April Notices

Birmingham Branch Notices April 2015

Welcome to tonight’s meeting and a warm welcome to Jane Davies who will be telling us about her textile adventures in Kyrgyzstan personally I can’t wait.

National AGM: Our exhibition took pride of place on the stage and we were well represented as a branch. You will receive information from the Guild itself but the special general meeting to discuss the changes in structure is being held on 20^th June in Birmingham Claire Wilkins is going so you proxy votes can be given to her or sent to the Guild as explained in their information. Some other news from the AGM is that next year’s competition title is ‘Looking Through’ please think about entering it is always good to see our branch members work on the national stage. Also the national guild is not raising their membership fee for next year – every little helps as it says on the adverts’!

Regional Day is happening on Saturday 20th June 2015,10 till 4 pm, Leaminton Spa. The Madeira Lecture is by Nicola Jarvis on Goldwork and the competition is All that Glisters is Not Gold. The Young Embroiderer’s Competition is Bright and Shiny. Today is the last Day you can book to go and make payment please see Clare if you are interested.

The list for individual members who are willing to lend their own equipment is up and running please have a look and add items you can lend if you would like to. We have added wood blocks to our stock of DVDs to lend hope you enjoy using them.

There is a group order for Art Van Go being organised details have been on the blog but do let us know tonight if you want to add anything to the order

Thank you all for supporting the raffle and the colour for May is Blue so please bring a contribution in that colour if you can to the May Meeting.

Mays meeting is looking at our travelling books so far finding out more and a chance to join in and become part of a group. We will be sitting and discussing this so we have a chance to mingle. Please bring a basic sewing kit and threads if you can. We will have materials available as well and will have a chance to stitch around the theme of our stitch of the month. Those of us who have started the travelling looks are really enjoying them and it is always good to stitch together so should be a lively evening.

Don’t forget our Saturday Day Schools and see Margaret if you are interested in any of them. There is a small group day on Dyeing at Margaret’s house on 24^th April with Betty one place left if anyone is interested please see Margaret.

West hope this weekend will be taking place in September 18^th to 20^th Tutor is Stevie Walker and it is a hand embroidery weekend. Stevie has suggested three topics for us to choose from for the theme of the weekend: Saxon Samplers, Folksy Hand Embroidery on Felt and Hand Stitch Mark making. Anne has more details for anyone interested in the topics. The list to go is filling up and we want to make sure that as many places as possible are taken up so please see Anne Haigh for more details if you are interested.

Westhope can sleep up to 16 people in a combination of 5 single rooms, 4 twin rooms and 1 sleeping 3 people. Probable fees are if we can fill all 10 bed rooms as singles then costs are £290 for the weekend. If people are prepared to share then with 15 people its £193. This includes tutor costs and all meals drinks etc (we usually between us bring some wine and chocolates too). It is in a wonderful setting with a chance for a lovely country walk to start the day and then stitching chatting all day. Again transport will be coordinated for anyone who wants to come but is worried about driving

Regional Day 2016. The planning group are making amazing progress. At our December meeting we will be introduced to making handmade gift tags to attach to our goody bags for visitors. We may also organise a day school with the speaker the following day so watch this space! If you have ideas, suggestions or pitfalls to beware of please speak to Heather, Clare or one of the planning group.

Branch Survey Anne and Heather have purchased a PA system, will be tried out tonight.

Beautiful Birmingham Project we want to be involved with this watch this space for more information in due course

Clear Vision: as you know we got off to a good start last meeting and those involved are very enthusiastic. At future meetings we will have a table in reception to show progress and to give other members a chance to consider joining and making their own book.

CoCoMad July 4^th. There is a list at the side for volunteers to help staff the stall please sign up for one of the time slots if you can. Please bring any contributions for the stall to a meeting before then. We need small items to sell and contributions for a children’s lucky dip any little things you have made that would be suitable for a child. We won’t be charging much so only small items thank you.

Sales table has got a bit tired so please tonight take anything you want and leave a small contribution if you can as we will then be having a clear out. Please bring contributions for a sales table to future meetings as usual we will limit the number of times that we bring all the items collected so we have a chance to gather together some better stock.

Hope you really enjoy tonight.

Bernadette on behalf of the committee