Jacob's Join finger buffet was a great success.

Next month, on 1 April 2017, Rubina Porter MBE will be giving a talk entitled 'Threading Dreams'.  The talk is planned to start at 11:00.  Visitors are very welcome to join us.  You don't required any tickets though we ask for £1, which includes tea and coffee and biscuits.

After the talk, we shall all chat, make lace and share ideas.  Any visitors are, of course, welcome to stay for the full day.  If you forget to bring some lunch with you, there are shops and food outlets nearby.

Next Meeting Saturday 7 January 2017 Church Meadow Crafts

Thanks to Stephen Watson for an entertaining talk and workshop on Origami, given after another splendid Jacob's Join Christmas lunch on 1 December.  For those members who were unable to attend, you can see details of his work and some videos on his website www.foldpaper.co.uk, or click here.

Our next meeting takes place on Saturday, 7 January 2017, when Church Meadow Crafts will bring lace and other supplies along for members and visitors to purchase in the morning and will give a talk after lunch.  A good opportunity to think about your next project and to purchase any threads, fabric and equipment you will need.

Our AGM takes place at the March meeting.  If you have any items that you wish to add to the AGM agenda, could you please give them to Carol Fenlon, preferably at the 7 January meeting but definitely by the end of January 2017.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful 2017.

Next Meeting: Smocking - Talk by Sally Figgins Saturday 1 October 2016

At our next meeting on Saturday 1 October 2016, Sally Figgins will give a talk on Smocking.  The talk will start at 2.00 pm and last for about 45 minutes to an hour.  Sally is informative, entertaining and interesting, so we should all find the talk enjoyable.  Our meeting will still commence at 10:00 as usual, so bring your current project too.

Next Meeting: 4 July 2015 Polly Jane Yarns

Our next meeting, on Saturday 4 July, will be an interesting and entertaining talk by Pauline of Polly Jane Yarns entitled 'A yarn about a yarn'.  There will also be a vast choice of knitting and crochet yarns, patterns and accessories to browse through and purchase if you wish.  As always, visitors are most welcome.  Please let us know beforehand if you wish to join us as a visitor at this meeting, as we shall have less space than usual and, therefore, can only have a limited number of visitors.  The email address to contact us is prestonlacemakers@yahoo.com or you can telephone our secretary, Carol Fenlon, on  01695 728320 if you prefer.

Next Meeting 11 October - NOTE DATE, A WEEK LATER THAN USUAL

Thanks to all those members who brought contributions to the members display - something tangible. It was inspirational, with wonderful ideas and beautifully crafted lace.

Our next meeting takes place on 11 October, the second Saturday of the month.  The church wanted the hall on the 4 October, our usual meeting date, for the Penwortham Autumn Show.  This is the first time that Penwortham have held the show, so it would be great if people could pop along.

Alison Fleming will give a talk, exhibition and demonstration about porcelain and miniature dolls, starting at 13:30.  Non-members are welcome to join us as visitors, cost £1.00.