Save the date - 19 March 2016

Details of ERTF's next conference "Get Knotted" will be available from January 2016.  The conference will be held at Hemingford Abbots, Cambridgeshire and open to all.

Watch this space for further details in the New Year.

Touch of Colour - 21 to 28 November 2015

ERTF member, Jenny Leslie, is one of three artists exhibiting under the title of Touch of Colour at the Eagle Gallery, 1010 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP.

Work will include textiles by ERTF member Jenny Leslie, ceramics by Anja Penger-Onyett and paintings by Val Bestwick.

The gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm, and Sunday 11 to 4pm from Saturday 21st November to Saturday 28th November 2015.

ERTF newsletter - Autumn 2015

The ERTF newsletter is now available to all ERTF members, who should have received a copy by email. Copies of this and all previous newsletters are also available to members through the ERTF website.  

This latest edition includes reviews on the ERTF conference plus other places of interest, and an extensive "what's on" guide.  There is also information regarding a visit being organised by our Cambridge rep, open to all members.

Deadline for articles to be published in the next newsletter is 15 January, with the Winter 2016 newsletter due from 1 February 2016.

Wearable art conference - images on the website

Following our successful Wearable Art Conference, at Letchworth last month, there are now some images on line in our Events Gallery of the ERTF website.  No need to log in - and open for visitors to view.

We started the day with creating wearable art (brooch making), followed by a talk by Jan Knibbs.

Book Fair, Hadleigh, Essex - Saturday 14 November 2015

ERTF member Beverley Folkard is one of the exhibitors at the Book Fair at Hadleigh, Essex.

Ethical textiles

ERTF member, Jenny Leslie is one of the organisers of an event celebrating ethical textile practices.  From the Earth workshops are now open for booking. These workshops will run along side the From the Earth Exhibition at PS Arts Datchworth in June 2016. They are a series of workshops on advanced leaf printing, felting, silk screen printing and flour paste resist with indigo all will be with natural dyes.

Workshops are at Art Van Go and can be booked through the From the Earth web site; www.fromtheearthtextiles.co.uk.

Design2Stitch Focus Group - "Diversity in Focus II" - 26 to 31st October 2015 in Colchester

Some ERTF members are also part of the Design2Stitch Focus Group, who will be exhibiting at the Minories Galleries, 74 High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UE this month.

Vision art exhibition - 7-28 October 2015, Rhodes Gallery, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

Some of our ERTF members are exhibiting as part of the "Vision" group at the Rhodes Gallery, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

ERTF Summer newsletter - now available on the website

The latest edition of the ERTF newsletter (summer 2015) is now available on the website - reviews, reports and details of up and coming exhibitions.

www.easternregiontextileforum.org.uk - then click on the members area.

ERTF Autumn Conference - Wearable Art - Saturday 17 October at Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire

Booking is now open for the ERTF Autumn Conference to be held on Saturday 17 October 2015 at Letchworth Settlement, 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 4UB.

There is a morning activity followed by a talk by award winning fashion and textile designer Jan Knibbs.  This West Country based designer of wearable art features rich hand worked embroidery inspired by nature and the changing seasons, and incorporates delicate floral designs in applique,ribbon embroidery and beadwork.

Also Cornucopia Shop.  Lunch and refreshments provided during the day.

Open to Members and Non-Members - visit the ERTF website home page for timetable and booking form.  

Please book by 7 October 2015.

ERTF visit to Docwra's Manor Garden

ERTF members visited Docwra's Manor Garden in Cambridgeshire recently - a chance for members to meet up, sketch, photograph and be inspired.

Another ERTF day out is being planned in the Essex region (open to all ERTF members) at Marks Hall Garden on Tuesday, 4 August - see the previous blog post for more details or visit the ERTF website.

Marks Hall, Essex Visit on August 4th

On August 4th at 11am some of the Essex members of the ERTF are meeting at Marks Hall in Essex. There is an exciting sculpture display spread out over the 200+ acres of the fabulous arboretum of Marks Hall, which will be there from the 1st to the 31st of August. 

Today, I was over for an afternoon walk and took these photos. I also stumbled upon the curator of the sculpture exhibition and he told me there will be more than 230 pieces from over 30 sculptors- national and international! It is going to take them 2 1/2 weeks to get the pieces into position!

There will be stone, marble, metal,glass, wire, wood and willow pieces. Some will be kinetic installations. All pieces will be for sale. 

On behalf of the Essex members I would like to invite any other ERTF members who would like to gather with us. We are planning to wander, sketch, take photos and eat cake! What could make for a better outing! 

If you can come, be there in time for a 11 am start. 

Marks Hall is off the A 120 and is well marked. There is plenty of parking and admission is 5 pounds.

Hope to see you there!

Lori Donaldson Essex rep

ERTF visits - July and August

On 18 July 2015, the Cambridge region of ERTF are organising a visit to Docwra Manor Garden in Royston, Hertfordshire (close to Cambridge) and on 4 August a trip to Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, near Coggeshall in Essex is planned.

A chance for sketching, photography or just meeting up with like minded textile enthusiasts.

Events open to ERTF members - contact Sue for more information on Docwra and Lori for information about Marks Hall.  Or to join ERTF - contact our membership secretary.

Children's Textile Activities at the Festival of Textiles

During half term week there was an opportunity for families to get involved in drop in sessions called "Fun with Fabrics". Among the activities on offer were Fabric printing, using a sewing machine to make a small draw string bag, making rubbings from natural objects onto fabric which were made into cards and making sheep using wrapping techniques with sheep's fleece.
The activities room was buzzing with excitement and full of laughter and happy faces. the children left proudly with there creations.

Children's Textile Competition

We invited local schools to get involved with the Festival of Textiles, their challenge was to produce a 10 cm  x 10 cm peice of Textile Art based on the theme of Farming. Enties included Weaving, Felting, Stitching and Collage. The entries were all exhibited as part of the Festival and the winners were awarded certificates, and a package of textile materials for their schools, to inspire further creative work.
WINNER Yasmin from Soham Village College
Second Eliza from Linton Heights Junior School
Third Eve from Downham Feoffees Primary School
I think they are fabulous! What do you think?

Festival of textiles at the Farmland Museum at Denny Abbey

The Festival of textiles has been a great success, We showed a wide range of textile skills and the artistic interpretations were amazing, some worked so well in their locations that they looked as if they were an integral part of the Museum. There were lots of visitors, lots of positive comments!

Setting up at Denny Abbey

Some good fun and challenges setting up this wonderful exhibition. Difficulties because of the fragile nature of the Abbey walls and beams; and HOW to hang items in the stone barn?! 

Thankfully there were some knights in shining armour who were at home on these tall ladders. 

I was only there to help on Wednesday but the exhibition committee has worked long hours for us all and we should be very thankful to them all!!!