Lincolnshire Branch: Newsletter December 2010

December 2010 Newsletter

Chat from the Chair
Greetings from Australia!
I hope the weather is not treating you too badly, although I hear there has been snow in many places. Here we have bright sunshine, with temperatures ranging from about 25 to 30 degrees, although there has been a mini heat-wave in the last two days, with temperatures in the mid thirties. I am pleased to say it is cooler and much fresher today. Far more pleasant!
A few days ago, while walking along a path above low cliffs we were treated to a stunning
performance of surfing in the clear water below by a group of six to eight dolphins. For about twenty minutes they rode the waves, leapt out of the water, and swam back to wait for the next big wave to come, just like human surfers and in many ways more skilful. It was as good, if not better than a David Attenborough film! They were clearly doing it for pure enjoyment and fun. The fact that we were watching gave us pleasure too, but they would have surfed and played in the waves whether we were there or not.
It occurred to me that, in a similar way, we do embroidery for the personal enjoyment it gives us. If other people admire it and obtain pleasure from it, this is a bonus. However, we would still continue to sew for our own satisfaction, even without an audience.
Enough homespun philosophy!
I hope you all enjoy decorating and personalising your Christmas gift, and I look forward to seeing them all at the meeting in February.
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
Dee.

Branch Meetings
January 8th 2011
AM. Wendy will talk about Inspirations from Japan and there will be an opportunity to work
on the Cathedral project, Olympic postcards or your own work.
PM.Georgina Bell talk 'New Approaches to Felt' and demonstration in the afternoon. 'The
works that I produce can be diverse in their use of materials, methods and concepts but the link between each piece is always the process of drawing. I draw with traditional media. And alternatively with dyes, the sewing machine, the computer, felt, embroidery silks and cotton'.
February 12th
AM.Kerry Mosely talk 'A Textile Artists' Progress'. Kerry's work was featured at the 2009 Knitting and Stitching Show, she uses knitting as a base for her embroidered textiles.
PM. Mini workshop. Decorative door hangers work in the afternoon.
There will be at least 2 different workshops one for those that can knit and one for those that cannot.
If you can and wish to knit please bring size 14 knitting needles if you have them. Workshop kits with materials will be provided by Kerry Mosely at a cost of £3
March 19th - Nicky Dillerstone and Crafty Notions 'Spring into Action'.
April 16th - Linda Miller 'In stitches'
May 14th - Alyson Midgelow Marsden 'Tarnished Stitches' with mini workshop in the afternoon.
June 11th - Branch Cathedral project
July 9th - Mildred Higgins Day speaker Alison Mercer and a mini workshop creating a stitched surface suitable for a book cover in the afternoon.
WORKSHOPS
March 5th - Vivienne Brown 'Using computers for changing and using images for stitch'
April 17th - Linda Miller 'Pictorial Machine Embroidery'
July 10th - Alison Mercer - Making Stitched Sketchbooks.
Extra Kickstart Dates
Just to let you know that as last Sunday's Workshop was cancelled I have re-arranged another for 6th February, 2011 with Sue Lancaster, again at Risley Village Hall. 10-4pm
If anyone is interested please get them to send an amended booking form from the back of the booklet with cheque to me as per the booklet and I will send a requirements list and map. Booklets are still available from Carol Anderson, this year's theme is Chocolate.
Norma Bean

COMPETITIONS and EXHIBITIONS
Competition set my Maggie Relph 'Everyday Life in Africa - A Challenge'
Mildred Higgins' Day Competition set by Alison Mercer 'Colouricious'
EG Members challenge - Work based on the Or Nué visitor's book by Margaret Nicholson. See the Autumn Contact for further details closing date September 2011.
Kickstart - East Midlands Exhibition this year's theme 'Chocolate'.
Branch Cathedral Exhibition Summer 2012
Olympic Postcards - The Comoros Islands - To be completed April 2012
'Inspired By Japan' East Midlands Exhibition - Spring 2012

Branch Trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace
On Saturday 9th October a party of Branch members went by train to the Knitting and Stitching Show (K&S) at Alexandra Palace, London. The ticket price for travel and entry was extremely good value although we had to negotiate the partial closure of two Underground lines and a lengthy return journey on account of engineering works. Thanks to
Dee for organizing the tickets. Coping with disrupted Tube services provided an early opportunity to chat with other members of the textile tribe. Attending the K&S in London highlights the very diverse nature of those interested in textiles and the easy conversations which spring from a shared enthusiasm.
The setting and practicalities are managed very effectively but were certainly tested by the size of the crowd and the heat of the day.
There was a good variety of exhibitions with a number of groups of artists showing work relating to a particular theme or undertaken within a specified time frame. Wessex Textile Artists: Bolt and small CHAT were amongst these. The work of graduates and Embroiderers' Guild scholars was showcased and the EG stand showed some of the work from regions entered into the Guild competition; including the piece by our very own Bronwyn Fleming. Also on display were some pieces from the collection, including Margaret
Nicholson's beautiful or nue. Alice Kettle and Jane McKeating were displaying work in support of their new book about machine embroidery which had literally arrived hot off the press. Deirdre Hawken's 'Turning Heads' was amongst the favourites of our group.
A good number of delicious yarns for knitting and crochet were on sale with beautifully crafted examples of finished items. I could have spent the day on those alone but denied myself in the interests of sticking to my list! The usual array of traders and demonstrators was on hand but try as one might there was always something
to distract and divert. Colourcraft had a newly focused stand with a range of products much more clearly directed to our interests. The requirements of developing approaches with mixed media brought a fascinating mix of materials and methods to our attention although in the crush it sometimes hard to see how you would use them. At the same time the materials for the more traditional techniques were also on hand and reflected
in some of the exhibitions such as the Rhuddlan Goldwork exhibition inspired by the Orient. Several of us were amazed by the work on show in The Global Paper Exhibition and amused by Peter Clark's pieces.
As a group we were highly organized and returned to King's Cross in good time being grateful to sit down on the train! Our return journey allowed for a review of purchases, sharing of books and a bit of a nap but we hit a low point when the diverted route took us slowly and darkly through Sleaford and Lincoln before we arrived back at Newark Northgate.
Carolyn Merry

DIAGHILEV AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BALLET RUSSES AT THE V AND A
This major exhibition explores the world of the influential artistic director Serge Diaghilev and the most exciting dance company of the 20th century, the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev imaginatively combined dance, music and art to create 'total theatre'. A consummate collaborator, he worked with Stravinsky, Chanel, Picasso, Matisse, Nijinsky and many others. I was lucky enough to visit this fantastic exhibition over half term,
if you are interested in ballet, costume or textile design, music, set design or art this exhibition ticks all the boxes and is well worth a visit, on until 9th January 2011.

Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate
What a pleasant trip I had to Harrogate knit and Stitch
I arrived at 10am on the Friday before the coaches arrived and was able to walk around, talk to the textile artists and see the stalls in comfort. The work on show was so exciting, and my husband on his first trip to such an event was very impressed. The variety of work was far ranging from magnificent Gold work from the royal school to contemporary artists that built forms such as one would see at Tate Modern. Bronwyn Fleming's piece (Under Cover) was up there with the best of them. It was great to see our Guild represented. I bought a 12 needle embellisher with a good show offer, and am very excited to have a good play. As we stayed over in Harrogate for the night we were able to get into the show for free the next day to collect items.
The Montpellier Quarter of Harrogate looked very festive, and I resisted the cake at Betty's. It was a very enjoyable trip, despite the bitterly cold weather. I look forward to next year.
Hilary Farley

The Nicholson Group
The Nicholson Group was originally founded by Margaret Nicholson and the group has now been running for over 40 years. Anthea Godfrey, Margaret's daughter and Chairperson of the Embroiderers' Guild, mentors the group. We meet 5 times a year in Allington Village Hall near Grantham and have members from a number of the East Midlands Branches. We are currently working on embroideries and textiles to exhibit in Newark and Lincoln during 2012. We are currently looking for new members, if you are interested and would like to findout more, please contact Cathie Young for more information.

BEE INSPIRED are now a MICRO CENTRE of the HUB for CITY & GUILDS.
Shelagh Folgate will be the tutor of MACHINE EMBROIDERY and PATCHWORK & QUILTING
Machine Embroidery is alternate Mondays & Patchwork is alternate Tuesdays
Contact Shelagh Folgate at email shelaghfolgate@aol.com or Bee Inspired 01536 514646

TAP INTO TALENT!
Following the great success of the talk and mini-workshops on canvas-work with Jane and Barbara we would like to hold similar activities in the future. The general feeling was that skills were both shared and learnt, and members were able to make a small sample and chat to friends at the same time, making it a very enjoyable and sociable activity. We know that we have a wealth of talent in our branch and that you have lots of ideas,
so share your skills and ideas with us! The committee is very happy to give you any support you may need to deliver your activity.
Please give your suggestions to Hilary Farley or any member of the committee

RECOMMENDED WEB SITES
Val recommends www.pintangle.com for their free stitch library to down load from the web site.
Maggie Grey's web site www.workshopontheweb.com is excellent, subscribe to workshop on the web £15pa. To receive interesting projects every 3 months, there are free tasters on the site - very good value for those that want to create their own workshops at home. There is also www.d4daisy.com which promotes and gives information about her excellent books.

From the Editor
Please let us know if you have changed your home or email address.
If you have any comments you would like to make or you would like to contribute in any way to the newsletter
please contact Bronwyn Fleming at bronwyn@1605.net or by snail-mail to 14 Vicarage Lane, Scopwick,
Lincolnshire LN4 3NT