When it is raining, we can paint, and that is what we have been doing in the Art Group at Hurlingham this winter.

Shaun Cary (who regularly teaches at the Roehampton Club and Putney School of Art) gave us his insight into acrylic painting, and Paige Barry returned with a four-week workshop on painting in Egg Tempera – a fascinating medium that I believe every person should try.

Julia Cassels has been back with a two-day workshop in watercolour painting – all very exciting. Art talks were back with Jaqueline Cockburn who enlightened us on the subject of Spanish Art.

Lucinda Stephens continues to encourage us every other Tuesday morning with her sessions on
drawing and painting. We are all very appreciative of the time and energy she gives us.

Social Art every Thursday afternoon in the Terrace Room continues to grow from strength to strength. Members come together to draw, paint, etch and scribble, enjoying the company while completing their own work. Everyone is welcome.

The key to all these workshops and the art talks has been Daisy Carpenter. I wish to say how very special she has been, working from behind the scenes. Daisy has been very much my backbone as Chair of Art at Hurlingham. She will be missed greatly. Daisy is moving on to pastures new and I wish her all the best in her new job.

LALLY ST MAUR, CHAIR, ART

COMING SOON

Two-day Mixed Media workshop
with Louise Bougourd
Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 July

An Evening Talk on Turner
Tuesday 23 July

EMBROIDERY

Renaissance of the Bargello stitch

Little is known of the history of the Bargello stitch, though it seems to have come from Hungary, and then brought into Italy by a Medici nobleman in the 15th Century, where some early examples are displayed at the Bargello Museum in Florence.

Though the historical name is Bargello, it is also known as Florentine, Hungarian and Flame. The more fashion-aware amongst us will also know it as zig-zag or Missoni!

Traditionally, Bargello is stitched in wool, on canvas, and makes a perfect upholstery material for chairs, cushions, wall hangings and footstools, as seen in our Drawing Room. The patterns are usually geometric and stitched to create an overall pattern. Bargello is very easy to master, covers a lot of canvas quickly and new adopters of the skill can see results in no time, which is always very satisfactory.

Interior design magazines are full of Bargello-printed fabrics for sofas (we have two of these in the Long Gallery), chairs and decorative accessories, as the design is a perfect vehicle for colours. Bargello, because of its rhythmic counting quality and joyful use of colour, is a great soothing exercise.

In the June issue of House & Garden, a whole page is devoted to Paul Bailie, who is named as a rising star for his needlework and in particular, Bargello and Florentine stitches. And several pages further on, Pooky, a fun, soft furnishings company, shows off its Bargello outside furniture covers.

If you are new to canvas work, Bargello may well be the right stitch for you to get started in the fun craft of embroidery.

As seen recently in The Times Property section:

‘Needlework is the new rock’n’roll, according to figures just in from Pinterest … in the last six months, in the UK (home to 16.7m Pinners) searches for embroidery ideas have doubled. That is a whole lot of newbie needlepointers’.

So, if any of you want to rock’n’roll, make sure you join us when the new term starts in September!

VERONIQUE HENDERSON, CHAIR, EMBROIDERY
embroidery@hurlinghamclub.org.uk