What's on in November

Sally Richardson’s work aims to both celebrate and critique vintage textile pieces. It explores both their social and gendered nature using three key themes. The first theme is repetition. Using a range of knitting, crochet, lace, and tatting to inform her drawing, she hopes to give a sense of the methodical and monotonous nature of both the textile pieces and her drawing. Second, using doilies as an example, Sally aims to show how these were used as a symbol of respectability and femininity but have since become redundant, now more likely to be viewed as out of date and a sign of old age. Third, by creating drawings on pages of instructional textile magazines Sally tries to highlight the way in which the instructions actively prevent creativity by providing a set of compulsory steps which undermine any artistic intervention.

© Sally Richardson

"The Art of the Doily"
7.15 pm on 9 November 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

What's on in September

Aimee Payton gives an introduction to the Textile Collections, highlighting unique and interesting objects and embroidered items.

© The Ashmolean Museum

"Textile Collections at the Ashmolean"
7.15 pm on 14 September 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

National Day of Stitch

What's on in June

Alison Hulme: Why, When and How. A different sort of story.

© Alison Hulme

"My Life in Stitch"
7.15 pm on 8 June 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

What's on in May

Caroline Bell will be talking about her journey to becoming an Embroiderers’ Guild Scholar, what happened during the year, how she spent the grant, and what happened next.

© Caroline Bell

"My year as Embroiderers’ Guild Scholar"
7.15 pm on 11 May 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

What's on in April

Harriet Stiles will be discussing her journey as a self-employed jewellery designer to date - the influence of nature, flora and fauna, and rural Herefordshire, with an underlying desire to contemporise traditional needlework, by designing and making flamboyant adornments.

© Harriet Stiles

"Embroidered Adornments"
7.15 pm on 13 April 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

The Grand Bridge III

A felted view of the grand bridge by Young Embroiderer Ela Ergeneli, age 7.

The Grand Bridge by Ela Ergeneli

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Enduring Legacy

Fabric paints, applique, dissolvable fabric with machine and hand stitching, using a variety of threads. By Sarah Dickinson.

Enduring Legacy by Sarah Dickinson

Enduring Legacy, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Waiting for Glory

Waterlilies - Time to rest, drift back under the water to sleep, until the Spring when you once again share your glory. By Clem Gilder.

Waiting for Glory by Clem Gildery

Waiting for Glory by Clem Gildery, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

SEW Regional Day - Meet the Speakers, Michele Carragher

The Embroidered Narrative: Costume Embroidery for Film and Television

Michele Carragher is a Costume Embroiderer who specialises in hand embroidery and surface embellishment, using traditional hand embroidery techniques, smocking, beading and surface decoration. She works directly onto the completed garment or starts with motifs and textures on silk organza, which are applied to the costume and then working into once on the actual garment.

Daenery Dragonscale Dress, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

Michele studied Fashion Design at The London College of Fashion and at the same time attended a three year evening course in Saddlery at the Cordwainers College learning skills in leatherwork. After leaving college she worked in Textile Conservation, repairing and restoring historical textiles before moving into a career in costume for Film and Television, initially working as a Costume Assistant/Maker on productions then gravitated towards the decoration and embellishment of costumes, using skills in hand embroidery and surface decoration.

Margaery’s Wedding Dress, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

The first production that saw her undertake the role of a Principal Costume Embroiderer was for HBO’s 2005 Emmy Costume award-winning production of Elizabeth 1, starring Helen Mirren. Her most recent work has been on HBO’s 2012/14 Costume award-winning television series Game of Thrones, working on all six seasons. Michele’s highly creative embellishment of the show's stunning costumes are now as much talked about as the television series itself and the books upon which the series is based.

Embroidered Insect, Game of Thrones, HBO
© Michele Carragher

This talk is about the path that led Michele to work in Film and Television industry as a Costume Embroiderer, explaining how she developed her style and techniques, as well as giving insight into how she does her job. Michele will show examples of her embroidery work and explain the process into how she created some of the designs for Elizabeth 1 and Game of Thrones.

http://michelecarragherembroidery.com/

For more information on the SEW Regional Day and a booking form, please email karenroweeg@gmail.com

SEW Regional Day - Meet the Speakers, Diana Springall

The Madeira Lecture: Contemporary Embroidery and the Relevance of Drawing

Diana Springall is amongst the most well-known of all British textile artists. Her work is found in many private and public collections including the Embroiderers’ Guild.

Letting the Days Go By by Jane Poulton
© Diana Springall Collection

Following her training as a painter, Diana soon realised the importance of adding craft skills to her teaching career, in particular, embroidery. At the start of the 1960’s, as a passionate teacher and practicing embroider, she made scores of 35mm slides for her students to share but knew that nothing could them more them more than enabling them to see and handle the real thing. Thus, Diana began to collect examples of contemporary embroidery by graduate students, and her colleagues and peers. Most were purchased for modest sums, but many were an agreement of exchange and in several significant cases have been gives.

The Cinnamon Tree by Virina Warren
© Diana Springall Collection

What Diana saw in the building of this resource was one that would allow me, at very short notice, to show those who questioned me with the words “what do you mean by embroidery?” she could reply by say “I will show you”.

On My Window Sill by Diana Springall
© Diana Springall Collection

Diana’s talk will be about the textile artists of the last sixty years who have pursued the subject with professional passion. Their individuality can be seen to stem from a higher education system that valued the significance of observational drawing.

http://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk

For more information on the SEW Regional Day and a booking form, please email karenroweeg@gmail.com

SEW Regional Day - 16 April 2016

Tickets are now available for the

Embroiderer's Guild

South East West Regional Day

2016

Hosted by the Oxford Branch

at

Our Lady’s Abingdon Senior School,

Abingdon, OX14 3PS

on

Saturday, 16 April, 2016

10am - 4 pm

The day includes two fabulous lectures:

The Madeira Lecture: Contemporary Embroidery and the Relevance of Drawing

Daina Springall - In a career spanning over forty years, she has devoted more than half to full-time teaching and lecturing. Dianna’s talk will be about the textile artists of the last sixty years who have pursued the subject with professional passion. Their individuality can be seen to stem from a higher education system that valued the significance of observational drawing.

The Embroidered Narrative: Costume Embroidery for Film and Television

Michele Carragher is a Costume Embroiderer who specialises in hand embroidery and surface embellishment. Her highly acclaimed work on HBO’s Elizabeth 1 and Game of Thrones has won numerous Costume Awards. Michelle’s talk is about the path that led her to work in Film and Television industry as a Costume Embroiderer, explain how she developed her style and techniques, and give insight into how she does her job.

Member’s Competition – Any Silk, Any Thread

'Any silk, any thread, Any toys for your head
Of the new'st and fin'st, fin'st wear-a?
Come to the pedlar; Money's a meddler
That doth utter all men's wear-a'
A Winter's Tale, Act 4 Scene 4

This year’s competition commemorates 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare.
Entries are invited from all members who may take their inspiration directly from the competition title or from any aspect of the life and works of Shakespeare. Entries may be of any size and dimension, including 3D.

Entries are also invited from Young Embroiderers, whether they belong to a group associated with a branch or not,
and will be judged as a separate class.

The Shopping Mall

An opportunity to buy direct from the Region's finest textile suppliers:

Art Van Go

21st Century Yarns

Village Fabrics

plus a selection of second hand Textiles books
and specially created “Goody Bags”

All this plus tea/coffee and Danish pastry on arrival and a buffet lunch.
Tea/coffee and cake will be available for purchase at the end of the afternoon.

For more information and a booking form, please email karenroweeg@gmail.com

We would like to express our thanks to Coats and Madeira UK for their continued support

Pathway to Another View

Insiration - Old map to present day.
Applique, machine and hand stitching onto soluble film created a new cloth. The use of an embellishing machine integrated the surface. By Jan Beaney.

Pathway to Another View by Jan Beaney

Pathway to Another View, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Blenheim Lake

A felted view of Blenheim lake by Young Embroiderer Heather Anderson, age 11.

Blenheim Lake by Heather Anderson

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

He Cast Long Shadows

Insiration - Old map to present day.
Layered applique dyed background with machine and hand stitching and the use of the embellisher. By Jean Littlejohn.

He Cast Long Shadows by Jean Littlejohn

He Cast Long Shadows, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

No Better View

Fabric collage enriched with stitch. By Caroline Marriott.

No Better View by Caroline Marriott

No Better View, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Waterlily

Layered fabrics and applique. By June Hiscock.

Waterlily by June Hiscock

Waterlily, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Blenheim Park

A felted view of Blenheim Park by Young Embroiderer Niamh Payne, age 13.

Blenheim Park by Niamh Payne

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Shades of Blenheim

Textiles with beading; hand and machine embroidered. By Mary Sutherland.

Shades of Blenheim by Mary Sutherland

Shades of Blenheim, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Tree of Hearts

Trees were integral to Brown's landscape design. This piece was inspired by the large tree with a huge hole in its centre thas was heart shaped. It can be found as you walk over the Bridge on your left of the far side of the lake.

I wish I were yound enough to climb in it. By Paddi Dimitri.

Tree of Hearts by Paddi Dimitri

Tree of Hearts, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Virginia's Autumn Glory

My interpretation of this wonderful Virginia Creeper tries to capture its glorious riotous colours. By Vidhya Lockyer.

Virginia's Autumn Glory by Vidhya Lockyer

Virginia's Autumn Glory, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

The Rose Garden II

A felted depiction of the Rose Garden by Young Embroiderer Sophie Warwick, age 9.

The Rose Garden by Sophie Warwick

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

Through the Undergrowth

By Kate Medcraft.

Through the Undergrowth by Kate Medcraft

Through the Undergrowth, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidonhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

The Bridge

Manipulated photographic image, machine embroidery and padded applique. When I first visited Blenheim Palace years ago, it was the Bridge, set in Capability Brown's landscape, which first caught my eye. By Pauline Johnson.

The Bridge by Pauline Johnson

The Bridge, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidonhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

A Vision Achieved

Column of Victory with 1730 Blenheim Park map. Fabric strips machined onto background and painted. Scrim and hand embroidery. By Rita Maton.

A Vision Achieved by Rita Maton

A Vision Achieved, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidonhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

The Rose Garden I

A felted depiction of the Rose Garden by Young Embroiderer Charlotte Payne, age 13.

The Rose Garden by Charlotte Payne

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

What's on in March

Artist Celia Pym gives a talk about her work with focus on darning and mending projects, including the biggest mend she has done – Norwegian Sweater, project with Richard Wingate at KCL dissecting room, Mending and Anatomy, practicing darning and the effort to ‘get your darning and tension right, perfect’: new work Practice Socks. The talk will be about why Celia is attracted to repaired things, the intimacy of being shown the holes in other people’s clothes, and why making holes visible in repair is exciting.

© Celia Pym

"Looking after things, experiences with mending and darning"
7.15 pm on 9 March 2016
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.

Visitors welcome £6.00

'Capability Brown' Initials

Lancelot Capability Brown initials in goldwork. By Susan J Humphrey.

'Capability Brown' Initials by Susan J Humphrey

'Capability Brown' Initials, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

The Grand Bridge

Felted background, with wool tops applied with an embellisher, applique, free machine embroidery and hand embroidery. By Pam Blackley-Goble.

The Grand Bridge by Design by Pam Blackley-Goble

The Grand Bridge, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.

The Finest View in England

Machine stitched organza representing capability Brown's original drawing of his vision, overlaid onto deptiction of it as seen today. By Margaret Craig.

The Finest View in England by Design by Margaret Craig

The Finest View in England, detail

2016 is the 300th anniversary of 'Capability' Brown's birth and to commemorate the occassion the Embroiderers' Guild will be joining a nationwide celebration.

Blenheim Palace is one of the finest examples of Brown's work. As part of a range of activies to clebrate the life and works of 'Capability' Brown the Palace is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Embroiderers' Guild and a local art group.

Members of Newbury, Oxford, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham branches together with the Young Embroiderers of Oxford Branch have contributed nearly 100 unique and specially created art works for this exhibition.