The Knitting and Stitching Show 2021

It was good to be back at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate, and good to see other YES members there too. Though well attended, it was noticeably less crowded than in previous years, and there were more open areas and seating which made for a comfortable, pleasant experience. We all love the show but let’s face it, it could at times be very busy and a bit of a crush. Buying stitching equipment and materials online is easy and usually efficient, and has been a saviour over the last year or so but there’s nothing to beat seeing the real thing. 

Of course the very special aspect of the K&S Show  is the exhibition of work by textile artists and textile students. So much varied, clever and  interesting work it’s hard to single out particular people but Kate Wells’ retrospective exhibition was outstanding. Her beautiful machine embroidered gold work was stunning to look at and incredibly skilled.  Star of the show for me and I have no doubt for many others. Valerie Wartelle’s wet felted, layered and embroidered landscapes were very impressive. Again, beautiful to look at and very skilled. Her work  has become more abstract but a close look reveals her characteristic attention to subtle detail, and her colours are as lovely as ever. The delicate dried flower embroidery by Olga Prinku was delightful. And then there were the quilts. Lots of them. Impressive in their design and execution. One could not fail to be in awe of all this creative talent and to be inspired by it, and it is a privilege to meet these artists who are always happy to talk about their work. I’ll be there in 2022.

Chris Small

November Meeting

A very pleasant morning was spent with about 40 people happily stitching and chatting. There was no gold work class this month, but there was nevertheless plenty to look at and admire. The first set of postcards were brought in and displayed. What a wonderful and colourful array of landscapes and a vast variety of techniques! Just before the talk in the afternoon the lucky recipients took possession of their treasures. Samples of Christmas cards were available for members to choose which one they would like to make at the December meeting. Difficult choice, but it had to be done (Please remember that the December meeting is on the 11th rather than the fourth as would normally be the case). There were also opportunities to sign up to help with the organisation of next year’s exhibition, when as many hands that are available will be required, and of course there was the ever-present tea rota.

 

The afternoon speaker was Rose Horspool, Known by some of us previously as head of the art department at Bishop Burton College, Rose and her partner Robin, now run a successful creative arts business, Vista  Arts. The theme of Rose’s talk was the eighteenth-century artist Mrs Mary Delaney. Born Mary Granville, niece of the first Baron Lansdowne, she was sent to London to live with her aunt, and thus came into contact with the Court. Following an unhappy four year marriage to a much older man, and freed by widowhood, Mary returned to London where she renewed acquaintances and made new friendships with many famous and intellectual people of the time. She remarried an Irish clergyman, Dr Patrick Delaney. With her interest in the natural world, together with the accomplishments she learnt when first in London, she eventually, at the age of 73, created the art of making beautiful and botanically accurate collaged works from dyed and painted cut paper.  Nine hundred and eighty-five of these amazing plant portraits were made before her death at the age of 88. Each piece was delicately formed and secured with rabbit glue to black backgrounds. They were eventually given to the British Museum where they can be seen, but only two per day, because of conservation priorities.

 

This most interesting and informative talk was followed by a welcome cup of tea and many members helped clean and clear the room, for which the committee are extremely grateful.

Shirley Smith 7/11/21

Here are the beautiful postcards for November