November 2019 – The AGM

Well done all who managed to get to the Annual General Meeting on Friday evening.  The weather and driving conditions were against so many of us with all sorts of difficulties on the roads.

Precis of the AGM:

Treasurer spoke to her report announcing that Internet enabled banking has been set up and tested.  The branch can only claim Gift Aid on branch subs.  She encourages members to renew National membership centrally and branch membership with us.  Branch membership will run from 1^st September each year with the option of joining in March (1^st) for 50% for new members joining us.  All branch members are asked to ensure that they maintain National membership

Membership secretary reported significant difficulties with the new system set up by HQ.

Committee members and Branch Officers. Denise Sullivan has succeeded Eileen Walters as branch secretary.   Other posts remain unchanged.

Bursary Winners.  Congratulations to Lesley Woods and Letty Murton.  They will receive £100 each.

The Talk:

We were delighted to welcome Dr Tim Pestell to the meeting.  His talk on the Castle Museum Project and the Norwich Tapestry was very interesting indeed and inspired lots of questions, comments and discussions with him afterwards.  He urged us to have visit the Keep whilst renovations are ongoing as it is very interesting.  We can look forwards to December 2021, the 900^th anniversary of Henry I’s Christmas visit to Norwich when renovations will be complete and exhibitions in partnership with the British Museum will be opened.

Notices:

Branch Membership:  Many of you will recall that HQ sent round an email with an invitation to renew National membership electronically.  Your committee has decided that from henceforth we shall encourage you to do this and pay branch membership to us.  Branch membership will run from 1^st September each year.  The option of joining in March (1st) for 50% will be open for new members joining us.

All branch members need evidence of current National membership.

Luggage Labels:  The MLB challenge for 2019.  You may submit as many as you like but the flat dimensions (length and width) must fall within the luggage label (a little edge beading is OK), otherwise there are no rules.  Please bring to the Christmas meeting for judging.

Your committee aims to have a display of the labels at “Makers Festival 2020”.

Makers Festival 2020 in the Forum (8 – 23 February)

We are calling for your work to display in the Forum.  I’d love to see some pieces from our workshops if possible.

• 2 dimensional hanging pieces only please.
• Pictures therefore must have 2 eyes screwed into the back as high on the frame as possible with wire or string for hanging.
• Committee members will collect your pictures at our January meeting and return them at the March meeting. Please arrange for them to be delivered or collected if you are unable to attend either meeting.
• We shall set up on Friday 7^th Feb and take down on completion of the event.
• You are welcome to bring your items to the Forum on 7^th and collect when we dismantle.
• I shall need details of your pieces to enable guild insurance. If you plan to submit pieces please e-mail me and I will send you a list of the details required.

We are also calling for volunteers to man our stand and perhaps demonstrate stitching and ask the public to stitch luggage labels too which can be added to the display, and also for volunteers to run or help run workshops for the public.  Details will follow once finalised with the organisers.

Eastern Region Regional Day  click here for POSTER_Regional Day 2020

Saturday 4^th July in Colchester.

Lectures by Karen Nicol and Jessica Grady.  Trade area.  If a member would like to organise a coach to convey people to the meeting they are very welcome to, your committee thought transport by car share was more appropriate.  Nearer the time I shall ask members to indicate if they’d like a ticket (£13 for members, £20 otherwise).  The organisers have asked that tickets are issued through the branches.

Members Competition – “The World is your Oyster”. click here for Competition for Regional Day 2020

Refreshment and Setup rota – keep on signing up please.  We have listened to the suggestion that refreshment should be offered on arrival rather than at the end of the meeting when we are rushing to chat to the speaker or see the display, put things out or away etc..  We shall start this in January.

2019/20 Programme Cards – Are available at the sign in desk. click here for Programme Card

URC Matters – New vacuum cleaner – if you need to see user instructions that are pinned on the wall above the cleaner.  Please pay particular notice on how to change from carpet to hard floor.

Portable Appliance Testing – A reminder that certification is a requirement of the URC.  Mara’s husband has contacted Poringland and District Men’s Shed and has received the following reply:

Thanks for contacting the PDMS website.  Our resident PAT tester Peter Webb would be delighted to help the Embroiders Guild members. Whilst we are happy they communicate the “service” on their blog could we ask that it’s restricted to Guild members – we are not wishing to become a PAT resting service for the whole of Norwich! 

Our suggested donation is £2.50 per item. 

Peter Webb (no relation) is not there every day so members must telephone first to make an appointment. Contact details and how to find the shed are on PDMS web site  click here

Talks & Workshops:

December: Saturday 21^st     2pm – Christmas Social.

Mince pies and Stollen

Mini workshop with Heather Hasthorpe – make a Jolly Santa – an introduction to a quilting technique.

You will need to bring with you:  sewing kit, small sharp scissors, red and white thread, sharp pencil and a small ruler.

 

 

 

 

Judging of MLB award by last year’s winner Mara and one of our newer members Judy Riddington.

January:  Friday 17^th

Talk:  7.30pm. – “Chinese Textile Collection” – Judith Symonds

January:  Saturday 18^th

Workshop: 10.00 – 16.00.  Alex Waylett – “Laminated Stitch”. The bookings are coming in quickly, Alex is a very popular tutor.  I have now opened this up outside the branch via our Facebook page and to local branches.  So if you want a place contact Mara asap..

Events:

“A Quilter’s Journey” exhibition of patchwork and quilting by Linda Mercer –

Sat 23 Nov 2019 – Foxearth Hall Barn, CO10 7JH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Summer School: 4 – 6^th September

Ruth Holmes has taken on the organisation of the last regional summer school.  click here for Summer School details  She has organised 3 fantastic tutors, I hope many will choose to attend.

October 2019

What an inspiring talk we had from Fiona Balding this evening.  I popped into the workshop to see what was happening this morning, it was a full room, with lots of vegetation, boilers and steamers and lots of business.  It looked as if everyone was having a wonderful time.

Do share pictures in our Facebook group and bring your pieces to the next meeting.

 

Here are the  October notices click here

Images and details of newsletter items

A plea from the door:                                                                                                                   Door charge and Raffle:  We would ask you to bring the correct money for door entry and a raffle ticked if they would like one. There were several people proffering £20 notes for their £1 entrance money on Friday, sorry, but we can’t provide that sort of change.

SummerSchool2020 details

The World is your Oyster – Competition for Regional Day 2020

 

 

My thanks to members who have been busy making and donating some sample labels to me to enable promotional pictures for the Festival.  Leslie and I have taken a few images which I shall send to the organisers. Here’s a first attempt at a Photoshop collage…

 

 

 

 

September 2019

Welcome back members.  I trust you’ve had  a wonderful summer break and are ready to get back to stitching.

For those who weren’t able to attend summer school this year I’m posting a few images:

 

 

 

 

Libby Smith – Kantha

Lindsay Taylor – Shoes

Debbie Lyddon – Structural Forms

 

There’s lots to look forwards to.

A fantastic programme put together by Leslie Southon, three social events in the calendar, several competitions to enter one of which includes the “Luggage Label” challenge (see below).

 

 

I’m sorry that I missed the first meeting.. I gather that our Young Embroiderers were entertaining and inspirational, and the workshops lead by Gwyneth and Julie were hugely enjoyable.

 

 

Anna and Antonia talking to 76 Textile group with Rachel and Elliot waiting their turn

Hares made by our Young Embroiderers in 2018

Leslie writes that  “everyone told me how much they had enjoyed themselves at the workshop. It was a lovely group and we all learnt masses from both tutors. Participants felt that they had come extremely well prepared and that they were very generous with all the materials that you let us share.
The Young Embroiderers were an inspiration and I hope that they gained something from it as well because the members certainly did.”

Shadow embroidery, made into little boxes

 

Julie’s workshop – Memories

Julie’s workshop – Memories

Notices:

Luggage Labels:  The MLB challenge for 2019.  You may submit as many as you like but the flat dimensions (length and width) must fall within the luggage label (a little edge beading is OK), otherwise there are no rules.  Please bring to the Christmas meeting for judging.

Your committee aims to have a display of the labels at “Makers Festival 2020”.

We would like to invite YE to make a few, or a lot….they will be really useful during Makers Festival as examples for children visiting our stand to work on their own label.

Have any members completed any labels? – the organisers of Makers Festival are asking for some pictures that can be used to advertise the event.

Makers Festival 2020 in the Forum (8 – 23 February) we shall be calling for your work to display in the glass gallery outside the library where TOPstitch displayed last year, for volunteers to man our stand and perhaps demonstrate stitching and ask the public to stitch luggage labels too which can be added to the display, and also for volunteers to run or help run workshops for the public.

Sheringham Seascape – an embroidery project in the style of John Craske. – 14 June to 31 Oct 2019 – this continues… click here to visit website

Picking up the Threads – an exhibition of new and original textile work during Markers Festival 2020.  Details on Makers Festival website, our Fb page and my blog.  https://norfolkmakersfestival.co.uk/

Eastern Region Regional Day – Members Competition – “The World is your Oyster”  Competition for Regional Day 2020

Refreshment and Setup rota – keep on signing up please.

2019/20 Programme Cards – Are available at the sign in desk.

Have you rejoined? Lesley Molyneux is receiving application forms and subs.

Next committee meeting is 2^nd Oct after which we should have more information about many of these events.

Talks & Workshops:

October: Friday 18^th / Sat 19th

Talk: Fiona Blading – The Magic & Mystery of Eco Printing

Workshop: Fiona Balding – An Introduction to Eco Printing on Paper & Fabric.

November: Friday 15^th

7pm – AGM – please do come, papers will be circulated soon.

Followed by Talk:  Prof Tim Pestell – The Norwich Tapestry.

 

Events:

Eastern Region AGM – 2^nd Nov at Histon – Viv & Kevin from ArtvanGo will be sharing their memories…

Cheryl writes:

Dear Friends

Our Annual Meeting will be in Histon on 2^nd November,  Exhibition space and refreshments will be available from 10am with the meeting commencing at 11. Viv and Kev from Art Van Go have been on an Antipodean Adventure but will be our guests after lunch. Can you please encourage your members to attend so that we can have at least one person from each Branch attending.

Could your Branch please bring any items from National Day of Stitch, a table top display of a Branch project and any item purchased from Art Van Go that was really good or something you have never used but it was a good idea at the time – we’ll have a little retirement quiz with Viv and Kev.

 

“A Quilter’s Journey” exhibition of patchwork and quilting by Linda Mercer – Sat 23 Nov 2019 –            Foxearth Hall Barn, CO10 7JH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Summer School: 4 – 6^th September

SummerSchool2020 – info leaflet

Ruth Holmes has taken on the organisation of the last regional summer school.  Details at back of hall and on Guild website, or click on “info leaflet” above.  She has organised 3 fantastic tutors, I hope many will choose to attend.

As always, if you have any information you’d like me to include in the blog, let me know.

best wishes to all

Frances

 

Dilys and Dickens

Thought I’d share with you (with permission) this lovely picture of Dilys with a Dickens panel she has completed.

July – Summer Social Meeting

It was lovely to see so many at our Summer Social meeting today.  The Bring and Buy was a great success, many members off loaded “stuff” from their stashes and others bought.

Lesley Jones’ cakes were delicious.

It was great to see progress being made on the Sheringham Seascape that Lisa brought to the meeting.  She welcomes any one up at the museum but it might be worth contacting her before if you plan to go up to stitch as space around the embroidery is obviously limited.

Bookings are flooding in for the September and October workshops.  Details and booking forms can be found here.  There are spaces, but don’t delay applying too long if you are keen to attend.

The Mary Lovewell Blake challenge is announced – Luggage Labels – details here

 

We Brought and Bought

Heather finishing a piece

Lisa stitching into the Sheringham Seascape

 

July Notices:

Click here to view

Clicks & Pics relating to notices:

2019-20 programme card

Competition for Regional Day 2020 – The World is Your Oyster

 

Shadow work box with Gwyneth

T, T & T with Julie

T, T & T with Julie

T, T & T with Julie

 

 

We shall be sending out renewal forms, gift aid forms and GDPR forms along with the new programme very shortly.  Printed cards should be available for you to pick up at the September meeting, but don’t forget to listen out for additions as the months go by, or you will be able to pick up details here or in my newsletters.

I now wish you all a Happy Summer and look forwards to seeing you in September…

best wishes

Frances

 

3.8.19 –

Just received these:

MG-PatternsofInspirationOct2019A4

June 2019

I was delighted to welcome Jean Wright to our meeting.  The illustrated talk she gave on the history of Gold Work certainly lived up to its name.  Clearly Jean had researched her subject thoroughly and conveyed to all of us at the meeting her enthusiasm for all that is glittery.  She also brought some of her work, gold work with a contemporary twist, lots of ideas and inspiration for us all.

More pictures can be viewed on our facebook page.  Do have a look.

Sue Leonard is taking the workshop tomorrow.  Please bring your pieces to the Summer Social in July for us to admire.

Notices can be downloaded here

 

 

 

 

 

Work by Helen Steven’s (copyrighted) who is the Peterborough branch speaker mentioned in “Notices”

Visit Helen’s website here

 

Regional Competition 2020

“The World is Your Oyster”

Entry details here

News from Waveney Branch

BECCLES BRANCH OF THE EMBROIDERERS GUILD 20th ANNIVERSARY

This year Waveney Branch is celebrating its 20th anniversary. We kick off at our June Meeting on Wednesday 19th June at the Quaker hall in Beccles from 10am to noon with a ‘Stitch with cake’ social to which any of your members are invited. There will be an entrance fee for members of the Guild of £1.50 and £3.00 for non Guild visitors.

We will have a celebration cake to have with our tea/coffee. On show will be examples of our members work,our banners, travelling books, celebration work books members have been working on since January and also exhibits from our archives to bring back memories.

Bring your sewing kit and something to stitch and enjoy a friendly get together.

Also during July and August we are having a “ TRAIL OF  THREADS “ through Beccles. Various shops will be displaying a piece of work done by our members, culminating in a display in Beccles Library. Do come and have a look and enjoy what Beccles has to offer. Information and maps will be available in Beccles library.

We look forward to seeing you

Jenny Bosanko

Joint Chairman

May 2019

We had a wonderful talk from Ros Wilson entitled “World Textiles”, she took us on a whirl wind tour of the globe, visiting each area with a fantastic collection of textiles.

Her workshop on Saturday was brilliant, I attach a few pictures if happy spindlers:

Mentioning workshops – can I remind you of Sue Leonard’s workshop in June.  If you’ve not had a chance to sample Goldwork this is your opportunity.  Bookings have been opened to other branches and non members now so if you have friends or family who would like to give Goldwork a go do invite them to join us.  Pictures below…

 

 

 

 

Last month I went up to Sheringham with Sue and Dilys to learn more about the Sheringham Seascape.  It’s a huge project that Lisa has set up and she’d love to see as many volunteers as possible.  Details in “notices” – link below.

Please access May notices here:  Notices May

In addition I can post 3 other events:

In Stitches Exhibition at Blickling

Fibre Fusion Exhibition at Snape

 

April 2019

Just to remind you all that there is no meeting this month.

I still feel that a newsletter is in order, members should receive it in your in box very shortly, you can access it by following this link: (Newsletter April)

Please book for Sue Leonard’s June workshop.  For images please visit “programme”.  Here’s the booking form: (June members booking form)

There are just a few spare spaces for the May workshop – come and create unique threads, fibres and yarn to use in your projects: (May booking form)

Don’t forget to visit Open Studios in May and June…here’s the link to the online brochure: (NNOS brochure 2019)  The complete list of artists is published in the paper copy.

25th May to 9th June 2019

Branch Secretary Job Description

Many of you are aware that Eileen, who has done a wonderful job as Branch Secretary and kept me in order more that a few times, is reaching the end of her three year term of office.  It was suggested that I circulated a brief job description, so here it is.

If you’d like fuller details, please contact either Eileen or myself.

Thanks for looking…

JD Branch Sec