June meeting

Well we certainly saved the best until last. I was delighted to see that one of our founder members, Eileen Pepper , was to talk about  “Tudor Times “ and was  not disappointed.  One clue to this,  was perhaps the variety of artifacts and embroideries that were displayed.

Eileen gave an amusing and comprehensive talk about the hardships of   life in Tudor times. She passed around a range of items including a tussie mussie and a hand made orange and clove pomander.

Ann our Chair was not able to just sit and listen as she was used as a model. Eileen had loaned her a thin white shift and then proceeded to dress Ann in rich Tudor clothing.

As Ann said in her vote of thanks,  that Eileen gave us such an informative and entertaining talk and we all wish that we had such History teachers when we were  at school  .Thank you Eileen.

 

EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD - BOLTON BRANCH

NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2010

GUILD NEWS

A message of sympathy was sent to the family of Charles Gotto, the Guild President from the North West Region, tragically killed in a farming accident, as it was too far for anyone to attend the funeral.

Summer School at Alston Hall – There are a few places left for Elaine Peel’s Beaded Tassels workshop from 16^th – 18^th July, or as a day student for the Saturday at a cost of £44, including morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. Contact Sheila Shaw (s.shaw@sk12.demon.co.uk) for further details or to book.

EXHIBITIONS

There are quite a lot of these at the moment, so I have listed them briefly. If you are going further afield this summer, the Embroiderers’ Guild website has a long list of exhibitions from all over the country and beyond.

BANKFIELD MUSEUM Boothtown Road Halifax - 10+ Textiles. Until July 4th Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 5. Sunday 1 – 4.

DRUMCROON GALLERY 2 Parson’s Walk Wigan - Textile Narratives. Until June 22nd, featuring the work of Val Jackson & Jane McKeating. Tel. 01942 233303

TOUCHSTONES GALLERY Rochdale - Knit One Purl One – an exhibition of contemporary knitting & crochet. Until 4^th July, Monday – Saturday 10 – 5, Sunday 12 – 4.30.

PLATFORM GALLERY Clitheroe – Artefact. Until July 17^th, including work by textile artists Alice Kettle and Isabelle Wright as well as other artists working in glass, ceramics etc

WHITWORTH ART GALLERY Oxford Road Manchester - The Manchester. Until July 1^st Monday – Saturday 10 – 5, Sunday 12 – 4. Thomas Wardle & India.

The HARRIS MUSEUM and Art Gallery in Preston - Embellished: The Art of fabulous fabrics, runs until November 2010. Open Monday- Saturday 10am – 5pm except Tuesday 11am – 5pm. Tel. 01772 258248.

FARFIELD MILL Sedburgh Cumbria – Trees in the Park, quilted textiles by Turning Point. Until July 11^th. AlsoWear It – wearable textile art from July 11^th - September 19^th. 10.30 -5 daily. Tel. 015396 21958.

WEST PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Harrogate. An exhibition by Harrogate Branch of the Guild from June29th – July 10^th Wednesday – Saturday 11 - 4 Tel. 01257 463113 for information.

ECCLES FARM Eccles Lane Bispham Green Nr. Ormskirk. City & Guilds Textiles Exhibition, June 30^th – July10th, Wednesday – Saturday 11 – 4 Tel 01257 463113.

HELMSHORE MILLS TEXTILE MUSEUM Holcome Road Helmshore. Whispers from the Past – Bolton Progressive Threads. From July 3^rd – August 30^th, daily 12 – 5. Tel. 01706 226459. NB There is an admission charge.

TURTON TOWER 10 Decades of the Barlow Institute in Stitches Edgeworth Craft Group – 10 tapestries depicting images from local, national and international events to commemorate 108 years of the Barlow Institute. From Augush4th – 30^th. Normal entrance fee applies.

ADVANCE NOTICE

The AGM will be on September 21^st and we will be having a talk about the project to make a bonnet for every woman who was deported to Tasmania.

REMINDERS

Don’t forget the EGM will be held at Ridgemont before our annual summer meal on 20^th July, starting at 7.00pm. If you would like to join the committee, please let Ann know before the meeting.

Don’t forget that Val has set up a blog for Bolton EG at http://begstitchers.blogspot.com/ .

Also just a reminder that the Guild web address is www.embroiderersguild.com

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June Day School.

I was double booked on Saturday and was therefore unable to attend the day school. A friend from Australia was returning home after a few days with me. However , Fiona had formally lived in Bolton for one year and I encouraged her to join our guild. So on the way to the train we called in.Our members were busy making canvas work squares to be collated into an installation. Fiona was given a warm welcome and was frustrated that we did not have the time to join in. She was impressed with the range of colour and techniques used. I have promised to send  her a photo  of the finished work.

 

Out and about

As area 2 rep for the NW committee, I plan to visit as many of the branches in my area as possible. I began in May with a visit to Glossop. After a very warm welcome,  I looked forward t0 their  speaker, Maggie Wilde who told us about bonnets being made to recognise the women convicts deported to Australia in the 18th century. There has been some publicity about this, but Maggie was so enthusiastic and made this project come to life. I went back to my Branch and she has now  been invited to our AGM in September. I’m sure there will be many bonnets made by our members.

It was a glorious day on Wednesday as I drove over to Little Morton Hall to see the Altrincham exhibition. I was really impressed  as always with their work and the extra special setting that was chosen. Sandra the Altrincham Chair was there and we had time for a chat too.

On Saturday I went to celebrate with Rochdale at their  cream tea.  Of course they also had an exhibition and many “shopping opportunities”. I was really honoured when Jan the Rochdale Chair asked me to present a silver badge to Marjorie Davies who had just completed 25 years with the Guild. A delightful day.

May meeting

This time I will begin with the newsletter, composed by our secretary, Marilyn.

NEWSLETTER – MAY 2010

This email was received from Kathryn last week
I have just had some bad news via Neil Hitchens -  Charles Gotto the Guild President was killed in a farming accident on Sunday.  This is a terrible tragedy not only for his family and friends but also for the Embroiderers' Guild he was working very hard to raise our profile and promote the Guild's aims.

REMINDERS

Don’t forget that Val has set up a blog for Bolton EG at http://begstitchers.blogspot.com/ . Please log on and become a follower.

Also just a reminder that the Guild web address is www.embroiderersguild.com and then enter your username and password which is on the back of your current membership card.

EXHIBITIONS

MACCLESFIELD and District Branch regret that their exhibition "Samplings", due to take place from 22 May to 26 June in The Silk Museum, Macclesfield, has been postponed until January 2011. New dates and a new venue will be announced in the Autumn. Meanwhile we regret any inconvenience caused, should members who have seen our announcement in the NW Journal not receive news of this postponement in time and go to The Silk Museum expecting to see our work.

PRESTON Branch will be holding an exhibition from 17^th – 31^st October 14 – 4 Mon – Sat 2010 at Preston Minster

The HARRIS MUSEUM and Art Gallery in Preston - Embellished: The Art of fabulous fabrics, runs until November 2010. Open Monday- Saturday 10am – 5pm except Tuesday 11am – 5pm.

CHELFORD and NORTH CHESHIRE EG – Rags to Riches – Saturday 22^nd May 2010, 10am -4pm at Chelford Village Hall, Knutsford Road, Chelford SK10 9AS. £3 admission charge for adults. For more information go to www.chelfordstitchers.blogspot.com or contact 01606 871450.

ALTRINCHAM Branch is exhibiting at Little Moreton Hall from Wednesday 2^nd June – Sunday 6^th June from 11am – 5pm. National Trust charges apply.

ADVANCE NOTICE

The Theme for the Rose Bowl Competition 2012 was voted on at the Regional Day and will be “Two Peas in a Pod”. The 2011 Theme is “Lights Fantastic” and will be held at King Edward and Queen Mary School, Lytham St Annes 0n April 16^th 2011. The Madeira lecture is by Paddy Killer.

The Embroiderers’ Guild is launching a project to produce embroidered postcards for Olympic Year 2012 rather in the style of “Rainbow Squares” Each branch will be allocated a participating country, to be drawn at random. More details later.

FINALLY

Please go and look at our library as we have bought several new books at the Regional Day.

Marilyn refers to the Guild website. Using the appropriate passwords, the e newsletter is now available.[Val}

The meeting

Ann Christy came to talk to us in May. She was the former IT Rep on the NW committee and supported me in setting up this Blog. Thanks Ann. She then became the Vice Chair but is currently our NW secretary. Ann was asked to present Barbara with her certificate for taking the second prize in Manchester. 

The title of Anns talk was “From a Distance” and could have been interpreted in many ways.  However Ann told us of the joys and pitfalls of distance learning when she studied for her C and G. She demonstrated her IT skills, with a computer  presentation of her work and of course better than this,a display of her actual pieces. We all appreciate those tutors who explain the inspiration for their work and then bring it along for closer inspection

Assembling the Market piece.

A busy few days, NW Regional Day, a Branch meeting and then 4 of us met to work on the market piece and all within 5 days. Is this a record?

Rough placement before we began the stitching. Anns husband

is on hand to record our enthusiasm.

Lesley checks on one piece.

The piece grows. Ann Lesley and Pam adjust the placements.

After warm home made scones we were re energised and managed to attach all the items. We still await 2 or 3 pieces but know where they will fit. Ann volunteered to join together the separate panels , Over half of our members have contributed to it and I am sure that Lesley will be delighted with our completed piece. I will put together an article and hope that Workbox will again publish it. Next time I report on this could /should be to show it in its finished state.

April Meeting

Ann Burrows paid us another welcome visit this month.  Several of us had completed our haberdashery pieces from the day school and displayed them for Ann to see. She was delighted. Ann spoke about her family and how she incorporated photos of them into her work. Another skill for us to learn, maybe another day school to book.

 

Some of our day school pieces.

NW Region Day

Saturday 17th April was a bright and sunny morning.  Eight members of Bolton Branch made their way to the Manchester Conference Centre anticipating a wonderful day. The venue was excellent, within a reasonable walking distance from public transport. Morning coffee and afternoon tea were included in our tickets and the hot lunch was delicious. The morning began with the usual formalities but  then Anthea Godfrey had come up from Hampton Court and gave a very comprehensive account of the present situation  I am sure that the problems of the past are now buried and feel that we have a much stronger foundation to plan for our future.We were  then treated to two speakers. In the morning a “local” , Hilary Hollingworth described her love of darning. Many of her pieces were quite tiny but exquisite in their execution. After lunch, Alysn  Midgelow Marsden explained her thought processes when planning her work. Looking at her many incredible completed pieces, I could appreciate this pre planning. I must take this on board!!! Our day was relaxing and as always it was lovely to meet up with so many embroidery friends.As usual we all spent more than anticipated at the stalls but our day was “made” by Barbara Ryall who won the second prize for her piece based on Florence.

Our chair looking at a display

Formalities ready

Barbaras piece in top right corner

We are now looking forward to our next Regional Day on April 16th 2011 at KEQMS, Lytham St Annes. The Rose Bowl competition is Lights Fantastic.