News
Members challenge 2012
The themes and conditions for the competition are available on the main guild website. Closing date is 31st March 2013.
Regional website
The south east region of the guild now has a website where it is possible to read communications from head office and information about regional events and the activities of other branches.
Take a look at southeastembroiderers.co.uk
News from head office
Dear Members
As everything is settling down well at EG House, it has become apparent that the amazing library receives few visitors and is sadly under used. So a Bookworm volunteer (or two) is being sought, someone who is prepared to go into EG House whenever they feel they have time to spare, to spend a couple of hours or so browsing through articles/books to find snippets of information that are interesting and could be published to enthuse other members to visit and make use of this great resource. As books become more expensive, there is a fund of information and inspiration for you to use there free of charge in comfortable surroundings.
If you are interested in volunteering for this 'job' (can you call such a delightful way to spend a couple of hours a job?!) then please contact Annette Collinge on collection@embroiderersguild.com as soon as possible.
Christmas message from the Guild
To all Members of the Embroiderers' Guild
As you are aware, much has happened in the last 12 months.
The AGM in April saw us saying goodbye to Anthea and thanking her for her commitment to the Guild over three tough years; saying hello to Pauline and looking forward to the next three years. Her resignation five months later came as an unwelcome shock to many.
In April three new Trustees were elected from Council and we continue to look into strengthening the Board by attracting new Trustees who have the skills and contacts to help us into the future. Trustees continue to implement lessons learned and use the knowledge gained to strengthen the Guild. In our letter last December, Anthea and I said we would be considering how best to achieve our aims and the aspirations of Members and that if this involved employing someone then Members could be assured of an open and rigorous recruitment process. In the meantime Terry and our team in the office are working with the Trustees and providing much valued help and support to all our Members.
The Guild finally moved from its home at Hampton Court Palace to Walton on Thames. On 1st September our Patron, HRH the Duchess of Gloucester opened Embroiderers' Guild House and named the Beryl Dean Gallery, where pieces of the Guild's Collection, including items by Beryl Dean, are on permanent display. Some of you have visited the Guild already; others are planning a visit. Please let us know when - it would be wonderful to see you.
Thanks must go to Annette Collinge, who continues to manage the Collection and, together with her team of volunteers, is responsible for creating the Guild's "Must Haves" - those unrecorded fragments, samples, cards, design boards and small pieces that have no historical importance, are duplicates, or do not have the potential for use in a folio and provide a valuable source of income for the Guild.
Branches and Regions have taken the opportunity to borrow Guild folios. These are inspirational resources for members but many have become outdated and shabby and items have been removed from them. Lack of funding has meant that a project for Branches to adopt and renovate a folio, with advice from experienced conservators, has had to be reconsidered. It may be that branches would like to support this project. It is no longer a requirement to seek conservation advice before attempting renovation. Folios arrive with instructions. Folio samples are for handling. If you, your Branch or your Region wish to borrow a folio, please contact Annette.
In November, items from the Collection were on display for three days in the North West, when a steady stream of members took the opportunity to visit the Green Room at Barton Grange Garden Centre. I was one of around 60 who visited on the Thursday morning and was able to talk with some of the visitors. Items from the Collection will be at Guildford next June. Regional Chairmen are looking into suitable locations elsewhere in the country and I hope items from the Collection will be coming soon to a place near you.
In the current difficult economic climate the Guild is very grateful for the support it receives from Andrew Salmon of Twisted Thread, Alastair McMinn of Coats, Karen Burrows of Madeira and from the Worshipful Company of Broderers. We remain aware of the need to build, enrich and nurture our relationships with these and other sponsors, existing and potential. It is a two-way relationship in which Members, Branches and Regions can play a part. We must acknowledge their contribution.
I hope that those of you who visited the Knitting and Stitching Shows at Alexandra Palace and Harrogate enjoyed your time there, as I did, and that you took the opportunity to look at the Graduate Showcase sponsored by the Guild in an area provided by Twisted Thread. The Graduates are eager to share their ideas and many go on to speak at Branch and Regional meetings. Most likely you will have spoken to Pat who was looking after the bookshop and to Alex, Annie, Louise and Olina who at various times provided additional support along with those of you who volunteered your time to help and have volunteered to do so again in 2012.
In-Contact has been reborn as Material Matters. Contact continues to be edited by Jacqui Holmes and she has our thanks for the time and care that she puts into it. All your feedback indicates that Contact is going from strength to strength. With your help, Contact is the place to find out what is happening around the country - nationally, regionally and in Branches. It can be used to advertise events as well as being a source of contact and information for Life and Individual Members not in Branches - but do keep an eye on print deadline dates.
Similarly, our thanks go to Kathy Troup, editor of Stitch, and to Jo Hall, editor of Embroidery. If you haven't done so already, please take the opportunity to look at these magazines on the Embroiderers' Guild stand at the shows in the coming year. Thanks must go, too, to each and every one of the many members who volunteer their time, resources, experiences and expertise in support of the Guild.
The new YE strategy and website aims to increase the support for our YE groups around the country; reach out to more young people whether as members of a group or individual members; and to further the Guild's objectives as an educational charity by providing in-school and distance support for teachers, particularly those working with the Key Stage 2 curriculum (7-11 year olds).
The Executive Committee of Trustees continues to meet for a day every six weeks or so, with a full agenda. Council meets for a day three times a year, also with a full agenda. It is important to listen to the views of and receive feedback from all the Regional Chairmen, who together form the Council. The Regional Committees are an important element of the Guild structure and a source of information, help and advice for Branches and Members.
Following boundary changes, two Regions will be celebrating 10th anniversaries in 2012: North East and Yorkshire & the Humber. Please let me know if your Branch or Region has an anniversary to celebrate: we'd love to hear from you.
I have been delighted to receive invitations to visit Regions and Branches, giving me the opportunity to meet many of you, listen to and exchange information with you - and to learn so much from you - all of which is important in any circumstances but more so because you are "the" Guild. It is important, too, to acknowledge the valuable contribution made to the Guild by all our Members, whether Life, Individual or Branch. We do need you and do value your support.
I am looking forward to the Conference and AGM 2012 weekend in Southport and the superb programme that has been prepared by Kathryn Thompson and her team. Bookings are arriving at the Guild and being dealt with by Annie. We would like attendance to be higher than ever and hope you will join us between 30th March and 1st April when there will be the opportunity to meet, exchange views, listen to what has been happening in the Branches and Regions, admire the stunning Olympic Postcards, attend the AGM and hear about the Guild's latest news and plans, welcome the new Chairman of the Guild, take part in that all-important retail therapy and, of course, relax in each other's company. As always, I am looking forward to seeing you!
In the meantime, I do hope that you and your families have a happy and peaceful Christmas and my very best wishes to you for the New Year. Together I am sure we can make it a successful and prosperous one.
Christine
Christine Poole
Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Guild
The new e- magazine - 'Material Matters' - is now on EG website Members Room!
Does anyone know the whereabouts of a
MISS V J MOORE?
(no other details)
She moved from Grove Court, Upstreet, Canterbury in about 1981 for somewhere else in Canterbury.
She made a banner for a Masonic Lodge who are celebrating their 60th anniversary later this year.
Get in touch with Marion Hitch if you happen to know anything.
A Call for Corsets!
As part of her Textile Degree studies, Marilyn Hall has been researching corsetry styles and how they affected women's lifestyles during the 19th and 20th centuries. She is now planning to use old corsetry as the focus for her next practical assignment. She would be very grateful for donations of any corsets, girdles, suspender belts or similar items, which may be lurking in the loft, wedged in the wardrobe, curled up in the cupboard, discarded in a drawer. Items of any age and condition will be gladly received along with any stories they have to tell. If you have some little treasure that you are willing to part with, please contact her - Marilyn Hall, Barford, Warwickshire, 01926 624897. marilynhalluk@yahoo.co.uk
VILLAGE TEXTILES
C&G APPROVED INDEPENDENT CENTRE
THANET, KENT
3 x 5 week Non-Accredited courses on Alternate Wednesdays
Autumn Term - Print & Stitch
Spring Term - Creative Canvaswork
Summer Term - Design & Stitch using Triangles
Please contact BARBARA INCHLEY for more information.
Tel.: 01843 847705
e-Mail: inchley@btinternet.com
website: www.barbarainchley.co.uk
Guild's new contact details:
The Guild's new address is
1 Kings Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 2RA
From Monday 7th February the phone number will be 01932 260738. We're asked
to use this number instead of the old one as soon as it's live. The old
number will have call forwarding on it but the Guild will be charged each
time a call is redirected.
