Embroiderers' Guild - the UK's leading crafts association
sharing opportunities for discovery and creativity
Apt 41 Hampton Court Palace, Surrey KT8 9AU
T: 020 8943 1229 - F: 020 8977 9882 - E: administrator@embroiderersguild.com
Embroiderers' Guild - the UK's leading crafts association
sharing opportunities for discovery and creativity
Apt 41 Hampton Court Palace, Surrey KT8 9AU
T: 020 8943 1229 - F: 020 8977 9882 - E: administrator@embroiderersguild.com
Remembering Don Clarke
At the last meeting members were saddened to hear of the death of Don. He had been a member for many years and so interested was he in embroidery, that he was quite happy to sit in a room full of women to hear about the craft he loved ? a rare man!
Four of us attended his funeral on June 16th where we heard that there was far more to Don than we had realised. In his younger days he had been an excellent runner, a one-time champion of the East of England Region. He was an enthusiastic golfer too. He and his wife Mary loved ballroom dancing and spent many happy Saturday evenings at dances.
After service in the RAF in the war, Don joined his uncle, Ben Pugh, in his engineering business in Lincoln. Having served his apprenticeship, Don eventually took over the business when his uncle died, and ran it successfully until the age of 70.
Losing his wife was a great blow to Don. Never one to lose heart and turn inwards, he took up embroidery. It became a passion with him. The precision, meticulous attention to detail and working to fine tolerances learned in his work as an engineer, were evident in his embroidery. His output was prodigious. He attended
Branch and group meetings regularly and the 'witty banter' he had with members was mentioned at his funeral as something he particularly enjoyed. Much of that banter arose from his disdain for some of the modern work being done which he regarded as beyond his comprehension.
Latterly Don's health was increasingly poor but he battled on, embroidering to the last. Recently, in a conversation with his niece, he said that he was determined on three things: "One: I will not go into hospital; two: I will not have an operation; three: I will not go into a home." He died one week later, fulfilling his wish to stay in his own home, driving his car, still working at the embroidery he loved and being himself to the end.
Barbara Adams
As you read this we will be holding our last meeting of another very successful session, the Mildred Higgins Memorial Day, with Lis Mann as our guest speaker.
Some of our newer members will ask "Who was Mildred Higgins and why a memorial day"? Mildred was Chairman of the Branch for over 30 years she died in office in 2004 and very generously left a legacy for the use of the Branch. The then committee decided that her memory should be commemorated by a special day and an annual members' competition, the Mildred Higgins Award. Today Lis Mann will judge the entries for this year's Award, the theme being, 'A Luxury Pincushion for the Woman who has Everything'. I look forward to seeing your entries.
May saw us hosting the East Midland Region Festival of Stitch, a day of enjoyment, inspiration and networking. We received many compliments on the day and your friendliness and helpfulness were constantly remarked upon. Thank you to everyone who took part in the day in any way. You were a credit to the Branch and the Guild. I have had a Photobook made as a record of the day, which will form part of the Branch archives. If you were unable to be there on the day do look at and see what you missed.
As I said at the June meeting, I will be standing down from the Chair and the committee at the AGM in October and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, for their help and support over the years. Remember, this is your Branch, so do consider becoming a committee member and helping to ensure a vibrant and flourishing Branch in the future.
Have a great summer of relaxation and stitching.
Marie
A very interesting workshop was held on the 14 June making fabric structures with Janet Edmonds following her fascinating talk at the last meeting. We started working from the sources of inspiration we had brought with us by writing a description of the objects and then choosing two words to be the focus of our practical work. We then had to produce a number of mark making drawings in ink that suggested the characteristics of these words, quite a challenge! Using different techniques of gathering, tucking and rolling we went on to produce a number of interesting samples by hand and machine inspired by our drawings and words. Now the problem is what to do with them! If any of the group attending the workshop has created an outcome from the workshop, please bring it or just your samples to the meeting in September.
Bronwyn Fleming
Treasures of the Silk Road, with Jane Davies 13 September 2009
Making a creative keepsake box, with guild scholar L.M.Young 24th October 2009
Please see Di McCatty if you are interested in either of these workshops.
A project being organised by Christina Henri, a post graduate student studying fine art living in Hobart, Tasmania and who is co-ordinator of The Bonnet Project which recognises the lives of convict women deported from the UK to parts unknown in the 19th Century ??..for crimes that required pity more than punishment convict women were forcibly migrated around the world. From 1788 to 1853 25,566 women were transported to Australia.
Members of the Embroiderers Guild locally and nationally have been helping to make 25,000 bonnets ? symbols of the women?s spirit ? a rose for an English or Irish rose uprooted from all that was familiar and dear to them, a heart to show the tribute of sincerity and empathy; from descendants, with love.
If you would like to support this project, find out more or make a bonnet please contact Norma Bean or look at the websites listed below.
Norma.bean@ntlworld.com; www.femalefactory.com.au; www.christinahenri.com.au.
Chairman's challenge 2009: based on the work on loan from the Embroiderers' Guild collection at the Museum in Oundle. A5 it may be 2D or 3D, look out for the fliers for more information
Regional Day, Kettering TEN celebrating 10 years of the Kettering Branch, choose your own personal interpretation of ten.
Embroiderers Guild Competition 'Shelter' look out for more information on our branch notice board, closing date 7-02-10
Lincolnshire EG meeting 12 September show and tell, starting competition work, and Jane Davies- Treasures of the Silk Road
Regional AGM in Ruddington Sunday 27th 2009
Lincolnshire Branch AGM 10 October and Michelle Harper ? Textile Conservation
The English Walled Garden: An Exhibition of Needlework Doddington Hall and Gardens Lincoln LN6 4RU. 2 August-2 September 2009 (Wednesday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays)
1pm-5pm info@doddingtonhall.com Tel:01522 694308
A number of members of the branch are showing their work and stewarding the exhibition.
Textile Art by the 62 Group at The Hub in Sleaford - Bending the Line
11 July-6 September 2009
Twisted Thread Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham 20-23 August 2009 Featuring the Roses from the Heart Bonnet booth.