Embroidery Exhibitions and a Mid-term break

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#royalneedlework, #royalschoolofneedlework, Goldwork

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

Day trip to Exeter Cathedral for a special Embroidery exhibition

Tags

#royalneedlework, #royalschoolofneedlework, Goldwork, RSN

With our little cottage is starting to feel more like home, we decided that the time had come to plan a day trip to get to see a little more of this part of England, especially with my course commencing in less than two weeks. The RSN had advised that some of their collection pieces were on display at Exeter Cathedral – alongside a display of some of the Cathedrals own vestments – so a day trip by train to Exeter was planned.

Exeter Cathedral is a stunningly beautiful building, commenced in medieval times, added to over centuries, with some elements repaired after bombing in WW2. There was an Organ recital underway as we made our way around the embroidery exhibition and the sounds were heavenly.

That soaring ceiling

Carved Acorns

Exeter Cathedral

Ecclesiastical Embroideries

The RSN pieces on display had been chosen with an Ecclesiastical theme – with many samplers of church related motifs, a few stoles, and some beautiful silkshading and goldwork on banners and alter frontals. It was wonderful to be able to see the fine detail in many of these pieces, which were displayed throughout the cathedral.

Exhibition Highlight

For me the real highlight of the exhibition was seeing six of the Litany of Loreto Embroideries. These pieces are very finely worked gold and silk framed embroideries, and seeing them in person surpassed anything I had read about them. I was able to closely observe the stitching and the work on most of the pieces. Photos of embroideries – particularly of Goldwork – simply do not give you a true representation of the beauty of the glistening gold and shining silk, however I thought I might share a few of my photos with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.