Here we are again – September already and time to write another newsletter. It feels like the start of a new school year, with everything starting up again, holidays over and life slotting back into a more familiar routine. We met today at our monthly Living Threads meeting and it was so good to see everyone and catch up on news and lots of enthusiastic talk of new projects and exciting plans for the year ahead.
The big event which everyone seems to be talking about is the exhibition of the Bayeaux Tapestry which opens on September 10th at the British Museum. For the first time since it was made nearly a thousand years ago, The Bayeaux Tapestry has returned to England. Following an historic agreement with France the 70 metre long tapestry, depicting events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, is being loaned to the British Museum until July 2027.
This monumental embroidery tells the dramatic story of an event that changed England forever. 1066 is the last year England was successfully invaded and it is the year from which the modern monarchy dates itself. One of the wonders of the medieval world, the tapestry offers a vision of life in 11th century England before and after the Conquest. Made by English embroiderers using manuscript drawings from Canterbury, the tapestry is both a precious historical record and a remarkable work of art.
Tickets from January 1st to 31st March 2027 will be on sale on October 21st 2026. If anyone is planning a group outing to the exhibition, please let me have details as I am sure there will be interest in such an opportunity.
As I have only just got back from my holiday, Sarah and I are pulling out all the stops to get this newsletter out as there are events you may be interested in this coming weekend but before I put out that information, I want to say a big Thank You to Sarah who has been responsible for circulating the newsletter to you for the past couple of years. This will be the last time Sarah will be pressing all the right buttons to get this into your inbox as Sarah is handing over to Karen in October. It’s been great working with Sarah and I am looking forward to working with Karen in the months to come. Actually, Karen is one of two Living Threads members taking part in the Attenborough, Beeston and Chilwell Arts Trail which takes place this weekend, September 5th and 6th, from 11a.m. to 5p.m. Forty artists will be exhibiting in twenty venues, with a wide range of work on show, so do go along, meet the artists and say hello to Karen and to Jane Marrows.
More info – www.abcartstrail.co.uk
The Stamford 15 Art Exhibition, part of Northants and Rutland Open Studios is currently at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s St. PE9 2DL from 2 to 24th September, Monday to Saturday 10am- 8pm. This exhibition showcases diverse visions, bold experimentation and contemporary expression. Also, part of Northants and Rutland Open Studios, from the beginning of September “’Bring Them All Flowers’, a display of work in the Oxfam Bookshop window, High St, Market Harborough, to celebrate Harborough in Bloom On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th from 10-4pm
Aspects of Stitch, an exhibition of Embroidery and Textile Arts, 1st Market Harborough Scouts Hall, 31, Coventry Road, Market Harborough LE16 9AX. Visit www.nros.co.uk for more information on the above.
An exhibition Lace through the Years, showing an extensive collection from over seven different countries and a range of techniques is being held at St Mary’s Church, Wymeswold, on Saturday September 12th, 10am to 4.30. This is the personal collection of Lorraine Ellison and Lorraine will be giving a talk ‘Lace Stories’ at 2pm on that day. The event is part of Heritage Days and is free. The exhibition will move to The Framework Knitters Museum at Ruddington from mid-November to early January 2027. Please check on line before going to Ruddington as other events may be taking place at the same time as the exhibition. /https://frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk/ /event/chapel-gallery-winter-exhibition-lace-through-the years
Also, this month Melbourne Festival Art and Architecture Trail on Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th September. 150 artists, 70 venues, live music, fantastic food and lots of family fun in Melbourne, South Derbyshire DE73 8EJ. www.melbournefestival.co.uk
The Midlands Textile Forum has an exhibition ‘Fragments’ at Artery Studios, Worcester from 8th -13th September and then moves to Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery from 25th September to 7th November. The exhibition covers diverse techniques including weaving, embroidery, printed textiles, mixed media and sculpture. Their Instagram pages have examples to view on Midlands Textile Forum @ midlandstextileforum/Instagram
Looking ahead to October – The Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is holding its biennial exhibition ‘A Festival of Flora and Fauna’, October 1st -29th at The Rose Patterson Gallery, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8LE. www.wsd.org.uk Our member Sarah Cooke will be showing several pieces there so if you are in the area, or planning a day out, do go along and say hello to her.
A book recommendation – Rags to Stitches by local lady, Jackie Cunningham. Jackie creates handmade fabric accessories designed to be practical and comfortable. During the pandemic Jackie began sewing facemasks. This led to specialist textile innovation and the development of a brain scanning cap now used widely in universities, research institutions and medical settings around the world. More info on sewjackie.com.
Coming up in October, back by popular demand, we will be holding another Sewing Room Sort Out Day, at Gotham Memorial Hall, on Saturday October 10th from 10am -1pm with free entry. Delicious cakes with coffee and tea will be available. This is a great time to catch up with friends and snap up fabrics and sewing notions at bargain prices, all ready for your autumn and winter sewing projects. This is a cash only event but there is a cash point close by in case you get carried away! Car parking is available on site and the venue is on the No 1 bus route to Loughborough.
If you wish to have a table at this event, they will be available for £15.00 to non-members, on a first come basis. Please contact Janet Humphrey to reserve a table. Email –
And finally – we are currently offering the opportunity to join Living Threads Textile Group. Application for membership is now open until the 30th of September. Full details can be found on our website- livingthreadstextileartists.co.uk and follow the link . We plan to invite potential new members to our November /December meetings to discuss membership and review work with a view to joining in January 2027.
Wow, there certainly is a lot going on as we enter into autumn. I hope you have enjoyed catching up with everything that is on offer and even manage to get to see some of them. Thank you for joining me once again, and please send details of any events you have planned so that they can be shared with a wider audience Best wishes and stay stitching!
Maggie