Monthly Archives: February 2010

Chairman’s letter – Liz Ashurst February 2010

February 19, 2010 – 7:08 pm

Our Christmas Party at the beginning of December now seems a million miles away but the memory of members renewing friendships and enjoying the lecture on Victorian and Edwardian ecclesiastical embroidery by the scholarly Mary Schoeser, is still fresh in my mind. In the face of declining church membership in Britain, the subject could seem [...]

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Stranded – Pat Cove

February 19, 2010 – 7:02 pm

Last night Bill and I went to the National Theatre and in the Olivier foyer is a delightful exhibition called Stranded by a women called Lalla Ward. I haven’t heard of her, but other members may know of her. Her work is free machine embroidery and I found it quite impressive.
She is married to [...]

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Embroidered book bindings at the British Library – Kathy Small

February 19, 2010 – 6:59 pm

Our instructions were to meet at 11.50am having previously locked away our bags, coats etc. and carrying notebooks and pencils only plus purses and mobile phones in a transparent plastic bag, provided free. Also well-washed hands. Apparently, white gloves can do more damage to the book bindings than washed hands.
We met Karen Limper-Herz, curator, British [...]

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From Letters to Emails and Diaries – Liz Holliday

February 19, 2010 – 6:58 pm

The advantage of a “Friend of………………” card is that you can call in more than once to see exhibitions and view them therefore without time pressure.  I write this the day after a delightful first viewing of the newly opened Royal Academy exhibition The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters.  On my return, [...]

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Victorian and Edwardian Ecclesiastical Embroidery – Margaret Mary Griffiths

February 19, 2010 – 6:36 pm

Mary Shoeser is an erudite speaker and sets about her subject in a concise authoritative manner.  She started with reasons for the revival of ecclesiastical embroidery after a 300 year gap.  Briefly, the Reformation was opposed to most church ornament so vestments were used but not replaced and by the C19th most were in tatters. [...]

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