Notices:
In Memory of Mary Holden 1936-2021
It is with great sadness that the Preston branch have lost one of their great inspirational members, Mary Holden, after a period of failing health over the last 18 months.
Mary began her teaching career after training at Gloucester Training College for Domestic Science, then the leading establishment in its field in the UK, which she left with her talents in art, crafts, homemaking and cookery greatly enhanced by the experience.
On leaving Gloucester Mary took up a teaching post at St. Joseph’s School in Preston but left full time teaching to take care of her mother. However, she continued to immerse herself in the Arts and Crafts world, becoming an active member of numerous associations and joined Preston Embroiderers’ Guild in 1987.
She became a lecturer at the Alston Hall College of Further Education and Gawthorpe Hall, a local National Trust property where she tutored several of our members during their City and Guilds adventure. Students were so excited by the techniques she taught and the world of textiles she opened up to them with her brilliant teaching. She was very knowledgeable and encouraging and taught her students how to take risks sometimes because ‘you never know what will happen!’
She went the extra mile, borrowing slides from the Embroiderers’ Guild collection, so her students could see what contemporary Textile Artists were doing, and took them to exhibitions, such as ‘Out of the Frame’ at the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate. And, of course, her samples and ideas were brilliant.
She regularly held exhibitions and sales of her own highly regarded work combining her love of embroidery with her love of painting.
Mary travelled widely for holidays at home and abroad, which was a great source of pleasure to her and inspiration for much of her creative work. Mary continued to enthuse members of the Guild and eventually became Chair of the Preston Branch. Once her term of office finished she had encouraged others to come forward and take up roles on the committee.
Mary was also a member of various other embroidery groups in the area, notably Preston Threads and Embroidery 2000, and recently Fellside Textile Group at Knowle Green, where she became a firm friend as well as an influence to many.
She was always encouraging and generous and her work was exquisite. She had amazing skill as an artist and embroiderer and is greatly missed.
Thanks to our own members and Jackie Cardy for help in writing this tribute to Mary.
It is with great sadness that the Preston branch have lost one of their great inspirational members, Mary Holden, after a period of failing health over the last 18 months.
Mary began her teaching career after training at Gloucester Training College for Domestic Science, then the leading establishment in its field in the UK, which she left with her talents in art, crafts, homemaking and cookery greatly enhanced by the experience.
On leaving Gloucester Mary took up a teaching post at St. Joseph’s School in Preston but left full time teaching to take care of her mother. However, she continued to immerse herself in the Arts and Crafts world, becoming an active member of numerous associations and joined Preston Embroiderers’ Guild in 1987.
She became a lecturer at the Alston Hall College of Further Education and Gawthorpe Hall, a local National Trust property where she tutored several of our members during their City and Guilds adventure. Students were so excited by the techniques she taught and the world of textiles she opened up to them with her brilliant teaching. She was very knowledgeable and encouraging and taught her students how to take risks sometimes because ‘you never know what will happen!’
She went the extra mile, borrowing slides from the Embroiderers’ Guild collection, so her students could see what contemporary Textile Artists were doing, and took them to exhibitions, such as ‘Out of the Frame’ at the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate. And, of course, her samples and ideas were brilliant.
She regularly held exhibitions and sales of her own highly regarded work combining her love of embroidery with her love of painting.
Mary travelled widely for holidays at home and abroad, which was a great source of pleasure to her and inspiration for much of her creative work. Mary continued to enthuse members of the Guild and eventually became Chair of the Preston Branch. Once her term of office finished she had encouraged others to come forward and take up roles on the committee.
Mary was also a member of various other embroidery groups in the area, notably Preston Threads and Embroidery 2000, and recently Fellside Textile Group at Knowle Green, where she became a firm friend as well as an influence to many.
She was always encouraging and generous and her work was exquisite. She had amazing skill as an artist and embroiderer and is greatly missed.
Thanks to our own members and Jackie Cardy for help in writing this tribute to Mary.
2021 Monthly Challenge
This month’s challenge for July: We would like you to try a new technique in your piece.
Remember it can be based on a poem, picture, photo, mood board- well anything really. It is not too late to join in so, if you want to have a go, start stitching.
Here is the list of challenges:
Monthly Challenge 2021
February: Incorporate a piece of lace.
March: Use Appliqué in your design.
April: Work a textured surface.
May: Choose one colour and use shades of the same colour
June: Use a range of mixed media.
July: Try a new technique.
August: Use dyes, tea-dying, paints or printing.
September: Use a new stitch on most of your piece.
October: Use crewel wool in your design.
November: Recycle some items as part of the design.
December: Use machine embroidery and beads
Preston Embroidery and Textile Group Monthly Challenge for 2021
You will need an A5 sketch book and embroidery materials
A new start for 2021 we are going to encourage you to take part in a new monthly challenge.
Along the lines of a ‘Travelling Book’ but this will be a ‘Not Travelling Book’. We would like you to think about a small piece of embroidery to reflect the months of the year, obviously starting with January.
You might like to use the word for each month in your piece but that will be up to you. See below for a template.
To begin with, on one A5 side, you could write down your thoughts, find a poem or write your own, insert a photograph taken in that month, develop a mood board, even just words and phrases that the month name conjures up. And finally you could also add a description of the techniques you use.
The piece of stitching could be made into a postcard by backing it with card held in place with satin stitch around the edge. It could then be fastened into your book with photo corners, so you could then send it to someone at a later date. Perhaps taking a photo of the piece to stick into your book as a memory of your lovely work where the postcard would have been.
Alternative ideas could be that each piece is used for a year quilt, cushion covers or any other idea you like. The important thing is for you to enjoy the challenge and try out new ideas
It’s up to you but just using one double page (2 x A5 sides) may help to keep you focused. We do hope you will take up the challenge and we look forward to seeing your embroidery at the next zoom meeting. Don’t forget to send a photograph for the Blog. Happy Stitching.
Remember it can be based on a poem, picture, photo, mood board- well anything really. It is not too late to join in so, if you want to have a go, start stitching.
Here is the list of challenges:
Monthly Challenge 2021
February: Incorporate a piece of lace.
March: Use Appliqué in your design.
April: Work a textured surface.
May: Choose one colour and use shades of the same colour
June: Use a range of mixed media.
July: Try a new technique.
August: Use dyes, tea-dying, paints or printing.
September: Use a new stitch on most of your piece.
October: Use crewel wool in your design.
November: Recycle some items as part of the design.
December: Use machine embroidery and beads
Preston Embroidery and Textile Group Monthly Challenge for 2021
You will need an A5 sketch book and embroidery materials
A new start for 2021 we are going to encourage you to take part in a new monthly challenge.
Along the lines of a ‘Travelling Book’ but this will be a ‘Not Travelling Book’. We would like you to think about a small piece of embroidery to reflect the months of the year, obviously starting with January.
You might like to use the word for each month in your piece but that will be up to you. See below for a template.
To begin with, on one A5 side, you could write down your thoughts, find a poem or write your own, insert a photograph taken in that month, develop a mood board, even just words and phrases that the month name conjures up. And finally you could also add a description of the techniques you use.
The piece of stitching could be made into a postcard by backing it with card held in place with satin stitch around the edge. It could then be fastened into your book with photo corners, so you could then send it to someone at a later date. Perhaps taking a photo of the piece to stick into your book as a memory of your lovely work where the postcard would have been.
Alternative ideas could be that each piece is used for a year quilt, cushion covers or any other idea you like. The important thing is for you to enjoy the challenge and try out new ideas
It’s up to you but just using one double page (2 x A5 sides) may help to keep you focused. We do hope you will take up the challenge and we look forward to seeing your embroidery at the next zoom meeting. Don’t forget to send a photograph for the Blog. Happy Stitching.
Due to the ongoing Covid situation the exhibition, which was due to take place in February 2021, has been postponed until further notice.
Title for the 2021 Exhibition :
Inspired by ………
There will be four themes:
Title for the 2021 Exhibition :
Inspired by ………
There will be four themes:
- an Artist
- a Place,
- an Era
- Literature
- Workshop/ Day school 2019/2020 - pieces for the exhibition
January 2019 – Weave a wood – with Sue Bennet
February 2019 – Explorations in Mini books – with Carole Hind
March 2019 – Making fabric from paper - with Shirley Williams
April 2019 – Wire Structures – with Liz Cooksey
June 2019 - Selected Surgeries: Ribbon Embroidery with Irene Pugmire
Hardanger with Kath Roberts
Calico pebbles with Barbara Sandwell
September 2019 – Batik with Tori Riley
November 2019 – Silk Paper Making with Pat Richardson
February 2020 – Calico Gardens with Angie Burt
March 2020 – Box making with Marguerita McBride
