WhatsOn Northeast.com

To welcome the athletes from around the world the Embroiderers’ Guild has produced a spectacular tribute in stitch by creating over 2000 embroidered postcard sized images depicting the life and times of over two hundred sporting nations.

‘Stitching a Welcome to Athletes of the World’ will be on show at the Customs House for two weeks. Local Embroiderers’ Guild branches taking part in the project include Newcastle upon Tyne, North Shields, Whitley Bay and Sunderland. Heather King, a major project co-ordinator from Aberdeen North Branch said ‘This has been a fun project. First members had to do research about their allotted country and then had to create a series of stitched pictures that describe the culture, environment and features of that country. Some branches also had help from their selected country’s embassy’.

Each country is represented by a series of images opening out like a vertical concertina book of postcards. From the national flag at the top there is a cascade of embroidered images of national costume, customs, currency, fauna, flora, food, and landmarks. The skills and creativity of the Embroiderers’ Guild members shine through with the wide variety of materials and techniques used to develop their design ideas.

This exhibition is opening on the same day as the entire country will be participating in the ‘Big Idea’, a project which sees creative and cultural activities in Sports venues and vice versa. For full details of this national event and what’s happening here at Customs House, across South Tyneside and our region, please visit the Cultural Olympiad website.

WORKSHOP INFO!..
Members of North Shields branch of The Embroiderers' Guild invite you to join them at The Customs' House, South Shields on Wednesdays 4th and 11th July. From 10-3 each day we will be running a practical, drop-in workshop, making 'doodle' bunting and rosettes to celebrate all things British. We will also be delighted to welcome visitors to the Embroiderers' Guild exhibition of embroidered postcards - a project we have had much fun participating in.

The workshops will be free to Guild members and £2 for any other visitors who wish to participate and take their rosettes or doodles home.