September Meeting - Hannah Lamb

Our speaker this afternoon was Hannah Lamb. She'd already given a workshop this morning to branch members, so we had plenty of opportunity to talk with her about her work.
Hannah originates from semi-rural Buckinghamshire, but now lives and works in West Yorkshire. Her work, since graduating from Manchester Metropolitan in 2001, has been an exploration of re-cycling and re-purposing, capturing experiences and finding a sense of place.

Work for Hannah's solo exhibition 'In Search of the Green' at The Bowery in Leeds.
Image from her website

Her very interesting talk took us through her life - from growing up in a household where collecting found objects and re-purposing them was usual - to her graduation, and on to discovering the cyanotype process which features in her work. She attended a workshop with Ruth Brown of Stone Creek Silk and was also inspired by the eco-printing techniques pioneered by India Flint.
More recent work again includes embroidery and has been inspired by textile archives both at Bradford College where she lectures, and at Sunny Bank Mills where her work will be in a new exhibition opening in late October.

In other things....

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Jose G won the Ida Barber trophy for best original design. On accepting her prize, she encouraged all branch members to enter the competitions. This leads nicely to the theme of the next competition which is at the December meeting. The theme is 'A Christmas Parcel' where it's the outside of the parcel that counts.

Dulcie gave us a taste of next year's programme which will include new speakers, a trip to Manchester to coincide with the Embroiderers' Guild AGM and a talk on the story of the Embroiderers' Guild collection. All will be revealed here when details are finalised shortly.

Celia outlined the Guild's participation in the 300th anniversary Capability Brown celebrations. We will be joining with the Hull and Ryedale branches to put on an exhibition in the newly restored Conservatory at Scampston Hall near Malton.

Conservatory at Scampston Hall

Members are invited to visit the gardens to get inspiration as work will be in response to the landscape at Scampston Hall. The gardens are open to the public until the end of October. Embroiderers' Guild members may have one free entry to the gardens on production of their valid membership card - a wonderful opportunity to get some late summer inspiration.

Despite wide publicity, there were no applications for the Student bursary which the branch offers. In view of this, the committee will consider other options for the use of the money, and will report back to members.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND HELP WANTED. Yes, I put it in big letters. There has been a big request for new committee members. Several currently serving committee members are standing down at the AGM next month and replacements are needed. Many hands do make light work. The branch has lots of ideas for things to do in the coming year, but does need help to make this happen. Please contact Kath if you can help in any way. And if making cups of tea and coffee is your forte (which I'm sure it is), Judith would love to hear from you.
It is also time for election of Chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber region. Pauline Heywood has said she is happy to stand for a second term, but signed nominations for other candidates can be made.

As next month's meeting includes the AGM, for those attending the morning session, lunch will be available at the earlier time of 12.00. The AGM will commence at 1.30.