CRAFT CLUB MEETINGS
Our monthly meetings are on the first Saturday of each month, 2 pm to 4 pm, in the church hall. Just 50p - which helps to pay for refreshments. We hope you will be able to join us and please bring a friend. Bring with you your own craft work and enjoy a couple of hours of craft and chat.
Our monthly meetings are on the first Saturday of each month, 2 pm to 4 pm, in the church hall. Just 50p - which helps to pay for refreshments. We hope you will be able to join us and please bring a friend. Bring with you your own craft work and enjoy a couple of hours of craft and chat.
The next meeting will be on Saturday 2nd July
PLEASE NOTE: unfortunately, we will not be doing more work on the Macramé on that day because Pete may not be mobile enough by then to get round to everyone, following his operation a few weeks ago. We hope we will be able to continue working on that in September. We continue to wish Pete well with his recovery.
PLEASE NOTE: unfortunately, we will not be doing more work on the Macramé on that day because Pete may not be mobile enough by then to get round to everyone, following his operation a few weeks ago. We hope we will be able to continue working on that in September. We continue to wish Pete well with his recovery.
ADVANCE NOTICE: We have made the decision not to have a craft club meeting in August as many people might be away on holiday, so the next meeting after 2nd July will be on Saturday 3rd September.
With very best wishes
Lynn and Wendy
Lynn and Wendy
RECENT NEWS FROM THE CRAFT CLUB
THANK YOU:
I have received an email from Jayne Sambrook, Neonatal Sister at Walsall Manor Hospital, thanking us for the items some of you knitted, crocheted and sewed. She said:
"We have always relied on donations of knitted items but more so in the present climate as we are unable to wash and reuse them. Therefore, we give them to the families to take home to wash and keep, which is actually lovely for our families due to the love and work that goes into making the blankets. Please pass on our warmest thanks for all the hard work done by your craft club to help keep our babies warm and cosy."
We have since received this letter from the Ward Manager, too:
I have received an email from Jayne Sambrook, Neonatal Sister at Walsall Manor Hospital, thanking us for the items some of you knitted, crocheted and sewed. She said:
"We have always relied on donations of knitted items but more so in the present climate as we are unable to wash and reuse them. Therefore, we give them to the families to take home to wash and keep, which is actually lovely for our families due to the love and work that goes into making the blankets. Please pass on our warmest thanks for all the hard work done by your craft club to help keep our babies warm and cosy."
We have since received this letter from the Ward Manager, too:
THANK YOU:
Thank you to Pete Worton for making this beautiful macramé bunting-style garland for church. It looks lovely. It now attracts people's attention to the literature at the back of the church.
CRAFT MEETING:
Thank you so much to Pete Worton (standing in the photo below) for leading the macramé workshop on 2nd April. Some of us made good progress whilst others (especially me and Di ) didn't do quite so well. 😀
Thank you so much to Pete Worton (standing in the photo below) for leading the macramé workshop on 2nd April. Some of us made good progress whilst others (especially me and Di ) didn't do quite so well. 😀
THANK YOU to Carol Downton, Jane Parkes and Karen Bennett for knitting/crocheting/sewing a supply of mini blankets and bonding squares for premature babies in the neonatal unit at Manor Hospital. I took them to the hospital on Tuesday 5th April.
CRAFT CLUB:
Pete Worton and his wife Yvonne regularly attend our craft club (yes, gentlemen are welcome to join us!). Pete is an accomplished maker of jewellery but since he retired he has taken up other craft pursuits too, such as basket weaving and macrame. During our meeting on 5th February he made this plant pot hanger whilst we were crafting and chatting. Here is a photo of the work he did.
CHESTER CATHEDRAL EXHIBITION:
‘Threads Through Creation’ is an exhibition of 12 silk panels reimagining the story of Creation. The artist, Jacqui Parkinson, took 3 years to complete the work (8,000,000 stitches!). For information use this link. The following set of photographs are ones I took when I went there earlier this year. You can hover over the images to see an explanation about each panel. If you click on the caption you can see the image and caption at the same time. You might need to click on each photo to see the full image, in which case, if you hover over the photo, you can use the arrow to move on to the next photo.
‘Threads Through Creation’ is an exhibition of 12 silk panels reimagining the story of Creation. The artist, Jacqui Parkinson, took 3 years to complete the work (8,000,000 stitches!). For information use this link. The following set of photographs are ones I took when I went there earlier this year. You can hover over the images to see an explanation about each panel. If you click on the caption you can see the image and caption at the same time. You might need to click on each photo to see the full image, in which case, if you hover over the photo, you can use the arrow to move on to the next photo.
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We were able to decorate one of the porch gates at church last year. Thank you to those of you who have knitted or crocheted the poppies. If you still have poppies, please pass them on to Wendy and she will use them to add to the display next year. A special thank you to Lynn Castillo who made the lovely poppy wreath which is on the church door.
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Over the last 12/18 months, some members of the group have knitted or crocheted flowers and a few ladies have used felt to make them. Thank you to all of you. They have now been sewn onto a frame, creating a butterfly, which is now in the porch as you enter church. Previously, a heart and a cross were created, using some of the flowers (see a previous post lower down). There are still some flowers left so another 'picture' will be created from them. The next project is to sew some poppies onto camouflage netting to adorn the gate at the entrance to the church ready for Remembrance Sunday.
CAN YOU HELP PLEASE?
Can you knit, crochet, needle felt, sew?
(1) Forward planning for Remembrance in November
We would love to be able to decorate the church gates with poppies in November (and inside church if we have enough). We would be grateful if any of you could knit, crochet, felt or sew some poppies for us please. Here are a couple of links to free patterns for crochet and knitting.
https://www.happilyhooked.com/blog/6-free-poppy-patterns/
https://www.gathered.how/.../free-knitted-poppy-pattern/
(2) Forward planning for Christmas
Can you make some small angels or Christmas themed items (eg holly, mini Christmas trees, nativity figures etc), please?
FLOWER DECORATIONS IN THE PORCH:
Thank you to some of the Craft Club ladies especially Lynn, Carol, Jo and Wendy, for creating a lovely heart and cross to decorate the notice board in the porch. There are, also, some butterflies and bees. There are still quite a few crocheted and knitted flowers left as well as a knitted snail and Carol is knitting more flowers, so we aim to brighten up the rest of the porch soon.
Are you a 'Line of Duty' fan? If you are you will love these knitted characters. These amazing figures were created by Knitsonstix.
Dr Lucy Worsley OBE is a British historian, author, curator, and television presenter. She is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces but is best known as a presenter of the BBC Television series on historical topics. On 16th April, on her Facebook page, she wrote: "After a rare but welcome trip to Kensington Palace this week I can report that THE CROWN JEWELS ARE SAFE. Well, the knitted ones at least and they're waiting patiently in the learning centre for our young visitors to be able to come back and play with them."
Aren't they fabulous?
Sedgley Evening Townswomen’s Guild Crafts shared this pattern and image. It was made as a present for a friend. The pattern is free by Hooks and Dragons. Use this link to access the pattern.
Thank you to those of you who have knitted or crocheted key worker dolls for one of the stations in the Nativity Trail which we hope to open to the public in December. More news to follow (refer to the Christmas page for details of that event).
UPDATE ON POPPY TRAIL - Sunday 25th March
Ladies from Victory Belles (WI) started to add poppies to the poppy trail this morning. They would like to thank those people who have made poppies so far. If anyone else has poppies, can you take them to the British Legion please or they can be collected. (Send a message on Messenger m.me/StBartsWednesbury or send a message on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/StBartsWednesbury - and I will contact one of the ladies.) The WI ladies will add more poppies to the route on Sunday 1st November so it's important to collect in as many poppies as possible before then.
Ladies from Victory Belles (WI) started to add poppies to the poppy trail this morning. They would like to thank those people who have made poppies so far. If anyone else has poppies, can you take them to the British Legion please or they can be collected. (Send a message on Messenger m.me/StBartsWednesbury or send a message on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/StBartsWednesbury - and I will contact one of the ladies.) The WI ladies will add more poppies to the route on Sunday 1st November so it's important to collect in as many poppies as possible before then.
Victory Belles would like to expand our poppy display this year and they need your help. They need you to knit, crochet, sew, paint or sculpt poppies; use any pattern you like, there are lots available free online. In these dark times under local lockdown let's spread some colour around our town.
Remembrance Day parades will not be taking place this year so let's put poppies where the people should be and create a poppy trail.
Our fallen and veterans must be remembered.
Lest we forget.
Remembrance Day parades will not be taking place this year so let's put poppies where the people should be and create a poppy trail.
Our fallen and veterans must be remembered.
Lest we forget.
ALL MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED FOR THE MOMENT
Our 'Craft and Chat' sessions are held once a month (usually on the first Saturday each month, most months) 2 pm to 4 pm. Check our posts on Facebook to see forthcoming dates of meetings if we don't post them here. Bring whatever you're working on and enjoy a chat and refreshments. Just 50p each session. We meet in St Bartholomew's Church Hall in Wednesbury (bottom of Church Hill). If you wish to join us you will be very welcome.
During the Coronavirus pandemic we will not be having any craft club meetings. We will advise you when we can meet again.
How amazing is this? Laura Chaisty says her mum suffers with anxiety and has really struggled during this lockdown. Making this quilt has kept her busy and eased her mind. It’s now on show outside her house for people to see whilst on their daily walks. ‘Our world 2020.’ Well done to Trish Chaisty; you have created a wonderful message for these times.
For any of you who are struggling with isolation or are anxious, if you are able to make something similar it might help you to cope with the isolation and the worries we all have at this time. How about making something yourself that relates to the current situation? It could be created using knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, painting, paper craft, wood craft, resin, glass engraving, pebble craft, etc. All the best.
Thank you to Trish and Laura for allowing me to share this.
For any of you who are struggling with isolation or are anxious, if you are able to make something similar it might help you to cope with the isolation and the worries we all have at this time. How about making something yourself that relates to the current situation? It could be created using knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, painting, paper craft, wood craft, resin, glass engraving, pebble craft, etc. All the best.
Thank you to Trish and Laura for allowing me to share this.
I never enjoyed using a glue gun as I got in so much of a mess. However, I've come to love it recently when I made 2 fairy log houses and some fairy doors for the small fairy garden under a Forsythia tree. I needed something stronger to glue lots of bits and bobs onto the logs and fairy doors. After sealing everything with varnish I have now put them in the garden. I present Wendy's Craft Cottage and Dotty Cottage as well as one of the small fairy doors. I have included special references to our daughters and grandchildren. You may need to click on each photo to see full detail. Wendy
We are happy to advise you about Saxon Hill Craft Barn. The Craft Barn is a non-profit and charitable organisation at Chasewater. It is a resource and recycling centre, providing work based learning opportunities for young people and adults with physical and learning difficulties. It really is an Aladdin’s Cave of creativity and everything is sold at a low cost. They are open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm. It’s well worth a visit and afterwards you can use the cafe in the Innovation Centre or sit outside by the pool. There is also a tea room at the Station. There are play areas for children too so it makes a nice day out.
Check them out on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saxonhillcraftbarn/
Check them out on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saxonhillcraftbarn/
On Sunday 23rd February we presented to the church the banner we have been working on (about God's natural world). It looks beautiful. Thank you to those of you who have created some of the sections. Special thanks to Lynn Castillo and Marg Wood who planned and completed the banner. (You may need to click on the main photograph to see all of the banner.). It is now hanging on a pillar for everybody to see.
CHARITY FOCUS 2019
Our charity focus started when the Food Bank in Wednesbury received a donation of mini knitted hats. After that some of our crafters and people from church knitted or crocheted more hats. Thank you to all of you. (See the photo above showing what we have been able to donate to the ‘Innocent smoothies Big Knit project’. http://www.thebigknit.co.uk
The Big Knit started back in 2003 with an idea. They asked people to knit little woolly hats, then they put them on their smoothies. For each smoothie sold with a hat, they gave 25p to Age UK. Since then, 7.5 million hats have been knit and donated. Nearly £2.5 million has been raised for Age UK so far (that figure includes other donations).
What a fabulous idea!
If you want more information (and knitting patterns) please look at their website. If you are able to knit a few hats for us to donate to this cause in the future, can you pass them on to somebody who is a member of the Craft Club or who goes to St Bartholomew’s Church please otherwise pop them into Wednesbury’s Food Bank and they will pass them on to us. Alternatively, you can donate them individually yourself. Thank you.
Please note: We have already passed on this year's donation of hats as Innocent Smoothies needed them early July.
CRAFT FAYRES
Please make a note in your diaries of the next craft fayre for this year:
Christmas Craft Fayre on Saturday 2nd November (this is only a provisional date for a possible craft fayre at the moment - a final decision will be made soon).
(If the Christmas Craft Fayre goes ahead then there will not be a Craft Club meeting that afternoon.)
Our charity focus started when the Food Bank in Wednesbury received a donation of mini knitted hats. After that some of our crafters and people from church knitted or crocheted more hats. Thank you to all of you. (See the photo above showing what we have been able to donate to the ‘Innocent smoothies Big Knit project’. http://www.thebigknit.co.uk
The Big Knit started back in 2003 with an idea. They asked people to knit little woolly hats, then they put them on their smoothies. For each smoothie sold with a hat, they gave 25p to Age UK. Since then, 7.5 million hats have been knit and donated. Nearly £2.5 million has been raised for Age UK so far (that figure includes other donations).
What a fabulous idea!
If you want more information (and knitting patterns) please look at their website. If you are able to knit a few hats for us to donate to this cause in the future, can you pass them on to somebody who is a member of the Craft Club or who goes to St Bartholomew’s Church please otherwise pop them into Wednesbury’s Food Bank and they will pass them on to us. Alternatively, you can donate them individually yourself. Thank you.
Please note: We have already passed on this year's donation of hats as Innocent Smoothies needed them early July.
CRAFT FAYRES
Please make a note in your diaries of the next craft fayre for this year:
Christmas Craft Fayre on Saturday 2nd November (this is only a provisional date for a possible craft fayre at the moment - a final decision will be made soon).
(If the Christmas Craft Fayre goes ahead then there will not be a Craft Club meeting that afternoon.)
Below is a slideshow of our Christmas Craft Fayre 2018. It was a fabulous afternoon:
All profits made from our craft fayres are saved for a project in Church or the church hall. In the past we used some of the money and gifted a new Common Worship Book (Presidents edition) to the Church which was blessed by the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Clive Gregory (and Lynn made a beautiful bookmark to be used in the book). This photo doesn't do it justice.
Take a look in the slideshow below at some items our members have made:
We shared a stall with 'Wednesbury Churches Together' at Wednesbury Carnival in July 2018. It was a lovely sunny day and we had a great afternoon.
