Update#5 – April to May 2019

Next Meeting

Due to bank holidays and the Living Crafts show there is a bit of a long wait for our next meeting on Saturday 18th May. But it is an all-day event with Back to Basics in the morning and an afternoon speaker.

For Back to Basics we will be invited to join in with a new Branch Project – just bring a pencil and all will be revealed! Remember to bring your packed lunch too.

In the afternoon I suspect that the subject”The Art of the Doily” will be more surprising than the title might imply!  Sally Richardson’s intricate drawings of doilies aim to both celebrate and critique vintage textile pieces. During her talk Sally explores doilies as symbols of respectability and femininity which have since become redundant, now more likely to be viewed as out of date and a sign of old age. She examines their social and gendered nature as well as the role of repetition and precise instructions in undermining creativity and artistic intervention. You might think twice about giving those antimacassars to a charity shop after this.

 

Events

Living Crafts Hatfield House, Saturday 9th to Sunday 12th May

The Future of Craft Oxo tower, London, 9th to 12th May 2019

The Great Exhibition Road Festival  South Kensington, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2019 – register now for free tickets

See also Bits and Bobs

 

Exhibitions

Swinging London – A Lifestyle Revolution  Fashion and Textile Museum, London, until 2nd June 2019

Mary Quant Victoria and Albert Museum until February 2020

Goodnight Children Everywhere Material Girls –  Havering Museum, Romford, from 3rd April to 22nd June

Ctrl/Shift: New Directions In Textile Art The 62 Group – National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford, from 2nd Feb to 22nd Apr 2019

Dressed For Best – Chertsey Museum, Chertsey, Surrey, until 1st September 2019

The Embroidered Home – Royal School of Needlework, until August 2019

Embroidered Stories – Edinburgh, until April 21st 2019

…. and see these sites for more:

• Society for Embroidered Work
• Art Van Go – workshop programme
• Artist’s Projects at the Foundling Museum – Ongoing projects and installations, some textile related
• Embroiderers’ Guild – events listings
• Royal School of Needlework – day classes and longer courses

Save Hertfordshire Artworks

Some of you might already be aware of the County Council selling off artworks held for the public – if not you might be interested to find out more from Save Hertfordshire’s Public Art Collection

Our Award Winning Members

Two wonderful achievements were brought to our attention at the April branch meeting: two more of our members have been recognised by the Guild for their work.

Julie W is a committed guild member, talented embroiderer and inspiring teacher of embroidery skills. Her body of work and ongoing support of the guild have been recognised by the award of the Broderer’s Prize.  Many of us were able to congratulate her personally at the meeting and her surprise and modesty were most touching.

As soon as I have a photo which does justice to Julie’s work it will feature as our new blog header, meanwhile a cup of tea and a biscuit will help remind you of one of her many talents!

 

Catherine H receives this year’s Artistic Director’s Award for Innovation in the Members’ Challenge 2018/19, themed “Life’s Rich Pattern”. We look forward to congratulating her in person soon and seeing her winning work “Take Time to Smell the Roses”,  before it goes off for exhibition at Knitting and Stitching Shows.

Catherine has recently launched her own YouTube channel with a textile focus. Find it at Arnold’s Attic.

Enfield & District EG – April Workshop

Teascapes

Chris Yates April 27th

English Breakfast, Earl Grey, fruit or herbal infusions, it doesn’t matter which, Chris Yates will show you how to turn this unlikely material into a little work of art.

 

At this workshop you will create an original landscape using recycled teabags – yes, these examples really are from used teabags! Experiment with colour variations and different hand embroidery stitches. Add a few beads to embellish or miniature trees or flowers to produce a piece that is totally unique.

 

 

 

 

Chris developed her love of sewing and textiles during her school days. She holds a degree in textiles and has completed the City & Guilds programme in Design and Embroidery to Diploma level. Teabags are just one aspect of her work: to find out more visit her website or facebook page

https://chrisyatestextileart.weebly.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Yates-Textiles-138914909867754/

What? Hand embroidery on teabags, painting optional

When? 9.30am-3.30pm 27 April 2019-04-10

Where? Chace Community School, Churchbury Lane, Enfield EN1 3HQ

Who? Suitable for all skill levels

How to book? Contact: helenbrown89@hotmail.co.uk

Branch Entry for “Home 2019”

There is still time to join the group of members stitching Homes for our street-style entry for this year’s EG exhibiting project

Some of us have made a start on our little houses:

Jo has started from a photo of her childhood home and moved on to a working drawing – now she is deciding how to start stitching

 

 

-sorry these are a bit small, but i think you get the idea!

 

 

Ann A has got a bit further using her machine skills – she says she will be adding some greenery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been posting about my progress on my own blog  – like Jo, I started with a photo, but as my drawing skills are zero I used digital effects to get a working sketch

 

 

 

There is still time for branch members to join in. We aim to collect the individual houses and build our street by the end of July. Download the information here: Home – Branch Entry. Members of other branches can find out more from the EG Website.