Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

  'CHRISTMAS MEETING' -  this Saturday 11th December 2021 We are looking forward to seeing members and guests at our final meeting of 2021. We will be crafting along with a member led workshop on knitted necklace, bracelet or wreath.  Bring along your choice of fibres, thick, thin, glittery and your knitting needles, crochet hooks  and any other tools you fancy using. Doors will open at 10.00 am for a 10.30 pm start.  Don't forget your food, cup and cutlery and a face mask!   Please note that it is the Stratford Victorian Market this weekend so roads will be busy and some close (see below), so avoid: Waterside (to junction of Sheep Street) Bridge Street Waterside Wood Street Meer Street Henley Street Rother Street Market (paved area) High Street Union Street Rother Street will not be closed and the access from Greenhill Street and Windsor Street into Rother Street will be maintained during this period.   Look forward to seeing you there.   ...

  GILL GREANY - "TEXTILES IN THE YURT"   Our next meeting is being held on this Saturday 20th November and will again be face to face, with Zoom for those who prefer to continue to take extra precautions or are unable to attend.   ...................   https://libreshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/mongolian-yurts.jpg Gill will be joining us to give us a talk, “Textiles in the Yurt”, on the work she did with Tadek Beutlich, a well know tapestry weaver and will be showing samples of the work done. Doors will open at 10.15, screens for Zoom at 10.20. The meeting will then commence at 10.30 with notices, followed by our presentation commencing at 10.50 am. Gill's talk will last about an hour, plus time for questions so our break for refreshments will be about 12.15 and we shall resume usual business around 12.45 with 'Show and Tell', the Sales table and general catching up with each other until the meeting closes at 2.30. Due to COVID guidance, coffee and tea w...

 OCTOBER MEETING  - 1st FACE TO FACE !  'STRATSPIN' CHALLENGES     This is so exciting!  Our first face to face Guild meeting in 18 months. Although we have kept in touch and active with monthly meetings on Zoom it will be great to see each other in the flesh so to speak. For those unable to attend we are planning to hold it on Zoom too.   As, sadly, the nationwide challenge 'BritSpin' is not happening this year we decided to hold our own little version.  This is not a competition but an opportunity to challenge yourself with techniques, tools, fibres and skills. Basically this is a chance to spend several hours exploring new aspects of spinning (and a few other fibre-related skills)– some serious, some simply fun – testing our skills and maybe learning new ones. Of course all this will take a little longer than a four hour meeting (especially if you allow time for catching up with news of friends you haven't seen for so long ) so there will ...

  Worldwide Spin in Public  Members of the Stratford Guild were out and about last weekend to celebrate World Wide Spin in Public Day. This one day of the year is aimed at highlighting the heritage craft to the public and encourage new membership to our local guilds. An event that occurs all over the world, Stratford members were found in Rugby, Alcester and Warwick as well as in Lincolnshire!  Being held at local  guild meetings,  Museums  and Art Galleries.   One of our members incorporated the event with Macmillian 'coffee morning' fund raising event and to date has raised an incredible £318.  Well done Jane!

World Wide Spin in Public  - Saturday 18th September 2021 Members of our Stratford Guild will be joining with hundreds of fellow members around the world, by spinning out in public in our area. Stratford members can be seen around the Warwickshire area from Alcester to Rugby and Warwick to name but a few.  Not just in parks and gardens,  but members will also be at other public events at the Warwickshire Museum in Warwick and at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum. https://heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/about-the-museum-service/market-hall-planning-your-visit https://www.therugbytown.co.uk/events/event/11533/heritage_open_days_worldwide_spin_in_public_day   Come and join us!

 September Guild Meeting  - Leicester Long Wool with Shaun Smith   Tomorrow, Saturday 11th September, we are holding our next monthly meeting with our next talk from Shaun Smith on the Leicester Long Wool Family.   Still on zoom this month the invites have been sent to all members but we welcome guest so just contact us if you wish to attend. Screens open at 10.20 am and the meeting will commence at 10.30 am with any updates from our Chair, Anna.  Our presentation will commence around 10.50 am. Following the talk with be our usual 'show & tell' from the member and we look forward to seeing what activity have been happening over the summer.  Then our 'sales table', with closing around 1 pm. See you there!      

  Saint Anastasius the Fuller. Patron Saint of Fulling Anastasius (variously spelled Anastasios) was born of a wealthy Italian family in Aquileia, near Venice during the reign of Diocletian (AD 284-311). He was aware that Saint Paul had told the Thessalonians that the most worthy form of work was that using the hands and he chose to follow this advice by becoming a Fuller in the place now known as Split in Croatia. Fulling is the process of cleaning wool cloth to whiten it so that it could be successfully dyed. In those days, the cloth was immersed in a bath of soapy water and then either beaten with sticks or, squashed and stamped on to remove the dirt.  Anastasius was a very religious man and deeply affected by witnessing the martyrdom of some of his fellow Christians, determined to be a martyr himself, so great were his religious beliefs. He painted a cross on his workshop door to proclaim his faith and provoke the Emperor’s wrath.   www.johnsanidopoulos.com In...