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Constance
HowardWith the death of Constance Howard on July 2, 2000, her students in the United States have been mourning the loss of this talented woman who shared so much with us whenever she visited our country. We hope that a U.K. memorial service will be arranged later in the year so that we can unite to honour Constance and her contributions to creative women everywhere. We have been exchanging information about donations to a permanent memorial, such as a gallery dedicated to her at the proposed Guild headquarters at Manchester and/or the support of the Constance Howard collection of historic textiles at Goldsmiths. We know these things take time, but we would like to exchange information with like-minded Constance Howard students around the globe. Send messages to DELQLTS@aol.com and indicate if you want to be on the list to receive whatever information becomes available.
Del Thomas, Placentia, CA, DELQLTS@aol.com
Constance
HowardNovember 2000
I am sure you have had many letters to the magazine from friends and students of Constance Howard wishing to express their sadness at the news of her death. She had such an influence on so many people's lives that I have been trying to analyse what exactly it was that made her so special, over and above her skills as an embroiderer and a teacher.
I think she had a quality shared with the Queen Mother, a genuine love and interest in people. Although she had an enormous circle of friends and students, she always remembered you and your work and you felt, when she was talking to you, that you not only had her full attention but that she was really interested in you. Her enthusiasm made you feel special and brought out the very best in everyone.
I shall always treasure the kind and encouraging cards she sent me. She will be greatly missed.
Harriet C Robinson
Putney, London
Memories
of ConstanceI bought a Constance Howard embroidery, 'Canteen', in February 1995 for £190. At an exhibition some time later, Constance told this story during her criticism of the exhibits.
'Be careful what you submit for exhibition. I was recently asked to send in some work. I had nothing to send but remembered some work I had started earlier but never completed. I finished it, sent it off and some silly woman bought it.'
It gives this particular silly woman much pleasure.
Jo M Lamb
Pinner, Middlesex
Constance HowardIn Sweden we were so sad to hear about the death of Constance Howard. She was a remarkable woman and did so much for the art of embroidery. We have recently had an article about her in our embroidery and membership magazine. Why not arrange a remembrance exhibition where embroiderers from all over the world could take part. She has inspired so many of us and it would be an opportunity to show the world how much embroidery means to all of us.
On behalf of the members in the Academy of Embroidery in Sweden.
Pian Bates, Head of the Academy
pianbates@hotmail.com