CHAIRMAN’S CHALLENGE 2013

 

Background

As you may recall the Chairman’s Challenge came about after 3 of the Committee supported their partners/husbands through major health treatment and as it strikes such a cord of gratitude the idea came about that it would be good to give something back! I choose to speak to Lister Hospital because that is where John, my partner, had and continues to have his fantastic support.

Following discussion, the Committee liked the idea of a wall hanging for the main concourse (which is currently full of cancer posters & virus prevention notices – oh so drab, and un-inspiring!), whilst the hospital thought the new Chapel would be a wonderful location.

Recently, Sue D and myself visited the Director of Nursing, and we also met one of the Chaplains. It became apparent during discussions that the main concourse was not currently appropriate as it is getting a make over in the not too distant future, but no ideas of design have as yet been formulated. Also there is the issue that any wall hanging would have to be behind Perspex to protect it from visitor damage (yes there are angry people) and any virus which, if discovered in the area, would mean its certain destruction.

Location

We have therefore agreed with the hospital to do a wall hanging for the new inter-denominational Chapel complex. It is being built, as we speak, out of another current section of the hospital which is much nearer to the main concourse, and will provide easier access to those using it. There is a quiet room, toilets, a room for the Chaplains, and the main Chapel.

We managed to see the room, (despite building materials everywhere!) which as you look in through the main door has a window to the right where the stained glass window is going.A wall straight ahead flanked by a small window to the right and an emergency exit to the left. This is the wall were our hanging would be – straight opposite the main entrance so it would be the first thing you see. 

The back wall opposite this will have the dais, and the remaining long wall contains the door to the Chaplains room.

The long wall was an option, but we liked the fact that our wall hanging would be the first thing you see. The Chapel is used quite a lot by staff and for services, so it is not a place that quietly gathers dust!

The stained glass window is not large, and has been made by a local artist, Tessa Verrecchia who lives at Epping Green near Hertford. 

Tessa’s original design

The window is in three panels and is made using glass she has fused through heat, rather than the traditional pieces being held in place by lead. The three panels will be supported by a lead surround so there will be some tradition!

The Window

glass panels before assembly

It therefore makes sense that our wall hanging is in three panels to emulate the window. So that is our aim when we come to the construction of it, and to perhaps use a blue fabric to edge the panels. (The hospital are also thinking of possibly using a blue coloured fabric for the chairs). We still have to use fire retardant fabric for the backing!

The design for the 4″ square:

We are giving everyone a 6″ square of linen which has a rather nice slub in it. This is to be used as the foundation fabric to produce your 4″ square (that is, please leave a 1″ border on this linen all the way round your design for us to use as a hem/means of attaching to the final background fabric). So you can back it with calico to provide strength for your embroidery, you can use it as a mounting fabric to appliqué to it a piece of embroidery. Again, the choice is yours.

We have more squares thanks to Sue Dunkerley’s tireless efforts in cutting them up, so if you haven’t got one yet or are unable to attend a Branch meeting let me know and I will post you one. If you want to do more than 1 square absolutely fantastic – the more the merrier!

We have already chosen ‘Hertfordshire’ as our theme for the 4″ squares. Anything to do with Hertfordshire – a piece of architecture, an animal, flora or fauna found in Hertfordshire, a village sign, a symbol, a map etc. We have kept the topic broad so it gives freedom of design.

stained glass samples

Regarding use of colours – it would be brilliant to use the colours of the stained glass window as it would then co-ordinate beautifully. Briefly the colours are: Pale black coffee, Bristol blue, light blue, mid/dark blue, mid/dark grass green, grass green, olive green, raspberry pink, warm pink/mauve candy floss, and antique gold.

Thread colours that are similar are:

Pale black coffee – DMC 610                                         

Bristol Blue – Anchor Perle 133                     Blues – DMC 995,996,3843, Anchor 1090,164

Greens – DMC 3818,520,986                        Olive Green – DMC 3011

Pinks – DMC 3731,3831,                                 Mauves – DMC 3834,3835

thread colour palette

If anyone wants some actual thread bits of these colours let me know and they can be posted or collected from a Branch meeting. We will have a mood board at our meetings showing the glass pieces, threads & pictures for all to see.

We are therefore asking if you can use a minimum of 1 of these colours in your square.  If you would like to use more – fantastic.

Timings

We have decided that a good time to have your completed squares back to us are by our meeting in October – Friday 4th October 2013. The thinking behind this is that we know members are already working on their Nora Jones pieces and we do not want to clash with that, there is an SOS in August to help with both projects, and it means we do not clash with Nora Jones entries for September 7th.

If you wish to hand in your square/s before the 4th October, please feel free to and we will keep them safe. We will obviously need some time after the 4th October to mount them into the final wall hanging and be able to show you the results of this great Branch project.

Your Chairman – Caroline W

• This text is available as a download here
• You can see all the photos shown here and more here on Flickr
• To follow our progress with the challenge click here