Weekly news round-up - November 17th
Our November meeting
I think we were all agreed that this was a fabulous talk. Even if you had seen it before, Sylvia Everitt introducing her millennium embroideries was a complete treat. Did anyone else have an unexpected tear in the eye as she read her poem at the close of her talk?
Any Questions?
No, not David Dimbleby struggling to maintain control of a wayward panel at the BBC on a Thursday night. We have something much more relevant and useful: all those pressing embroidery-related questions that you were afraid to ask can now simply be jotted down on a humble post-it note and put to the hive-mind of everyone at the Branch.
Our inaugural Any Questions Board contained the following questions. You will see from the photo that eager members have been quick to supply answers but of course any further suggestions are very welcome. If you feel you know the answer, please chip in - that's what this forum is all about.
Question: What's the best way to transfer a design on to dark fabric?
Answers: various methods were suggested, including Frixion pen, chalk tracing wheels and thermofax screens. Many thanks go out to Betty who has already had me round to her kitchen, demonstrated the thermofax process and sent me home with one of her screens to practise with.
Question: Would love to learn Dorset Buttons.
This is what the Any Questions board is all about - increasing our knowledge and skills. Angela has stepped forward and said she will do a workshop. Please let us know if you would like to join in.
Question: Does anyone have any back issues of Cloth Paper Scissors?
How fabulous is this magazine? How annoying is it that there will be no further issues? No sooner had I discovered Cloth Paper Scissors I find that the publishers are pulling the plug on it. If anyone has back issues, I will be more than happy to pay cash for them.
Question: Has anyone seen Brenda's cardboard templates from the October meeting?
To be honest, this is a massive leap forward. Instead of trailing round the whole membership looking for those missing stitch books, mobile phones and embroidery hoops, we can just ask each other on our new (old-school) message board. Brenda - have you got those templates back yet?
Out and About
If you're in London, the Edward Burne-Jones exhibition at Tate Britain is a satisfying illustration of the power and success of a Birmingham boy who made it to the top of his chosen field. Ted Jones (as he was when he started) was more than happy to use his talents in all areas of decorative art and if you bought one of the Morris & Co embroidery kits you might find that he had painted the design on the fabric himself.
In a happy fusion of heavy rock music and Victorian textiles, the exhibition includes a rare sighting of the Burne-Jones tapestries owned by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.
In a happy fusion of heavy rock music and Victorian textiles, the exhibition includes a rare sighting of the Burne-Jones tapestries owned by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.
Video of the week
In the midst of our acknowledgment of the sacrifices of servicemen in the 1914 -18 war, take a look at this link to the story of the recently discovered WW1 embroidery in Stoke on Trent.
And finally....
Step into the 21st century and discover contemporary embroiderers with Amber Butchard. It's on the radio, which is a shame as we need to see the work but thank you BBC - it's a start!
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