Our Gallery

Work inspired by local churches and religious buildings abroad

Newbury Embroiderers' Guild handed over five panels to the Matron of the West Berkshire Community Hospital, on October 28th 2010. The whole underlying principle of this commission was to make it a community-based project, to involve as many local people as possible. Members of the steering group designed the large central pictures but many people were involved in stitching them. Different embroiderers designed the small pictures that make up the borders. The brief was to take a subject that had some relevance to the Community Hospital, the old Newbury and District Hospital, the history of health-care in the Newbury area, present-day health care activities and images that evoked medical issues. Two smaller panels depicting representations of the DNA molecule link the three main panels: the thread of life. The Guild arranged workshops to support members and hospital staff with design ideas and technical advice. We also held regular work sessions in the reception area of the Community Hospital where members of staff, visitors and patients were invited to place stitches in the work or to embark on a design or stitching of a border piece.

Members of Newbury branch created these pieces whilst one of our members was involved with a sewing project in Africa.

This group project comprises four banners, depicting the native plants of the British Isles throughout the four seasons of the year. The embroideries were made as a gift to decorate the purpose built sewing schoolroom in Chiaquelane, Mozambique.

The Canal Project was one of our earlier branch exhibitions. This group of embroideries reflected aspects of the Kennet and Avon Canal encapsulating aspects of the wildlife, flora and fauna as they change through the seasons. There is a use of various stitching techniques including machine embroidery, hand stitching, stump work and fabric manipulation.