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
Chat from the Chair
I write my final "Chat" as the AGM approaches and I stand down as your Chairman and from the committee after five years. It has been an honour and a privilege to be your Chair, leading Branch meetings and events and representing you at Regional and National events.
I have many fond memories of these years - especially our 50th and the Guild's 100th Birthday, the "Guilded" Exhibition at Doddington Hall, the first Mildred Higgins Day with Double Trouble and our hosting of the Region's 2009 Festival of Stitch. There have also been difficult and sad times, the financial problems at Hampton Court and the passing of two of our oldest members, Joyce Footitt and Donald Clarke.
During my Chairmanship I have had helpful, knowledgeable and supportive Committee members who have made my task easier and to all of them I say thank you very much. A big thank you goes also to you, the members, for your support, advice and criticism over the years. I know that I did not get everything right and I can only hope that my mistakes did not spoil your enjoyment of Branch events and meetings. I have had continuing support from my husband, Alan, over the years and to him I say a sincere thank you; from now on he can plan our holidays without having to defer to the "mafia", as he jokingly calls us.
Finally I wish the new Chairman and Committee every success in the coming year. I am confident they will ensure that the Branch's profile and membership continue to grow through good leadership and a varied and interesting programme of lectures, workshops and other events.
Thank you all for everything,
Marie
Colour, Pattern, Gold and Stitch (Gustav Klimt) workshop with Lis Mann
Following the fascinating, highly personal talk and mini-workshop held by Lis Mann on Mildred Higgins day a number of us attended her workshop on Sunday 12th July 2009. The workshop continued the theme started the day before, combining the use of pattern with layers of fabric and embroidery to create a decorative sample based on the work of Gustav Klimt. We used Klimt's patterned portraits and garden paintings as inspirational starting points, applying colour and metallic print, contrasts and sheers, followed by hand and machine embroidery to create a focal point. This was an excellent end to the summer programme.
Treasures of the Silk Road workshop with Jane Davies 13 September 2009
After listening to Jane's informative talk about Uzbekistan and about her passion for unusual ethnic textiles a number of members attended her workshop the following day. Our inspiration and starting point were the exotic textiles the Jane had brought back from her journey to Uzbekistan and Central Asia. We learned how to work traditional Bokhara and Romanian couching stitches and apply fabrics in a simple yet effective manner based on her modern interpretation of bold patterns of the suzane wall hangings by producing a series of experimental samples.
Bronwyn Fleming
CONGRATULATIONS!
To Margaret Charlton, Jean King & Carolyn Merry who have been members of the Embroiderers Guild for 25 years and will be presented with badges in recognition of this.
BIRTHDAY CONGATULATIONS!
To Margaret Charlton who has reached her 90th Birthday and Joan Harris who also be 90 in November. We send them both our Very Best Wishes.
A BUSY SUMMER
The East Midlands Regional Summer School was held in Lincoln this year at the Bishop Grosseteste College. Several Lincs Guild Members took part - all Students enjoying some challenging work inspired by Tutors Gwen Hedley, Jenny Bullen and Jill Carter.
"The English Walled Garden" An Exhibition of Needlework at The Doddington Hall in association with the Royal School of Needlework - gave Members the opportunity to have pieces of work on display and to steward and share with the general public their enthusiasm for Traditional and Contemporary Embroidery. Some Members also took part in Workshops led by Owen Davies, Paddy Killer and Tracy Franklin, also a Workshop led by Member Brenda Scarman.
Grateful thanks were expressed by 'The Hall' for the Guild's contribution in helping to make the Exhibition a great success.
The Festival of Quilts in August gave the Guild another opportunity for representation nationally and internationally, when ?Roses From The Heart - Australian Bonnet Appeal? had a Booth at the show, where Bonnets were displayed along with History Sheets, Photographs of Enactments in Australia and 'friends' in England wearing their Bonnets. People were so enthusiastic and appreciative of the Memorial, 250th Anniversary of when people were transported to Australia thereby contributing to the posterity of the Australian Nation.
A Big Thank You to Andrew Salmon Managing Director of Twisted Threads on behalf of Christina Henri for giving us this opportunity and for his plans for next year when Christina will be exhibiting 13,000 of the Roses From The Heart Bonnet Tributes at the Festival of Quilts NEC Birmingham 19th to 20th August 2010.
Norma Bean
TV Textiles
There is going to be a TV programme series about textiles it is scheduled to be aired mid-October 2009 on MyChannel (Sky 171); it will also be available online at www.countrychannel.tv. also on DVD. There is a trailer to watch at http://www.talkingthreads.co.uk/ You can contact the makers of the series at holly.pulsford@colouricious.com There is a link to the series on the Guild web site and Talking Threads have put a couple of links promoting the Guild and its courses on their web site as well, which is potentially excellent publicity for the Guild.