July is always a difficult month. It feels as though winter is here forever, and we know that there will be at least two or three more cold snaps before things will begin growing again and we can look forward to warmth and blossoms and the hope that spring brings with it. The exponential rise in Covid 19 cases has added more gloom to this July, and it feels as though we have emigrated to a not-very-nice country where the quality of our lives is very much less than it was before and we are not sure if we aren’t some sort of refugee. Creativity is a lifeline in times like this and we can be very grateful that we have these abilities and access to the materials of our chosen hobby. Many medical people are working hard to get this virus under control and our prayers and happy thoughts are with them, as they are with those who are caring for the sick and those who are worried about loved ones, and those who have to return to work.
As a result, we will probably not be meeting for quite a long time. Everywhere you see “this virus will be with us for at least another year” and some say it will be even longer. So it is business NOT as usual, but we are creative people and will find a way to keep our craft alive, and keep ourselves busy with it, and let us remember, people were embroidering since the Cro-Magnon days (about 30,000BC). A mere virus won’t stop this hardy, everlasting art form! I will include a link to a very short article on the history of embroidery with the covering letter.
Our chair, Danny Wimpey has, as some of you already know, initiated and set up an Instagram page where we can display what we are doing. In her own words:
Hi all, OK, our Instagram page is set up. Once or if you have Instagram, you can find it at @Witsembroidery. Anyone who would like to post, please send me the picture and I will put it up on the page while I sort out how to make posting more accessible for all of us. I am very excited about this. I think we should have some basic ideas about the narrative that goes with the pictures. Please give us your input. I’m thinking something like: type of work (eg blackwork, Jacobean, etc), name of the artist, a date perhaps when completed, size. Not too much but still, people can get an idea. Instagram uses hashtags to identify and classify the posts. Those we will work out over time. Please send me your pictures or let me know which ones from the group you are not keeping for the exhibition. ?? Please, no shyness or modesty. I know from my time with WEG that you are all great and super-talented. This is not the time to hide your light(s) under a bushel.
There are some lovely pieces there already – please look them up, become a follower of the page and let as many people as possible know about it. If you have something to submit, please send the photos to Danny either on her phone, or email them. Danny is the administrator of the page, so all entries must go through her.
We DO exist as a Guild even though it’s in virtual space, and we will continue to do so. In the meantime, let’s work on some REALLY OUTSTANDINGLY STUNNING pieces of art so that we can hold the
BEST VIRTUAL EMBROIDERY EXHIBITION – EVER!!!!!!!!
Regards,
Margaret
Below is the link to a short page about the history of embroidery.
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/4135/history-of-embroidery