Exhibition Book Cover Competition Answers

As promised ..... the answers to the book cover competition at our recent exhibition, together with images of just some of the entries.

1. THE SILVER CHAIR
2. CHARLOTTE’S WEB
3. THE SECRET GARDEN
4. THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

5. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
6. THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

7. TREASURE ISLAND
8. BLACK BEAUTY
9. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
10. ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
11. SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS
12. THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK
13. OLD POSSUMS BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS
14. THE GINGERBREAD MAN
15. RATBURGER
16 ALICE IN WONDERLAND

18. WARHORSE
19. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
20. THE RAINBOW FISH
21. LITTLE WOMEN
22. THE JUNGLE BOOK

There are more images from the exhibition on our exhibition page. Click here, or on the 2015 Exhibition Tab above.

July Meeting - Jane Smith

Our speaker today was Jane Smith who gave a very interesting talk about her developing love of Japanese embroidery and how she has, over many years, mastered the traditional techniques and is now branching out to create her own designs.

Jane Smith

The piece above shows the shading effects that can be achieved by careful laying of the flat silk thread while stitching.

Jane Smith - braids

These braids are in fact fine embroidery stitched to give the impression of braids and are one of the stages which must be mastered to achieve a full repertoire of Japanese embroidery skills.

Jane Smith

This piece layered up stitching to give a more three dimensional effect and to allow the colours underneath to just show through, to add to the feeling of depth.

Jane brought the 'exam' pieces she stitched for each stage of her training, together with embroidered obis and fabric samples. Click on the link above to see more images of the exquisite work.

Other things
The exhibition was a success. The prize for best book cover was won by Christine Addley and Roberta Harte's piece based on war won the best in show. Answers to the book cover competition will appear as a separate blog post.

Bookings for workshops with Isobel Hall, Hannah Lamb and Helen Young were taken. Hannah Lamb's workshop will now be at Hartrigg Oaks, not the Folk Hall.

1st August has been designated 'Big Stitch' day, and events will be taking place at the Quilt museum, Hobbycraft and the Castle Museum in York, and at St John's church in Market Weighton. Events start at 10.00am

There were proposals for branch outings in 2016 to The Bayeux tapestry, Macclesfield Silk Museum, and the AGM in Manchester.

At the Embroiderers' Guild EGM, the Special Resolution the Vision for the Guild was passed, with 89% of the votes cast being in favour. Further details can be found from the Embroiderers' Guild main website, and logging in to the Members' Room  Then looking at the first item - Constitutional Change.

Our branch is also rising to the challenge of being more 'outward facing' and will be participating in several projects, including the Big Stitch mentioned above, and also contributing to the celebration of  Capability Browns 300th anniversary - a national event, and introducing a mentoring scheme to keep traditional embroidery skills alive.

Attention was drawn to the National members' competition where the theme this year is 'Looking Through'. Again, full details can be found from the Members' Room pages of the main Embroiderers' Guild website. Closing date for entries is January 29th 2016. There are prizes!!

Our branch competition this month was for the Chairman's Award. This year the theme was 'A piece of jewellery' and was won by Isobel G.

Isobel's winning necklace

At the September meeting the competition is the Ida Barber trophy for the best original design.

Sue requested that any pieces of embroidery which are being stitched for the Regional AGM, should be brought (completed) to the September meeting so that they can be combined to create our entry.

Exhibition Events

Preparations for our Triennial Exhibition at the York Guildhall from this Friday 19th June until Sunday are well underway, and a programme of events has now been finalised.

Click on the image to get a larger version!

Workshops are for adults, they cost £6 each and include all materials. Booking takes place on the day on a 'first come, first served' basis.
More information about the exhibition, and how to get to the Guildhall can be found by clicking on the '2015 Exhibition' tab above.

June Meeting - Gillian Travis

This month’s meeting was incredibly busy. It began with members bringing their work for display in the exhibition at the end of the month. Lots of work was delivered and it promises to be a great exhibition. The exhibition will be officially opened at 11:00am on Friday 19th by the Lady Mayoress.

Click on the '2015 Exhibition' tab above for more details

The meeting proper then began with a talk from Terry Murphy, CEO of the Embroiderers’ Guild. He detailed the proposed changes to the constitution of the Guild and reminded members they were all eligible to vote at the EGM, by proxy if required. Proxy votes have to be with the Guild no later than 17^th June.

He then went on to talk about some of the ways the Guild was planning to develop in the future to become a more outward facing organisation in line with its charitable objectives. This includes exciting new projects to celebrate the work of Capability Brown and developing new partnerships with organisations such as the National Trust. He reflected on the success of the Big Stitch event at the Ashmolean and mentioned the world’s longest embroidery which is currently in the British Library.

The world's longest embroidery in the British Library in London

…And then we had our advertised speaker Gillian Travis.

We were treated to an illustrated display of her work and her travels which included quite small expeditions – cycling from St Malo to Spain or from Munich to Hull, and then more far flung journeys to Lithuania, Sweden, Austria, Spain (again) Majorca, Amsterdam, Lyon, Lanzarote, Morocco, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Israel . . .

Each of these journeys gave inspiration for her quilt works, which include painted and printed fabrics, applique, machine stitch, felt making, foundation piecing. Her output is prolific – she admits she works very quickly and has many ideas for new pieces.

Gillian Travis - Counterchange Pears (detail)

She then went on to talk about her visits to India (funded in part by a Quilter’s Guild bursary) and Sri Lanka and how this led to her working with local people to create Flower Kits for sale in the UK using her techniques and ethically sourced materials, and also her work with the Stitching Project in Pushkar to create Kantha style scarves from old and unwanted silk saris.  

Gillian Travis - At the Market in Amman (detail)

There's also a new book out soon! Quite a whirlwind of a talk - involving much more detail than I've put here and Gillian brought many of her quilts with her so we could have a close look at the many techniques she has mastered and uses sympathetically in her work.

Other Things...Exhibition Related

If York branch members still have work to deliver for the exhibition, it can be delivered to one of the following collection points:

Wetherby and the surrounding areas to Kath

West of York, Rufforth and Acomb areas to Diane

East of York to Sue

Central and North of York to Judith.

Please deliver the work by Wednesday 17^th at the latest – contact information can be found on the printed branch programme. 

Raffle prizes would be welcome on set up day.

There was also a request for more volunteers to steward on the Saturday. Please contact Dulcie if you are able to help.

If branch members are able to help with set up, just turn up at the Guildhall at 9.00am on Thursday 18th. You will be most welcome!

More Other Things..

The Competition next month is The Chairman's Award and this year the theme is 'A Piece of Jewellery'

Bookings for workshops with Isobel Hall and Hannah Lamb can be made next month (see the printed programme for more details).

In September Roberta will be starting informal stitch workshops at the morning session.

New committee members are being sought for the new branch year in October. Please consider offering your services if you can.

March Meeting 2 - Members' Day

Our second March meeting (because of Easter falling on our normal meeting day), was designated as a members' day to prepare for the forthcoming Exhibition to be held in York Guildhall in June. Following the normal business meeting, members were reminded how to complete the form to submit work, and how best to pack that work both to protect and identify it.

Then the fun began! Dulcie had arranged the room into different areas for different activities, each of which was led by a kind "volunteer". Members started off in the area they had previously signed up for, but then were free to wander round and experience others.

Exhibition Time

Our Triennial Exhibition is at York Guildhall from 19th - 21st June 2015

Further information including how to get to the Guildhall is available by clicking on the '2015 Exhibition' tab above

March Meeting - Chris Gray

Our speaker this month was Chris Gray. She brought with her many fine examples of traditional embroidery from Eastern Europe and further east in to Asia. Her talk 'Stitching Magic' was an introduction to the meaning and symbolism behind this embroidery and how this has influenced her work.

Traditional embroidery

She brought embroidered covers which would be placed over bedding to ward off evil spirits. She showed us how the same symbols, especially fertility symbols, were used in many cultures. We saw exquisitely embroidered dress bodices incorporating shisha mirrors, coins and cowrie shells.

Chris's collection is becoming more precious as, in places like Afghanistan, this traditional style is becoming rarer.

Chris is also inspired by the embroidery she collects to make her own work including protective covers which really don't look like a pair of knickers unless you happen to be looking at them out of the corner of your eye, as Chris joyfully related the tale of an onlooker being very perturbed by what she thought she was seeing!

Chris Gray - detail of large panel

 Chris explained some of her techniques - including how to turn wallpaper lining paper into something that looks like leather.

Chris Gray

 She uses traditional printing blocks and then embellishes, inspired by her collection of traditional embroidery.

Chris Gray

 She has also started making smaller pieces of work, including small book forms which she can keep in CD cases. The thinking being (she says) that she can maybe have a greater chance of working through all the ideas she has in her head if she works to a smaller scale.

Chris Gray

From the evident joy she gets from stitching and sharing her work, it seems unlikely that she will run out of ideas, but will continue to stitch to make a statement as she feels embroidery enriches lives.

Other things

Exhibition plans are progressing.
There was a request for easels or music stands to display work on at the exhibition.
Stevie is creating the list of stewarding for the exhibition. Please let her know if you can help with this important aspect of the exhibition.
Next month's meeting is at the end of March and will be making things for the exhibition. See the previous post for more details.
If you are 'upcycling' an item for the exhibition, take a 'before' photo to go with the finished item.
Stitched items for the exhbition raffle are welcomed. Chris Gray donated one of the small hanging squares similar to those pictured above, which was much appreciated.

New books have been added to the library including titles on Art Quilting, Crewel work, Applique and fabric collage.

Young Embroiderers next session is over Easter - the 8th and 9th April.

The Easter competition next month (28th March) awards a prize for the best work from a commercial design, so remember to bring your entries.