"Homage to Van Eyck" wins Julia Caprara Award

For the second year running Leamington member, Sue Cooke, has won the Julia Caprara Award for Use of Colour in the Guild Members' Challenge 'All that Glistens'.

Homage to Van Eyck, Sue Cooke

You may have seen "Homage to Van Eyck" if you went to the Fashion, Embroidery, Stitch Show at the NEC recently, where it was on display on the Guild stand.

Sue says, "I used the pomegranate motif because this is popular in Renaissance painting.  I'm also fascinated by the way these artists reproduced gold just using layers of paint, so this seemed to tie in with the competition title.

"The background paper was stitched in white before painting and then some transfoil added. The applied motif was machine stitched onto vanishing muslin, burnt to achieve the distressed look of Renaissance fabric before wrapped cords were added."

Congratulations (again), Sue!

Travelling Books

Leamington Branch has two avid Travelling Books groups, who swap books every month.
One of the groups has just finished their first year and is looking forward to starting again in May. Everyone is very pleased with their book, which now contains several mini works of art.

Although no themes were stipulated, some members decided to follow their own theme, such as countries, flora or day school inspiration.  Others created as the mood took them.

Here is a small sample of some mouthwatering pages:

Leamington member reaches 100

Leamington Branch Member, Win Barry, celebrated her 100^th birthday on February 25^th in the company of her many friends and family.

As a Life Member of the Embroiderers' Guild and a Founder Member of the Leamington & District Branch (which also celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year), Win has fond memories of past and current members and their activities.  Although she regrets that she can no longer join us for meetings, she remains an active member of her local Quilters group close to her home in Coventry.

During the 1980s Leamington & District hit a low point, and the committee prepared to close the Branch due to lack of support and funds.  Win, together with a few fellow members, decided that this could not happen, so they formed a new committee, made a fresh start and Leamington & District Branch was re-born.  Our thanks go to Win and her colleagues for their commitment at that time.

Apart from being a highly skilled needlewoman, Win has been and still is a friend to so many of us.  Loved for her patience, friendship, loyalty and good humour, we must join her Majesty the Queen in congratulating her as she celebrates this very special birthday.

We wish her health and happiness for more years to come.

Some pics from the Embellished Fun workshop ...

What a lovely day we had making our quirky little hangings!  Annette Emms is a very relaxed and helpful tutor, and she patiently guided us through the making process with great humour.

We started by making the felt/scrim background, of course.  Whether using a full-blown embellishing machine or a hand-held needle felting tool, great results could be produced satisfyingly quickly.

Annette showed us various ways to create a focal point, in most cases either a bird or a figure/angel (glad she was able to help with the face!) - stitching or felting it onto our prepared background:

After lunch, we had great fun adding to the picture - felting in extra elements and hand stitching details. Annette was always on hand with constructive suggestions about ways of adding balance and interest.

We were grateful, too, to 21st Century Yarns for providing a sales table of their mouthwateringly-dyed felt, scrim and wool roving bundles, to supplement any gaps in our own supplies.

And finally, home to spend a few happy hours adding more stitches and the finishing touches ....

Thank you, Annette, for providing an inspirational day.

Saturday 7th March, "Embellished Fun" workshop by Annette Emms

There are a couple of places available on this workshop next Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm.

We will use an embellishing machine or hand-held needle felting tool, and scraps of scrim, lace, calico and wool fibres to make a small, quirky wall hanging.  Finish off with beads, hand or machine stitch, and learn how versatile needle felting can be.

If you would like to take up a place, please call Leamington Dayschool Secretary, Jenny Archer on 01926 338987 or email jennyarcher401@gmail.com.

Member fee: £22.50; Visitor fee: £25.00