Embroidery Exhibitions and a Mid-term break

The weather has turned decidedly cold here at Hampton Court Village with it being 4° C at 10 am this morning. I walk across the bridge over the Thames each morning on my way to the Palace, so I check how cold it is before I leave the house and the temperatures are definitely dropping. Thankfully my dear friend Narelle had knitted me some lovely scarves and I have been finding these very useful along with a warm coat to make the walk more comfortable. This week they started building the Ice Skating rink at the front of the palace, and with the remaining few leaves on the trees shivering in the wind, winter is certainly on the way.

Last week was mid-term break for the Future Tutors course, and I am amazed to find that we are half way through the first term already as the time is really flying past. The course keeps me so busy that I didn’t think I’d have time for breaks from stitching but as it happens, by stitching throughout the mid-term break, I have finished my Jacobean Crewelwork and have my Canvas Stitches piece well underway so I made time today to visit a couple of embroidery exhibitions in London.

The first exhibition was the ‘Society for Embroidered Work’ and their International Contemporary Stitched Art Exhibition at the Clerkenwell Gallery, and the other stop was the to see the fabulous traditional Goldwork pieces at the Museum of Freemasonry. I really want to make the most of any opportunities to see embroidery while I am here and both exhibitions were worth the journey, with many inspiring pieces. I have included a few snaps to give you a taste of the items I saw though unfortunately they are not the best pictures. I do find embroidery behind glass hard to take good pictures of.

I am hoping to get to the Hand and Lock Prize for Embroidery display next week, but this plan will be dependent on how much of my two canvas pieces I get stitched, so for now it is back to the embroidery frame for me after such an inspiring day out.

The Clerkenwell Galley – venue for the SEW International Contemporary Stitched Art Exhibition

Inside the SEW exhibition

Machine embroidered landscapes on wool felt by Sue Nicholls

Two pieces by Alison Wake – ‘Tideswell Dale’ and ‘Tipping Point, Monsal Weir’

Two pieces by Amanda Hartland – ‘Peek-A-Boo’ and ‘A Dogs Life’.

Beautiful needle lace by Bridget Steel-Jessop called ‘Sisters’.

Blackwork by Christina MacDonald

Traditional Goldwork from the Museum of Freemasonry exhibition.

Abundant Goldwork