Day School with Louise Collins

Following Louise's inspirational talk a few weeks ago, members enjoyed a day school with her.  With a wealth of redundant material the ladies were able to make their own fabric by cutting, sewing, embellishing, and lots of imagination. Everyone was free to choose what they wanted to make, and the items below show the range of ideas that were sparked.

Works in progress:

And some completed projects:

The Arbroath Tapestry - talk by Linda Walker

'It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom, for that alone which no honest man gives up but with life itself'.

2020 mark the 700 year anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, of which the stirring words above are a part. Celebrations and re-enactments are planned to mark the event, and after the success of the Great Tapestry of Scotland, some of the ladies who helped make this came up with a plan in 2014 to make a tapestry to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.

What is the Declaration of Arbroath? It is a manuscript associated with the Abbey of Arbroath, which cried for freedom from the English oppression of Edward I, and the right of Scotland to govern itself independently. This document was sealed with seals of the barons and various dignitaries, and was sent to the Pope, John 22nd, in Avignon for his approval. It was probably penned by the Abbot Bernard.

The idea of the tapestry grew, and attracted various able people who were placed to offer practical help. Andrew Crummy, who designed the Great Tapestry of Scotland, created the first draft, and following amendments by people steeped in the history of Arbroath, a design of a Triptych was eventually finalised. Christine Riley, a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework and with an interest in medieval needlework, was able to help the ladies with tuition and threads.  A carpenter and woodcarver are going to make a frame for the work, which it is hoped will hang in the Abbey, but because it is portable will be able to shown in other venues.

The ladies practised their sewing skills on panels, four of which are below, using wool and gold threads. They depict the Oslin Apple, which the original monks brought with them from their mother house in France.  The apples will form part of the Triptych, with the large panel in the centre, and the folding panels on the outside.

There is a lot of hard work to be done in a short space of time, so noses are at the grindstone to complete this intricate, demanding piece of stitching. If the apple panels are anything to go by it will be a work to be wondered at.

The King and the Abbot with the Declaration of Arbroath

Facsimile of the Declaration, with the seals of the barons

The final design of the centre panel

Around the edge are the seals of the barons The top points to Heaven.

The Abbot in front of the Abbey, holding the Declaration

The strata of society from the top down, the abbot, the nobles and monks, to the peasants at the bottom

The 'Practice' panels with the Oslin apples

For those interested in history below is a more comprehensive note about the Declaration, and a translation of the document.