74 LOCAL CLUBS AND SOCIETIES Stem Club
A few facts to be going on with…
Meetings: Tuesday mornings at West Charleton Village Hall, from 10am to midday.
Number of members: 14
Cost: £15 per year and £1 per session to cover tea and biscuits.
The objective: To get together and socialise with others interested in creative arts, stitching and embroidery.
History: The word embroidery comes from the French word ‘broderie’ meaning ‘embellishment’. It’s believed to have its origins in ancient China.
Keen member Fiona: ‘It’s something to keep the fingers busy and mind active. I feel so much better after a session at Stem.’
If you would like your club or society featured in future issues of The Post we would really like to hear from you. Please email mark@southdevonmagazines.
co.uk or call 01803 835740 or 07775 773837.
E
very Tuesday morning West Charleton Village Hall is buzzing with the chatter from a group of women creating beautiful quilts and pictures. Stem club started in 1983 and
has stayed at the village hall since. The name of the group comes from combining the first two letters of the words stitching and embroidery. Yvonne Moysey is the group’s third
chairlady. She said: “The group gets people
together who are interested in creative arts. Everyone’s working at different levels of embroidery, cross stitch, tapestry and patchwork and they help and teach each other. “We can be a bit noisy sometimes
but that’s okay. Most of us live alone so it’s nice to come and have a chat with somebody. “Anyone can come along and
do anything – tapestry, free hand embroidery, quilting, cross stitch. It’s not school, you don’t have to register and can come and go when you like during the two hours we’re here. “You also get a cup of tea and a biscuit and get to put the world to rights sometimes! Any new members can phone me or just come along one day and try it out.” The first chairlady, who started
the group, attended the School of Needlework in London and worked on The Queen’s wedding veil. When she died all her embroidery was auctioned at Kingsbridge Market. Stem club bought it all to keep and display. The second chairlady Marjorie
left her embroidery to the group, who donated it to Kingsbridge’s
Cookworthy Museum. Alison, from Kingsbridge, was one of the first members of the group. She paints onto fabric then stitches over it, creating beautiful 3D flowers with tiny French knots. She’s working on a picture of irises for her friend at the moment. She said: “Stem is a lovely friendly
group and we have a laugh. I was looking for a group and this was the nearest one to Kingsbridge. It’s a very open group, anyone can come along with their work – they can be a complete beginner or just have an interest in sewing or embroidery.” Club member Jean, from Hope
Cove, also judges handicrafts for the Women’s Institute. She said: “Stem is a really inclusive
group and we could do with some more members. I encourage all my neighbours to come along, although some ladies who’ve retired say they want to be with their husbands. They should come along for a couple of hours and give it a try.” Eileen was looking for a group when she moved to the South Hams from Birmingham. She said: “I found out about this group at an event and have been coming ever since. It’s great fun and I’ve made lots of friends here. It’s also a great place to learn new stitches and techniques. “A lady came along who didn’t
know anything about quilting and learnt all about it here.” The group meets every week,
except for a week off at Easter and Christmas and for the month of August. For more information call Yvonne on 01548 560841.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
