THE members of Worcester Embroiderers’ Guild have had another busy month of activities.

Our AGM was held on Tuesday, October 7. After the formal business, our four Venture Groups reported on their activities. Three have approximately ten members and they meet regularly at different venues across the county. The fourth group is made up of three very busy”ladies who get together at our monthly meetings but communicate predominantly through e-mails. Over the months, each group has developed in different ways, although all would agree that friendship and support in working projects are the foundation of what they do. Activities have included demonstrations of new techniques/equipment, group projects such as those for the Worcester Three Choirs Festival, trips and challenges. Six members of one of the groups also meet four times a year under the direction of a tutor and they are producing a body of work for an exhibition in 2015.

On Saturday, October 11, the Guild held its annual Celebrity Lecture, when seventy members and visitors were given a talk entitled, Working Together with Paper and Textiles by Ruth Issett and Bobby Britnell. Both speakers live in rural Shropshire and their common interest in textiles has led them to doing many joint talks and courses. Their backgrounds are very different however.

Following an early career in making costumes for television and theatre, and learning tailoring skills, Bobby taught textiles in a comprehensive school prior to re-locating to her present home. After Art College, Ruth began work in Adult Education, delivering a wide range of textile and City and Guilds courses.

Bobby works from a number of different themes and sources. The importance of drawing and painting is reflected in this. She is inspired by her immediate surroundings and interests which include Morris Dancing and playing the accordion. Ruth’s work shows her passion and excitement for the use of colour. Using both paper and fabric, she dyes, prints, paints, makes collages and stitches. Her work is based on her observations of the environment. Both artists brought along samples of their work, including sketchbooks, and we were able to see slides of their exhibitions in this country and beyond.

Thirty members received tuition from the speakers when they attended a two day workshop at The Cube, Malvern. The range of what was produced was incredible and will be the basis of much future textile work.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 4 at Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Centre, 1pm for a 2pm start when Eliza McClelland will be giving a talk entitled, To Bead or Not to Bead. For further information, please contact Margaret on secretaryweg@btinternet.com.

MARGARET GREAVES