Member work

Member work

Sunday 14 December 2014

Leamington Member's Rugby Award

Leamington & District Branch member, Gill Dakin, was a few minutes late for the branch’s annual Christmas lunch on 6th December for a special reason. We asked her to write a small piece to explain:

“Earlier this year I planned to enter the annual Rugby Open exhibition, but it did not take place. In my disappointment, I hurriedly decided to make a first-time entry to the Rugby and District Art Society Annual Awards Exhibition, held on floor one of the Rugby Art Gallery, Museum & Library.  (The exhibition closed on 11th December.)  I have been a member of this society for about three years.  I entered two pieces under the heading of ‘mixed media’, because they contained some paper. 


"I was surprised and absolutely delighted to win the President’s Award for my entry entitled 'Autumn Robin', which I created using a dry point etching technique. It has not photographed well, unfortunately, as you probably cannot make out the robin in the bottom right hand corner of the second photo below. My other piece was called 'Poppy Field' [shown in the lower centre of the photo here], and was started on a recent branch workshop led by Amanda Hislop, which I enjoyed very much.

"Poppy Field" by Gill Dakin

"I attended the awards ceremony on the morning of Saturday 6th with my husband, Martin, and was presented with my award by the Deputy Mayor of Rugby, Richard Dodd. I managed to be only slightly late for the start of our lovely Christmas lunch day and was delighted with the warm and positive response I received from everyone regarding this award. 

Gill Dakin with Rugby Mayor, Richard Dodd

"Many thanks to all the committee for everything they do throughout the year, which makes our branch such a great group to belong to.  I’m looking forward to next year with the EG."

Happy Christmas everyone!

Gill Dakin

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Branch Christmas Lunch, 6th December

Our annual Christmas lunch is always an enjoyable and convivial get-together.  As well as the main elements of good company, food and wine, we're kept well entertained by the Secret Santa exchange (must be an inexpensive textile-related gift) and by an extremely taxing Christmas-themed quiz compiled by Treasurer, Anne.  No-one has ever got the answers to all the questions!

We also set ourselves a little challenge each year with a competition to create a seasonal item - this year's was a decorated gift box lid.  You can see some of the lovely results below.  Votes are cast by members putting coins into a dish against their favourite/s, and this year's winning design was Jenny Archer's Christmas Tree gift box - shown here.


Christmas Tree box, Jenny Archer
Christmas Tree box, Jenny Archer

The choice wasn't so easy, though, as a variety of techniques was used to create some lovely box lids, which must surely delight any recipient:









The voting with coins amounted to £31, which Jenny is donating to Warwickshire Air Ambulance.