Embroidery Classes at FGY Art Gallery Christchurch Received Overwhelming Responses from Embroidery Enthusiasts

The ‘Have a go at Stitching’ Class organised by Canterbury Embroiderers Guild (CEG) at Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch in February this year had received overwhelming response. To cater to the requests of the embroidery enthusiasts, a second embroidery class was organised by CEG at the same venue on 18 March. 14 participants attended the class which was conducted by Lead Instructor CEG member Laurine Hunger and assisted by CEG President Marie Meyer, CEG Course Planner Ros McCarthy and CEG members Helene Jeffreys and Diane Wilson.

Each of the participants was given a kit containing needles, thread, cloth, prints of embroidery patterns and decorative accessories. The participants on the day were divided into two groups. The first group consisting of beginners were to make embroidery keychains, and the second group consisting of those with embroidery experience were to stitch more difficult patterns on cloth. Under the careful guidance of the instructors, every thread used and every stitch carried out by the participants was done with care.  At the completion of their assigned tasks, the participants felt a sense of great achievement.

The participants were very happy with the course. Gina Mckenzie and Natalie Perzylo were delighted to have taken part in the embroidery class for the first time. The fun-filled and interesting course truly made it an enjoyable afternoon for both of them.

Another participant, Ann Moore, praised the instructor for being patient and attentive, giving a lot of encouragement and strength to an embroidery beginner like her. Lyn Fahy, a friend of Ann, said that she and Ann had visited the Common Threads Embroidery Exhibition when they came to Water Drop Cafe for morning tea. After learning about the embroidery course, they signed up to participate. The class instructor's careful guidance had given Lyn a lot of confidence, and because of this, she had fallen in love with embroidery.

Barbara Ann likes to visit FGS Christchurch Temple very much, and is keen to participate in the different activities of the Temple. This time, the embroidery class had enabled Barbara to pick up and develop embroidery as a new hobby.

Through the embroidery course, Ann Dobes hoped to regain her long-forgotten embroidery skills and to find new motivation and inspiration to complete several embroidery works that she had shelved at home for many years. Unexpectedly, Ann Dobes had met her long-lost friend, Barbara, at the embroidery class.

Lead Instructor Laurine was happy to see the success of the two embroidery classes in the promotion of embroidery art. These classes had attracted many embroidery enthusiasts. No matter whether she was a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, attending the embroidery class was definitely a good experience for the embroidery enthusiast. At the day’s embroidery class, both the instructors and the participants were full of joy, fusing teaching and learning into one, and in the process, adding fun to their lives.