Outing to the Beckford Silk Centre

On 18th June the Oxford Chapter visited the Beckford Silk Centre in the Cotswolds. The centre is one of only a couple of places left in the UK where silk is screen-printed by hand. The trip was fully booked and greatly enjoyed by all.

Some of the audience preparing for the introduction to the tour

We were shown round by Anne Hopkins, the daughter of the founder of the Beckford Silk Centre

We were able to watch the screen-printing in progress. Here, the printer is pushing the dye over the screen to create a pattern on the silk underneath.

The screens act as very sophisticated stencils, and every design has a screen for every colour. Thus the screen-printers build the design onto the silk colour by colour till the picture is complete. 

Here the screen printer is creating a series of silk scarves which have been commissioned by a museum. After being printed, the colour will be fixed by steaming, and then the silk will be ironed and cut and finally each scarf will be hand finished by ladies living in the village of Beckford.

After completing the tour and making some purchases in the shop, the Guild members all enjoyed picnics in the bright sunshine on the lawn outside the centre.

Restoration work at the Guild of St Clare, London

The Guild of St Clare, London has been hard at work restoring sets of vestments for use at the Traditional Community of St Bede's, Clapham Park. Here are two of the members with the chasuble from the red set which they completed earlier this year.

Visit to Lisio

Two representatives of the Guild of St Clare, including myself (Lucy Shaw from the Oxford group) and a member of the Birmingham group, attended the 2011 Una Voce International conference in Rome. Whilst there we visited the world-famous Lisio's, a shop selling the most beautiful liturgical fabrics. We would welcome commissions using any of their fabrics! - have a look at some of the samples we loved the most.

LMS banner commissioned for Walsingham pilgrimage

The Oxford branch of the Guild of St Clare was honoured to be asked by the Latin Mass Society to create a banner featuring the two LMS patron saints, St Margaret Clitherow (for England) and St Richard Gwyn (for Wales). Five of the group's members collaborated on the project, which was supervised by Mary Lord.

Clockwise, from top left: Clare Auty, Lucy Shaw, Mary Lord and Emma Stevens put some finishing touches to the banner

The banner on its first outing at the LMS Ely to Walsingham Pilgrimage

Further pictures of the banner and the pilgrimage can be viewed on the LMS Chairman's blog here.

The Oxford Children's Guild of St Clare: Progress

The Oxford Children's Guild is now well into its second year, and a great deal of work has been accomplished. Earlier posts described the making of smocked bonnets and sleeping bags: here are further pictures of the completed work. 

Baby Grace Lewin, wearing a smocked linen bonnet made by her older sister Marie

Marie Lewin and Bridget Auty with their hand quilted sleeping bags

 Moving on from these projects, the girls have begun some dressmaking, taught by expert dressmaker Clare Auty.

Bridget Auty wearing a dress she made herself

Work on dressmaking, whitework and (for the younger children) felt-making, continues. More pictures will be forthcoming when the new term is well under way!

The Birmingham Group

I am very happy to announce the formation of the Guild of St Clare, Birmingham. Its regional co-ordinator is Wendy Doyle, pictured above. The group is learning a formidable list of skills including knitting, vestment repair and dressmaking. Below you can see some of the ladies making bunting.

Younger children's work

The younger children have completed their first project under the supervision of Emma Stevens - Easter hangings. Here are some of the finished ones!