This month will see the release of a new bumble kit to the 'Swarm of Bees' collection. Add to your crewelwork and whitework bee with this bright, sparkling goldwork bumble bee! All of these designs are suitable for those who are new to traditional hand embroidery techiques, and include all the materials you need to embroider these great little characters (you will need a small frame). Look out for the goldwork bee in the next few weeks!
Meanwhile, if you haven't yet got your crewelwork or whitework bee, you can get them here....
Join us for a two day class in the traditional art of stumpwork (3-D) embroidery. Learn some of the fundamental stumpwork techniques and make a beautiful seasonal decoration/brooch/tree hanging at the same time! Your tutors will be Sarah and Caroline Homfray, and the venue is The Arnold House, Rugby. For more information visit the classes page here, or to book visit the shop class booking page here. Come and join us and escape the seasonal mayhem! Details below:
Dates: Saturday November 30th and Sunday December 1st
Venue: The Arnold House, Rugby, 10.00-4.00. Free parking on site
Cost: £130 for the two days plus a small materials cost
Well I'm back from 2 weeks in the US where we've been working hard on birds, flowers and butterflies! Here are two of the Western Meadow Larks from Portland....
Then it was a trip over the mountains to Colorado...
...for some time in Denver.
A drive past the blue bear (I have no idea!)...
...for a stop at the Denver art museum...
...to see some of the textiles like this beautiful piece of goldwork!
Just because classes are over, it doesn't mean the work stops! If you are in the Heart of England in July, why not pop along to our free exhibition and see some beautiful hand embroidery by the students of the Royal School of Needlework Rugby branch. Click on the poster below for all the details!
While we are talking about exhibitions, there is another one well worth a visit, in London this time. My RSN Rugby colleague Nicola Jarvis, has an exhibition on at The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. Details on the Events page here. See her amazing botanical drawings and painted Morris inspired birds, including cushions, bags and other items embroidered from her designs.
'Blackbird'
Blackbird designed by Nicola Jarvis, book stitched and constructed by Sarah Homfray
If you haven't seen it already, the design for the first distance learning class is now available to see! Check out the video here:
In this class you will learn the traditional design transfer method, how to stitch some popular and versatile stitches to a high standard, some beadwork and some beginners goldwork embroidery techniques. More information about how these classes work, pricing etc will be coming soon so watch this space! Thankyou to all of you who have answered the distance learning questionnaire so far, this is still up here, and your continuing comments are welcome. All comments have been taken on board and are being given careful consideration!
I have also managed to get in a few days painting this month to brush up my skills and aid my personal artistic development. I spent 3 days at the V&A museum on an Iconography course with Iconographer Irina Bradley 'writing' the Icon St George and the Dragon.
It was intense, but look how much we did in three days!Y ou can see more pictures of this on my Facebook page, just click the button below and if you like my page, do feel free to press the 'like' button!
There are some exhibitions of work coming up also...check out the 'what's on' pages. Here is a little taster!
