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Saturday 19 August 2017

Chairman’s Report to AGM Layers of Stitch Embroiderers’Guild Grantham, September 5th 2017

Not an eventful year like last year, with no involvement in exhibitions, except the tail end of the Landscapes and Gardens for a few weeks in the Autumn at Grantham Museum.

We enjoyed a demonstration which lasted all day at last year’s AGM from Viv Arthur of Art Van Go, after which many of us bought from the van; it was a very hot day, and we queued in the sun to make our purchases.

Maybe not eventful, but busy none the less, with talks, workshops and mini-workshops throughout the year. October saw an introduction to keeping sketchbooks with Jane Ostler, assisted by Vicki Honeywood, and we now need a follow-up to that. The November meeting involved Christmas stitching, and in December the Bauble Swap and social stitching.
In January, we had a talk from Project Linus, and the speakers went away with armfuls of quilts made by members, and more have followed them since, coordinated by Joy Kitchen and Aline Woolley.
The next two months saw us making things to sell at the County Show, organised by the Lincoln branches of the Embroiderers’ Guild, and we are very grateful to Michele Maloney for coordinating the show for us.
In April we had Helen Phillips to talk to us about her visits to Kashmir, but as you know I had been out of action for a while, so I missed that one! However, we look forward to welcoming Helen again soon.

In June, Lyn Haith brought her wonderful box, entitled the Antithesis of Serendipity, and all of its component parts, which drew a lot of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ from all of us, and which also drew to the meeting some of our founder members not seen for quite some time – all very welcome.

In May and June we had two stimulating workshops in handstitch – Kay and Michael Dennis with their Stumpwork, and then Sue Stone with Texture and Pattern in handstitch.
Before this, Margaret Beattie and Annette Cooke did a Free Machine Embroidery workshop in March, which also provided a lot of inspiration.
All of these people are very generous with their time and ideas, and we are lucky to benefit from the sharing of their skills. Indeed, many of our members share their skills and ideas in our monthly meetings, and we are fortunate to have them, too.

We again took part in the Guild’s National Day of Stitch early in August; we were once again at Belton House, outside and inside the Orangery, and attracted a lot of interest for the third year running, as well as being lucky with the weather.

I must mention Marian Jackson’s award from the Embroiderer’s Guild, the Julia Caprara award for Colour, for her piece entitled ‘Hidden Sugar’ made largely from sweetie papers, entered into the competition Imprisoned Splendour.
Also, Sue Cork won the members’ award at Regional Day with her Crewel Work.
Just two of our talented members, and congratulations to them both.

Both of these ladies are on your committee, as is Carole Wright, who has just taken on the role of Librarian for us, so do please support her.

The committee meet every other month, usually after the normal meeting, and they work hard on your behalf, and show great enthusiasm and support for all we attempt.

Jenny, who is your Treasurer, continues to handle our monies very efficiently; Margaret , our Programme Secretary, has organised some very interesting speakers and workshops, both this year and for the forthcoming year; and Sue Cork, who is our secretary and general factotum for everything imaginable, including a wonderful monthly newsletter, deserves a medal for the way in which she organises us all.

Marian, along with Wendy from the committee, has this year started a Young Embroiderers group; they have now had two meetings, both very successful, and plan another before Christmas.
Annette and Diane organise the refreshments and our facebook pages.
Victoria is our newest recruit, and has yet to find a role, but we are working on it!
My grateful thanks go to all of them for their support, especially earlier this year, when we would not have functioned so well without them. As a branch, we are so fortunate to be enthused by such a lovely bunch of people.

Others, not on the committee, also deserve a mention; Lorraine Appleton, who managed the raffle prizes for a while, and Sheila Willatts, who has now taken on this role; and others who help in various ways, not least with putting out tables and chairs for our meetings, and putting them away again. My thanks to you all.

I am now, after three years in the role, resigning as your chair, but I shall stay on the committee to coordinate what we hope will be another liaison with Belton House for their next year’s events called  ‘Women at Belton.’
More of that later.

I have enjoyed my time as chair, and hope to continue to enjoy the warmth and enthusiasm that each meeting brings.


Kate Pike.