Over the weekend of 12th and 13th October our guest speaker, Dawn Cameron-Dick , gave us an entertaining and educational insight into the world of wadding. We were all encouraged to ask more questions about the manufacturers of a material many may have taken for granted. Environmental issues as well as loft, bounce, durability were highlighted in a very amusing and insightful way.

Sunday 13th October and 16 ladies came to the Darby and Joan Hall sewing machines at the ready. Today we were to learn how to make a New York Beauty Block, using the technique of foundation piecing. Again a very entertaining and industrious day with everyone achieving at least two individual pieces.

Our first meeting of the new year and we were treated to a menagerie of needle felted animals created by Fi Oberon.

Fi described how she set her animals in small scenes as part of creating her book on needle felting. She then went on to explain the process of needle felting and the creating of her beautifully detailed creatures highlighting techniques, processes and materials in such a way that even beginners could ‘have a go’.

All artists find that their work leads them in many directions, Fi is passionate about her environment and so uses natural dyeing in her work.

This passion for the environment has led her into a new idea to highlight the effect of global warming ‘Data Wrapped Trees’. Creating an embroidery , of a tree with coloured bands, each band representing data on the effects Carbon Dioxide Emissions on the environment.

Fi wishes to carry this message to Downing Street, anyone interested in hearing her ideas and helping in this campaign can contact her direct.

Jo’s mantra taken from a quote by Ruskin, Head, Heart, Hands the three elements which go into her textile art work.

Head, the wonderful ideas Jo wants to interpret in textiles.

Heart, the friends and family, particularly her  muse Agnes, all remembered in Jo’s art.

Hands, Jo admitted the hardest part, where hands sometimes fall short of the heart and head.

Jo’s love of her textile art was inspirational and made  for a most enjoyable afternoon.