AGM and Guild Challenge 2016 'Colour'

Well, we had an interesting and lively meeting yesterday. Formalities attended to, challenge entries voted for, two new members and, as usual, lots of support for those undertaking a skill new to them. But then there's nothing unusual in that at Bedfordshire Guild!
With timber and materials already at the hall for new flooring under the stage, our equipment storage trolley, which means we can have safe and easy access to 'tools of our trades' in the very near future, is nearer to completion.

The winner of the 2016 Challenge:- Su Brown, who had woven a striped table runner using 3 shades of clasped weft, a tricky technique with a great effect.
Congratulations again Su!
The Whole Runner: -

Season's Greetings

Members of Bedfordshire Guild send Seasonal Greetings to all!
Especially those members who were not able to to get to the Christmas Party on Tuesday. Not forgetting our life member Jenny Dean and other members of The Association of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.
A toast to everyone made with Claire's festive punch.

Fun and Laughter

    We had a great meeting on Saturday.  November saw us gather together to do our own work.
    As the year draws to a close we have started to pull out out woolly things, from hand knitted socks to an arm knitted scarf,
    We learned about arm knitting, how Kinder Eggs are the thing to have and that we can eat an alarming amount of chocolate brownies.

    We also found the answer to this riddle:-
What can you do with a kinder egg that you can't do with a salad spinner, Kenwood food mixer(other makes available) or warm tumble dryer and a little soapy water?
Answers on a postcard please (or even an email.)

The answer is in one of our photos!

Some photos from our Open Door session earlier in the year

Our next meeting will be our end of year party - bring a plate or similar .....

November Meeting

Hi there,

It has been pointed out to us that there is a mistake for the date of the next meeting on our Programme.

It is on Saturday, 26th November not the 19th as listed.  Calendar now amended!

Hope to see lots of you on the day.

October 15th Weaving and Weaving Narratives

Last Saturday was our meeting specially devoted to weaving and it was great to see how many members took part.

 In Flitwick Library, very close to our meeting place the village hall, a group of people who had taken part in a project called 'Weaving Narratives', organised by the Bedfordshire Archives, were having an exhibition of their work.

So, we took the opportunity to invite the participants of the project, as well as those members of the public who visited the library and viewed the exhibition, to visit the guild, discover what we are about, the work that we produce and partake in tea and cake specially brought for the occasion.

 
Several members brought some of their work to show the variety of skills and projects achieved in the last few months.

   We, in turn, went to look at the interesting fruits of their labours.

   

    This piece called 'Silver Street' was created by one of our members, Helen. 

Spinning, weaving and interesting talk

Our month of visits is over and business returns to normal in September, with our monthly Saturday meeting at Flitwick Village Hall.

As well as member's carrying out their own work, there was advice for a new weaver who had just finished her first scarf.  One of our members walked her through taking the weaving off the loom and various finishing options.

In other news, we saw samples from the Solar Dyeing skillshare held in the summer, ranging from a soft yellow to a darkish red.  Talking around the results led our conversation from there to indigo, to recent finds in Peru, East Anglia and the history of textiles.  There aren't many afternoons one gets to spend eating cake, doing something you love and having an interesting conversation!

Fibre East

After cold and running rain last year, when woolly items were in danger of being hoiked off the display to be worn, this year was an about face. The weather was positively tropical and fairly relentless in terms of heat.

We had a new home this year inside the main buildings with the other Guilds, which collectively made a great entrance, giving inspiration to everyone for shopping.

Our display team had worked hard behind the scenes to get everything organised, with little time to setup, it all came together beautifully.  Members were, as always, very kind in donating their time to demonstrate on two looms, spinning wheels, blending board and drop spindles.

We had lots of visitors through the day - one of the great things about belonging to a Guild is the passion, support and knowledge that is freely shared.  Visitors old and new got to play, advice on everything from processing fleece to warping looms, and a warm invitation to come visit if they are in the neighbourhood.

Our display this year was based on our Guild theme - Colour.  Members brought in work they have done in workshops, own work and home work!