What's On in November

Ann Rippin is a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol in the Department of Management. As part of her research, Ann creates quilted and embroidered textiles about the companies she researches or some of the themes that she is interested in such as organisational excess, or foundation narratives.

© Ann Rippin

"Laura Ashley - her part in my downfall"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 13 November 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

Create A Floor

When Margaret Craig, Education Officer at Dorchester Abbey, first suggested a mini Big Stitch Day Amanda and I pondered the idea and then thought “why not?”. After all, part of the Guild’s remit is to get embroidery out there into the public eye and encourage them to join in, so this could be another opportunity to do just that.

We met up with Margaret at the Abbey and discussed how the day might run. The first thought was to take ideas from the new set of vestments commissioned from Helyne Jennings especially for the Abbey. This is ecclesiastical embroidery at its best - they are absolutely beautiful to look at and the work demonstrates the highest level of skill. We realised that we would need to use fabrics that would be easy to handle so decided on felt, then we needed to think about how non-sewers would stitch the motifs on.

It was at the second meeting, whilst walking around the Abbey, that we came up with a different idea - create the floor in stitch. For anyone who was walked around an old church or Abbey before, they will know that the muted colours and patterns to be found in old, worn stone are interesting to us creative textile-types. There were (very) old headstones laid into the floor with italic lettering and angels’ wings, medieval floor tiles, and a host of other things to give us inspiration.

Amanda bought the basic cream felt which she and Kathy dyed in shades of greys and dull mustard, as well as some other pattered fabrics. The felt was cut into pieces of A4 and A5 size – that way we knew they would fit together like a floor. Karen hunted out old buttons in browns and greys and bought along some transfer crayons which could be used for rubbings (as well as a very useful set of instructions!). Alex dyed some heavy braids and fine lace in shades of bronze, dark greys and dusky pinks and printed onto lutradur and soft sew-in Vilene images of medieval floor tiles in various sizes. Margaret supplied us with needles, pins and scissors and everyone who came along bought some threads for everyone to use. That gave us a collection of things which we hoped people could just get going with, without having to think too hard.

When we got to the Abbey on a slightly chilly Saturday morning, Margaret was already getting everything organised. As well as sales tables, she had also arranged for 3 speakers for the day – Helen Russell (textiles teacher) on the vestments; Michala Gyetvai a mixed media artist on her work, and Suellen Pedley, a well-known and skilful ecclesiastical embroider. Margaret and her helpers also kindly provided sandwiches and cake for lunch, and Amanda kept the tea and coffee flowing.

It wasn’t long before more of the Guild members turned up and, sitting around one large table, started rummaging amongst the bits provided. Soon everyone was creating a piece of floor. It was a treat to spend a day chattering and stitching – by keeping stitches simple and just combining the laces, motifs and anything else that took our fancy, we had time to do more than one piece if we wanted. Other Guild members came along and sat together in parts of the Abbey to demonstrate other techniques and Kathy bought along a collection of Linus Quilts to show.

It was a shame that not more members of the public turned up for the day, but I’m sure those that did, enjoyed themselves. It wasn’t just adults who we persuaded to join in; there were also teenagers and a girl of 8 who was proudly shown by her dad how to sew buttons on. By the end of the day we had enough floor pieces to fill two A3 boards which we left with the Abbey. Thanks to everyone who gave up their time on the day and I think we did a grand job showing how a simple idea can be translated into stitch.

11 September 2013 - Caroline Kirton, "Small Stories"

© Caroline Kirton
My Mum's a proper weirdo!
Appliqué, free machine embroidery and mixed media, 90cm x 114cm

Caroline Kirton got our 2013/2014 program to a great start with an entertaining and inspiring talk. It so nearly could have been a disaster when technology (or our lack of technical know how) once again let us down. We could get neither Caroline’s Mac nor Ulrike’s Notepad to connect to the projector. After several frustrating but fruitless attempts Caroline decided to start her talk without the visual aid of her lovingly prepared slide show. Fortunately Caroline’s husband was there to lend a helping hand and he held up the appropriate art work at the appropriate time, making sure everyone got a good view. Their double act was very successful but we apologise to Caroline and her husband that they needed to come up with a creative solution at short notice.

© Caroline Kirton
I think this will be okay for sixth form
Screen-print, appliqué and free machine embroidery, 60 x 90cm

Caroline describes her work as snap shots of how she views teenage life based on observations of her daughters and their friends. In practice, Caroline tries to create a sense of autobiography, recording stories, feelings, emotions and moments in time. Her pieces start with a saying or an overheard conversation. These sound bites feed into the whimsical titles of the finished pieces.

© Caroline Kirton
I look a mess
Appliqué and free machine embroidery, 53 x73cm

Caroline refers to her work as large scale drawings but she uses a combination of fabrics, free machine embroidery, appliqué and screen printing. From a distance the large canvases look very much like screen prints but up close you can all the attention to detail, like the carefully selected fabrics and fibres. Caroline says that she puts a lot of effort into sourcing and selecting the right fabrics.

I think that Caroline is a keen observer of life and her works of art represent a personal and very touching record of her growing family and the evolving relationships between her and her daughters. Many of us, especially those of us living with teenagers, could recognise and empathise with the scenes portrayed.

What's On in September

Caroline Kirton's work is a snap shot of how she views the ups and downs of teenage life, by observing her daughters and their friends.

Caroline Kirton

"Small Stories"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 11 September 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

What's On in June

Alice Fox has an intense interest in the natural world and in the detail of organic things. She has a fascination with the interplay of order and randomness that is found where man meets nature. Alice’s practice brings together observation, recording and interaction with landscape. Sustainability is at the very heart of her practice.

© Alice Fox - Tide Marks Books

"Ebb and Flow - a Costal Perspective"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 12 June 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

What's On in May

Judith Gussin uses her own dyed threads and fabrics in her textiles, which often have a strong Indian influence, although the design is sometimes lead by texture and colour especially in her decorated bags. Judith continues to experiment with making bags using as great a variety of natural materials as possible and also dye scarves in silk habutai and silk mixtures.

© Judith Gussin

"Colour for Embroidery"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 8 May 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

Doors by Trish Leverett

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Trish Leverett

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Susan Humphreys

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Susan Humphreys

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Stephanie Bullock

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Stephanie Bullock

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Sheila Hilton

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Sheila Hilton

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Rosemary Howden

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Rosemary Howden

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Polly Woolstone

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Polly Woolstone

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Pam Blackley-Goble

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Pam Blackley-Goble

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Paddi Dimitri

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Paddi Dimitri

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Mary Sutherland

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Mary Sutherland

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Maureen Ergeneli

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Maureen Ergeneli

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Margaret Craig

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Margaret Craig

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Kate Medcraft

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Kate Medcraft

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Karen Rowe

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Karen Rowe

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Judy Hammond

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Judy Hammond

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

What's On in April

Marilyn Pipe has been a "textile junkie" for many years and after gaining a City and Guilds Certificate in Creative Embroidery went on to achieve Certificate and Diploma level in Machine Embroidery.

© Marilyn Pipe

"It all Started in a Stately Home ..."
7.15 pm on Wednesday 10 April 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

Doors by Joy Abrahams

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Joy Abrahams

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Josie Todd

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Josie Todd

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jo McLean

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jo McLean

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jean Johnson

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jean Johnson

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jane Travis

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jane Treavis

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jane O'Brien

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jane O'Brien

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jane Craft

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jane Craft

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Jane Buckley

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Jane Buckley

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Gaby Lloyd

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Gaby Lloyd

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Fiona Beresford

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Fiona Beresford

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Eileen Humphrey

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Eileen Humphrey

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Denise Harrison

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Denise Harrison

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Daphne Hill

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Daphne Hill

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Cathy Lines

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Cathy Lines

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Carol-Anne Conway

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Carol-Anne Conway

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Amanda Smith

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Amanda Smith

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Amanda Hislop

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Amanda Hislop

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

Doors by Alex Messenger

Five Minutes From Home

An Exhibition of textile work by members of Oxford Embroiderers' Guild

also including

Doors

A group display with the Young Embroiderers

© Alex Messenger

Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8BL

9 April - 4 May 2013

10-4 Monday to Saturday

Free admission

13 March 2013 - Jane O’Brien, "Damask, Colour and Collage"

For the second month in a row we had to call upon an ‘emergency’ speaker when our scheduled speaker, Jennifer Collier, was suddenly taken ill.

© Jane O’Brien

This time it was our very own Jane O’Brien who stepped up to the plate with only a few hours notice. Jane had given her talk "Damask, Colour and Collage" to us only 23 months previously but we have welcomed so many new members to the branch since then that many were hearing it for the first time. This is a talk so packed with information and illustrated with wonder pictures it was well worth hearing again and Jane’s knowledge and passion for damask and renaissance art was as evident as the first time.

We wish Jennifer a speedy recovery and thank Jane stepping in at such short notice.

What's On in March

Jennifer Collier remakes household items from found & recycled papers, giving new life to items that would otherwise be thrown away.

© Jennifer Collier

"Experimental Textile Techniques"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 13 March 2013
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £5.00

Our Lady’s are a Piece

When Mr X Stitch visited us in January he spoke about the Craftivist Collective and their "Save the Children – Race Against Hunger" campaign.

© Karen Rowe

Karen Rowe decided to introduce colleagues and students at Our Lady’s Abingdon Senior School to the project. The idea is to create three hand crafted jigsaw pieces – one for yourself, one for your MP and one to send to the Craftivist Collective for their installations.

The end result was nearly 40 jigsaw pieces created by

Year 10 GCSE Textiles group
OLA Sixth Form Textiles students
Year 9 Textiles Club
Year 6 Print Club
Year 5 Needlecraft Class
Junior Church Group from St. Columba’s United Reform Church (ages 5-8)
Senior School Staff

© Karen Rowe

Karen said "It was fabulous to get so many children involved! The message spread across the senior school to the junior school and beyond to St. Columba's".

Our Lady’s Abingdon Senior School now have an installation of their own - photocopies of the pieces the pupils and staff made.