This piece is by Heather Anderson, age 9.
© Heather Anderson
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Heather Anderson
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Heather Anderson, age 9.
This piece is by Heather Anderson, age 9.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Rosie Pater
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Rosie Pater, age 6.
This piece is by Rosie Pater, age 6.
© Rosie Pater
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Alice Roskell
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Alice Roskell, age 9.
This piece is by Alice Roskell, age 9.
© Alice Roskell
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Lydia Dale
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Lydia Dale, age 10.
This piece is by Lydia Dale, age 10.
© Lydia Dale
Friday, May 23, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Imogen Marooney
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Imogen Marooney, age 17.
This piece is by Imogen Marooney, age 17.
© Imogen Marooney
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tree Rhythms by Evie Monaghan
Oxford Young Embroiderers won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces class in the De Denne Competition, 2014
This piece is by Evie Monaghan, age 14.
This piece is by Evie Monaghan, age 14.
© Evie Monaghan
Friday, May 9, 2014
Three Cheers for Oxford Branch
Oxford Branch has much to shout about this spring!
First, our very own Amanda Smith and Alex Messenger were awarded this year’s Executive Award. I can think of many, many reasons why they deserve this award but here, in his own words, is why Terry Murphy thinks so.
Congratulations, Amanda and Alex, we are delighted that all you do for our branch and for the Guild has been recognized and rewarded.
Congratulations also to Oxford Young Embroiderers who won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces in 2014 De Denne Competition. Each year individuals and groups of young embroiderers and textile students enter this competition named after Lynette de Denne, the founder of the Young Embroiderers’ section of the Embroiderers’ Guild. The competition encourages entries from beginners, on interpretation skills and originality. The theme for 2014 was "Tree Rhythms". Well done, to all of our young embroiderers on this magnificent achievement.
And, last but not least, congratulations to Wendy Hughes who was Commended in the category of the Beryl Dean award for hand stitching in The Members' Challenge. The theme for 2014 Members' Challenge was also "Tree Rhythms".
First, our very own Amanda Smith and Alex Messenger were awarded this year’s Executive Award. I can think of many, many reasons why they deserve this award but here, in his own words, is why Terry Murphy thinks so.
In recognition of their long standing service over many years to Oxford Branch as committee members in nearly all the roles at one time or another and their contributions to the Guild at 'Art in Action', the 'Big Stitch' at the Ashmolean Museum and developing the 'Travelling Books' concept, now shared with all branches of the Guild.Amanda and Alex could not attend the AGM where Terry delivered his citation so he made a special journey Oxford to present their award at our April branch meeting.
One branch member commented that they represent the lively, young faces of their branch.
Alex is known for dastardly quizzes. Amanda has been a good link between our branch and the region. They are best summed up by the saying ... 'If you want something done, ask a busy person' or, in this case, Amanda and Alex.
Amanda speaking about Alex ...
She is probably one of the most exhausting people I know and, at the same time, the most exhilarating person I have ever worked with; just so many ideas. I have to rein her in sometimes but her enthusiasm is infectious.Alex speaking about Amanda ...
She is passionate about textiles of all sorts and strongly believes that stitching has a place in society and should be passed on to future generations. She supports in many ways, not only by giving her time and business expertise; but also with her thoughts and ideas to fellow stitchers who are looking for help and/or inspiration. She's known at our workshops as the "fastest stitcher in the west".
Congratulations, Amanda and Alex, we are delighted that all you do for our branch and for the Guild has been recognized and rewarded.
Congratulations also to Oxford Young Embroiderers who won The Group Entry of Individual Pieces in 2014 De Denne Competition. Each year individuals and groups of young embroiderers and textile students enter this competition named after Lynette de Denne, the founder of the Young Embroiderers’ section of the Embroiderers’ Guild. The competition encourages entries from beginners, on interpretation skills and originality. The theme for 2014 was "Tree Rhythms". Well done, to all of our young embroiderers on this magnificent achievement.
And, last but not least, congratulations to Wendy Hughes who was Commended in the category of the Beryl Dean award for hand stitching in The Members' Challenge. The theme for 2014 Members' Challenge was also "Tree Rhythms".
Thursday, May 1, 2014
What's on in May
Ruth Smith will be revealing the secrets of Chinese folded pocket books.
"The Story of Folded Secrets"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 14 May 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
©
Ruth Smith
"The Story of Folded Secrets"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 14 May 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
What's on in April
Matthew Harris makes work that employs dying, cutting and hand stitching. It is concerned primarily with abstract imagery and the translation of drawn marks into cloth. By making work that is pieced, patched and assembled, he aims to create pieces that explore repetition, pattern and the disrupted or dissonant journey of line and image across and through the surface of cloth.
"Upside Down and Back to Front"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 9 April 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
©
Matthew Harris
"Upside Down and Back to Front"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 9 April 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
Saturday, March 15, 2014
15 March 2014: Caroline Kirton - "Graphic Design and Stitch"
By Caroline Kirton
I spent a really lovely day yesterday taking a workshop for a group of enthusiastic embroiders from the Oxford embroiders guild. It was a very productive day with some fantastic work produced by the end of the day, although some is still work in progress! It was a challenge for some to decide on what images to choose, but once decisions were made every one seemed to enjoy choosing their fabrics and composing their designs.
What I enjoy about the workshops and find interesting is how every one has a different interpretation of the brief and brings a touch of their own style into the finished piece of work.
Here are the finished results hope you find them as inspirational as I do.
Text and pictures originally published on Caroline's blog and reproduced here with her kind permission.
I spent a really lovely day yesterday taking a workshop for a group of enthusiastic embroiders from the Oxford embroiders guild. It was a very productive day with some fantastic work produced by the end of the day, although some is still work in progress! It was a challenge for some to decide on what images to choose, but once decisions were made every one seemed to enjoy choosing their fabrics and composing their designs.
What I enjoy about the workshops and find interesting is how every one has a different interpretation of the brief and brings a touch of their own style into the finished piece of work.
Here are the finished results hope you find them as inspirational as I do.
© Karen Rowe
© Alex Messenger
© Natalie Ellett
© Jo McLene
© Hazel Gearing
© Elaine Steele
© Hazel Gearing
© Ulrike Hutchins
Text and pictures originally published on Caroline's blog and reproduced here with her kind permission.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
12 March 2014, Judith Hammond - "Plastic Couture"
Finally! A monthly meeting that was not put in jeopardy by the weather and in response the members of Oxford Branch turned out en masse. We were joined this evening by Ann Waldon Mills, acting regional Chairman, who was returning work that members had submitted for exhibition at the 'Make It' show which, by all accounts, was a great success.
Ulrike has put together another excellent program of speakers and workshops this year and half way through the program we have already enjoyed an interesting and varied selection of speakers. Tonight was no exception. Ulrike 'discovered' Judith Hammond at the 'Big Stitch' in October 2012 where she was one of a host of volunteer demonstrators.
Judith originates from the north-east of England. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress and her mother made all of the family clothes, whether stitched or knitted, so Judith says textiles and craft are in her genes. At school Judith was in the 'academic stream' so was steered towards French rather than needlework but, to this day, cannot speak a word of French!
After school Judith applied for two design courses at University but was not offered a place at either so she decided to take a year out. She started work as a Civil Servant. She says that it was a 'great' job that she loved doing but sadly there were no textiles involved.
Years later, when she and her husband moved to Banbury, Judith began a textile design course which she described as ‘like play school’ where they were encouraged to explore and experiment with anything and everything. When her tutor resigned Judith was keen to continue with her textile studies. She applied for a course at Banbury College and, when invited to an interview, took with her all the bags of samples produced on the previous course. Emptying the contents onto the desk she said 'this is what I can do'. At the end of the interview the tutor offered Judith a place on their degree course.
Judith describes the next 6 years as 'fantastic'. Her first assignment was to work with a found object. Judith recalls looking at a table filled with the likes of old tooth brushes, combs, etc. and wondering she could possibly do with any of it. She selected an ice cube bag to work with because she was taken with the silk feel of the plastic. Here began a voyage of discovery, exploring every possible use for an ice cube bag, stitching, cutting and melting it, filling it with dye then using the frozen dye cubes to dawn onto fabric, and so on. At this point Judith started handing out the dozens of samples she had brought with her. Every ice cube bag and every piece of paper or fabric with labelled and in addition Judith completed journals documenting every experiment. Judith produced two shawls for assessment and says that she was criticized for not using silk, however Judith states that she does not like to buy expensive materials preferring instead to work with found, recycled or affordable alternatives.
It was while experimenting for the second assignment - Materials and Processes - that Judith discovered that plastic melts and began to explore its potential. Again every aspect was investigated and recorded, resulting in many more samples. Looking for an affordable supply of plastic Judith’s attention turned to her ever growing collection of carrier bags and in addition to sampling began to research bags. Among other things she discovered, among over things, that each person uses an average of 200 plastic bags per year, and the each bag is used for an average of 20 minutes.
Around this time, Judith visited an exhibition called Lost in Lace and was struck by the similarities between lace and some of her stitched and melted plastic bags. For her assessment piece she made a series of 'dresses' from a variety of plastic bags. Each 'dress' is a single layer cut into the shape of a dress, paper doll’s cloth style only several times larger, and displayed on a wire coat hanger.
Since graduation Judith has extended her range of dresses, adding layers and other adornments to produce ever more complex designs. She has exhibited many times either with Elaine Loggin and Ian Hog (who graduated the same design craft course as Judith in 2012) or the Society of Designer Craftsmen of which Judith is a member.
As well as her course samples, Judith brought with her all of her 'plastic bag dresses' to show us and a box full of brooches made from melted plastic. As she closed her talk, Judith reminded us that she had attended an Oxford Branch meeting in June 2013 and had been inspired by Alice Fox, our guest speaker that evening. Since then she has been conducting her own experiments with creating rust marks of fabric and says "I have been completely sucked in by tea and rusty nails and cannot escape."
Ulrike has put together another excellent program of speakers and workshops this year and half way through the program we have already enjoyed an interesting and varied selection of speakers. Tonight was no exception. Ulrike 'discovered' Judith Hammond at the 'Big Stitch' in October 2012 where she was one of a host of volunteer demonstrators.
© Judith Hammond
Judith originates from the north-east of England. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress and her mother made all of the family clothes, whether stitched or knitted, so Judith says textiles and craft are in her genes. At school Judith was in the 'academic stream' so was steered towards French rather than needlework but, to this day, cannot speak a word of French!
After school Judith applied for two design courses at University but was not offered a place at either so she decided to take a year out. She started work as a Civil Servant. She says that it was a 'great' job that she loved doing but sadly there were no textiles involved.
© Judith Hammond
Years later, when she and her husband moved to Banbury, Judith began a textile design course which she described as ‘like play school’ where they were encouraged to explore and experiment with anything and everything. When her tutor resigned Judith was keen to continue with her textile studies. She applied for a course at Banbury College and, when invited to an interview, took with her all the bags of samples produced on the previous course. Emptying the contents onto the desk she said 'this is what I can do'. At the end of the interview the tutor offered Judith a place on their degree course.
Judith describes the next 6 years as 'fantastic'. Her first assignment was to work with a found object. Judith recalls looking at a table filled with the likes of old tooth brushes, combs, etc. and wondering she could possibly do with any of it. She selected an ice cube bag to work with because she was taken with the silk feel of the plastic. Here began a voyage of discovery, exploring every possible use for an ice cube bag, stitching, cutting and melting it, filling it with dye then using the frozen dye cubes to dawn onto fabric, and so on. At this point Judith started handing out the dozens of samples she had brought with her. Every ice cube bag and every piece of paper or fabric with labelled and in addition Judith completed journals documenting every experiment. Judith produced two shawls for assessment and says that she was criticized for not using silk, however Judith states that she does not like to buy expensive materials preferring instead to work with found, recycled or affordable alternatives.
© Judith Hammond
It was while experimenting for the second assignment - Materials and Processes - that Judith discovered that plastic melts and began to explore its potential. Again every aspect was investigated and recorded, resulting in many more samples. Looking for an affordable supply of plastic Judith’s attention turned to her ever growing collection of carrier bags and in addition to sampling began to research bags. Among other things she discovered, among over things, that each person uses an average of 200 plastic bags per year, and the each bag is used for an average of 20 minutes.
Around this time, Judith visited an exhibition called Lost in Lace and was struck by the similarities between lace and some of her stitched and melted plastic bags. For her assessment piece she made a series of 'dresses' from a variety of plastic bags. Each 'dress' is a single layer cut into the shape of a dress, paper doll’s cloth style only several times larger, and displayed on a wire coat hanger.
Since graduation Judith has extended her range of dresses, adding layers and other adornments to produce ever more complex designs. She has exhibited many times either with Elaine Loggin and Ian Hog (who graduated the same design craft course as Judith in 2012) or the Society of Designer Craftsmen of which Judith is a member.
© Judith Hammond
As well as her course samples, Judith brought with her all of her 'plastic bag dresses' to show us and a box full of brooches made from melted plastic. As she closed her talk, Judith reminded us that she had attended an Oxford Branch meeting in June 2013 and had been inspired by Alice Fox, our guest speaker that evening. Since then she has been conducting her own experiments with creating rust marks of fabric and says "I have been completely sucked in by tea and rusty nails and cannot escape."
Saturday, March 1, 2014
What's on in March
Judith Hammond recycles plastic bags into dresses
"Plastic Couture"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 12 March 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
© Judith Hammond
"Plastic Couture"
7.15 pm on Wednesday 12 March 2014
at Iffley Village Church Hall, Iffley, OX4 4EG.
Visitors welcome £5.00
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