Embroiders Guild of Victoria Headquarters.

This is a picture postcard depicting 'Embroidery House', the headquarters of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria. I received the card yesterday with a $50 gift voucher as a thank-you for being the guest speaker at the June meeting.
I mention the Guild quite often on this blog, but I don't think I've ever stated how proud I am to be a member. The founding members, and all those who have followed in their footsteps - have done an incredible job keeping the Guild financially viable. This house, in Malvern, an affluent suburb of Melbourne, was built about 1885. The Guild members - all volunteers - worked very hard to raise funds to buy it in 1982, and after extensive renovations and an extension, it was officially opened in February 1983. I was not a member of the Guild at that time, but I have read the history of it, and how much work went into making this lovely old house the permanent home for the Guild, which includes the library, collection rooms, gallery and class rooms. I've heard from various sources that we are greatly envied by many other Embroidery guilds around the world, as not many of them actually own their own premises like this.

We have a wonderful library; I don't know how many thousand books there are, but the collection covers every possible facet of the subject of embroidery as well as other craft related subjects. Members can borrow books and magazines for a month before they need to return or renew them.
A group of dedicated volunteers keep the front garden looking beautiful all year round, and the duties of librarian, front desk hostess and gallery hostess are all carried out by volunteers on a roster which is made up at the beginning of every year.
There are dozens of groups catering for members with specific interests, and they meet monthly on a set day at Embroidery House. There are workshops and classes held every month, as well as an annual weekend retreat, Intermediate Classes which run for six weeks, Master Classes which run for 15 weeks, and various shows and open days.
The details of our next Open Day are below, and I am promoting it here because I assume most people who are reading this blog have some interest in embroidery. The Guild needs new members to ensure its future, so if you are in Melbourne (or not!) we would love to see you there. Mind you, the Guild is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 1 pm on weekends, so if you can't make it to our special day, do consider dropping in at any other time.