Exhibition a celebration of embroidering

KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Embroidery Guild will soon be hosting a special exhibition to showcase work done by passed, past and present members of the organisation.

On Wednesday and Thursday, 14 and 15 September, Amble Ridge Retirement Village will play host to the guild's exhibition from 09:00 until 15:00. "We thank Amble Ridge for allowing us to use their wonderful hall for this exhibition," said the guild's Berenice Prentice.

The exhibition will showcase the work of members of the Knysna Embroiderers Guild, with the addition of extra works by the talented ladies of the Garden Route. "We are blessed with many in the area," Prentice said.

"Many accomplished needlewomen have been members: Rose Barns, Renette Kumm, June Mason, Louise McCullum, Nola Erasmus. The late Gay Booysen; some of her work will be brought through by her daughter Maryna, from Cape Town. Our latest new member is Colleen Goy, who recently relocated to the Crags."

Lesley Delport Turpin and Colleen Goy will each give a talk about their embroidery journey - one on each day.

There are tickets for sale, and all proceeds to be donated will go the Knysna/Sedgefield Hospice. For more information you can contact Berenice Prentice (Berry) on 082 216 9666.

Down memory lane

The Knysna Embroiderers Guild started 24 years ago when it was launched at the Knysna Library Hall in March 1998.

"The organisers were so overwhelmed by the number of interested ladies that attended that they had to close the doors. Many ladies were sadly turned away that day," Prentice said.

"Leslie Turpin Delport, the well-known needlecraft author and embroiderer, gave a talk and slide show of her work. She has travelled the world giving lectures and workshops with her talent. Her fine arts degree has inspired her to work with fabric and threads. Her more recent works are in completed in 3D.

"Louise McCullum and Wendy Fryer were the contact ladies to join way back then."

In 2016 the guild hosted the Ighali Convention, Stitching in Paradise. "Renette Kumm was the chairlady. It is still considered the best held in South Africa so far. Knysna over the years has been home to many talented needlewomen (there may be gentlemen, but we have not found them yet)," said Prentice .

"Some have moved to be closer to their families, some have passed away, some with failing sight have put down their needles. However, their work still gives pleasure decorating walls and tables all over the world.

"The Australian magazine Inspirations has been graced many times with our members' work."

The Knysna Embroiderers Guild meets at 09:30 on the first Wednesday of every month at Cearn Hall on Leisure Isle. "If membership does not grow soon, then this skill will be sadly lost in the town," said Prentice.

KEG member Sadie de Jager with the seahorse that she wove.