Embroiderers' Guild - the UK's leading crafts association
sharing opportunities for discovery and creativity
1 Kings Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 2RA
T: 01932 260738 - E: administrator@embroiderersguild.com
Embroiderers' Guild - the UK's leading crafts association
sharing opportunities for discovery and creativity
1 Kings Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 2RA
T: 01932 260738 - E: administrator@embroiderersguild.com
Chat from the Chair
There are a number of welcomes to be made at this time of the year. Welcome to our first Newsletter; to all our members, those returning and those who are new; to Ann and Wendy for agreeing to join the committee; and of course to the new embroidery year. I would also like to welcome Hilary to the role of Programme Secretary and at the same time to thank Norma for agreeing to give her support in this job.
Our A.G.M. was moved to September as it is the start Guild year. This has meant that all the business 'stuff' can be dealt with in a shorter time. Previously it was November before everyone received their Programmes. But it has put extra pressure on our Treasurer, Sue, who has worked really hard to finalise the accounts in time. Thank you very much, Sue. Thanks also to retiring committee members, Carolyn for producing the programme and Di for ensuring that workshops run smoothly.
We are looking forward to another year of interesting talks and activities which we hope you will enjoy and take part in. There will be links with the 2012 Olympic Games in the form of the 'Postcards' project and the Japanese athletes who are to be based in Loughborough. 'Troilus and Cressida' is to be performed in Japanese style by the '1623 Theatre Company' and East Midlands Region has been asked to provide kimonos. I shall have more information on this after a meeting on 24th October.
More immediately, sixteen of us are going on the trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. It will be a long day, but we shall be able to 'let the train take the strain' and we shall return with our minds full of inspiration and our bags full of goodies!
With best wishes
Dee.
LAST CHANCE to sign up for Devore workshop with Lorraine Appleton to take place October 16th 2010
Branch Meetings
November 13th
Lesley Alexander 'A different Perspective', winner of the student category of the Festival of Quilts 2007. 'My work is about the decaying urban landscape. Urban decay is overlooked by all but the natural elements so by focusing on this area I hope to communicate the beauty that can be found using my work practise, which is placed firmly within the traditions and practice of stitch, to convey this message'.
December 11th
Christmas meeting - 'Bags of Fun'
Grace Kelly Style Icon Exhibition 2010
This was a very busy exhibition when I visited in early July. The clothes and accessories were interspersed by video clips of the film High Society and it was interesting to see how details of the clothes were different in reality to the way that they appeared on screen. The lighting was, as always rather dim in the cases and I found the static display was rather stilted in juxtaposition to the vibrancy of the person on screen. The newsreel footage was all in black and white so to see the clothes in ?person? was a revelation. It was odd to see some of the items, especially the hats, looking so old fashioned but because of her status as an icon it is a shock to realise that some of the clothes were in fashion nearly 60 years ago!..Interestingly the 'Kelly' bag she made famous is still produced and still has a waiting list for potential buyers. That she continued to both create and follow high fashion into her later life was also seen and in doing so proved that her name described her manner (I would say in contrast to Princess Diana; not my favourite royal in one image in the display) I was pleased that I had visited this exhibition as I think it shows both the transitory nature of Fashion but the enduring appeal of Style as shown by icons such as Grace Kelly (and Audrey Hepburn) and I wonder whether it is a product of the age when courtesy was more on show than celebrity.
Roz Withers
East meets East Midlands!
The East Midlands Regional Committee is launching a new initiative soon. This is to be a 'one off' and will be totally funded by the Region. The Japanese Contingent of the Olympics are going to be based in Loughborough so the East (Midlands) is meeting the East, with the Japanese Shakespeare Connection.
"Trolius and Cressida" is to be performed by the "1623 Theatre Company" in the style of the Japanese Kibuki Theatre in 2012 and for its productions needs Kiminos. The Company has been awarded the prestigious London 2012 Inspire Mark for this project, and we have been asked to provide the Kimonos, Obis, ties and any other ephemera they might need.
They are to launch this project on Sunday, 24th October, 2010 from 10.30am to 4.00pm at Kegworth Community Centre, Kegworth (1m along the A6 from Jct 24 on the M1), with an introduction from Ben Spiller, director of the 1623 Theatre Company, in the morning and guidance and advice from Kumi Middleton, a Japanese lady from our Region, about Kimonos etc., in the afternoon.
There will be two further days for help with construction etc., 10th April, 2011 and 16th October, 2011.
The Kimonos can be produced by individuals, a small group of friends or even a whole Branch.
The Region is to pay for the Halls, Tutors and Teas and Coffee.
The day will be free to members, please just bring a packed lunch.
To indicate your interest in the project and attendance on 24th October, 2010, please either phone or email Pam Keeling; 01332 523469 or egkickstart@yahoo.com
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 find out more, please contact Cathie Young for more information.
The Festival of Quilts NEC August 2010
The Festival was exactly as billed an international celebration of stitch, colour and artistry. A day was not nearly enough to enjoy all that was on offer and indeed a fellow visitor told me that she was on her second day and still needed more time. I always find that stitchers are friendly people and whether taking a few minutes to rest weary legs or taking a lunch break one is soon chatting to complete strangers. A constant topic for chat was the competing merits of traditional versus art quilts-I found that my favourite category was whichever I was viewing at the time--do we have to prefer one category over another? The quality of work on show must have made judging an extremely difficult task and congratulations go to Doreen Hallett who was awarded a ''Highly Commended'' by those judges for her entry in the miniature quilt class. In addition to the hundreds of quilts entered in the Festival there was the usual retail therapy and our own Norma Bean with the ?Roses From The Heart? display. A wooden boat ''sailed'' on a sea of bonnets surrounded by scattered rose petals the effect was both impressive and emotional. At the end of the day a PA announcement invited everyone to return next year I for one will definitely be there.
Vanessa East