WE learnt shortly before our July meeting held on July 8 that our speaker was unable to attend!

What do you do? Panic? Yes, but then think of all the gifted people within the group who might step in at the last minute. We were so grateful to Angie Hughes for being that special person.

Angie is a textile artist who lives and works in Ledbury. Her talk focussed on what inspires her creativity:

• She has been influenced through books and exhibitions by the work of many artists and textile workers such as Klimt and Kaffe Fassett. Sometimes, initially, she emulates their work in an effort to understand how it is produced but she then moves on to make it her own.

• Family and friends have influenced her work. The recent death of her mother inspired her entry into the exhibition, “The Shirt Collar Project”, which included the words “Death is just the next great adventure”, a red heart and butterflies.

• Old books have been used in many projects involving their alteration e.g. by adding photographs and stitches, painting over sections and printing.

• Poetry and song lyrics have resulted in works of art.

Currently, Angie is very busy, giving talks, teaching all over the country and abroad. She has written a book and contributes articles to magazines. Downloadable workshops and items for sale are available on her website. You can see why we were so thankful that she came along!

The Guild is involved in a number of events during the summer including an Exhibition running alongside the Three Choirs Festival from July 26–August 2 in the Chappel Memorial Room, Kings School entitled Surface, Space and Time – featuring the decade 1910 – 1920.

National Stitch Day is on Sunday, August 3 and the Guild will be found at St Peter’s Garden Centre, Norton Road. They will also be attending the Worcester Show on Sunday, August 17 at Gheluvelt Park.

The Guild’s Autumn programme begins on Tuesday, September 2 with a talk by Claire Muir entitled Hats, Flowers and Fascinators, followed by a second talk on September 4 by Jennie Rayment entitled Texture by Design – What If?

The Guild meets at Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Centre, 1pm for a 2pm start. For further information, please contact Jan Cooper on jancooper23@yahoo.co.uk