Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Sun, July 11, 2010 10:18:11EAST @ The Warner Textile Archive is now on view at Braintree - Friday 9 July we had our official launch of the exhibition at the archive itself. It was lovely to meet friends old and new and see the exhibition in its new setting. Luckily I was able to take these photographs before the guests arrived.
The exhibition will now run until 30th September 2010 - the archive being open Wednesdays to Fridays 11am to 4pm. Admission charge for adults. The Warner Textile Archive is at Warners Mill, Silks Way, Braintree, CM7 3GB. Telephone 01376 325266. The archive can be opened at other times for groups and researchers by appointment.
Warner ProjectPosted by Melinda Mon, June 28, 2010 12:49:39How exciting - our lovely EAST@The Warner Textile Archive is about to be seen by all in it's home gallery!
Last week June and I spent the afternoon at the Archive gallery putting the final touches to the display. Charlotte had already completed most of the hard work - pulling up screens and opening boxes but we still had a chance to fiddle and tweak and even go up the big ladder (carefully of course).
The work looks stunning and just as exciting at it did at the various Knit and Stitch venues last year. How lovely to see it again in this familiar surrounding. For those of you who missed the tour or even if you did catch it but want a little more time and peace and quiet to read all the details on the accompanying panels, then please do take the opportunity to visit the Warner Archive over the summer.
The intention is that the exhibition will go off travelling again in the new year particularly to schools, colleges and galleries that focus on textile heritage and research. So grab a friend and do take make a visit to Braintree. We are so fortunate to have this national treasure in our area and so we must appreciate and use it to it's fullest.
Looking forward to seeing familar and new faces over the next few months.
Photos to follow after the private view - 9th July!
Melinda
Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Fri, December 04, 2009 16:17:36
Just a quick "blog" to say that more photos have been added to the Gallery - at the end of the EAST @ The Warner Textile Archive gallery there are now pictures of the exhibition at Harrogate. Although the exhibition was the same at both venues we had a longer thinner stand at Harrogate.
Hopefully more photos to come in due course.
Warner ProjectPosted by Melinda Thu, November 26, 2009 09:16:27Well we survived! - despite colds, coughs, poor weather and dreadful traffic jams on all roads.
The Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show finished on Sunday 22nd November after 4 days of almost constant attention on our stand from the visitors to the show.
East @ The Warner Textile Archive was very well received especially by anyone studying or working in textiles, as we provided the rare opportunity to view source items, work books and final pieces. Many tutors approached us about having the exhibition at their own places of learning so we will have to see how this next stage unfolds.
The exhibition has safely returned to Braintree and will now remain in the care of the Museum team. EAST will continue to be involved with the project and we will be showing the display at our September launch of the new EAST exhibition, "Talking Textiles."
I would like to say a HUGE thank you to all the members who were able to offer their time to help steward and set up and dismantle the display and a SPECIAL thanks to all the husbands that helped over the five days (they know who they are!)
It was hard work but alot of fun and a real team effort to hold it all together.
As soon as I work out how to download photos from my new camera I will add some pictures to the blog or website - including the horses that greeted us each morning at the stables where some of us stayed!!
Melinda
Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Mon, November 23, 2009 16:16:55Now the exhibition at Harrogate has come to an end - I am pleased to say that the Gallery on our website has been updated so that there is now a virtual tour of the exhibition - EAST @ the Warner Textile Archive.
Visit http://eastgallery.easttextile.co.uk to look at the EAST @ the Warner Textile Archive. There are pictures of the exhibition in general, a glimpse at the sketchbooks and obviously the work itself.
Obviously a virtual tour is not as good as seeing the exhibition in real life. If you have not yet been able to see the exhibition either at Alexandra Palace or Harrogate, you have not missed your chance. The exhibition will be travelling to the Warner Textile Archive in Braintree in the autumn of 2011. Visit the EAST main website for details - www.easttextile.co.uk.
Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Mon, October 12, 2009 09:39:38The time finally arrived and the EAST @ The Warner Textile Archive finally displayed at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London. I spent three days at the show and it was really lovely to meet and talk to people about the exhibition and the archive. It was also nice to see so many friends come and visit the stand and be able to show them the work we seem to have talked about for so long.
Nearly all the time the show was in progress the stand seemed to be packed with visitors. Everyone was particularly interested to look at the sketchbooks that went with each piece of work.
Thursday and Friday we had plenty of textile students - we had some very good questions from them often interested in how the pieces were made but also wanting to know how we were inspired. It was also interesting to speak to so many teachers who seemed to also be inspired by the educational aspect of the exhibition.
We also met people that knew the archive, or knew Warners the company either first hand or through relatives. For some it was a nostalgia trip or a chance to talk about their family histories.
In between bouts of stewarding on the stand I was also able to visit the show and see some of the other exhibitions on display. I particularly enjoyed the Art of the Stitch, the Graduate Showcase, the Pfaff Art Embroidery and the Embroiderer's Guild Scholars (Lee Mattocks and Jill Flower). There were also exhibitions by Louise Baldwin, Janice Gunner, Dionne Swift, Fusion, Cindy Hickok, Tom Lundberg to name but a few, and a very interesting exhibition by Alice Kettle and ceramicists Helen Felcey and Alix McErlain. Also on display was some very interesting knitting, including a full size boat!
On the shopping front, I was quite restrained; I did spend a little money but my only real impulse buy was Frances Pickering's new book "Page After Page", which is just a delight to look at and a reminder of past workshops with Frances. To view her work - www.frannyp.co.uk.
Susan and Melinda at the end of a long day, but still smiling!
Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Sat, October 03, 2009 16:57:42The box is packed, the postcards are printed, the sketchbook is done, the banners are finished - the exhibition has been a while in the making but now there is no more to do (we hope), until set up day. Really looking forward to seeing it when I get up to Ally Pally on Friday, (plus Saturday and Sunday). The last time EAST were at the Knitting and Stitching Show, it was quite exhilarating talking to people and feeling really part of the whole event rather than just a visitor.
It's been a really busy week so far and I am also looking forward to starting on my new projects. Monday I tidied my workspace so I can actually get in my room, which had become a bit of a "dumping ground" while the last phases of the exhibition work were being put into place.
Only two days (paid) work this week and then Thursday went to the filming of the Antiques Roadshow at Greenwich. I had been offered a BBC pass (the only reason I went), which meant I could avoid the queueing outside and I only had to do the indoor queueing for the expert - I understand it can be three hours waiting outside! Unfortunately I was behind Fiona Bruce in a queue when they were filming so I may be in the background - trying to look the other way and avoid the camera. I took some needlework tools with me and found out one was worth a lot more than I thought and two were not actually needlework tools at all. It was interesting seeing behind the scenes, but it is a bit like a doctor's appointment - hours of waiting and then five minutes with the expert! Saw a lot of the well known experts from the show - and they and the behind the scenes staff must have a very hard day; I understand they start at about 8am, and don't finish until the last person is seen.
Then yesterday did a talk about Foundlings for the Friends of Coram at the London Metropolitan Archives - with Gill, my fellow researcher. A very interesting afternoon - and an interesting morning in the archives; tracking down some more useful information. Which I am hoping I may be able to use in my new EAST work.
Today had an enjoyable morning at Young Embroiderer's - Melinda teaching them about silk painting. The girls seemed to enjoy it so much we had trouble getting them out the door.
So now I'm hoping for a quiet day or two, catching breath so I will be ready for the show.
Warner ProjectPosted by Janette Mon, September 28, 2009 13:03:29The postcards ordered for the EAST @ the Warner Textile Archive have just arrived - I only ordered them on line about three working days ago, and the site said to expect about a 7 day delay. Really pleased with them, and particularly impressed that the company we used allow the printing of up to 60 cards with 60 different images if required. I don't think any other company does that. They also do lots of other items such as mini-cards, stickers, etc.
Their website is www.moo.com.
I would definitely recommend them; as have some of the other EAST girls.
