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Christmas Newsletter 2011

Our Committee We are pleased to welcome Ivoral Lisles as our new secretary who replaces Vernice Church who will shortly be moving to Wiltshire. Ivoral is a new member so we are especially grateful that she has taken on this role. We also had to say goodbye to Elaine Haynes on the committee. Elaine has had to travel a considerable distance to open the hall for us on several occasions. She is caring for a sick relative many miles away. She is still a member so we hope to see her when she can make the journey. 2012 sees the last year of both Loetitia as Chairman and Jacqui as Treasurer. We must fill these posts are to keep the Branch running. So all you budding Chairmen and Treasurers step up to the plate and offer us your services. If you are not happy to stand in front of the meeting then someone else on the committee is willing to do that job. Other Branches have a ‘front of house ‘ person and a behind the scenes chairman. Job shares are welcome for all committee posts. We only meet when necessary so between 4 and 6 times a year. Being on the committee is not arduous and many hands make light work.

Seasons Greetings - Who would believe it’s that time again? Your new programme cards for 2012 will be available for collection at the Christmas Meeting on 6th December (note this is the first Tuesday in December).

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Olympic Postcards The venues at the Olympic Park are all but complete …... so how about your postcard? We need at least 9 postcards to be able to add ours to the Guild display at the Olympics.

If you haven’t done one yet and would like to participate then you still have time. Please ask Pauline for the details if you have forgotten them. Remember our country is El Salvador.

Linda Alum thinks that she may have lost the postcard she has done for another branch at our last meeting. If you have picked it up please let me know 01628 829242. paulinejon@aol.com

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Exhibition We now exhibit members’ work bi-annually but 2012 is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year so we couldn’t let it pass without marking it in some way. We had a very successful exhibition called 50 Golden Threads for her Golden Jubilee so we want this one to be just as successful.

We do not have a venue at present. So any suggestions would be most welcome. It has been suggested that we might use the Heritage Centre in Maidenhead or the window of an empty shop. Both venues would make stewarding unnecessary. We would be able to take 3D pieces in either of those venues. Norden Farm now charges for exhibitions. That is a large venue to fill and has no cabinets for 3D work. More details to follow.

SEW Regional Day 2012 Portsmouth and District Branch are celebrating their 40th anniversary by hosting the 2012 Regional Day. We are going to provide a free coach and tickets for members to the event which is on May 12th at Horndean Technical College. To obtain a place on the coach you must pay a deposit which will be refundable on the day. This is to ensure that we are not using Branch funds for coach seats and tickets which will not be used. Cash is preferred for this, please. We will need your money so that we can book tickets by the February meeting. The ticket includes morning tea and coffee and a Danish but does not include lunch. You can take your own lunch or eat at the on-site cafe which apparently is very good. There will be two speakers on the Day but on Friday May 11th there will be a Master Class with Helen Stevens. You will need to book this yourself and make your own way there. Please book this as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Portsmouth and District Branch Embroiderers’ Guild South East West Ruby Regional Day

In celebration of their 40th Anniversary Saturday May 12th 2012 10am – 4pm

Horndean Technology College Barton Cross Horndean Waterlooville Hants PO8 9PQ

Portsmouth and District Branch are pleased to be hosting the SEW Regional Day in 2012 celebrating 40 years since our formation.

Speakers: The Madeira Lecture: Helen M Stevens A professional art embroiderer well known for her beautiful

embroideries depicting all aspects of nature. See “Stitch Magazine” Oct/Nov 2011. See www.helenmstevens.co.uk

Heather Everitt is inspired by all things beautiful – her recent work shows inspiration of the landscape around her home in North Devon. See www.heatheremb.co.uk

Competition: “Ruby” Open to all Members of Embroiderers’ Guild. Entries should be a maximum size of A3 and should be presented ready to hang or display on a table. They must be clearly labelled with your name and branch (and age if Young Embroiderer).

Exhibition: “Simply Red” An exhibition by Portsmouth & District Branch.

Traders: Our Traders will include Simply Sequins, Fay and Kay, Art Van Go Deanna Hilton (Bespoke bags), Thistles (Specialist wools and fabrics) and Winifred Cottage.

Catering: Included in the cost of your ticket is tea/coffee and Danish Pastry on arrival and a drink at Lunchtime. The College will be offering a choice of hot/ cold meals, salads and sandwiches – your choice to purchase on the day.

Car Parking: There is plenty of Parking on site and facilities are available for the disabled. Please let us know in advance of your requirements especially with regard to parking e.g. minibus or coach. There is space in the hall for wheelchairs and helpers. However wheel chairs are not supplied by the College.

Masterclass: Helen M Stevens will be giving a Masterclass on Friday 11th May. This is a rare opportunity to attend a class with Helen in this area. (See separate flyer for further details)

Young Embroiderers: We welcome all Young Embroiderers to our special event with Kathy Flower-Bond and Joanne Briffet of Tudor Tales. Please ring Lesley Neal for further details.

Tickets: £15 to include tea/coffee and Danish Pastry on arrival and tea/coffee at lunchtime. Tickets must be ordered in advance through your Branch if possible. Tickets will not be available on the door. Non refundable

Additional Information: Lesley Neal 01243 862326 / regionalday2012@tesco.net

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SEW AGM The AGM of the Sew East West Region was held on October 22nd. Janet Wilcox attended and kindly took notes since Loetitia was unable to go. Janet is our new Guild Liaison Person. From Janet’s notes, which I have abbreviated since most of you heard Terry Murphy our new CEO speak at our own AGM: Christine Poole , Vice Chairman of the Guild is now acting

Chairman. A new chairman is being actively sought. The new HQ is being leased. It has a ‘no liability’ lease for the building so the

Guild are only liable for internal decoration and carpets. It is a home for the members and the collection. The collection is housed in a room with Steel Shutters and climate control.

For 5 years now there has been an embargo on new Young Embroiderers groups. The Guild is eager to revitalise the YE. Money for this in the form of donations has been coming in every week. There is going to be a YE website with links to colleges and graduates. There will be downloadable ebooks and direct help lines. This should go live in December. If you have an idea or an exercise that you think that young people would like please send it to HQ.

There has been an anonymous donation from an old member to help update the Guild’s database. There will eventually be a new Guild website. We’ll certainly be glad to see the back of the old one

Contributions to the Guild—This is often a sore point for members. All branch members must also be members of the Guild. It costs £102,000 to lease the building each year and that is before any staff have been paid. However, we are the only National voice for embroidery in the UK. We are an Educational charity. As members we often feel that the Guild itself offers us very little but we need to think of it in charitable terms. Promoting education and preserving the collection for the future.

If there was ever a time when the EG was relevant it is now. There is a whole generation out there who can’t stitch. The money contributes to an organisation that has the punch to nurture and keep embroidery going at a family level We need to engage children and busy mothers who want to stitch but don’t have much time.

The Guild subscription now payable once a year in September will soon be payable in two instalments or monthly. New members will be able to join at any time of the year.

And finally, here’s something for the budding treasurer: The job of Branch Treasurer is going to be simplified.

It was also noted that the committee of the SEW is struggling to find members so if you’d like to join them then contact Chairman Gill Drury- gill.drury@ukgateway.net

Best wishes for a happy and successful 2012 to you all