Suffragette Hearts and Monet's Garden

The Manchester Branch of the Embroiderers Guild have been busy stitching hearts as part of their 2018/19 Commemoration Project. These were on display at the Creative Crafts Show at Events City near The Trafford Centre at the end of January early February 2019. 
Here are some of the hearts that they brought in to show us at the 2018 NW Regional AGM. They are made in Purple, White and Green the colours of the British Women's Suffrage Movement. Sashes of  purple and green were worn over a white dress.

Some hearts have the slogan Votes for Women 1928 and others say Deeds not Words. 

Dame Millicent Garret Fawcett was the sister of Britain's first female doctor and supported many peaceful political activities supporting women's rights. In 1890 she was made president of the 
non-violent NUWSS which stands for National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Read more about her here.
A statue of Millicent was erected Parliament Square, London in April 2018.

The WSPU that you can see on one of the  smaller hearts  in the middle with a white centre stands for Women's Social and Political Union founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and which used militant tactics to agitate for women's suffrage which was granted in a limited way in 1918.

I am sure that we are all grateful for these brave women for working to improve the rights of women in this country and others who still work tirelessly to change things for the better for women and girls the world over. 

On a lighter note, another project that was on display was a work based on a painting of Monet's Garden at his home in Giverny and which was the main focus of his artistic endeavours for the last 30 years of his life . Am sure that you will recognise the distinctive Monet style.

The picture was divided into 20 equal size squares and each member worked it in their own style producing the matrix of colour shown below. Sadly the description did not say which Branch made this lovely piece but the Monet fans among us really enjoyed their efforts.

Many thanks to all the members who brought in work for display on the day. It really enhanced our enjoyment of this years NW Regional AGM.