Embroiderers' Olympic project

On Thursday the Embroiderers' Guild held their first meeting of 2011, which was the traditional Members' Meeting.

As there had been a longer gap than normal since our Christmas Lunch in December, everyone enjoyed the opportunity of meeting up with old friends and the chance to welcome new members and visitors – our numbers seem to grow at every meeting!

Some members had taken the opportunity to do an early spring-clean of their needlework supplies and there were a few "table top" sales for other members to grab some bargains in the hope that they will be inspired to start new pieces of work.

OlympicsThe 2012 Olympics might seem a long way off but the Embroiderers' Guild has instigated a new project that involves all branches in the United Kingdom. Each branch will be producing embroidered postcards inspired by a participating country, and these will be gathered and displayed altogether, in London, in time for the Opening Ceremony.

Our branch has been allocated Hong Kong and, with this in mind, the committee organised demonstrations of different techniques that could be used in the production of these postcards.

Ann Shaw demonstrated Braid making, which could be used as a decorative edging. Carrie Evans brought in her Embellisher machine that could create, as well as decorate, a background. Sue Wickson showed beautiful samples of experimental hand stitching and Marjorie Derbyshire demonstrated printmaking techniques that surprised some members as to how simple, effective and non-messy printing can be.

Some members enthusiastically "had a go" at making braids and printmaking and hopefully will put these new skills to good use in their work.

With our upcoming "21 Years" Exhibition in September, we are hoping that visitors will have an opportunity to see some of the Olympic Postcards on display before they have to be sent off next year, as well as other Postcards based on a local, South Cheshire, theme – you heard it here first!

Our next meeting will be "Batik and Silk Painting" by Jenny O'Leary on 17th February. Please check out our website for more photos and information – click on the link below the photo.

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