The Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers was formed in 1977 when Jan and John Shailes got together with some friends in their sitting room to spin. As time went on, more people came along, and the group decided to join Berkshire Guild. In 1979, the growing band, struggling to get to Sonning for Guild meetings, took the plunge and formed their own Guild in Newbury, which has been in existence continuously since then. Our members cover an enormous range of textile skills, with experience ranging from beginners to experts. We have recently celebrated our 40th Anniversary!
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NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
Kennet Valley Guild Zoom
SATURDAY 6th MARCH - 10:30am
A Guild Zoom session with speaker.
More about this shortly...
If you don't receive an invitation and you would like to join us, please get in touch via kvgwebmaster@gmail.com
FLAGS OF HOPE
If anyone would like to get involved in Anne's suggestion of The Flags of Hope activity for The Threshing Barn's 2021 shows, here's the link. Even if the shows don't happen, the flags will be displayed in the local area for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by. The Threshing Barn is below the Penines and above the Yorkshire Dales in a village called Reeth.
Please submit your articles or short paragraphs to Lynne asap as she's getting ready to collate and create the new Shuttle for all of us to enjoy. If you've been working on creative projects or have simply enjoyed a good book or two, let's hear about it!
Sad News
Kathleen Harris, a much loved and respected member of the Kennet Valley Guild has sadly passed away. In memory of his Mother, Kathleen's son Adrian has set up a Just Giving page for donations to Stroke Association.
As many of you probably will know, our very own Ruth Saunders has received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year list for services to charity during Covid, after walking a marathon in 2020 to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. To those of us who know Ruth it’s no surprise as she has been an inspiration to us all for many years. I’m sure you will join me in sending her our heartfelt congratulations.
Hopefully we will be back together soon, but in the meantime don’t forget our Zoom meetings.
Stay safe and best wishes for 2021.
Louisa
THE KENNET VALLEY GUILD CHRISTMAS ZOOM GATHERING
A good time was had by all at our Christmas Guild Meeting and a full report is in progress.
The winner of the Kennet Valley Guild Christmas Trophy at the Show & Tell competition is Hannah Lewington. Hannah has created a beautiful shawl using a pattern called 'Nightshift Shawl' by Andrea Mowry. The yarn is by John Arbon and is from his Harvest Hues collection.
Many congratulations Hannah, from everyone at the Kennet Valley Guild.
THE KENNET VALLEY GUILD SHUTTLE
Lynne has published the new electronic edition of The Shuttle which is, as always, an excellent read. Enjoy the 28 pages of articles about recent speakers, lockdown projects, Ruth Saunders' astounding fund raising marathon, snippets, a Christmas quiz and word search, dates for your diaries and much more.
Thank you Lynne and all contributors who have made the the December issue a bumper one!
If you would like a printed version the Shuttle, please click the button below and print directly from the file or ask a friend or family member to help you.
For everyone who would like to follow up on our discussions and the shared resources that emerge at our Zoom Meetings - enjoy perusing these links. The subject matter is diverse and reflects the interesting conversations we have.
Whitchurch Silk Millis closed again due to Covid Tier restrictions.
More about the mill on their web site
Guild member, Pat Foster has launched her new web sitewhich we thoroughly recommend you take some time to enjoy. Pat recently published The Draft Book by Jeremiah Fielding 1775 (edited by Pat, and Guild Members, Janet Dunbar and Lynne Harper). Many of our Guild members wove the samples that feature throughout the book. If you're interested in history and weaving it's a must for your book shelf. Pat invites anyone who chooses to weave any of the drafts to send her photos of the process and finished piece.
The book is proving to be enormously popular here in the UK and in the USA.
You can order a copy on Pat's web site. https://www.patfosterweaverdyer.com/
The Huguenots and Their Heritage.
Speakers: Charlie de Wet and Tim Kidd.
Charlie and Tim gave us an illustrated talk about the Huguenots and their immigration to England, settling in the City, Soho, Greenwich, and Clerkenwell. We learnt what the Huguenots brought with them and the legacy they
left behind.
We discovered that we've got some Huguenot heritage in the midst of our membership! If you would like to find out about the Huguenots have a good look around the Huguenots of Spitalfields web site.
Our Speaker for February, Weaver, Spinner and Sculptor Sue Hiley-Harris, shared her creative journey from art school in Australia to contemporary working weaver and sculptor, based in the Brecon Beacons.
Sue Hiley-Harris recently hosted a silk spinning workshop in Newbury. Sue's silk spinning expertise enthralled the group and everyone enjoyed learning new techniques to experiment with at home.
Coming Soon! An overview of the Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, Summer Exhibtion at the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury. Our theme; If You Go Down To The Woods
Silk Dyeing
A Guild course on dyeing silk saw lots of techniques in action.
