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<channel><generator>iloblog 1.0</generator><title>EAST blog Feed</title><link>http://blog.easttextile.co.uk/</link><description>&lt;p&gt;This blog has been set up for members of EAST to post information about what is happening in the group and in their work.&lt;/p&gt;</description><item><title>Collagraph Workshop</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=114</link><description><![CDATA[  Recently members of EAST enjoyed a collagraph workshop at Gainsborough House Print Studio in Sudbury.  Sue from the studio explained how to make the collagraph plate, basically a base board with a collage of items stuck to it , sealed with quick drying varnish, inked up and printed.  We were kept busy all day!!    
 ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 19:22:00 +0100</pubDate><category>EAST</category></item><item><title>EAST in Sevenoaks</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=113</link><description><![CDATA[  Today four members of EAST (June, Libby, Janette and Diana) visited the Sevenoaks branch of the Embroiderer's Guild to tell them about our project EAST @ The Warner Textile Archive. It was the first time we had taken the talk on tour and we had plenty of positive comments. Lots of questions afterwards and a warm welcome - thank you Sevenoaks.    
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:28:30 +0100</pubDate><category>EAST on tour</category></item><item><title>Visit to Sevenoaks</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=112</link><description><![CDATA[ This coming Saturday, four members of EAST will be visiting the Sevenoaks branch of the Embroiderer's Guild with our talk - EAST at the Warner Textile Archive.  For more information on this branch and its activities -  http://branches.embroiderersguild.com/branches/sevenoaks/page3/  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:52:44 +0100</pubDate><category>EAST on tour</category></item><item><title>Ancient and modern textiles</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=111</link><description><![CDATA[ Over the last two days I have managed to take in two more, very different textile events.  The first on Friday was a visit organised by the Essex branch of the ERTF, to visit an exhibition called "The Stuff that Matters". The exhibition was at 56 Artillery Row, Spitalfields, London in the Ravens Row Gallery (very close to Liverpool Street Station). Normally known for its contemporary art, historical textiles was a new venture for them. The items on show were varied and ranged from coptic pieces to 16-18th century silk woven fragments to African textiles and a collection of headdresses. One particularly stunning exhibit was a wall of decorated bark cloth (see below). The exhibition was completely free and there was a really interesting accompanying leaflet and catalogue that helped put the exhibition in context (also free).   Perhaps because it was a contemporary art gallery the works on show were displayed like pieces of art. Even the building was fascinating - it used to be the home of a couple of weaver/silk merchants.  They are quite happy for you to take photographs, as long as you avoid using flash.  The exhibition is on until early May -  http://www.ravenrow.org/about/  for more information on the gallery, opening times and their current exhibition.  The second exhibition I visited was the Stitch and Craft Show, which I went to with my mum and sister. Although organised by the same company as the Knitting and Stitching Show (www.twistedthread.com) this is very much more a show for crafters and card makers. However it was a "family" day out and it did have some interesting stalls. One new supplier that really had some original items was Lisa Cresswell of Stealth Bunny Buttons (www.stealthbunny.co.uk). I almost missed my lunch chatting, but she really did have some interesting objects that she has made into buttons - or perhaps I should say embellishments - look out for her when she comes to the Knitting and Stitching Show in the autumn.    
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:50:25 +0000</pubDate><category>EAST</category></item><item><title>Website updates</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=110</link><description><![CDATA[  As EAST members are working on their new work for Making a Point! we are updating the web pages.   Keep an eye out on the Artist page as well as the individual pages for each member of EAST to get a sneak preview of some of the work you can expect to see when MAKING A POINT! opens in the autumn at Braintree, Essex.  See main webpage -  www.easttextile.co.uk  for full dates and information. 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:43:06 +0000</pubDate><category>Making a Point!</category></item><item><title>Four very different exhibitions</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=109</link><description><![CDATA[  I have been lucky enough within the the space of just over a week to visit four very different exhibitions:  David Hockney RA - A Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy, was the first one, and an exhibition I may have easily let slip by. I could probably have recognised some of Hockney's work but previously I cannot say they held any particular appeal. However this new exhibition was a real eye opener and perhaps it is seeing the pictures in real life that made all the difference. If Leonardo was about detail, Hockney was about colour and space - and yet both of these exhibitions were about looking at the world around you. It was a reminder of how you do not have to go somewhere further than your own doorstep to find something to inspire, and it was a great reminder of how we are blessed in this country with our changing seasons. The exhibition continues to 9 April 2012; get a ticket if you can.  www.royalacademy.org.uk    Articulated Materials: Bridging Waters was an exhibition by the group Material Girls joined by Canadian group, Articulation, which just happened to be exhibiting very close to my place of work. Despite only having a lunch hour spare it was an exhibition well worth seeing. Pieces on both side of the pond responded to themes around water with a variety of 2D and 3D pieces. Although now finished this exhibition gets a further showing at Horndon on the Hill in May and Maldon (both Essex, UK) in August/September this year before moving to Canada in 2013 - see the group's website for more information  http://the-materialgirls.co.uk/    Then last Friday I managed two more exhibitions -   Quentin Blake, As Large as Life at the Foundling Museum, London (continuing until 15 April). Many may know Blake's work through his illustrations of children's books but this was a display of work relating to commissions from hospitals and care centres. Children in the alien world of the hospital (aka Planet Zog), elderly people enjoying circus antics, ordinary life for those with eating disorders and mother's and babies floating in water for a French maternity unit - it is surprising how a difference of line can make a change in style. The accompanying film where Blake talks about his work and techniques really gives an insight into this artist's methodology.  www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk   And lastly I visited Royal Manuscripts, the Genius of Illumination at the British Library. It was a privilage to be amongst so many ancient and historic tomes. The low lighting meant you would often turn and catch a glimpse of gold, and to think you could get very close up to a book once held in the hand of Henry VIII, and see his comments written in the margin made this a really spectacular exhibition. The only drawback was trying to look at small images in a crowded room - the crowd moved more slowly than that at the Leonardo exhibition and the low lighting made it quite tiring to take in so many tiny details; in the end I made sure I saw all the highlights of the show and then wandered around randomly when there was space to see. Apart from the historic volumes, I think my favourites had to include the maps and the embroidered cover on an Italian book. This exhibition finishes on 13 March; catch it if you can.  www.bl.uk    
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:17:30 +0000</pubDate><category>miscellaneous</category></item><item><title>Design workshop</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=108</link><description><![CDATA[  EAST member Margaret gave members some design ideas at our meeting this month. It is always interesting to see how someone else uses a simple idea to transform a motif or image into something really amazing. Our thanks to Margaret for a very interesting and inspiring day.  There are more images on our home page.    
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:25:15 +0000</pubDate><category>EAST</category></item><item><title>Textile Smorgesbord</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=107</link><description><![CDATA[ I do not think there is a member of EAST who is not also a member of another group, in particular one of the Eastern region branches of the Embroiderer's Guild. However, I am also a member of the Eastern Region Textile Forum, a group that aims to push textiles as an art form. Yesterday the Essex region met at one of the member's houses for a Textile Smorgesbord (I hope I've spelt that right), where we were able to look at a fabulous collection of Scandinavian textiles plus books and articles. As our host Kirsten is Danish she was able to give us a real insight into the culture, particularly of her native Denmark. We finished off with a most fabulous edible Smorgesbord.    For more information on the Eastern Region Textile Forum (membership open to anyone with an interest in textiles) - www.ertf.org.uk       
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:56:06 +0000</pubDate><category>miscellaneous</category></item><item><title>Leonardo - Amazing</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=106</link><description><![CDATA[  For once I was organised enough to plan ahead and get tickets for this exhibition which was truly amazing! As my OU module is Art History at the moment, it seemed scandalous to miss this opportunity and it was indeed unforgetable. Knowing it would be crowded (and it was!) I took the time to read up a little on the main pieces and to know what to expect. Dear Janette also gave me advance warning of the lay out etc. But nothing prepares you for the seven rooms of complete wonder. Not only are the main pieces breath taking but each of the drawings, some of them tiny and many very faded are an insight to the mind of a man who was obsesed with detail and accuracy. And boy could he draw!! Being a textile fanatic, I was drawn to his sketches of drapery - folds, shading, tucks etc that were so beautiful and exquisite.  
 The visual exhibition was supported by an excellent audio guide that was well presented, clear explanations and really supplimented the items being discussed. 
 So what did I lear from this event, well Leonardo da Vinci certainly knew his stuff. His eye for detail and his complete obsession with accuracy may have meant that he only produced about 20 finished pieces in his life time but he left thousands of sketches and notes that are the legacy of a true master. 
 For those of us that despair that we do not produce alot of work or that each piece of work seems to take ages, then from Leonardo it is certainly worth taking the lesson that "quality is better than quantity! and that observation is everything in life! 
 if you missed this event - i am sorry, if you can still get there, then do and if all else fails give Our Majesty a call some time - lots of the sketches were on loan from her collection and I am sure she would love to let you pop round to have a look!  
 Melinda  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:40:16 +0000</pubDate><category>miscellaneous</category></item><item><title>First Stop Suffolk</title><link>http://iloapp.easttextile.co.uk/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=105</link><description><![CDATA[  I wonder how many other embroiderers have experienced the feeling I did on Saturday when I looked at my exhibit for the EAST @ The Warner Textile Archive and wondered: “How did I make this?” 
   
 I know that Carol experienced something similar at Braintree Museum a week ago when Robert asked her what her Warner sketch book looked like. (It was temporarily mislaid.) 
   
 We move on with our work so quickly that it was good to have an afternoon where we could re-visit our exhibits and, with the help of those sketchbooks, show the way in which we were inspired by textiles at the Warner Archive into making new pieces, by presenting them to members of the Suffolk East branch of the Guild . 
   
 Their January meeting took the form of a social event called “Sketch to Stitch” and had some printing and design activities to try as well as an opportunity for members to purchase new sketchbooks in which to place some of these trials.  
   
 Delia, Liz, Carol and I borrowed our exhibits from “East @ Warner Textile Archive” to talk about informally, as well as Melinda’s weaving, Di’s panel, Libby’s little books and Janette’s interpretation of a very fragile eighteenth century fabric, which meant we were able to release the two blue birds (“June and Terry”) for a breath of fresh Suffolk air. (Check out the Gallery to view the exhibition.) 
   
 It was good to meet some of the members again who had visited the “Talking Textiles” exhibition at Snape Maltings in July last year, in such a relaxed atmosphere and the afternoon went very quickly.  
   
   
 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:56:41 +0000</pubDate><category>EAST on tour</category></item></channel>
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