Abergele Hospital Fête, June 23rd.

Val writes:

A very pleasant afternoon of spinning and talking to the public was enjoyed by Jenni, Betty and Val on Saturday at Abergele Hospital Fete. This was in aid of The League of Friends. Our host was Mary Lyneham. 
This is a popular annual event and was well attended. The glorious sunshine and a relaxed atmosphere was enhanced by the music of the Silver Youth Band. They were very interested in Jenni's spinning when they came over for a chat. Plenty to see including ample cakes,  excellent variety of plants for sale, local crafts and also vintage fire engine.

Photographs copyright A. Hill 2018

How to be in two places at once?

Our recent Sunday meeting in Betws yn Rhos coincided with a gig demonstrating spinning and weaving at the Rhosesmor Heritage day.  Those of you who know the area will realise that Betws and Rhosesmor are about 20 miles apart, but our Guild has expanded in number recently so being in two places at once is perfectly possible.
Ten members met in Betws and had a good day doing their own textile-y thing (photographs, anyone?), or so I'm told.  I was in Rhosesmor with Val, and we had a really good time.

Rhosesmor is a small village in the hills above Holywell, with houses scattered widely across common land overlying the old lead mines.  The Heritage Day was the culmination of a National Lottery-assisted week at the primary school, with events for the local schoolchildren and public.  Ysgol Rhos Helyg is well appointed, as they say, with gardens, allotment and a timber round house complete with stockade - this week it was also home to a fascinating Celtic (Iron Age) living history demonstration.  I could have spent all day there.....
The Abergele Guild "pitch" was in the school hall with the Heritage collections (horse brasses, memorabilia, model farm to name but a few).  Thanks to Val we had a fine display of naturally dyed items, which generated a lot of interest.  We did a lot of talking to the public, of course, but managed to get quite a bit of spinning and weaving done as well.  We were also well entertained by the history videos, the children's choir and a group of local folk singers who rounded off the day in fine style.
"Thank you very much" to Penny and her team for inviting us (and for the free cups of tea!) - we hope to see you all again next year.

Alison caught standing to attention after limbo dancing under the table to put up the  insurance certificate.

 Val looking very relaxed, waiting for the crowds.

A somewhat overexposed shot of the dyeplants and samples...

...and a much better photograph of the table.  Thank you, Val.

AC
2018

Navajo plying and fancy yarns workshop

A very brief note as I'm a bit pushed for time (if anyone wants to add to this, please feel free - just email me at the Guild address with your comments).
An amazing day on Sunday, May 13th., with Chris Jukes and Anne Campbell learning some foolproof ways to produce a bit more than your average 2-ply yarn.  Not only 3-ply chaining, but 4 and even 6-ply - useful for our own handspun and also for jazzing up commercially spun yarns.  And then learning how to do a straightforward wrapped yarn.
Loads of people doing yards of spinning, lots of new members, cake...... what more could you ask?

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This is from Di Bruce:

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“As a relatively inexperienced spinner I gained both practical and inspirational skills from Chis and Anne’s workshop. I learned about the benefits of using navajo plying to quickly produce yarn with only one bobbin, as well as how to produce funky art yarn from core spinning and wrapping techniques. I became immersed in experimenting with colour and texture like never before in my spinning and came home with samples that are already urging me to raid my own stash with more confidence and creativity. Many thanks to the providers and organisers for making this possible. No more drooling at the yarns on Etsy....instead I will produce my own!

My only regret is that I didn’t circulate to view the lovely yarn produced by others from the varied stash we were offered during this most enjoyable workshop. 

For me the sun shone both outside and in this Sunday.”

AC

Friendship Day, April 8th. 2018

Our Friendship Day dawned fine and sunny, and grateful thanks are due to all the people who gave up the chance of a day in the garden to come and visit us in Betws yn Rhos.  We were delighted to see so many visitors, and particularly pleased to welcome several new members.
The hall was a hive of activity with spinning wheels whizzing and portable looms.... looming.  Once again, Chris Jukes-Bennett brought her stunning collection of drop spindles and demonstrated her supported spindles.  She also gave some useful tips on chain plying (a.k.a. "Navajo" plying) - I for one had never thought of trying it with a drop spindle.  We are looking forward to a full workshop with Chris in the near future.
Our display of work was bigger and better than ever before, with an emphasis on weaving.  The Guild Challenge on the theme of "triangles" attracted a modest number of entries, but the standard was very high.
A  new feature this year was a table displaying artisans' books, including Bryn's work for her Certificate of Achievement, which was universally admired.
As usual, there were plenty of opportunities for some retail therapy - from our own stash-and-equipment sale to the professional trade stands.  Thanks to Kath and Annie of Mam a Mi, Krithia of Anvil Pottery, Barbara Ennis and Kathryn Parry for providing such lovely things to tempt us.  And of course there was Jenni's now-traditional Tombola, which attracted a lot of business - one very lucky young lady won three prizes!

Many thanks are due to those who worked so hard to make sure the day ran smoothly.  Special thanks to Bryn and Jenni for all their hard work beforehand, during and after the day,  and - on the day itself - to Margaret; to Val and Edith on the sales table; Alan, Betty and Di in the kitchen, and all those who stayed behind to clear the hall and sweep up.

Before the crowds arrive...

Display of work, including Triangles.

.. and the usual Cake Picture.

The Poppy Factory is now closed.

Thank you once more to all who contributed to our .... contribution ... to the Wonderwool Wales Curtain of Poppies.  We have made four and a bit "strings" of red poppies and of white.  They are remarkably difficult to photograph, but here's the best I can do.  Perhaps someone will take some pictures at Wonderwool later in the year.

Thanks to Margaret, Bryn, Di, Val and Sheila for their hard work.
AC
2108

Notes from the Poppy factory

 This year being 100 years since the end of the First World War, Wonderwool Wales has initiated a Centenary Textiles project.  The aim "is to produce a Community Textile Installation", with members of the public making textile poppies to commemorate those who died between 1914 and 1918.  The Abergele Guild has been working away, producing not only the traditional red Remembrance poppies but White Peace Poppies as well (which remember everyone, including civilians, who die in all conflicts past and future).

Patterns are provided for knitting and crochet, and for "cutting out" fabric to make the flowers:  http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/show-events/curtain-of-poppies.html  and we are being very helpful (!) and attaching our poppies to i-cords of green wool.  The resulting strings of poppies will be posted off to Abergavenny for JaneVeevers to assemble into a curtain with all the other contributions from across the country.   (If anyone is tempted to start a poppy or two after reading this, please note that Jane wants everything to reach her by the end of March, in time for Wonderwool in April.)  All details are on the Wonderwool website, as per link above.

Bryn will be happy not to be knitting any more poppies  after this....

Alison is assembling the other various offerings - a glorious mixture of textile techniques - looks a bit like a poppy tree this way up.

It's a little difficult to photograph two 2-metre-long strings of poppies, but I hope you get the idea...?
Many thanks to Bryn, Di and Margaret, and (in anticipation) to those of you who have made poppies but haven't given them to me yet!

AC
2018