Show Previews
The following are just some of the upcoming shows around the country, previewed by Julie Bonnar in Sewing World magazine. Each month we will update the page with new shows, so if you have details of other shows do let us know and we’ll post the details here.
We've added the following shows this month: Textile Talk with Ten Plus in Congleton, The Knitting and Stitch Shows at the NEC, Harrogate and Alexandra Palace, Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch show at Harrogate and the Creative Stitches & Hobbycraft show at Cardiff International Centre.
PLEASE NOTE: Whilst all details included are checked prior to posting on our website, we DO advise checking with organizers before travelling any distance.
Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts
Cardiff International Arena
30 October - 1 November 2008
Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts weaves into South Wales for the 16th consecutive year at Cardiff International Arena. It's Showtime at ICHF too, where you can step back in time and experience the razzle dazzle of Londonís Windmill Theatre and the World War II blitz with original costumes from the British hit film 'Mrs Henderson Presents' which starred Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, Will Young and Thelma Barlow. See the spectacular showgirls' costumes from the Windmill Theatre, which controversially put naked girls on the stage! If you haven't yet embraced the concept of recycling make sure you visit a group of artists who prove how fashionable recycling can be with their creative display - Reclaim, Re-use and Recycle. Help 'Save the Planet', become more 'green' and reduce waste in a more creative way and translate everyday rubbish into desirable pieces of art from the infamous plastic carrier bags to drinks cans, old clothing, car parts and even water bottles!
Be inspired with the Meet the Designer team and obtain inspiration, advice and creative ideas. Regular aficionados to this show will find all of the latest materials to create personalised, fashionable clothes, embroidered individual accessories and stylish, chic jewellery. If embellishing is your bag - find hundreds of embellishments including sequins, beads, buttons and flowers to add a contemporary, special twist to any garment.
ICHF will be presenting the winners and entrantsí pieces from the 2007 Guild Challenge which was set in conjunction with Makower UK and in the theme 'Out of the shadows into the light'. Also The National Needlework Archive invited textile artists - professional and amateur alike to answer the question 'What's your favourite poem?' in Poetry in Stitches 2. Artists have combined beautiful textile art with poetry, creating a series of stunning designs (These will be exhibited at both Creative Stitches and Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch). ICHF will unveil the life-sized knitted display, Shaun the Sheep and The Great British PicKnit - the result of the 2007 knitting project, a collaboration between Aardman Animations (makers of Wallace & Gromit) and ICHF, with support from UKHKA (United Kingdom Hand-knitting Association) and Simply Knitting magazine. Visitors and the general public contributed to the display with the aim of raising money for the Wallace and Gromit Childrenís Foundation.
At Hobbycrafts you can watch lively, daily cardmaking, stamping and papercraft demonstrations and learn new tricks of the trade or develop existing skills! Discover how to decorate cards in a beautiful, artistic way with pressed flowers, fabric, stamps and decoupage.Focus on folk art painting with BADFA (Exeter) or make adorable boxes with plenty of practical uses!
Tickets cost adults £6 and seniors £5 and children under 16 free accompanied by an adult enter free (otherwise £3). The show is open between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm (5 pm on Sunday). Discounted tickets can be bought in advance from the ICHF Ticket Hotline: 01425 277988.
For further information visit www.ichf.co.uk.
Fashion Embroidery & Stitch
Yorkshire Event Centre
Harrogate
3 - 5 October 2008
Be inspired to create your own dresses, jumpers and trousers for all occasions with exhibitors offering the latest fabrics with stunning designs, sewing machines, thread and embellishments. The winning entries of the 2008 Stitch/Madeira Competition, themed Glimpses of China, will be displayed and judged at the show with the winner taking home a coveted trophy. Plus if youíre just starting out or need some motivation and advice, visit the daily lively demonstrations, Quick and Easy workshops and informative talks, where friendly professionals and experts will guide you in the right direction. Learning has never been so much fun!
This show is known for its fabulous fashion show - students and exhibitors will make a statement at Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch supported by Madeira UK Ltd in one of the daily catwalk shows! Brenda Killigrew and Inkberrow Design Centre continue to organise this popular, well-established catwalk event taking place at
11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm every day of the show (thereís no need to pre-book the fashion show).
Tickets to Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch cost: adults £6.00 and seniors £5.00 on the door and children under 16 if accompanied by an adult are free (otherwise £3). The show is open between 9.30 am 5.30 pm (and close at 5pm on Sunday). Ticket Hotline: 01425 277988.
For further information or buy tickets on-line at www.ichf.co.uk.
The Knitting and Stitching Shows at 
NEC
Birmingham
11 -14 September
Alexandra Palace
London
9-12 October
Harrogate International Centre
20 - 23 November
The Knitting and Stitching Shows are great exhibitions for lovers of textiles covering knitting and stitching but also felt making, shibori dyeing, jewellery making, card making, mixed media and much more! There's always is so much to see and do that it's hard to fit it all into one day. There's hundreds of exhibitors selling specialist supplies that you are hard to find in the shops, plus lots of galleries from leading artists and groups. Attend one of the workshops from the packed schedule and become acquainted with lots of new and varied subjects from the hundreds of classes on offer including Fusing Fabric, Machine Magic, Fuss-free Fusible Interfacings, Embroidered Buttons and Quick Couture Fascinators. This year's shows have an incredibly strong line up of top textile artists and whether your favourites are Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, John Allen with his magical exhibition of 'carpets for the wall' or the mixed media inspired by Nepalese culture and the beautiful stumpwork by Barbara and Roy Hirst, there is sure to be something to delight you.
At the NEC venue, and new for 2008, is the Artists in Action section which is a special area built especially to allow visitors to watch and learn, as top textile artists get to work in a studio setting. Different artists will work across a range of disciplines throughout the day from Friday to Sunday. Ruth Issett will take the first masterclass in the Artists in Action studio which is sponsored by Art Van Go (spaces will be limited) and then the studio will be opened up to a whole roster of different textile artists demonstrating their craft.
The Fashion Show will be at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitch show only and will include the Graduateís Fashion Show, the International Shibori Designers collection from Paris and the winners of the Hand and Lock Embroidery competition !
The organiserís Creative Exhibitions have teamed up with Superbreak again to provide discounted hotels, B&Bs and rail travel. Just tel: 0871 221 3700 and quote THREAD for a good deal. Tickets cost: adults £10, seniors £9 and children £4.
Visit the organiserís website: www.twistedthread.com or call the Ticket Hotline on tel: 01473 320407.
Talk Textiles with Ten Plus
Little Moreton Hall
Congleton
Cheshire
24 - 28 September
This is the latest exhibition of textile art with demonstrations by Ten Plus Textiles. This group was formed in 1991 by ten textile artists from the North West who wanted to work together and promote greater appreciation of embroidery in all its forms. There are currently fifteen members who meet informally to further artistic development and assess projects. This is the second exhibition of the year with members' interests ranging from stitched paper and experimental mixed media to felt-making, quilting and applique. Some members teach classes or take workshops and all are happy to undertake commissions. Exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday between 11.30 am and 5 pm.
Visit their website: www.tenplustextiles.com or for further information tel: 01260 272018 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Chilterns Craft Show
Stonor Park
Henley-on-Thames
22 – 25 August
It’s another stunning location for the creative outdoor craft show from ICHF. Stonor Park is steeped in history with three gardens including a Medieval, a walled 17th Century Italianate with ponds and a Japanese style summer house and ancient yews plus an old fashioned kitchen garden full of traditional English flowers. Over the August bank holiday weekend, it will be home to British makers and craftsmen with items for decorating and embellishing the home such as bespoke clocks, vibrant ceramic bowls to gifts of jewellery, eye catching vases and uniquely designed clothing. If you are inspired by the lovely gardens of Stonor Park then the Show Garden will be full of horticultural ideas and guidance plus lots of colourful plants to bring life to your backyard. This show is a great day out for all the family with interactive demonstrations and hands on workshops to keep both children and adults amused. Discover how to decorate ceramics, personalise pencils and papers or have a go at drawing and painting or even wire sculpting! Another specialist marquee will be concentrating on tempting foods such as handmade cheeses and luxury chocolates and other delicious temptations! Tickets cost on the door: £5.60 adults, seniors £4.60 and children accompanied by an adult enter free.
For further information visit the organiser’s website: www.ichf.co.uk.
Freya Perry’s Faeriefizz Open Studio
Cha Cha’s Gallery Café, Palmerston Road, Southsea, Hampshire
Contact details – tel: 02392 830835 or 0781 615 6872
Email: freyaperry@faeriefizz.co.uk
Website: www.faeriefizz.co.uk
16 - 31 August
Faeriefizz Open Studio (part of the Hampshire Open Studios). Artists throughout Hampshire will be opening their studios to the public throughout this period including Southsea artist Freya Perry of Faeriefizz (also occasionally contributor to Sewing World). Freya will have ‘open studio’ between 11 am – 3 pm on selected dates during this period for the public to come and see her at work.
For more information about these dates, visit her website: www.faeriefizz.co.uk.
Hampshire Open Studios 2008
16th – 31st August
If you live in Hampshire or surrounding Counties, August sees lots of artists and crafts people throughout Hampshire open their doors to the public to view their work including textile artists Elli Woodsford, Caroline Hyde Brown, Terrie Hitchcock, Sue Sapsed. Pauline Pepper, Linda Miller and Wendi Watson.
This. the eight annual event. is an art trail which allows the public to visit artists and craft makers in their homes, studio and workshops. This year there’ll be over 180 venues to visit throughout the county with around 600 artists involved. Most venues exhibit for all of the sixteen days and most are open from about 11 am – 6 pm. The free Visitors Guide gives precise times and days and this is available from Tourist Information Centres, galleries, libraries, museums, or by post with SAE from Wendi Watson / Hampshire Open Studios, 95 Station Road, Netley Abbey, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 5AH.
For further information visit the website: www.hampshireopenstudios.org.uk.
People Watching
Platform Gallery, Clitheroe
19 July – 6 September
This exhibition brings together the work of 16 artists across the UK who admit to People Watching. Fascinated by human beings, their work explores all the little things that make an individual unique. Six of the exhibitors work in textiles including work from Liliane Taylor who combines recycled and vintage fabrics in her pictures of ladies who lunch and Claire Louise Butler who celebrates the female form from the curvaceous to the waif-like in her exuberant bathers. Plus Louise Gardiner, who we featured in our Day in the Life series recently, drives her sewing machine to the edge in her illustrative explorations of human nature. The exhibition also features work in ceramics, metal, wood and glass. All work will be for sale and the gallery operates their own art purchasing scheme. Gallery opens Monday-Saturday 10 am – 4.30 pm (closed bank holidays).
For more information visit the website: www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/platformgallery or tel: 01200 443071.
Threading through Nature
Odyssey Textile Artists Exhibition
The Pumfrett Room
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Gravel Hill
Horndean
Hampshire
29 August – 29 September
The Odyssey Textile group has created a new exhibition to be held at Queen Elizabeth Country Park at the end of August. 'Threading through Nature' reflects the ethos of the countryside with all pieces of work directly related to nature either through subject matter or use of natural materials. The Odyssey Textile Artists organise exhibitions to showcase the work of their members, as well as meeting regularly to provide support and encouragement to each other in exploring the expressive potential of textiles.
The visitors centre, shop and café at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park are open daily between 10.00 am - 5.30pm. Car parking charges are £1 per day Monday - Saturday, £1.50 per day Sunday and Bank Holidays. For further information about this exhibition, contact Judi Fairbairn: email judifair@hotmail.com or visit the group’s website: www.odysseytextileart.co.uk.
For information about Queen Elizabeth Country Park log on to: www.hants.gov.uk/qecp.
The Fabric of Myth
Compton Verney
Warwickshire
21 June – 7 September
This major exhibition explores the symbolic function of textiles in classical myth and their thematic influence on both historic and contemporary art and includes rarely seen national and international loans in addition to specially commissioned work.
The exhibition features embroidery, tapestries, illustrated manuscripts and classical artefacts. Historically, the exhibition explores the theme of classical myths as seen through Greek mythological figures 
such as the Three Fates, Arachne, Ariadne, Circe and Penelope, to Lord Alfred Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott locked in her tower weaving and the embroideries of Mary Queen of Scots in captivity. The Fabric of Myth also explores the work of artists who use fabric as a potent medium to communicate personal and cultural myths.
Highlights of the exhibition include Joseph Beuys’ Felt Suit and Bispo Do Rosário who uses fabric and stitching to convey the materiality of existence, while Louise Bourgeois’ Spindle expresses ideas relating to personal restoration. Opening times for Compton Verney are 11am - 5pm (Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays). Adult tickets cost £7.00 with £5 for concessions.
For advance booking please call 01926 645500 or visit www.comptonverney.org.uk.
17th Century Gloves Exhibition
Fashion Museum
Bennett Street
Bath
Ongoing to 31 December 2008
The oldest surviving fashions go on display at the Fashion Museum in Bath. It’s only very occasionally that fashionable dress from the 17th century is displayed in museums as dress from over 400 years ago just does not survive for posterity. However, there are always exceptions. This new display includes nearly 20 examples of beautifully decorated gloves, ranging in date from the early years of the century when James I was King, to the 1660s when his grandson Charles II was restored to the throne. One pair of gloves in the display is of particular historical interest – this is a pair of large doeskin gloves (dyed brown) with insets of red silk satin embroidered in metal threads which are believed to have belonged to King James I. Most of these gloves are items that were worn on special occasions, such as having a portrait painted or given as gifts on ceremonial or formal occasions to show the importance of the person offering the gift. The craftsmanship involved in this sort of garment was a time-consuming process and included exquisite embroidery using coloured silk threads, tiny seed pearls and different types of gold and silver metal thread, which epitomised the international luxury goods trade based in London in the 17th century. All of the gloves are on loan to the Fashion Museum from The Gloves’ Collections Trust, a special body set up by the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London to care for what is possibly the finest collection of historic gloves in the world. The collection is known as the Spence collection, as it was formed by antiquarian Robert Spence and given to the Worshipful Company in 1959. The Museum is open daily between 11 am – 5 pm.
For more information on the Gloves exhibition or other exhibitions currently taking place visit the Fashion Museum website: www.fashionmuseum.co.uk.
These previews are written by Julie Bonnar for Sewing World magazine, a monthly magazine published in the UK for anyone interested in sewing with a sewing machine. For further details of Sewing World magazine, visit: www.sewingworldmagazine.com or tel: 01684 588500.
