Tuesday 31 May 2011

Success from the jaws of Disaster - Woodfest 2011

We have had a really successful Woodfest, despite the terrible weather.
JM and Alison put the tent up on Friday, arranged the display and went home with the satisfaction of a job well done.  Jenny and Pauline arrived on Saturday morning to find.....no tent.  The northwesterly gales overnight had funnelled straight onto the Woodfest site, and 20-odd tents had been blown down despite the best efforts of the organisers and exhibitors.  Our flimsy gazebo was reduced to a tangle of twisted struts and torn fabric, even with the heroic efforts of our next-door neighbours, who were up most of the night rescuing stuff from the field.  They kindly looked after our display items, and kept them from harm.  The following night saw further wind damage, but didn't appear to put off the punters who flocked into the site for three days.

Thanks to the sterling work of Jenny & Tom, and Pauline and Fred, the Abergele Guild was accommodated in the Woodcraft marquee, where we were pleased to make lots of new friends among the local woodturners and carvers.  They were interested to see working spinning wheels and drop spindles, and we were grateful to be out of the wind and rain, and to have so many visitors of all ages.  I don't think we've ever had so much interest in our stand.  It truly is an ill wind which blows nobody any good.
Of course, we never have enough time to spend on the field itself (probably just as well, as you can also spend some serious money on gorgeous stuff if you're not careful).  There was more wood related stuff than you can possibly imagine; wildlife information & displays; basket making; brilliant local food and cider; mountain biking, chain-sawing, pole climbing; and the usual amazing variety of people and their dogs.  Yvonne and Betty even managed a really good deal on some Romney fleece from the SheepShow man.
So thank you to all involved - Guild members and families, our jewellery neighbours, the Owl people, the Woodcarvers & Turners, and the show organisers.  Here's to next year.



AC

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Woodfest Wales 2011

We will be at Woodfest Wales over the next Bank Holiday weekend (May 28th, 29th and 30th.) and look forward to meeting friends and visitors. Last year we had a good time, and reasonable weather although it was a bit cold when the sun went in.  Whether we will be as lucky this year remains to be seen:  after an unseasonably hot and dry April, May has been unseasonably cold and wet.
For more details about Woodfest, click on the link above.
A.C.

Monday 9 May 2011

Guild Day, Sunday 8th. May

This was to be another of our weaving days, but since few of us are weaving at the moment, it turned into a Guild meeting day with the emphasis on spinning.  However, two table looms and a peg loom made an appearance and were in use, and the guild inkle loom has found a new home for a while.  Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera, so there are no pictures to prove that we did any work at all.
As usual, guild members brought a variety of fibres to spin - dyed and undyed; wool and alpaca.  The weaving projects consisted of a warp-faced woollen rug (on the peg loom), a paper-based piece for a printmakers' project and a gorgeous space-dyed bouclĂ© yarn project, which might turn out to be a stole or a scarf.
Our shared lunch went down very well, and we are hoping to have more full day meetings in the future.
AC