Category Archives: Uncategorized

Embroidered Botanicals Class with Jeanne-maree Tempest

Posted on by

As an extra to our Geelong Branch Biennial Exhibition “THE ART OF THE NEEDLE” : Traditional to Contemporary we are excited to announce this special Embroidered Botanicals Class

13th & 14th Sep 2025 9am – 4pm

$150 EGV members, $175 non members, plus $10 kit

Fee Includes entry to EGV Geelong Biennial Exhibition

Bookings close July 31st 2025

Join fibre artist Jennie-maree Tempest in this two-day workshop. Learn how to stitch embroidered botanical sculptures using free motion machine embroidery, wrap wires in fabric and thread as stems, stitch and stiffen fabric to make leaves. Learn all the tricks and tips to make a beautiful bloom. You will have the option of making either a Callistemon (Bottle Brush), Lavender, Daisies or Banksia Spinulosa, but you will learn the process for each of the four specimens.

To register and receive the requirements list and details, phone 0427 819 713

or email geelongthreads@gmail.com

Supper Room, Geelong West Town Hall,

153 Pakington Street, Geelong West, Victoria

Jeanne-maree Tempest Flyer download

“A Whyte Christmas” Exhibition at The Heights, Aphrasia Street, Newtown

Posted on by

The National Trust of Victoria have asked the Embroiderers Guild, Geelong Branch to be part of the Whyte Christmas Exhibition at “The Heights” Aphrasia Street Newtown from July 14th to August 4th [Wednesdays to Sundays]

We have been busy sewing gift tags and making many decorations for the Black, White and Gold Christmas tree. It will be stunning!

Embroidered pieces will be displayed in several rooms of the house. Aprons in the kitchen and some beautiful bags in the dressing room. Guess what’s in the bathroom?

Bring your friends and enjoy a “Cold Christmas” with us and the National Trust ! https://embroiderygeelong.org/events/

A New Year of Stitching

Posted on by

We have started the year on a high note with a new committee elected at our recent AGM. Congratulations to President Trish VanKuyk and to Alana Young, Ann Horne, Christine Casey, Jenny Bakos, Leonie Lister, Margaret McDonald, Pauline Veale, Sue Patterson and Vicki Smart who will form the 2023 committee.

Classes have begun and most of our groups have now had their first meetings for the year. For more information about these please go to their pages: CLASSES and GROUPS

A collection of recent embroideries

We have already planned several special activities, The first is an introductory class at the Geelong West Library on Friday 31st March. This is open to the public so anyone can join in.

We will be – Sharing Stitches also at the Geelong West Library on Friday 21st April during the National Trust Heritage Festival. There will be a display of our work and demonstrations of stitching and a chance to try out your own skills.

Our long awaited Exhibition 2023 “UP UP AND AWAY !” will be held on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September at the Geelong West Town Hall

The New and the Old(er)

Posted on by

Our Birthday celebrations were held at our June meeting. Sadly the President from The Guild in Melbourne was unable to travel to join us (due to yet another lockdown) but our very own Valda King who is the Branches Liaison Officer was able to present our long standing members with their certificates to commemorate their support over many years.

L-R Berry Millard, Marj Kavanagh, Rosa Cullen, Jean Shinners, Valda King (Branches Liaison Officer) and Pauline Mackenzie (EGV Geelong President) [Irene Roach, not present]

We all enjoyed our morning tea and congratulate these very special members.

We’ve expanded our Special Interest Groups to include 2 new ones and a proposed one.

Just started are the Artist’s Books Group and the Slow Stitch Group.

We also want to try restarting the Counted Thread group so if you are interested please let us know

Excitement is building

Posted on by

We never stand still! We have our birthday meeting on Monday 14th June with visitors from Embroidery House. We will be honouring our members who have reached their 25 year status.

We are trying out a new Guidance Group – Slow Stitch starting on Thursday 8th July

We are on track now for our exhibition, brought forward from last year but now up and running on Friday 10th – Sunday 12th September. Up, Up and Away! is the theme and it should prove to be very well worth a visit, as usual.

More about these will be announced as the time nears.

Stitching Alone!

Posted on by

The Covid-19 virus is affecting all sorts of activities. We will be closing our meetings and classes until at least the end of April when we will be seeing what is appropriate then.

Here is a letter from our President

Dear Members

I am very sad to have to let you know that as a result of the current COVID-19 (corona) virus situation the Committee has decided that all scheduled classes, the April Sit and Sew meeting, the Sit and Sew session scheduled at the Library for Heritage Week in April and all meetings of our Guidance Groups will be cancelled (or postponed in the case of classes) from 17 March until the end of April. 

If you know a member who doesn’t have access to email, would you kindly pass this information on to them. I will also try to contact these members.

Embroidery House is closing for the next few months, and other branches are taking similar actions to ours in order to protect the health of our members. The Committee will meet again at the end of April to assess the situation and we will let you know what the next steps will be for our Branch. 

I suppose that the only positive thing to come out of this is that some of our unfinished projects may get completed! 

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions about this decision. It wasn’t taken lightly, but we all felt that the safety of our members was the priority.

Kind regards – and keep stitching. – Leonie Lister

The Year moves on

Posted on by

We are about to have our Annual General Meeting at which we ratify the appointment of those members who have been nominated to positions on the committee for next year. Thanks to those who have thrown their names into the ring this time.

The meeting is on Monday 10th December from 10am at St David’s Hall, Aphrasia Street Newtown. We welcome new members to join our many activities.

Brenda Ryuan Rackham Fragments 3

Rackham Fragments

Summer School is an exciting time for us and there are so many things to try.  See the Classes page for full details.

Blackwork, Scrumbling, Brenda’s Rackham Fragments and Needle lace are all on the list. Drawing for design is an important skill that we all need and we have a tutor from South Australia – Lorelle Leham to set us on the right path.

Kathryn Harmer Fox is to visit later in the year, very exciting.

We are also planning a retreat at Melrose Cottage in Ballan 15th – 17th April, Contact us now if you are interested

 

Off and running

Posted on by

Breaking Ts cropOur first Sit and Sew meeting for the year was held at St Davids on Monday 12th February. A great turn out to hear the speakers from the Lions Club of Quilters, Victoria They are endeavouring to collect, record, preserve and display quilts that reflect what local quilters produce in communities across the state.

We have already had a very successful introduction to the year with the first Summer school teaching Wool Hexagons, Tassells, and Bejewelled Treasure Chests.

We also featured at the Craft Alive show in Werribbee and had the first meeting for the year of our Wyndham Vale Group – now  meeting at the Manor Lakes Community Centre on the first Thursday of the month. Canvaswork group meets on the third Thursday of the Month and have had one session designing amulet bags and are about to learn creative ways to colour canvas

Don’t forget to save the date for Breaking Traditions our GEEtag Textile Arts Group Exhibition on March 16th- 18th. Entry is free from 10am – 3pm at The Shearers Arms Gallery, 202 Aberdeen Street Geelon West

Tickets are now available ($10) for the Opening night with Glenys Mann, drinks and nibblies and of course the stunning exhibition.

Winter Warmers

Posted on by

2016-06-20 13.03.10

Queen Mary at our June Meeting

May June July and August find many of us indoors by the fire stitching, or travelling north for the sunshine.We did venture out for our Birthday celebrations in June and welcomed our new State President Linda Hagar. Four members Hilde Brenner, Barbara Coote, Marj Kavanagh and Dorothy Cavill have earned their 25 year membership brooches.

Meetings have, however, shown off some of our work on themes.In May we honoured Mothers and several pieces embroidered by our mothers were on display.

June’s Queens Birthday included a Mary Queen of Scots doll.  July’s theme was the appropriate Woolly Warmth.

August proved that bags are popular items to stitch as many and varied ones appeared on show. September will show that Spring has sprung with a Floral and Botanical theme.October gives us a chance to show off our Brooches.

2016-07-30 14.01.56

Eco Prints at the recent Geetag workshop

Our special interest groups have been busy with interesting results.

2016-07-27 10.12.47

Patchwork by Glenys Sikorsky