Meetings in 2019: 

Please note these may change especially later in the year.

5th January -                         AGM and Julie’s practice run for her class at the festival

2nd February -                      Cancelled due to snow warnings and illness

2nd March -                           Group challenge for the festival

6th April -                              Individual & Group challenges

11th May -                             Individual challenges

30th / 31st May/ 1st June    Batik 3 day workshop with Sue T at Toot Hill +

                                              Committee on 1st

6th July                                 PAT testing for electrical appliances, play day and

                                              prep for the Festival

13th-14th July                      We hosted the National Silk Festival for

                                                 GoSP in Southend!

3 August                                 Play day, relaxing and debriefing on the Festival.

7th September                       Copped Hall (confirmed) -visit and paint gardens

5th October                            Playday (probably finishing Copped Hall pieces) 

2nd November                       Jenny O’Leary teaches Batik- landscapes and

                                               buildings

7th December                        Christmas Party and Christmas bauble workshop

2017 Christmas lunch/meeting- block printing aprons

We like to run a short workshop in between scoffing mince pies and having an end of year catch-up chat. This time we used various blocks to print on calico aprons with fabric paint- see below!

10-31st March- Serendipity- Essex Silk Painters Guild Exhibition at Loughton Arts Centre gallery,

187b High Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4LF

This year we exhibited a collection of work by members and the group in this community art space linked to Lopping Hall. Some members were at the gallery during the 3 weeks and many items were be for sale.

You can find a map and addess for the gallery here.

20-22nd April- The Stitching Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show, ExCeL, London

We represent the National Guild for this major event. One of the largest UK textiles events in an accessible location. Lots of suppliers, artists with finished works, gifts, and workshops. We have our work for sale or you can have a go at silk painting. Find out who will be there and what's on here.

16-17th September - Festival of Silk, Stoke

The national Guild's biannual event with workshops, displays, stands, competitions and demonstrations. Find out more on their own site here. A number of the Essex Guild attend the Festival and we usually have a stand selling items.

21st-26th September- Great British sewing Bee LIVE at ExCel, London

We had a stand at this new event with items for sale and information about our activities and the National Guild.

23rd-24th September- Essex Craft and Design Show, Cressing Temple Barns

We had a stand of varied and stunning crafts of all kinds, with a mixture of Guild silk items and activities depending on the venue. At Cressing you can have a go at silk painting yourselves; there are lots of beautiful stalls and the Templar Barns are interesting in their own right.

Find directions here.

11th-15th October- The Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London

We were at one of the biggest and best known crafting fairs in Europe. You can see -and buy- by our wares and see us at work (or have a go at silk painting, some years) then enjoy all the other crafts and stalls! See more here.

16-18th November- Simply Christmas Show, ExCel, London

A new general craft show with Christmas-specific supplies, gifts and general craft stalls including many workshops. See here.

General Branch meetings/classes held in 2017

Jan 7th- AGM and making cards

Feb 4th- preparing work for sale and exhibition

Mar 4th- playday theme: "Serendipity" and preparing for our exhibition 10th-24th

Apr 1st-  silk paper workshop with Sue O'Hea

May 6th- Hidden gutta/no lines workshop with Sue Thomas

June 3rd- playday theme: "Skies"

June 29th-1st July- batik wax workshop and playdays: 1 or 2 days will be led by Sue Thomas, probably Thurs 29th & Fri 30th

Aug 5th- Playday

Aug 19th- annual tour, picnic and sketching at Copped Hall

Sept 2nd- Playday- "autumn"

Oct 7th- Procion dyes basic techniques- dyeing silk and cotton

Nov 4th- painting with alcohol

6th February - Technique-sample squares group activity- Making a banner 

5th March - "Nuno Felting" with Jeanette Trim

2nd April - "Play day" with tips on selling and presenting work.

7th May - "Working in Three Dimensions"

4th June -"Playday"

30th June, 1st and 2nd July "Silk and Wax" batik annual workshop

August 1st – Toot Hill Village Fair -join in on the stall

September 3rd - Copped Hall visit Our annual picnic 

October 1st – "Playday"

November 5th – "Furoshiki"- Japanese folded/tied fabric bags and gift wrap.

December 5th - Christmas meeting