Big Textile Show

 We were very excited to be allocated a stand at The Big Textile Show this year!  This is a fabulous local show which encompasses all textiles, from beading to felting and lacework to quilting!  It’s a great opportunity to meet up with friends and local groups and get a broad perspective on fabric arts.  

Here is our stall, beautifully set out by Lynne and Chris.  It showcases lots of aspects of our interests.  Unfortunately Covid-19 laid our helpers low, but Madeline and I, and Maria and Janet were able to step into the breach.  Thank you all.  

Maria and Janet are using a lull to have a catch-up. 

The stall attracted quite a bit of interest, so let’s hope we can welcome some new members! 

AGM

 October is the month we hold our AGM, which is usually a quick affair, mainly for people to have the chance to voice their opinions.  This time was slightly different.  Like most other groups we have lost members over the last few years, and this loss of revenue has impacted on our funds.  We actually made a loss of £3,000 this year.  This is partly because we didn’t collect membership fees and ran a free coach to Malvern and other birthday treats, but mainly the cost of speakers.  These costs are likely to increase in future, so there was plenty of discussion about what could be done.  In the end, the 20 members who were there voted to increase the membership fees to £30 per year, and cancel our January meeting.  This means that each meeting will cost £3, which is roughly the same as a cup of coffee!  Refreshments will be increased to 50p (another bargain) and any proceeds will go to group funds.  Publicity was also discussed, both physical and virtual.  We were sorry to see Chris Hunt leave the committee, but delighted to welcome Pam Kirkpatrick, Julie Chaplin and Lesley Seymour onto the committee.  The whole AGM took 40 minutes, which is double its usual length! 

We had a sales table, and some people got bargains there, along with three demonstrations, of how to make circles using foil, binding tips and a disappearing nine-patch pattern.  Di and Madeline have taken on the raffle, and are running it as June used to, with a theme each month. 

I bet you can guess this month’s theme!  Can you see the little skull chocolates peeping out? 

Lesley had finally got round to assembling her group quilt, Hope Stars.  I love it, especially the original setting. 

After the fun I had making my Apple Quilt, I decided to do another in the same style.  This time, it’s Pears. 

Here is a beauty for Linus.  I like the intertwined sashing. 

Here is a disappearing nine patch. 

Jan hasn’t been well lately, but that hasn’t stopped her from making a couple of Linus quilts. This one has child friendly centres in the churn dashes. 

This one has transport images on it.  Perfect. 

Here is another colourful disappearing nine patch.  (I don’t know what’s made Ann laugh, but I wish she’d share it!) 

And last but not least, Chris’s bag.  Next month we have a speaker, Nancy Adamek, and the prizes for our inspiration challenge.