Outing to the V&A

On Monday 26th November the Guild of St Clare children's chapter had its Michaelmas Term outing, which was to the Victoria and Albert Museum. We were very fortunate to be guided round the exhibits by one of the V&A's experts, Anne Howarth. On hearing the name of the Guild she took us to see the Altar of St Clare, originally built for a church in Florence. (I apologise for the poor quality pictures - the V&A was very dimly lit and rather busy which made it difficult!)

The Altar of St Clare

She showed us some remarkable embroidered vestments including a splendid cope decorated with many different saints, worn for Palm Sunday, as well as introducing us to various historical fashions.

Some of the children looking at a medieval tapestry

We've come away with plenty of inspiration for future sewing projects! Many thanks to the V&A for such a historical treat.

Towards Advent

The Guild of St Clare is at Towards Advent today!

Preparing for our Towards Advent stall

The children's chapter in Oxford is hard at work preparing hand-sewn Christmas decorations for our sale at the Towards Advent fair in London next week.

Completing some goldwork Christmas decorations

Hard at work on some Christmas bunting

A young Guild member engaged in Goldwork embroidery

A miniature silk and goldwork banner

The LMS chairman helps us out, cutting some felt with a rotary cutter

To purchase any of our beautiful hand embroidered products come and see us at the Towards Advent Festival, opening at 10.30am on Saturday November 24th in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, London SWI.